honorable mention
Zuzana Valla united kingdom
Photo © Zuzana Valla
title
Secret Garden
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONAL DAYS WHEN L FALL DEEP DOWN INTO A MELANCHOLY MOOD, AND EVERYTHING FEELS CLOUDY AND SAD. ALL L WANTED WAS A NICE HOT BATH, WITH LAVENDER OIL, AND L STARTED BREATHING DEEPLY, TRYING TO IMAGINE THAT BEAUTIFUL SMELL AND GIVE A LITTLE RELIEF TO MY SPIRIT.
Then l began thinking of some pictures which l had seen maybe five years earlier, at the beginning of my photography career. The pictures were of a woman resting in a bath full of milk, which reminded me that Cleopatra used to bathe herself in milk. As I thought about how nourishing and soothing that must feel, I passed by my favorite cherry tree flowers on my shortcut home. I love their deep red colour, and their meaning is special to me because in my country, Slovakia, on the first of May, every man has to kiss their woman to ensure she will have enough love for the rest of the year. An idea started growing in my head, and l began choosing models, flowers, poses.
Sometimes we just want to wash ourself to feel fresh and smell nice. Sometimes we want to cleanse ourselves of bad energy, or bury memories, take them under water and leave them there, And sometimes we just want to relax and think of nothing. This series may continue from time to time, depending on my mood, For now, women, flowers and water are my top three subjects for the foreseeable future, as through them I wash myself, as the models wash their bodies.
I had always been just an observer or model, but I felt the desire to express my own emotions, feelings, sorrow and struggles.
I decided to buy my own camera in February 2011,
since this point, l've always aimed to add a little piece of me into every picture showing my feelings, perception and the views of my world.
I love photography because when I am behind the camera, I know that I live!
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entry description
THE SERIES ”IN THE BATH” CAME INTO MY MIND ONE DAY WHEN WAS WALKING HOME FROM TOWN, FEELING WEARY OF LIFE AND THE WEATHER.IT WAS ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONAL DAYS WHEN L FALL DEEP DOWN INTO A MELANCHOLY MOOD, AND EVERYTHING FEELS CLOUDY AND SAD. ALL L WANTED WAS A NICE HOT BATH, WITH LAVENDER OIL, AND L STARTED BREATHING DEEPLY, TRYING TO IMAGINE THAT BEAUTIFUL SMELL AND GIVE A LITTLE RELIEF TO MY SPIRIT.
Then l began thinking of some pictures which l had seen maybe five years earlier, at the beginning of my photography career. The pictures were of a woman resting in a bath full of milk, which reminded me that Cleopatra used to bathe herself in milk. As I thought about how nourishing and soothing that must feel, I passed by my favorite cherry tree flowers on my shortcut home. I love their deep red colour, and their meaning is special to me because in my country, Slovakia, on the first of May, every man has to kiss their woman to ensure she will have enough love for the rest of the year. An idea started growing in my head, and l began choosing models, flowers, poses.
Sometimes we just want to wash ourself to feel fresh and smell nice. Sometimes we want to cleanse ourselves of bad energy, or bury memories, take them under water and leave them there, And sometimes we just want to relax and think of nothing. This series may continue from time to time, depending on my mood, For now, women, flowers and water are my top three subjects for the foreseeable future, as through them I wash myself, as the models wash their bodies.
about the photographer
l have loved photography since my childhood. I was inspired by my grandfather, who was an amazing photographer. I was often the subject of his work. My grandmother breathed the soul into his black and white photos with hand-painted colours.I had always been just an observer or model, but I felt the desire to express my own emotions, feelings, sorrow and struggles.
I decided to buy my own camera in February 2011,
since this point, l've always aimed to add a little piece of me into every picture showing my feelings, perception and the views of my world.
I love photography because when I am behind the camera, I know that I live!
back to gallery
