Week 21: May 26, 2024

Apollo and Daphne, Unknown artist, German, 17th Century, Boxwood

The pursuit…

This one caught my eye for two reasons…

First, it was a chance to play with the challenge of photographing a three dimensional piece within a clear, four-sided box. I decided to play around with portrait mode and got the look I was hoping for. I still struggle with reflections and lighting challenges but I liked the look of the red walls faded in the background and how they brought out the red tones in the wood.

I was also intrigued by the fact that this was a copy of the original piece which had been a bronze sculpture. This copy was carved in wood, which I think made it more powerful because the story it tells is of Daphne trying to escape her suitor, Apollo, and going so far as to turn herself into a tree. That story seems to be enriched by being carved into the wood of a tree as well.