The art of henna painting on the body has been practiced in India, Africa, and the Middle East for centuries. The henna plant is believed to bring love and good fortune, and to protect against evil.
This photograph was taken under indoor lighting, the orange cast that occurs naturally usually degrades a pictures quality, however, I feel it has given my image a warm feel.
Taken using a flat bed scanner:
The apple is a complex symbol, with a variety of meanings. It can mean love, knowledge, wisdom, joy, death, and/or luxury. The apple of the Garden of Eden, is the symbol of temptation and of original sin.
The colours in this image are reminisant of 1930's. The green of the ivy across the back wall, the faded red of the chair and the powder blue of the oven compliment each other well but the peeling paint, missing cushion and broken plaster on the floor introduce a faded grandeur to the overall image; displaying a decaying culture that is still pleasing to the eye.
(See this image in black and white at - http://www.flickr.com/photos/abi-92/3885421132/ )
I took this photograph because I thought that it illustrated the opposition between two different cultures very well. The Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs seen on the right contrast well with the plaster wall painting typical of Greek Christianity, portraying the fight for dominance between religions in ancient times.
The Masquerade Mask is a symbol of many different culutres. Masquerade Balls were usual in Italy and Venice during the Renaissance period and became popular throughout mainland Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. They used to be formal 'dancing parties' but as they returned to popularity during the late 1990's they became more like modern costume parties, with less formal dancing. The popularity of masked parties are due to guests being unable to recognise each other, adding a sense of mystry and humour. However, some had fatal results when murders took place under cover of the confusion over identities.
Masks are used worldwide as additions to costumes during festivals and carnivals, particularly in south America.
Created using a flatbed scanner, I think this image encapsulates the mystery of concealing a persons identity. The effect created by the object fading into the background adds a sense of secrecy, and the black gives the photo a slightly menacing feel.
