I’ve created lumen prints from 83 species of plants, but lilies are my favorite subject, probably because of the seemingly endless number of varieties and meanings.
Lilies can symbolize so many things, which is why they’re so popular. Because of Greek mythology, they’re associated with rebirth and motherhood. In China, they are often used in weddings because they symbolize 100 years of love. They’ve also been associated with Ishtar, the Sumerian fertility goddess, and Christians associate lilies with the Virgin Mary.
The lily can symbolize purity, passion, prosperity, abundance, confidence, and wealth, depending on its color. The colors of the lilies in my lumen prints have nothing to do with their natural colors. Instead, the photographic paper and toning chemistries determine the color of the finished print. The following images represent a small sample of my ethereal lily garden.
I grow Rain Lilies, Canna Lilies, and Amaryllis (a lily in my mind) in my yard. My local grocery store tempts me with many other types, including Easter Lilies, Parrot Lilies, and Tiger Lilies. My good friend Deborah (an incredible glass artisan) shows off her vases with Parrot Lilies, which she gifts me when they start to wilt.