Photography by Iris Zhang
Artist Statement:
Nature is something that frequently captivates me; I enjoy using photography to capture the beauty I see. This photograph, Before the Rain, was actually a lucky mistake. I had forgotten to adjust the manual settings before taking my photo; the aperture was not large enough and it lacked exposure. I had to leave right after taking the photo, but fortunately something convinced me to keep it. Later that day, I sat down to edit it, and after bringing up the exposure and enhancing parts of the photograph, it turned out to be more than I expected. To me, this piece elicits a certain mood – a sense of calmness and surety in knowing about the rain to come. The flowers’ bright, deep colours help bring about a feeling of tranquility, and the dimness present in the photograph alludes to the light, oncoming rain shower.