Inspired by ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘The Little Prince’, this photograph conveys a much darker tale about the nature of love. The vivid red rose flourishes in a protective case – it is alive and breathing, as suggested by the misty glass. Meanwhile, the pale woman fades away like a wilting flower herself. The medical catheter symbolises a toxic bond that seems unbreakable.
(Digital photography, Self-portrait. Recognized by ‘The British Journal of Photography’; International Photography Awards 2020.)