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Photographic studies

Candles change by the minute. A clean edge softens, a hollow forms around the wick, and liquid wax catches the light before cooling into another shape. This collection looks closel

The collection

Four Flames in Sequence

Four red square pillar candles stand against black, each showing a bright flame and sloping top.
Four red square pillar candles stand against black, each showing a bright flame and sloping top.

Four red candles advance across the frame in a compact diagonal, each topped by a bright flame. Their square bodies share the same basic shape, but their heights and sloping upper surfaces vary enough to create movement. Thin wicks bend in different directions, and each flame carries a pale center surrounded by orange. The nearest candle fills the lower right area with saturated red, while those behind gradually recede into darkness. Highlights skim the wax faces and emphasize small dents and softened edges. The black background removes any surrounding context, making the arrangement feel almost graphic. Repetition gives the group order; changing flame shapes and uneven tops prevent that order from becoming rigid.

Next photograph: Letters Lit Above a Cake
The collection

Wax Built in Layers

A tall narrow candle burns above a dark metal holder, surrounded by thick green and white wax drips.
A tall narrow candle burns above a dark metal holder, surrounded by thick green and white wax drips.

This tall candle has been transformed by accumulation. White wax spreads over the upper holder and pools on the small round tray, while green wax descends in thick clustered folds along one side. The dark metal stem and cup remain visible beneath the coating, providing a rigid structure for the irregular material. Above it all, a long flame leans slightly and brightens the warm ochre background. The contrast is striking: a slim upright wick and flame sit over a dense mass of cooled drips. Rounded beads, stretched strands, and flattened pools record different stages of movement. Rather than appearing polished, the candle holder presents a layered surface shaped by repeated melting and cooling.

Next photograph: The Softened Rim