A flower blossoms for its own joy
Oscar Wilde
We are saying goodbye this week to a much-valued member of our blogging community, Bren. Her photography blog has long been a favourite of mine, and an inspiration in my own photographic experiments. Her creative, atmospheric monochrome shots and beautiful soft-focus flowers were always a pleasure to view. Like many of her blogging friends, I was sad to read this week that she has recently died.
The Bringing Softness theme Bren chose when she was a guest host for the Lens Artists challenge earlier this year inspired me to try using more soft focus and vignettes in editing my own flower images in response. And I know that these are techniques I’ll continue to use again and again.
Her partner in the regular Monochrome Madness / Midweek Monochrome challenges, Leanne, has written a lovely tribute to Bren. She suggests that we all post photos of flowers in memory of her and her own beautiful flower images.
I wasn’t going to post today as I’m conscious I’ve been rather prolific since returning from Norway. But I couldn’t let pass this chance to honour Bren. So here are a few favourite flowers in tribute to an inspiring photographer and blogger. All have been shared previously but some I’ve re-edited today using techniques I learned through her.
48 Comments
wetanddustyroads
A very fitting post Sarah. Your flowers are soft and colourful – I think it’s a very special tribute to your blogging friend Bren.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m glad you like it You ARE busy catching up, aren’t you?!
equinoxio21
Very sorry for your loss.
Sadly we do lose a few blogger friends along the way. Irreplaceable.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – yes, and I’ve lost some Virtual Tourist friends in recent years too, sadly
equinoxio21
Sad and strange at the same time isn’t it? People we’d never met and never would, yet, a bond was created…
Sarah Wilkie
True, but in the case of VT friends I’d met a number of them and at least one had become a ‘real’ friend. And as it happens, I’m meeting a blogging friend later today So never say never!
equinoxio21
Absolutely. I have met a few bloggers “for real”. And we have remained Great friends…
equinoxio21
Best wishes with your encounter.
Sarah Wilkie
We had a lovely chat over lunch
grandmisadventures
beautiful flowers for a beautiful friend
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you
norasphotos4u
Beautiful tribute
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Nora
Sandy
I’m sad to hear of Bren’s passing. Lovely thoughts Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sandy
SoyBend
A lovely tribute to her, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Siobhan
Monkey's Tale
It’s a beautiful tribute Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you
kzmcb
I remember seeing some of her posts. Thank you for sharing your tribute and calling her to mind. She clearly won’t be forgotten.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Karen, she was an inspiring photographer
margaret21
Such a lovely idea of Leanne’s. And it’s always a shock when someone significantly younger dies. I hope her family gets to see these floral tributes.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, I thought it was a really lovely idea and wanted to do my part. You’re right, it would be nice if her family gets to see the tributes.
Rose
All your images are so pretty, but your top image is especially moving, the softest pink rose bouquet… Lovely beautiful tribute.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Rose That top photo is of the table flowers at my nephew’s wedding last summer – I loved the colours his bride selected.
Teresa
Beautiful images, Sarah. Wonderful tribute to Bren too. I know that the the blogging world will be filled with flowers in her memory!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa I thought this was such a lovely idea of Leanne’s
spark
I love flowers. All pictures of flowers are awesome but I like the pink and purple ones.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you As you commented twice I have deleted the almost duplicate one!
Graham Stephen
lovely floral tribute
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Graham
Brad M
Nice tribute.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Brad
Rebecca
My sincerest condolences to a great blogger– you never know how good it was until they go…a beautiful tribute to a wonderful person who had a wonderful life on Earth!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Rebecca
lisaonthebeach
So very beautiful, Sarah
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Lisa
Leanne Cole
Beautiful tribute Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Leanne, and for the idea to do this too
Anne Sandler
Wonderful tribute Sarah. I hope we see a lot more flowers.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Anne – me too
Terri Webster Schrandt
Another beautiful tribute to Bren, Sarah! I enjoyed her florals and hopped into her midweek monochrome on occasion and she joined in with Sunday Stills as well. She will be missed in our blogging community.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Terri. Yes, her floral shots were especially lovely – it’s good to see so many people posting their own in her memory.
Mike and Kellye Hefner
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend, Sarah. Your post is a beautiful tribute to her.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Kellye
Alli Templeton
So sorry for the loss of your blogging friend, Sarah. Your flowers are a lovely thought, and a very fitting tribute from one supremely talented photographer to another. This is particularly so as you’ve used some techniques in the re-editing that you learned from Bren. I’m sure she’d be proud. Love ‘n light. xxx
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Alli. I didn’t know her well but I loved her photographic style and wanted to acknowledge her in some way and pay tribute
Alli Templeton
That’s what I did when my blogging friend, Sue Vincent, passed away in 2021. I felt I needed to pay a tribute to her and her talent as a writer, so I dedicated a post to her. Your flower photographs were the perfect tribute.