Saffron
by Renee Trenholm
Title
Saffron
Artist
Renee Trenholm
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
Saffron is a photograph of oil droplets dancing on water. This was experimental art and the first time I have tried these techniques.
It was created as follows: Experiment was conducted outdoors with an afternoon southern sun exposure. A decorative saucer was used as the base with about 0.5 inch of water poured in. I poured a little cooking oil on the surface of the water and then added a drop of liquid dish soap. The oil drops immediately combined to create the swirl on the left and hundreds of tiny bubbles formed under the water. Since the oily swirl was not really artsy on its own, I decided to try another approach. I brought out my bottle of saffron-infused oil and dropped tiny amounts onto the water with a toothpick. The bright sun refracted the oil droplets and created the look of glass disks edged in metal (which I did not notice until I uploaded the photo). The droplets reflected the sun onto the dish underneath the water, creating another dimension. I was able to line up the shot with the head of the butterfly framed by an oil droplet. Each oil disk acted like a tiny magnifying glass to allow closer inspection of the head and wing of the butterfly. I think the saffron fragments give the image more character and also compliment the color of the butterfly. The shadow on the right balances the oily swirl on the left. I am pleased with the multidimensional effect that was achieved.
Saffron is the stigma of the fall-flowering crocus. It is the most expensive spice by weight and, fortunately a few threads, as saffron stigma are called in culinary realms, go a long way in cooking. I was introduced to and taught how to make authentic saffron rice by a dear Persian lady. I made saffron-infused oil using tiny fragments of saffron in walnut oil.
photograph copyright Renee Trenholm
Uploaded
January 15th, 2014
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