23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Life in 65 Photos: Tulips

One flower, one blade of grass, one tree; one grain of sand, one speck of dust, one handful of earth — all things in this world continue in an endless cycle of life. I attempt to use flowers as a medium, exploring life and time through imagery. In this series, I photographed four kinds of flowers — sunflowers, helianthus, tulips, and lilies — documenting their entire journey from full bloom to withering, over a period of 65 days. I then digitally recomposed images from different stages, condensing more than sixty captured moments into four photographic works, each representing the life cycle of one flower. The visuals present a hazy beauty, radiating warm, classical romantic tones and poetic aesthetics. More importantly, they evoke reflection on life and the passage of time. This creative approach is also an exploration of innovative floral photography.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2025
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: China
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © Jing Guo