Bloom and Bow — A Daffodil Print from a Shinto Shrine in Iwaki, Japan

Description

“Bloom and Bow” – A Black-and-White Daffodil Print

This daffodil print captures a single spring bloom at the moment it opens, paired with a second flower already turning and bowing away — a quiet meditation on growth and decay. Photographed at an 800-year-old Shinto shrine in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan, it sets a fleeting, living subject against centuries of stillness.

The white blooms glow out of a near-black background, giving this daffodil print its intimate, contemplative weight.

A Daffodil Print of Bloom and Decay

Two flowers tell the story. One faces the camera in full bloom, its petals bright around a shadowed trumpet; the other has already turned, drooping on its stem. Rising between them is a dense fan of dark, strap-like leaves. The heavily blurred background — a soft suggestion of the shrine’s stonework — strips the daffodil print of distraction, leaving only light, form, and the passage of time.

How This Daffodil Print Was Made

Shot on a Leica M6 with a 50mm lens on Kodak Tri-X 400, wide open for a shallow depth of field, the image renders deep blacks, luminous highlights, and the fine grain of true film. Printed by hand as a silver gelatin print, it holds every gradation of tone from petal to shadow.

The Story Behind the Daffodil Print

Ancient Shrine, Fleeting Bloom

The daffodils rose each spring at the foot of an 800-year-old Shinto shrine, a place where tradition and time stand still. This daffodil print holds that contrast: the momentary flower against the enduring sacred ground.

Minimalist Monochrome Stillness

Stripped to light and shadow, the composition is a study in restraint — a minimalist, moody portrait of nature’s smallest, most transient details.

Why Own This Daffodil Print?

A daffodil print rendered as a handcrafted silver gelatin print is more than a flower photograph — it is a quiet reminder of impermanence and renewal. Displayed in a home, studio, or gallery, this silver gelatin print brings a moment of contemplative stillness into your space.

More From the Series

One of several silver gelatin prints of nature and quiet places in Japan. See more:

• Cherry Blossom Art from Iwaki — spring blossoms arching over a quiet Iwaki path.
• Minimalist Black and White Art Print — roadside wildflowers reduced to light and form.
• Buddha Statue Print — a serene garden Buddha in Iwaki.
• Jizo Statue Print — light among the Jizo at Akaidake Temple.
• Japan Aesthetic Wall Art — lanterns drifting at the Toro Nagashi festival.

Timeless Craft: Handcrafted Silver Gelatin Prints

Experience the beauty of silver gelatin prints, meticulously crafted in the darkroom. Unlike digital reproductions, each print is a true piece of photographic history, created through the delicate and demanding process of traditional film development.

Darkroom Developed

Each print is personally developed by hand, ensuring archival quality and unmatched craftsmanship. The image is carefully transferred from the negative onto fiber-based photo paper using an enlarger, achieving the perfect contrast and exposure balance.

Intricate Process

• Following exposure, each print undergoes a precise chemical development process, followed by a 45-minute archival wash to ensure longevity.
• The print is then carefully air-dried over several days, naturally curling before being pressed flat in a specialized hot mount press for a flawless finish.

Enduring Quality

A silver gelatin print is not just an image—it is an heirloom-quality artwork, designed to last generations.

Custom Selections

• 11 × 14 in (27.9 × 35.6 cm) – Ilford B&W Matt Archival Fiber paper for a classic matte finish.
• 11 × 14 in (27.9 × 35.6 cm) – Ilford B&W Semi Matt Warmtone Archival Fiber paper with a subtle sheen, rich warm blacks, and velvety whites.
• 11 × 14 in (27.9 × 35.6 cm) – Ilford B&W Glossy Warmtone Archival Fiber paper for a deep, lustrous finish with warm tonal rendition.
• 16 × 20 in (40.6 × 50.8 cm) – Ilford B&W Glossy Archival Fiber paper for a crisp, neutral-toned high-gloss finish.
• 16 × 20 in (40.6 × 50.8 cm) – Ilford B&W Glossy Warmtone Archival Fiber paper for a rich, lustrous finish with warm tonal rendition.

NOTES: Warmtones are not toned prints; the paper itself has a subtle warmth and creaminess. The glossy versions enhance deep blacks, while the matte versions provide an elegant, distraction-free finish.

Edition and Authenticity

• Open Edition, ensuring every print remains accessible without compromising quality.
• Each print is personally signed by the photographer and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Purchase and Delivery

• Prints are sold unframed, allowing for custom matting and framing to suit your aesthetic.
• Bespoke matting and framing services available upon request.
• Worldwide shipping available from our darkroom in Japan via Japan Post EMS (FedEx available upon request).

Embrace the timeless beauty of handcrafted silver gelatin prints—a perfect addition to your collection.

Secure your print today and bring the beauty of monochrome photography into your home.