JANIS HEFLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

REVIVED AND SURVIVED

Each object in this series was originally discarded. They were “dead” torn and broken. I saw the beauty in each one, and chose to pluck them from the trash and “revive” them. I mended their leaves and glorified their natural beauty in a new way. They have “survived” now through eternity as photographs.

The Nest — My husband and I have learned that if you build a strong home, it is never empty. Although our children are grown, they return frequently to be nourished and comforted before flying away again. Their visits with us are filled with joy before we show them to the door to spread their wings. The egg provides a celestial symbol of new beginnings, illumination in darkness, and the spiritual journey of understanding our place in the universe.

Silver Leaves — Silver Leaves was the first image I created in the Revived and Survived series. Photographing these leaves and using the painting and manipulation tools in Adobe Photoshop allowed me to take these dead leaves I found in a trash basket and revive them. They were brown and broken. I spent months working in Photoshop to rebuild the broken leaves and paint tiny new veins. I positioned them on the page to represent the yin and yang of life.

Wrist Corsage — This flower was uniquely redesigned after I photographed it and spent many hours manipulating it with my toolbox in Photoshop. Using paintbrushes and manipulation techniques, I was able to add new elements of design to these forms. The flower petals have a golden glow that creates a unique sense of depth in the color of the piece. I painted additional leaves, which remind me of fingers, thus the title, Wrist Corsage.