This project was for a Narrative, story telling series. For this project I chose to tell a story about my own personal processing of my current life changing event. I am recently divorced. Married for 25 years, it was best to part ways. A difficult marriage, it had been a time of broken dreams, hearts, and promises, so many broken promises.  

Using my Canon 5D MarkIV, I set it up on a tripod and set up the stage for the first photo. I purchased a wedding dress from a thrift store. I purchased some flowers, especially those with petals that you would normally pluck, one by one, while reciting, "he loves me, he loves me not". The question that one asks oneself when the behaviors do not line up with the words.  Then I added in a journal, representing all the words we write in our pain, anger and confusion.  Capturing one image before the fire, then capturing one, when it had begun. The fire represents a cleansing of the violation of the sanctity of the marriage itself. 

After the fire had burned for a moment, and in all honesty, I had to keep it burning responsibly. I then grabbed a stick and put a marshmallow upon it and had a seat. 

The final image is of me sitting with ease by the ashes and remaining flickers of flames and roasting a marshmallow.  Acceptance of change, and the acceptance of this is where I am. Where many of us find ourselves. Finding ease with what must be, and having hope for what will come. 

There is beauty that rises from ashes, ashes appear to be hopeless and dark, but within them lies what is needed to grow the most beautiful things.