XXIII. The Lantern Bearer XXIII

"The Lantern Bearer XXIII" captures the quiet solitude of a lone figure standing on the surface of a lake, holding a lantern whose flame flickers softly against the encroaching night. The long-exposure technique creates a soft, dreamlike quality as the flame blurs and fades, casting a faint glow across the water. The tarnished textures and sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia and memory, as though these moments are fragments of a dream.

The distant city lights twinkle faintly on the horizon, offering a subtle connection to the modern world, while the figure remains lost in their own quiet reflection. The flame, vivid in some photos and barely clinging to life in others, serves as a symbol of resilience and hope. The photos evoke the words of Pablo Neruda, who wrote, “Love is so short, forgetting is so long.” "The Lantern Bearer XXIII" invites viewers to pause and reflect on life’s fleeting beauty and the quiet power of light.