Behind the Scenes: Broken Serenity

The inspiration for this photograph came from my fascination with how everyday objects can tell a story when deliberately arranged. Wine, bread, a handwritten note, a fallen glass, and a knife are simple items. Yet together they create a moment frozen between elegance and discomfort, as if the viewer has arrived seconds after something significant occurred. The bottle of Antonin Rodet Pinot Noir set the mood. Its deep red colour and classic French label suggested intimacy, culture, and a touch of mystery. From there, I crafted a quiet narrative: a late-night room, a message left behind, and a story revealed through subtle details rather than anything explicit.

The scene is set on a dark wooden surface, with subtle, low-key lighting that casts deep shadows and warm highlights. The brick wall background adds texture and creates an atmosphere reminiscent of an old cellar or private room. The knife acts as the visual focus, allowing the red wine to drip down its blade onto a torn piece of paper, blurring the boundary between wine and something more sinister. The overturned glass enhances the sense of interrupted action, perhaps a quarrel, a revelation, or a confession.

Every element was placed intentionally. The bread was torn to create a more human texture, the note was aged by hand, and the wine spill was shaped over several takes until it looked natural yet theatrical. For me, the strength of this image lies in what remains unseen. It encourages viewers to imagine the moments before and after, leaving space for interpretation and the quiet tension of a story only half told.