The Black Poppies: Burnt In The Fire of War

• Photographer
  Halyna Vitiuk
• Photo Date
  May 2023

According to legends, red poppies bloom at the places of fierce battles, where the blood of warriors was spilled. My photo project is dedicated to unbreakable Ukrainian soldiers. On the battlefields in Ukraine, poppies turned black from fire and ash. Their tender petals were cruelly scorched by the fire of war, but I believe they did not perish. Instead, they have changed their structure and form and continue to exist. Each black flower inspires us with its shape and reminds us of the firmness and steadfastness of Ukrainian heroes.

Halyna was born in 1983 Odesa, Ukraine. She grew up in a village, in a family of agronomists. The love for flowers began from childhood, she with mother grew unique flowers in home garden. Halyna came to photography just at the age of 35 from the marketing sphere. Today she is the prize-winner of international photo competitions, her works has been exhibited in Ukraine and Scotland. In her youth, she heard one Jewish wisdom: "Focus on good thoughts and all will be good." This is her main motivation in life.