Burning Lilies is a photography project by Anne Nobels that touches on a very personal and delicate theme: what happens when one decides not to have children? The intention is to show the vulnerability and consequences of such a decision. «Despite our choice being made, the opinions and counter-arguments remain a sensitive issue. Who will take care of us later? And isn’t it our moral obligation as human beings to procreate? Besides the fact that such a choice is already drastic, navigating a sea of ​​​​opinions of our loved ones is an additional struggle.»

In the shots of this series, many of the topics born from the photographer’s circle of friends are adequately represented. One image in particular caught our attention: a photo of one of Nobels’ friends with her husband and child stands in contrast to her own decision. The happiness and joy experienced in parenthood appear to the viewer as a great responsibility. Additionally, three hands from three different generations holding a long stem of a flower represent the photographer’s mother and grandmother, while she is depicted cutting the flower at the root—a flower that will no longer grow.

The images captured by Anne Nobels carry an intense emotional weight, accompanied by particularly interesting natural elements that elevate this series from a personal level to a universal one, allowing the viewer to reflect on a topic as debated as it is delicate. The photographer’s openness thus marks a fundamental step, also from a creative perspective. In fact, the burning lily symbolizes the fire of her fertility and femininity—a point of no return.