Two leaves fallen on a pavement in Tirana, Albania, where they are passed by, blown by the wind, even trampled on. Once full of life and high up on a branch of a stately tree, they are now shrivelled, brown, fallen and seemingly insignificant. But this photo reminds me that even the most mundane things that others would give no attention to, when placed in the hands of an artist, can be transformed into objects of beauty and character. We just have to take the time to see what others may be passing by.

stories of lives : stories of nations