I'm not a huge floral guy. Don't get me wrong, flowers are beautiful and add so much color to the world around us, but I just don't shoot them very often. This is my first time shooting flowers in black and white, and I'll admit that it doesn't do them justice, yet there is an element in these photos that I enjoy. So many floral photos focus on the beauty of the various colors of a flower, the vivid yellows, pinks, blues, etc., and when I look at a flower, I'll admit that that is what immediately captures my attention. But here, with the color removed, all we have left to appreciate are the delicate forms, the intricate nuances found in between the folds of the petals, the symmetrical patterns, the slight distinction of shades bringing to light the curvature of the individual leaves and petals. Though far from bringing to light the full beauty of these amazing creations, there is still so much to be appreciated in the viewing of these colorless forms.
ISO 200 | 50mm | f 8.0 | 1/800 sec
I tried to get a few different perspectives when photographing my subjects. It's not too often that you see photos of the underside of a flower. This may be partly due to the fact that this is not the side of a flower that is seen or appreciated by most people. It may also be partly due to the fact that you have to get down on your stomach in the dirt, amongst the cheat grass and bumbling bees/wasps/hornets to get a picture. But who said a photographer's life was easy? ;-)
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this different perspective on a traditional subject, and I hope that you're able to appreciate the beauty of flowers in a new way.
