The vernal equinox is more than two weeks away, and yet, in many parts of the country, spring has definitely arrived.  Summer in some cases.  But there are inklings of its arrival here on the mesa.  Both mountain and western bluebirds are in abundance, some of the seasonal sparrows have arrived, and tiny, ground-hugging flowers are emerging from cracks in the soil.  Despite the fact that they don't bloom until later in the spring in most of New Mexico, lilies bring spring to mind.  When one is handed a lily, it has to be photographed.

If you enjoy flower photography or photograph florals professionally, you know that each flower, like people, photographs differently.  In addition to considering the elements of composition, background, and lighting, I have to constantly remind myself to do something different with the subject.  Turn the bloom one direction, move closer, photograph one part of it, center it or don't center it.  For this blog featuring lilies, I shot about seventy images and retained seven.  I used an off-white fill disc as the backdrop with natural, multi-directional light.  

lily 1

This tight shot reveals the stamens' incredible, day glow, burnished orange color.  It makes me wonder how many times flower pollen has been used as a natural dye.

lily 2 pistils and stamens

Because the lily is a large flower, even the buds are full of texture.  This flower bud will open in a couple of days.

lily bud

Despite the riot of color in the lilies I photographed, processing an image in toned black and white brings a completely different feel to the flower bud.  This one was poised to open.

lily bud black and white

Thanks to Imogen Cunningham, who so elegantly photographed botanicals and flowers, and Cristina and Ben for the gift of flowers. 

until next week,

DB

a passion for the image@