Thursday is Valentine's Day.  Need I say more?  It terrifies many because of societal expectations, and fills others with the joy of giving and receiving. Although Valentine's Day is celebrated on July 6 and 30th in Eastern Orthodox churches, February 14 has become the official date for many celebrations around the world.  The theme of the day - love - is a part of nearly every song written and thousands of books, movies, and television episodes. Writers at Wikipedia indicate that "The day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished."  It would be lovely indeed if the entirety of humanity celebrated the "Power of Love" (Huey Lewis and the News) in its many forms at least one day a year.  Short of that, a few photographic images from the heart might fill some gaps.

Flat grey skies are the bane of photographers' existence when it comes to some architectural, landscape, and travel photography.  But those same skies can be perfect for shooting portraits and still life subjects.  I used the snowy landscape and a pearl-colored fill disc to shoot red silk poppies under the leaden skies. The snow first.

valentine poppy   

valentine poppy 2

The toned rose bud shown below was shot through filtered light.

sepia rose bud

Gentle rose petals in water with soft focus light to bring out the base color

rose petals in bowl

May everyone feel love this week!

until next Monday,

DB

a passion fro the image@