Hark the herald . . .

Gallery: FloraPosted January 15, 2011137 views15 comments

. . Paperwhites bloom
Glory to the newborn spring.
Sung to the tune of Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Sony A700
Minoota 200mm macro
ISO 200, 1/30 @ f22

I had to run an errand this morning that brought me close to the Mercer Arboretum so I decided to stop in and see what if anything is blooming. The short answer is "not much" but I still had a pretty good session with these paperwhites and a few other subjects. We have some of these little guys ourselves although they've yet to show themselves this year. They are always the first flowers of the new year and while spring is still several weeks away I always feel like the old year is well and truly gone and the new is here when they show up. All comments welcome. >=))>

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on January 15, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Love the whites here Bill, and so early to see these! To think spring is just "weeks" away - Ha! Sometimes I feel envious of you Texans.

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on January 15, 2011 at 7:34 PM

Hi Bill,

I've always heard them called Chinese Sacred Lilies. These certainly look prayerful to me. Lovely mood--very relaxing!

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 15, 2011 at 8:05 PM

Beautiful, soft colors, and I can feel the texture of especially the top bloom in the larger version.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on January 15, 2011 at 9:58 PM

Superb dof and plane of focus decision Bill. Strong com as well but that goes without saying. Beautiful image, very appealing mood and subject.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on January 16, 2011 at 1:29 AM

Sure does look like spring, Bill. Very nice shot . . . can't see any room for improvement.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 16, 2011 at 3:19 AM

Very pretty - the soft whites and yellows are lovely. For some reason, the light band at the bottom keeps drawing my eye, and bugs me a little...
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Brigitte Lorenz on January 16, 2011 at 6:01 AM

Wonderful soft colors, very lovely image...

Brigitte

Registered on January 10, 2009, 187 Posts, 1507 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 16, 2011 at 10:24 AM

"Hope springs eternal."

I love these early entries of flowers by you, Bill. It brightens a winter's day. Well, today will be almost 60 here in Parker, but Spring is a LONG time off.
Wonderful shot with excellent pov, dof, and color.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Windom on January 16, 2011 at 11:38 AM

Like the mix of buds and blooms. Good job holding the whites and controlling the BG. Spring seems so far off up here in the NW......

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on January 16, 2011 at 11:48 AM

Lovely to see these, Bill ! A beautifully simple composition which suits the flowers perfectly; and the colour tones are just right.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on January 16, 2011 at 7:21 PM

Many of my indigenous flora is blooming here already in Long Beach, My Ray Hartman Ceoanothus and the Catalina as well. Both my Dr Hurd Manzanita are starting to bloom. They won't be blooming in their native chaparral habitat yet but at this altitude there being fooled into thinking it's almost spring here in So Cal, of course it's in the mid 70's today. Not braggin' just the facts.

Bill,

Don't want people to be just envious of Texas, and you paper whites are well composed with fine detail DOF with the nicely blurred background brings your main subject out perfectly.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on January 16, 2011 at 7:32 PM

Bill:
Perfect capture of these white flowers.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on January 17, 2011 at 10:21 PM

I like the softness of this Bill yet it's still nicely sharpened. They're almost bowing to the "Newborn Spring."

A fruitful sidetrip I'd say.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Lynch on January 18, 2011 at 1:39 PM

What an elegant capture. Outstanding.

Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments

Comment posted by Debashis Bandyopad on January 20, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Most beautiful image Bill - very calming and delicate.. It does indeed brings spring to mind

Registered on June 24, 2007, 130 Posts, 1309 Comments