The Power of Transformation

I’m not sure whether I’m attracted to photography because it provides me with the power to transform small, relatively nondescript flowers like this

and this

that most people would pass by without a second glance into striking flowers, or because after repeated attempts I still can’t manage to capture just how striking

these huge poppies are in the garden, drawing raves from nearly everyone who sees them.

3 thoughts on “The Power of Transformation”

  1. I just love poppies. We have some like this on our place. They are as big as the palm of my hand. I think all art is about creating order. Beautiful photos.

  2. Essays could be written about what we can do with a camera – and eyes – just on flowers, and why. I foremost know that it has become a subject for me to shoot that I can’t so without. It started, along with most of the subjects I shoot in Portugal (which is everything!), out of some sense that one day, I wouldn’t live here anymore, so I had to capture everything about it to keep with me, if I shouldn’t be able to see it again.
    Then you find that magical transformation that you write of here.
    Lately, I’ve been shocked to learn that friends of mine, from whom I truly expected more, are among those who are blind to the nature around them here.
    Lastly, the eternal difficulty in capturing red poppies as we see them. They seem to defy macro, but the “Monet” effect is more accessible & satisfactory.

  3. I’ve seen the poppy shot on your page, Icarus, but unfortunately my one plant doesn’t lend itself well to the Monet effect.

    I’ll keep my eyes out for a local Flanders field.

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