White Aquilegia

[MonikaC]

The Colorado state flower is the blue Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea), but there are a few variations. There was a white one on my walk the other day which has the tongue twister varietal name of ochroleuca. The heavy rains the night before left it pretty beaten up looking, but this was its best side. Because it's an all white flower, I decided to process it in B&W and just let the yellow pistils anthers (thank you, Kurt!) remain yellow. I think it's the 2nd time I've done something like this. Those big petals make it blow around quite a bit with the slightest hint of a breeze, so while this was the sharpest of my shots, it's left of center. I'm sure I could have done some content aware fill or find some AI app to add the tips back in, but it didn't really bother me; seems to give it a bit of forward motion. Or maybe I'm just delirious?

 

[AlanLichty]

Columbines always seem to have a feel of forward motion - I think its from the tails behind that look like a form of propulsion I like your "almost" B&W processing for this bloom and the water droplets look lovely.

 

[MonikaC]

Columbines always seem to have a feel of forward motion - I think its from the tails behind that look like a form of propulsion I like your "almost" B&W processing for this bloom and the water droplets look lovely.

Thanks, Alan.

 

[Jeffrey]

Beautiful imaging of a beautiful subject. Lovely!

 

[Kurt Harrigan]

Interesting take on this. I've never had much luck doing a b/w conversion on flowers but this works well with the yellow tones thrown in the. BTW, I'm no expert but I think those may actually be the anthers?

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Nice processing, Monika. Columbines are very difficult to stop moving. Those long thin stems have hem hopping around with the slightest breeze. I have waited hours and still had to come back the next day to try again.

 

[MonikaC]

Interesting take on this. I've never had much luck doing a b/w conversion on flowers but this works well with the yellow tones thrown in the. BTW, I'm no expert but I think those may actually be the anthers?

I think you're right, Kurt. It's been a long time since Biology 101.... thanks!

 

[MonikaC]

Nice processing, Monika. Columbines are very difficult to stop moving. Those long thin stems have hem hopping around with the slightest breeze. I have waited hours and still had to come back the next day to try again.

Thanks, Doug. We've had so much heavy rain, even hail, that I'm not sure how long any blooms will last. The ungulates seem to have enjoyed the dandelions but leave others alone. My pants were getting pretty wet squatting in the long grass, too.

 

[MonikaC]

Beautiful imaging of a beautiful subject. Lovely!

Thanks, Jeffrey!

 

[JimFox]

That's so cool Monika! I am not sure I have seen a white Columbine before, so this is really unique for me.

 

[MonikaC]

That's so cool Monika! I am not sure I have seen a white Columbine before, so this is really unique for me.

Thanks, Jim!