2006_0760 Downy Indian Paintbrush
Difficult wildflower # 2 (and one more to come) - may as well post them all today and then move on to something else!
This is a more subtle paintbrush than the brilliant reds, pinks, and yellows I've photographed for years in the mountains. I hiked the prairie here in Saskatchewan for years before even noticing it. And I've only found occasional plants, never dense colonies taking over a hillside. Add to this its generally ragged appearance and the fact that it often grows amid dense clusters of prairie grasses, sage, and other flowers, and simply does not look good when the sun is blasting down and casting harsh shadows, and you see the challenge!
Fortunately, I found this sample on a rainy day, with soft light. I tried close ups, but they didn't really work. Finally I backed off, framed it as part of a plant community, and came away with a shot I feel is acceptable.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2020 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2006_0760 Downy Indian Paintbrush
Difficult wildflower # 2 (and one more to come) - may as well post them all today and then move on to something else!
This is a more subtle paintbrush than the brilliant reds, pinks, and yellows I've photographed for years in the mountains. I hiked the prairie here in Saskatchewan for years before even noticing it. And I've only found occasional plants, never dense colonies taking over a hillside. Add to this its generally ragged appearance and the fact that it often grows amid dense clusters of prairie grasses, sage, and other flowers, and simply does not look good when the sun is blasting down and casting harsh shadows, and you see the challenge!
Fortunately, I found this sample on a rainy day, with soft light. I tried close ups, but they didn't really work. Finally I backed off, framed it as part of a plant community, and came away with a shot I feel is acceptable.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2020 James R. Page - all rights reserved.