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First protea on UK soil


First protea on UK soil
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-29
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital ISO 200, Hoya UV-Guard (77mm)
Exposure: f/8, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): National Symbols [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-06-15 16:18
Viewed: 1809
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Protea or Sugarbush
Protea repens

The amazing variety in plant size, habit, flower size and colour of the genus Protea was the reason it was named after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his shape at will. The flower colour of this species varies in the wild, from a creamy white to white touched with pink, to the deep red varieties used by the cut flower industry.

The species name of 'repens', meaning 'creeping' is misleading as Protea repens is an upright, much branched shrub, which normally grows to a height of 2.5 metres but can reach a height of 4.5 m. The name is based on descriptions and illustrations by Boerhaave (1720), which show a very short stem, from which the botanist Linnaeus assumed that it had a creeping habit, hence the name 'repens'. The botanist Thunberg later named the same plant Protea mellifera, referring to the sweet nectar produced by the flowers. However, this much more suitable name had to make way for the earlier name, so this upright shrub is now called Protea repens.

Protea repens was grown under glass in the Royal Collections at Kew in 1774 and flowered around 1780, the first protea ever to have been flowered in cultivation away from the Cape. It was also the first protea to have been grown outside in gardens in Australia, New Zealand and California from about 1890. Protea repens was the National Flower of South Africa up to 1976 and has inspired songs such as "Suikerbos ek wil jou hê" (sugarbush I want you), which was composed on Lion's Head near Cape Town.

Protea repens occurs in the Southern part of South Africa and grows from high in the mountains of the Bokkeveld Escarpment along the South West Cape to East of Grahamstown in the Eastern part of the Cape. Although it mostly occurs on the flats, coastal forelands, lower and middle mountain slopes, it has been found at altitudes up to 1500 metres and can be found scattered in between the other fynbos plants or in dense stands. Its conservation status is almost ubiquitous. The flowering period varies from winter flowering in the Western part of the range to summer flowering in the Eastern part.

I hope you find this series on the fynbos flower as interesting as I do. Please let me know if you are bored by it.
manyee, TAZ, loot, Signal-Womb, extramundi, dew77, thistle, PDP, soccer, scottevers7, liquidsunshine, coasties has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PDP: Moving up in the world...gerhardt 1 06-16 05:08
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Gerhard,
phantastic light from the back shining through all the leaves. I like the colours, wonderful shot, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3651] (10033)
  • [2006-06-15 16:42]

Hello Gerhard
Uitstekend. Who are bored? Not us! The backlight has created some excellent highlights on the rims of the flower petals and plant leaves. Brilliant shot, great composition, stunning colours, sharp details, complimentary BG, perfect exposure, and yes, very informative note as well.
Very well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

The light filtering through the flower makes for a far from boring shot Gerhard. I love the contrast and vivid colours in the image. Composition is very nice also. Big smiley from me.

You got a great light to give a super contrast to this beauty.
Most interesting note, not bored at all, in fact I enjoyed reading.
Best regards, Felipe.
PD: Already pushed the button :)

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-06-16 1:14]

What a beautiful and interesting shot that you have well captured ! The great light seems to be inside of the flower. Composition, colors and constrast are very good. I also appreciate the complementary note... Congratulations Gerhard and thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6165] (21068)
  • [2006-06-16 2:39]

Hello Gerhard,
I love the backlight on this protea.
Just wonderful. The colors are so vibrant.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-06-16 4:16]

Hello Gerhard,
Excellent close up.Well seen,framed and composed.
Lighting is amazing.I liked POV,colors and contrast also a lot.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2006-06-16 4:16]

Hi Gerhard,
Beautiful flower very well captured with great details, dark bg and vey good back light.
TFS, José M.
I'm not bored with by your seies

Hello Gerhard,
I'm not bored...yet ;-)
I love the backlit here. It makes the leaves and flower look great. Beautiful warm colours and lovely framing too. The dark BG works perfectly to emphasize the baclited main subject.
Superb work!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-06-16 4:32]
  • [+]

Hello Gerhard, goodbacklit image of this plant. Good composition and I like the details recorded in the leaves from the backlighting. Interesting and imformative note too.

I award you the Sheriff's badge!

Gerhard,

The Backlighting of the subject against a dark BG make this a really special pic. The colours are great and you really did make the most of the backlight. TFS,
Sheriff

Hi Gerhard,
A well done shot on a flowering Protea would always be nice, but this excellent because of the dramatic lighting. The strong angled light really shows amazing edge highlighting. Great job handling this difficult light situation. The colors and detail look very good.
Nice work!
Scott

Hi Gerhard, excllent details,BG, POV, DOV perfect Job, TFS Kyle

Hallo Gerhard,

Ek hou baie van die foto. Die komposisie en die gevoel van die foto is perfek. Ek dink nie dit kon beter gedoen word nie.

Groete
Jan-Hendrik

Hello Gerhard, I will never be bored by your wondeful picture! I'm sure that even a earthworm picture taken from you will be fantastic and full of poetry :-) This colorful picture where you managed the sunlight so well is amazing! The composition, pov, dof, framing, and notes are superb to say the least! Very well done and TFS,

Michel

Hi Gerhard,

Good detail, colours and sharpness. exposure and lighting are good. Good POV and composition.

Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

This fringed illuminated flower is striking in beauty the POV works great and the lighting really brings the protea out with exceptional results. :)

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-06-16 17:25]

Gerhard, I love your proteas - they grow well in NZ too. The notes are great - very interesting. And the sun shining on your plant here gives it a really extra glow to it, especially the high-lighted edges of the petals. Well done,
Janice

Hi Gerhard

How lovely to see another post from you. We are blessed to have both you and Callie visiting! Lovely backlight in the shot which has given some interesting shadows. And from me, no not bored at all, keep 'em coming! :-)

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