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White Beauty


White Beauty
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3071 W: 231 N: 5861] (19714)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-23
Categories: Water Plants
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/5.5, 1/80 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Hong Kong
Theme(s): water lily [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-10 11:58
Viewed: 1081
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
As a child growing up in Vietnam, candied lotus seeds were my favorites of all the treats in the tray of sweets traditionally offered to guests during the Chinese New Year festivities. The treats were ostensibly to "sweeten" the incoming new year. Boiled lotus seeds were also often found in soups. I had seen lotus seed pods, the shape and structure of which had always fascinated me. I had admired lotus flowers of all colors in ponds. But it was not until decades later that I learned how all those parts of the plant fitted together. On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I saw this lotus flower with the pod at the center. Eureka!
Okay, you may say, "Duh!"... But better late than never. : P

See other views of a lotus pods. You have to agree that it is not THAT obvious where that lotus seed pod came from.

My Hong Kong Travelogue

Lotus
Nelumbo nucifera

The plant

Lotus is a water plant growing in the mud of shallow ponds, lagoons, marshes and flooded fields. It is native to parts of the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Guinea. It can grow to a height of up to 6 m depending on the depth of water.

Rhizomes - firmly anchored in the mud beneath the water surface, the lotus plant has long stems to which the leaves and flowers are attached. The crisp rhizomes are eaten in a variety of savoury dishes in Asia. The rhizomes are pocketed with air tunnels so that, when sliced, each disc looks like a piece of Swiss cheese or a snowflake.

Leaves - disc-shaped and up to 90 cm wide. They either float on or protrude above the surface of the water. They have long leaf stalks that are scattered with small bumps. Both leaves and leaf stalks are eaten as vegetables in Asia.

Flowers - large and attractive with lots of petals. They tend to be rosy-pink or white coloured. They are sacred in Buddhist and Hindu religions and are frequently represented in South Asian art and literature. They are sometimes eaten as a vegetable in Asia.

Seeds - hard and dark brown. They can vary in shape from round or oval to oblong. They are sometimes eaten in Asia. Lotus seeds are also the oldest viable seeds ever recorded (1300 years old).

Source
Silke, nglen, navnith, angybone, kjpweb, SunToucher has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

HI Manyee,nice picture,verry good shot with good colour and detail.TFS
Mich

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2007-08-10 12:26]

Hi Manyee. Interesting notes .a good picture of the flower. you have done well with the white.It stands out well against the dark green leaves.a nice POV. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a good weekend.

Hi Maniee,
Quite so... white beauty!
Excellent colors and contrast.
Perfect composition.
Well done.
Congratulations!
José Roberto

Hi Manyee,
An excellent shot with very good contrast,colours,POV and sharpness.
TFS
navnith

beautiful composition...nice colour combination..sharpness n exposure at its best.
TFS

Hv a nice day...

Hemant

Beautiful white...perfectly exposed. Great colors period. :) Composed beautifully.

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2007-08-11 5:31]

simple and truly charming! I love the contrasts between the flower and the stone behind it.
Superb textures
TFS
silke
:D

Great capture with delicate detail and good notes! Cheers! Klaus

I think this is a wonderfully strong composition. I love the different shapes. White flowers are tricky to expose correctly but there is quite a lot of detail in this one. Nice work.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi ManYee,
I hope you clock is already ticking on Pacific time again and not that you are bright awake at night.
I am most certain that you had a wonderful time during your visit in China. I hope good memories will stay with you and a visit to your house will follow soon.
This is wonderful photo with great details and a beautiful composition. Love the perfect white of the flower and how it contrast with the dark green leaves.
TFS,
Niek

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