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Good appetite


Good appetite
Photo Information
Copyright: Markus Peissard (Heaven) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 807 W: 108 N: 1724] (6010)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-03
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Sony A700, Minolta 100 f2,8 Macro
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-05-03 10:07
Viewed: 626
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi all!

When I walk through nature, I'm always attracted by what is so called "common": a stone, an icy surface, a simple flower. The Dandelion probably is one of the best known flowers, but I'm still attracted by its plain beauty. Today, all the meadows near my home were shining in the light of millions of those sunny heads.

The name of the genus, Taraxacum, is derived from the Greek taraxos (disorder), and akos (remedy), on account of the curative action of the plant. A possible alternative derivation of Taraxacum is suggested in The Treasury of Botany:'The generic name is possibly derived from the Greek taraxo ("I have excited" or "caused") and achos (pain), in allusion to the medicinal effects of the plant.'

I'm also delighted by the way a "common" plant lives: The blooms are very sensitive to weather conditions. In fine weather, all the parts are outstretched, but directly rain threatens the whole head closes up at once. It closes against the dews of night, by five o'clock in the evening, being prepared for its night's sleep, opening again at seven in the morning though as this opening and closing is largely dependent upon the intensity of the light, the time differs somewhat in different latitudes and at different seasons.

And did you know that the young leaves of the Dandelion make an agreeable and wholesome addition to spring salads? The full-grown leaves should not be taken, being too bitter, but the young leaves, especially if blanched, make an excellent salad, either alone or in combination with other plants, lettuce, shallot tops or chives.
(www.botanical.com)

Young Dandelion leaves make delicious sandwiches, the tender leaves being laid between slices of bread and butter and sprinkled with salt. The addition of a little lemon-juice and pepper varies the flavour. The leaves should always be torn to pieces, rather than cut, in order to keep the flavour.

I wish you a good appetite!

Kind regards

Markus

N.B. Taken in RAW, basic level corrections in Camera RAW; imported to PS, level corrections, sharpness, little saturation.
nglen, Silvio2006, Royaldevon, eng55, maurydv, saeedabbasi, goldyrs, Argus, nasokoun, NinaM, LordPotty, jignasi, Noisette, ramthakur, eqshannon, Juyona, uleko, Pitoncle, anel, roges, livius, Alex99, Bass, Mikolaj, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To NinaM: Salade!Heaven 1 05-04 06:52
To Argus: BitternessHeaven 1 05-04 03:53
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2900 W: 34 N: 8586] (32012)
  • [2009-05-03 10:25]

Hi Markus. As you say in your interesting notes this is a very common wildflower but yet its still so beautifull. with its bright yellow colours. You have made good use of the sun light which has given good detail to the flower heads. We have many in the fieds around us so i will give the leaves a try. well done TFS.
Nick..

ciao Markus!
le considerazioni che hai fatto riguardo questa pianta medicinale dalle antiche proprieta' le faccio mie,anch'io sto scoprendo la bellezza di questo fiore e
della sua infruttescenza...e senz'altro veritiero il fatto che le cose che ti sono piu' vicine, piu' abbondanti e che non consideri serbano notevoli sorprese.

buona settimana sERGIO

Ciao Markus, splendid composition with wonderful dendelion, fantastic colors and great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Markus,

The dandelion really is a beauty amongst flowers. This is one site which, I feel, appreciates it. Although you refer to it as 'plain', when viewed close-up, it really is a complicated arrangement of petals and stamens, compacted into this vivid pompom of colour.

Your shot really does it justice, revealing its colours, vivacity and texture. Three makes a great composition. Your dof works well to sharpen them against an interesting oof b/g.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1122 W: 32 N: 1109] (3430)
  • [2009-05-03 14:15]

Hi Markus,
Beautiful flowers.Colors,contrast,POV and framing are wonderful.Well caught and composed.Have a great week!
THanks for posting..

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1969 W: 6 N: 5506] (19589)
  • [2009-05-03 14:31]

Salut Markus,je me souvien de maman qui faisait de salade avec les feuilles du Taraxacum....mes compliments pour le point de vue de cette magnifique photo,avec des couleurs et details au sommet de la qualite'.Ici on l'appelait "la salade foues= crazy salad"..ehehe..bonne semaine,Luciano

Ciao Markus,
in pianura (in Italia) hanno ormai disperso i loro semi, ma in montagna colorano i prati con il loro splendido giallo vivido e sono sicuramente un "piatto" invitante per moltissimi insetti, il tarassaco è una ottima cicoria edibile anche per l'uomo, come sottolinei con la tua ricetta nelle note, e nel mio paese d'origine (1000 metri s.l.m.) si raccoglie e si mangia; ottima definizione e bellissimi colori.
Grazie e complimenti
Maurizio

Hi dear Markus ,
What a nice shot.
I love yellow colour so much.
It has amazing light nice sharpness.

Very well done
Regards
saeed

As usual, Markus, one can't flaw your composition, they're so aesthetically done!
Love the colours and the overall presentation...
I'd like to try the recipe, though!(Wonder if you're a good cook, too)
Very well done, my friend!
Cheers!
Goldy

hello Markus
lovely scene with perfect warm colours
perfect photo
TFS
Nasos

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3800 W: 190 N: 11298] (34839)
  • [2009-05-04 2:29]
  • [+]

Hello Markus,
You're right: it's so easy to take the common things in nature for granted, even if they are beautiful!
Here you have captured the intense beauty of dandelion flowers at their best in a close and well composed macro taken from a great POV.
We also forget that though these flowers are considered undesirable weeds both in gardens and in agriculture, they are useful sources of nectar and pollen for insects, including honeybees. However, the leaves taste a bit too bitter for my salads, maybe because they were not young enough.
Thanks for this fine contribution.
With best wishes,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 800 W: 3 N: 2099] (6592)
  • [2009-05-04 6:15]
  • [+]

Coucou! I am happy to be back and see your pictures, once again. JUst like you, I love taking in picture the natural and everyday surrounding, simple things that we always see. It gives them a new light just as these dandelions. Not only is the picture beautifully taken, with a nice dof and beautiful colours, but the sandwiches seem to be delicious! I've never had one and obviously you did just by reading the description... or you're a fantastic writer! ;-) I like dandelion too and it's sad that people aim at having a yard with uniform grass. Anyway, good to see you back!

Francine

Beaitiful flower and excellend colour.
TSF
Salih

Nice shot Markus.
I'll definitely have to try those Dandelion leaf sandwiches.
I bet they're good for you too.
Cheers & TFS
Steve

Hola Markus,

tu galería necesitaba ya un toque de colores cálidos !!! y con esta foto lo has compensado. Un conjunto sencillo y efectivo.
Una interesante explicación ( suerte de los traductores...)
Técnicamente encuentro mucha dificultad en fotografiar esta planta tan bella por sus potentes colores y reflejos, todo un reto.
Un abrazo y buena semana: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1338 W: 0 N: 2558] (9021)
  • [2009-05-04 17:08]

Hi Markus,
dandelions always fascinate me. Its simple beauty. We do have a smaller and lesser bright one. I love to see its dried seed captured flying over when blown by the wind.
It may be common over there, and these golden yellows are treasure here.I have heard that there are people who have it potted for garden flowers. What is not available would become so precious.
Such a lovely rendition of the dandelions and I never know it can be eaten .
Very enlightening and useful notes.

Regards,
Foozi

Bonjour Markus
très belle photo de ces pissenlits, ces fleurs très communes qu'on voit partout dans les champs et les prés sont pourtant très jolies si on les voit sont un bon angle
la composition de la photo est superbe, le soleil rend le jaune vraiment éclatant ce qui fait que l'image est très agréable à regarder
Merci pour le partage

These are some very shapely Dandelions, Markus.
I agree with you; these are commonplace weedy flowers found all over the world.
Still, if one looks carefully at them, they have their own kind of charm, as is evidenced from this lovely composition you have created here.
Thanks and regards.
Ram

Interesting that these are among the flowers we learn of most as young children...and then as we grow we tend to forget...but yet remember in a way...until now for me as an older man...a field perhaps? Of memoirs? perhaps...One can never tell what goes on in my mind, but your image brings pleasure!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2256 W: 10 N: 2618] (15517)
  • [2009-05-06 0:52]

Hola Markus,
bella composición y atractivo color.
la acción curativa de esta planta es excelente.
bonito y luminoso encuadre,
saludos amigo.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2983 W: 162 N: 911] (2687)
  • [2009-05-06 22:05]

Hello Marcus,
Thank you for your warm welcome back and for these beautiful Dandelions! It brightens up my day!! I love fields of Dandelions but they're less welcome in my garden! Your capture shows them very sharply and in a lovely natural colour. Very nicely composed too. When it comes to eating them I rather prefer Nettles! :-)
TFS and all the best wishes, Ulla

Bonjour Markus,
Tes publications florales sont, pour l'instant j'espère, rares mais quelles merveilles !!!
Cette macro est tout simplement splendide et il n'y a pas à épiloguer sur ta technique et/ou ton sens artistique.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1713 W: 0 N: 3892] (15622)
  • [2009-05-09 4:43]

Lieber Markus,
Dieses Jahr habe ich die Schönheit dieser Blume entdeckt. Früher hab ich sie als zu invavsiv betrachtet!
Aber eben sie sind halt sehr attraktiv mit ihren runden und leuchtenden Köpfchen und für kleine Kreaturen sehr interessant. Auch hast Du ein schön natürliches Bild von ihnen gemacht.
War kurz im Wallis, der Löwenzahn ist est spärlich zu sehen auf den Alpenwiesen. Im Moment sind Krokusse, Soldanellen, Huflattiche und Pusatillen prägend.
Hab eine schönes Wochendende.
Herzlichst
Anne

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 590 W: 0 N: 497] (3004)
  • [2009-05-19 3:48]

Hallo Markus !
Splendid dieses Makro. Hervorragend spielte mit einigen großen Farben, herzlichen Glückwunsch.
Und die Beschreibung ist außergewöhnlich.
ich bin zurück nach meine Reise durch Switzerland und Italia.
Ich wünsche dir was,
Adrian

Hi Markus
Very nice composition with great detail and color.
Very nice,TFS
Tom

Hello Markus
an elegant composition with beautiful Taraxacum. Fine details, wonderful delicate colors and great sharpness on a soft background.
Livio

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3581 W: 143 N: 5669] (18529)
  • [2009-06-23 20:30]

Hi Markus.
I have written sometime not everybody can see beauty at common things and show it to all. You have this gift. You have pictured these cute flowers with great taste and skill. I like framing, composition and POV so much as well as wonderful colours and lights, ultimate details. Transition from sharp to blurred flowers are amazing too. My kind regards and best wishes.
Alexei.
P.S. See you at the comments to next your picture :)

  • Great 
  • Bass Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 110 W: 0 N: 124] (496)
  • [2009-06-30 18:17]

Hi Markus!
I´m back!
I´m glad to see that you like this flowers: they cover my hole garden during spring and summer. We call them "diente de león" (something like "lion teeth") and after the flower we call them "panaderos". As you said, people use them in salads because they said that is good for stomach problems.
TFS this wonderful flowers!
have a nice day!
Brenda

Hello Markus! Superb colours, splendid saturation, perfect contrast and sharpness. Nice shot. Well done!

Hello Markus,

I think it is the smiling colour of the dandelion that puts me in a good mood!
Unless it appears on the lawn then, hard to get rid of if you don't want to see them there...
This is a fine close-up with sharp fine details, good contrast with the green!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Hallo Markus
This image is just proof that even a simple flower can turn out to be a great photograph and one do not always have to take pictures of tiny insects, colourful birds or unusual mammals to be seen as a good photographer. This is a basic and very straightforward image, but unique and eye-catching because your technical skills was used to its best. Great image, with details well seen and displayed. Thanks for sharing. Best regards.
Anna

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