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Green Metropolis


Green Metropolis
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-04
Categories: Water Plants
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 180 mm F3.5 EX HSM, Digital ISO 400
Exposure: f/16, 1/50 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Nature Geometric [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-07-04 16:32
Viewed: 1359
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Something a little different, I seen these massive leafed plants and few times and I love the texture. I took this underneath a leaf with the sun shining on it from above. I used ISO 400 as there was a very slight breeze and I wanted to get a reasonable shutter speeed. There are shady patches where undulations in the leaf cause shadows, I think this adds some depth. It took me a long time to find a composition I was happy with.

I think it looks like an aerial view of a very green city.

Gunnera is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants, some of them gigantic. The genus is the only member of the family Gunneraceae.

The 40-50 species vary enormously in leaf size. Gunnera manicata, native to the Serra do Mar mountains of southeastern Brazil, is perhaps the largest species, with leaves typically 1.5-2 m (5-6 ft) wide, but exceptionally (as at Narrow-water Park, County Cork, Republic of Ireland in 1903) up to 3.4 m (11 ft) in width, borne on thick, succulent leaf stalks (petioles) up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long. It germinates best in very moist, but not wet, conditions and temperatures of 22 to 29 °C.

Only slightly smaller is G. masafuerae of the Juan Fernandez Islands off the Chilean coast. They can have leaves up to 2.9 m (9 ft 5 in) in width on stout leaf stalks 1.5 m (5 ft) long and 11 cm (4.5 in) thick according to Skottsberg. On nearby Mas a Fuera, G. peltata frequently has an upright trunk to 5.5 m (18 ft) in height by 25–30 cm (10–12 in) thick, bearing leaves up to 2 m (6 ft 4in) wide. G. magnifica of the Colombian Andes bears the largest leaf buds of any plant; up to 60 cm (2 ft) long and 40 cm (16 in) thick. The succulent leaf stalks are up to 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) long. The massive inflorescence of small, reddish flowers is up to 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in) long and weighs about 13 kg. Other giant Gunnera species are found throughout the Neotropics and Hawaii.

Several small species are found in New Zealand, notably G. albocarpa, with leaves only 1–2 cm long, and also in South America, with G. magellanica having leaves 5–9 cm wide on stalks 8–15 cm long.

This genus was named after the Norwegian botanist Johann Ernst Gunnerus.

I was unsure of the species, a fellow I met who knows the park very well assures me this is the correct one, if you know different please let me know.

I hope you like it.


Descriptive notes are from Wikipedia
valy67, cosmln, Dando, liquidsunshine, Active, Janice, thistle, TAZ, red45, ddg, coasties, pablominto, soccer, scottevers7, marhowie, mbasil, Luc, firelord, RII, sAner has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1318 W: 52 N: 1782] (5276)
  • [2006-07-04 16:41]

Hi Paul ! What a wonderful shot ! Something very unusual, but so beautiful. It really looks like some kind of green city seen from above. Excellent sharpness and details, and fantastic green colors, so brght and vivid. Very well done !
Valérie.

  • Great 
  • cosmln Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 196 W: 12 N: 465] (1818)
  • [2006-07-04 17:02]

hi Paul,

indeed a wonderful composition.
i will like to live in a so green city... but people prefer grey... what a pity.

TFS and TF this utopia,
cosmln

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3070 W: 231 N: 5861] (19714)
  • [2006-07-04 17:02]

A very creative and unique perspective of this gunnera leaf, Paul.
I have seen the massive leaves of the gunnera at the Botanical Garden and have been fascinated by their texture as well. You captured the geometric designs with great sharpness and beautiful light and shadows. And I DO like your composition very much.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-07-04 17:37]

Hi Paul, when I first saw this shot I thought it was a shot looking down on a rain forest with the trees and the rivers running through it. I like the abstract look you have created with this leaf and the sun has really brought out the colours and texture. Great work my friend and TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • Active Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 113 W: 6 N: 19] (1231)
  • [2006-07-04 18:19]

fantastic idea!! great job
TFS:)
Barbara

Hi paul,
This is a different one from you. It's a bit like google earth!
Good detail, colours and sharpness. I like the POV.

Thanks for posting, enjoy the rest of the week.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2006-07-04 19:00]

Excellente perspective Paul,la composition est superbe et le suget originale.
Merci.
joseph

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3451 W: 144 N: 5892] (17458)
  • [2006-07-04 19:41]

Wow Paul, this looks like a green sub-division, just waiting for the bulldozers to come roaring in! Quite amazing how we can see the main roads and side streets, and the undulating hills.
Yes, we have Gunneras here, and you've give me ideas about getting closer to some of the plants and ferns I see.
Excellent display, thank you,
Janice

Hello Paul,
I'm glad to see this picture here. I've always liked it a lot!
I prefer to think these are green hills and rivers rather than a city, but it's so symetrical that probably city is a better way to describe it.
Love the vivid greens, composition and your whole idea for this picture.
Great work!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2006-07-05 1:15]

Hello Paul,
Vous avez raison, on dirait une vue aérienne. Ce cliché est beau et original. Les nuances de ce vert éclatant sont superbes.
Well seen and well done, as always ! Congratulation

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2829 W: 75 N: 8024] (26857)
  • [2006-07-05 2:28]

Great idea, Paul!
It really looks like old town, full of serpentine streets and we've got even something like central plaza :-) Fresh green colour and shadows are very good - it looks more natural, not flat. Good to see another great post from you!

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 880 W: 23 N: 927] (4993)
  • [2006-07-05 3:52]

Bonjour Paul, en effet j'ai cru reconnaitre une vue verte de Paris avec un méandre de la Seine!! Super shot , I great idea, congratulations, Didier.

Hi Paul

Now this is simply magnificent. The thumbnail was a real eye catcher. I would never have guessed what it was, so thanks for the informative note. Magical shades of green. Looks like something taken from Hubble..... excellent! :-)

Hello Paul,
Well seen!
This fantastic patterns are very well depicted, and presented nicely in an almost abstract composition...
Strong saturated green and very nice details in the leaf!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-07-05 5:54]

Hello Paul,
Exclellent post,as Alan said before it looks like a scane from google-earth.Well seen and composed.
TFS...:-)

Paul,

Very unique and detailed pic. The Lighting here was great and shows great sharpness and detail of the subject. TFS,
Sheriff

Hi Paul,
A very beautiful study in texture. Vivid, well saturated green colors.
Amazing intricate detail in most all of nature if we look close enough.
Unique, and extremely well done.
Scott

Hi Paul,
Really interesting composition..
Looks like an aerial view from about 4000 feet as I come in to the Dallas/Fortworth airport.. You know, all the lush green stuff :) Very similar in fact: the area there has a winding river with surrounding subdivided land.
I agree, the bit of shadow across the leaf has added a nice dimensional quality here.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • mbasil Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 348 W: 146 N: 706] (3059)
  • [2006-07-05 11:29]

Wondeful abstract, Paul. Great texture enhanced by brilliant lighting. Good job shooting if from below!
Mike

HI Paul,
a wonderful Mosaik made of mother nature, I've never seen such a structure at a leaf. Excellent shot, I like it
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Clever idea, nice composition..
simple and excellent work, congrats..
regards

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2006-07-05 14:57]

This looks like a forest from above! wonderful shot of the beautiful details of nature. Really effective

Hi Paul,

Art, super capture and well done on all counts. Ever try B/W?

Mike

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5726 W: 605 N: 3416] (9137)
  • [2006-07-09 6:20]
  • [2]

Hi Paul
A beautiful study in photosynthesis showing the amazing colour of the chlorophyll flowing inside the veins while nourishing the plant and giving the leave its colour. A well seen and presented posting which shows nature in a very creative way.
A lovely composition with stunning colours and remarkable details. The subject is also the BG and the FG which is something to accomplish (chuckle) and the exposure was brilliantly managed.
Excellent work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

This is a cool shot Paul, it sort of looks like the Amazon and it network of rivers from a satelite perspective. Very nice lighting shows fantastic details. :)

Hi Paul,
You really gave this photo a excellent title. It really looks like a big city. I really like the color created by the back light and the shadows in the lower part.
A very creative photo.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 478 W: 0 N: 872] (2752)
  • [2006-07-29 0:39]

Hi Paul.
Fantastic and inusual composition, wonderful green color,excellent sharpness and details,is a micro-green-city,great work.Good and complet note.

Saludos...RICARDO.

Hello Paul,
surprising and stunning structures that seem to have much more to do with the growing of a city than a plant at first glance, indeed. Very well seen!
That would be a lovely metropolis if it was real! I wished architects and city planners would have a look at Gunnera before doing their work. Thinking positive, I am sure they once will do.
If you don't mind a feedback about the colour: it looks very bright and almost painfully saturated on my screen. I would prefer to have brightness and/or saturation slightly reduced which might even add to more 3D.
Excellent work, thank you!
Best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2006-08-13 10:33]

This is a fantastic picture Paul. The composition is just fantastic, simple but very effective. The different shades of green are marvelous and I would have never thought a part of a leaf of a plant could be this interesting. Well done TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

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