<< Previous Next >>

Clintonia Borealis


Clintonia Borealis
Photo Information
Copyright: Francine Malo (NinaM) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6594)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-30
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Olympus E-510, 40-150mm 4-5.6
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-21 9:32
Viewed: 462
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today I am posting kind of a mystery plant, because I begin with the flowers, then you'll see the whole plant with its colony and then the fruits (I think I have already posted that plant bearing fruits).

I want to make a note here because you will notice that most of my photographs of indigenous plants are a little under exposed. You see, in the woods light is very scarce, even more when there are clouds and it is grey outside. Otherwise, I encounter strong contrast that I have to deal with when shooting. I don't use the flash because I am close of the plants and I don't like the result. I should carry a white cardboard to light but with the 2 dogs, I don't like carrying anything except the camera. In a way, I Like to leave the plants a little bit underexposed, just like the environment where they grow.

Of all Spring plants, I think Clintonia is my favourite. I say "think" because for me it has always been difficult to have A favourite, be it a movie, place, colour, whatever. I like so many things so much that to chose is hard to do.

But I am enclined toward that beautiful plant. Is it because its flowers are so different of the fruits? Is it because it is found underneath trees, and only at spring is one able to see them and see their flowers? Afterwards, when all the bushes and plants grow, they are covered underneath the leaves of bigger plants.

This is the Bluebead Lily or Yellow Clintonia (Clintonie boréale in French). Just like the Pink Lady's Slipper, there were whole colonies growing in each trail that I took this spring. The flowers just started to lose their petals and now some tiny green fruits are beginning to show.

The flowers are small, maybe as big as my pinky finger. They open facing where they can get the most sun. Sometimes they turn their back at you or sometimes they face you, depending of their orientation. You have to lay flat on your stomach to take their picture, they are shy flowers you see. They don't yell outloud, "Look at me, I am gorgeous" like the superb Cypripedum. No, no, they are there, very humbly, and suddenly you notice their beautiful leaves, the beautiful long stem holding from 2 to 5 or 6 yellow bells. They can grow up to 15-25 cm and the leaves are at the base of the stem, from 2 to 5 leaves, generally 3.

They like the cool soil of humid decidual forest or mix and evergreen forest. They grow along and at the same period as the Cypripedum, the Cucumber Root and a little after the Trilliums have bloomed.

At that time of the year, when you walk in the forest, the forest floor is a poem of flowers, each species blooming now and there, making patches of different shapes and colours. Some flowers are so tiny that you have to know they exist in order to see them.

I have noticed, since I started identifying birds, plants and animals, that the more species you know, the more you will see them. Otherwise, when ignoring the different species, it seems like everything is the same. I used to only see sparrows when, in fact, there were so many different species that I was ignorant of. Knowledge is a real gift and opens the mind to seeing and feeling life diversity. I bow to that.

Francine

Levels adjusted, cropped slightly at the top, sharpened and resized for TN.

PLEASE NOTE that the lens I use, the 40-150mm, is not a 3.5 lens. It's a mistake I had never noticed but Asbed made me think of it. The fast lens is way too expensive ;-))), it is in fact a 40-150mm 4-5.6 lens. I love it! Thank you!
boreocypriensis, jconceicao, writerscrawlz, Alex99, haraprasan, roges, eqshannon, Noisette, CeltickRanger, goldyrs, Charo, Heaven, Pitoncle, livius has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-06-21 11:14]

Salut Francine,un moment particulier de la vie de cette plante! Excellente idee' et parfaite realisation,avec des couluer et une nettete' de haut niveau.J'aime beaucoup ton travail,tres interessant et different,mes compliments et bonne semaine,LUCIANO

Hi Francine, incredible macro capture of this beautiful boreal (like me!) flower from a good POV with excellent details, nice DOF and delightful composition.
TFS and have anice week!
Cheers,
Bayram

Hello Francine,

Splendid photo.
Light,focus and definition are fantastic.
Good notes.

As always, your notes are excellent! I love the depth of field, the beautiful lighting, the colors, and how it seems to be framed by natural nature. Just exquisite!
:-)
Kathy

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2009-06-22 1:19]

Hi Francine.
Once more cute presentation. Pictured plant I very attractive. However, I am impressed most of all with fantastic surrealistic BG. Its colour and light transitions are simply amazing. My kind regards and TFS.
Alexei.

Hi Francine,
A nice capture of this beautiful plant. Very well composed shot with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 0 N: 523] (3096)
  • [2009-06-22 3:10]

Hi Francine,
Excellent macro, very well played.
Interesting plants and description offered is very good. Congratulations.
Have a nice week,
Adrian

Hi Francine,

Another very attractive image, good detail in this photo of the Clintonia flowers, very accurate color too. I've seen these when I go north into Wisconsin or Minnesota. It's a bit too warm for them where I live, although they do grow in the Indiana National Lakeshore Park not too far from here, as the proximity to Lake Michigan keeps things cool enough in the summer for several species of plants typically found in the northern forests, relict species from the time following the last Ice Age when things here were much colder. Interestingly, Lake Michigan also keeps the areas right near it warmer in the Winter too, so the park also has plants typical of areas much further south, such as Flowering Dogwood. The boreal species usually grow on the north-facing slopes of the sand dunes and the southern species grow on the south-facing slopes,and it results in a very rich flora. I really should try to go there more often, but it's usually a very annoying 2 hour drive to get there with awful traffic, so I usually stay local.

John

Olympus makes some great glass/lens and when used with perfect depth of field as here, it can be magical. The green of course is a commonly known calming colour. At studios on TV in NYC, they have what they call a "green room". The original idea behind this was to keep guests calm before they came onstage...and it works...again here...very locely Francine..

Bob

bonjour Francine
cette plante est très jolie et tu nous la présente d'un très beau point de vue
la composition et les couleurs sont magnifiques
Passe une bone nuit
Jacqueline

bonjour Francine

je t'en avais pas parlé mais depuis un bon bout de temps
que je visionné tes photos plus attentivement car j'étais
intérré par la marque de ta caméra et la lentille,
pour la lentille ce n'ai que récemment que j'ai remarqué
l'erreur (écriture) des ouverture quand je me suis
vraiment décidé c'est un DSLR d'Olympus que je veux

une excellente photo de cette plnate/fleur sauvage,
avec un excellent POV, excellent focus avec
la netteté et détails, et belle luminosité, TFS

Asbed

This is neat, Francine, super neat!
I love the colours, and the aesthetics!
Superb shot, and a very interesting read!
Bravo!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • Charo Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 49 W: 0 N: 39] (456)
  • [2009-06-23 17:29]

Hello Francine,
I like the composition and color contrast, very harmonious.
Excellent light and great details. Good job!
Best wishes,
Charo

Hello Francine!

Ces petits lampadaires sont si délicats et beaux. Ils sont ouverts comme s'ils voulaient nous envoyer quelques rayons d'une douce lumière. D'ailleurs, cette douce lumière ressort si bien de ton image, et le jeu des formes nettes et floutées est superbe. Aussi, j'ai lu avec beaucoup d'intérêt tes notes, narratives et instructives à la fois.

Amitiés

Markus

Bonjour Francine,
Très belle macro.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Hello Francine
elegant composition with beautiful Clintonia Borealis, fine details and wonderful soft colors, great sharpness with everything perfectly in focusing.
Livio

  • Great 
  • Marx44 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 174 W: 95 N: 599] (2124)
  • [2009-07-12 13:18]

Witam
Bardzo ładne zdjęcie wygląda jak poster. Zielone kolory ładnie współgrają z słonecznymi plamami w tle.
Serdeczności
Marx

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2575] (9083)
  • [2009-07-29 5:40]

Hi Francine,
a new species for me and it is delivered is a lovely and natural way. The petals and stamens are well seen in excellent yellow.
I like you composition exploiting the backlight to give a good visual impact.

Regards,
Foozi

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF