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Oregon Grape


Oregon Grape
Photo Information
Copyright: Robert Shannon Sr (eqshannon) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2501 W: 216 N: 9370] (27903)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-10-28
Categories: Flowers
Camera: LeicaDLUX4
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-29 8:17
Viewed: 182
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Among the Pacific Northwest Indians, Oregon Grape took over from the Plains Indians Echinacea. Echinacea has been pretty well tested today and is a good immune system builder. Oregon Grape started out in old hand written books as a "blood cleanser". That is appropriately the same type of use which the Plains Indians used.

After the 1900's homesteaders started using Oregon Grape for teas and also with plenty of sugar, for a jelly. To me it has always tasted Yuck! Seriously. In my wilderness it grows freely. It is an Evergreen and for the sake of continuity, Washington is the Evergreen State.

Here it is pictured in our area yesterday after a very cold night of about 22 degrees F. Cold doesn't really bother any of the aforementioned properties and can actually increase the known compounds which heal. The roots are also cleaned well and boiled for a tincture. While I can in deed attest to the workings of Echincea (*There is a tincture bottle in front of me as I type this), I cannot tell you any personal experience with Oregon Grape...other than Yuck!:-)

Because in late fall and early winter the berries turn real red and with the green leaves and frost it reminded me of Joni Mitchell:
"It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on"

livius, Argus, SunToucher, boreocypriensis, CeltickRanger, uleko, goldyrs, Heaven, tuslaw, roges, anel, matatur, Pitoncle, sranjan has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • livius Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 179 W: 0 N: 298] (1165)
  • [2009-10-29 10:18]

Hello Robert
It's very interesting the effect of the ice on these beautiful colorful red grapes nearly as if it were sugar. The details and the light enriches optimally the composition.
Livio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2009-10-29 10:32]

Like icing on a cake the frost makes these berries look good! Well captured showing these berries and their 'icing' and leaves with excellent technical qualities.
The note is interesting too.
Thanks and all the best to you and Jane, Bob.
Ivan

Hi Bob,
I love the frosting on these grapes. They give this photo that bit of extra from the ordinary berry photos.
I did not know that these berries had a medicinal use. It is certainly good that this native knowledge is kept alive in our modern world.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 387 W: 59 N: 854] (3948)
  • [2009-10-29 11:06]

Bob
Wonderful Oregon Grape in the ice!
Great details and lovely colors.
Horia

Hi Bob,

A splendid and outstanding macro capture of these pretty frozen berries resembling tomatoes:)from nice POV with excellent DOF, fine details and delightful composition.
TFS and Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2384 W: 94 N: 5493] (17500)
  • [2009-10-29 11:24]

Hello Bob,
Early frost in this photo and so indeed a Christmas impression. Very beautiful clear colours and good sharpness and details. Nice composition.
Regards,
Peter

hello Bob

Nature Morte style beautiful photo of these frozen wild Grapes,
fine POV, superb focus with great sharpness and details,
excellent contrast of the 2 main colour tones, TFS

Asbed

Hi Bob,
this motive is wonderful - but also remembering that winter will come soon.
I love the delicate crystals on the berries, beautiful.
Thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2989 W: 162 N: 941] (2769)
  • [2009-10-29 14:00]

Hello Bob,
A beautiful capture of these bright red berries covered in frost. Lovely colours and great details. It looks very much like Cotoneaster that you often see here in gardens.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Ciao Bob, fascinating composition with fantastic effect of ice, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1977 W: 6 N: 5525] (19661)
  • [2009-10-29 16:49]

Hi Bob,it's nice to see the first frozen pic of the season,and as usual you use your fantastic style to take this spectacle at the best...here there are the sun and warm ...i don't know for many time....and it's interesting to see this preview of my destiny....have a nice day and thanks,LUCIANO

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 808 W: 108 N: 1732] (6042)
  • [2009-10-29 18:52]

Hi Bob!

Your text and your picture are in total harmony, and as I also can't fly away like J. Mitchell (I'm lying in hospital) I do it in my mind. The picture really is refreshing and the berries look like powdered with sugar...

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 501 W: 20 N: 1381] (4827)
  • [2009-10-29 19:20]

Nice photo Bob, but could you please keep the white stuff out your way for a little while longer, 22degrees F. doesn't sound to pleasing at the moment.
To be honest with you, until I read your notes I had never heard of an Oregon Grape. I'll take your word for the yucky taste though.
I like the vivid red colors against the dark green leaves. The DOF is very good showing some great detail. TFS.
Ron

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 595 W: 0 N: 507] (3040)
  • [2009-10-30 1:45]

Hello Bob,
Again an outstanding picture. Super macro. Excellent details and a very nice player.
Have a pleasant day,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1722 W: 0 N: 3901] (15676)
  • [2009-10-30 4:01]

Hello Bob,
A subject for a fine Christmas-card! Very fine composition and beautiful effect of the frost on the red berries. I had to look up in the dictionary what "Yuck" means. Now I know :-)
Have a nice day.
Kind regards
Anne

Wouldn't know how they taste, but surely they look great through your lens Bob, the ratio of reds to greens is just right in your fine composition, and the white of the frost completes a trilogy on colour harmony nicely.
TFS and cheers,
Mehmet

Bonjour Bob,
Très belle évocation du changement de saison avec cette artistique publication.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Hello Bob,
An excellent shot of Oregon Grapes. Perfect blend of nature, color, luminosity, composition & as usual great notes. TFS
Regards-Subhash

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