<< Previous Next >>

Bear grass (Xerophyllum Tenax)


Bear grass (Xerophyllum Tenax)
Photo Information
Copyright: Mike Basil (mbasil) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 352 W: 148 N: 716] (3130)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-23
Categories: Flowers, Mountain
Camera: Nikon D50, Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Flower(white) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-07-18 19:13
Viewed: 772
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of the most unique features of Glacier National Park is this wildflower called "Beargrass." Like a lot of common names it wasn't named for any bilogical truth, for it's not really a grass, and bears have no interest in it. But I think it is an attractive wildflower.

"With its unforgettable torchlike cluster of white flowers, each plant blooms roughly once every seven years. Although not a synchronized bloom, some years are better than most, with whole slopes covered with this mountain-lily. It is the unofficial emblem of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

Aboriginal poeples used their long basal leaves to weave strong, watertight baskets. Beargrass' scientific name (Xerophyllum Tenax) means "the dry leaf that holds fast." Contrary to popular belief, bears don't have much to do with this plant, except perhaps as bedding material. Deer, elk and sheep nibble their blossoms, mountain goats eat their leaves, and chipmunks and birds snack on their seeds." Source.

PP: Just a sharpen, resize, and frame.
greghume, CTP, lovenature, Robbrown, SkyF, jmp, pilonm, LCannon, RII, pierrefonds 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]

Hi Mike
I agree with your assessment - it's a beautiful flower even if the name is not particularly apt. Sharp, well exposed and nicely set off from background. Regards.
Greg

  • Great 
  • CTP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 774 W: 6 N: 1107] (3183)
  • [2006-07-18 22:01]

Hi Mike,
Excellent Beargrass close-up.
I like your pov,dof,focus,sharpness,blurred bg,note,colors and framing.TFS
Chris

Hey! Nice shot Mike.
Wonderful detail and colour, I like the darker background, it really shows the blooms well. Nice composition and framing. Janice

Hi Mike a very nice capture of this beautiful flower, the dark BG shows the details nicely, white fklowers can be a real pain to capture clearly this look realy nice plenty of detail, and for me a nice balance in the frame. TFS yours Robert

Hi Mike,
Lovely flower. Composition and pov are great. Sharp and clear image. TFS
JC

Hi Mike,
Thanks for positing this photo. I saw so many of them at Glacier but never made a photo of it. Well, I gave it one try, but that one was standing in the sun, so all details were lost. Yours is perfect and beautifully captured with great details and colors.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Mike,
Just time for a very quick visit.
Nice shot. Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-07-19 16:46]

Hello Mike,
I love the POV you choose. Very good details, showing the structure of this plant. Colors, sharpness and light is also very nice.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2340] (8406)
  • [2006-07-20 2:58]

Hi Mike,
This a beatiful flower. A very good shot with dark background, good details and a natural color.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • pilonm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 554 W: 99 N: 844] (2743)
  • [2006-07-21 13:13]

Hello Mike,

Superb picture of this wildflower!!! You managed excellently the exposure by letting us see clearly the different white tones of the flowers! The dark blurry bg compliments greatly the plant too! I like also the shape of it! Great picture and great post!

TFS,

Michel

Wow Mike, I think you capturing more of it down the stem is very attractive. This one does have a really different shape than the one I photographed. Wonderful information about it too, well done. Thanks for giving me the link to compare it with mine!

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 486 W: 0 N: 887] (2804)
  • [2006-07-29 17:20]

Hi Mike.
Great composition, great capture, very nice green tones, colors and contrast,fine details and sharpness,good note.

Saludos...RICARDO.

Hi Mike,

A nice image of the bear grass, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF