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The Silver Fern


The Silver Fern
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3460 W: 145 N: 5905] (17690)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-01
Categories: Trees
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): New Zealand ferns, New Zealand Native Fauna and Flora (2), Janice's FerNZ [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-02 22:50
Viewed: 662
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Silver Fern

The image of the silver fern is widely representative of New Zealand and New Zealanders. It is an image to which all New Zealanders relate and is a powerful and emotional symbol of inspiration at times when it matters.

The symbol comes from the leaf of the New Zealand fern - Cyathea Dealbata (Ponga is the Maori name). The leaves are dark green on the upper side and silver underneath, as you can see in this photo.

The underside glows brightly in moonlight providing excellent track markers in New Zealand's native forests. It was often used by Maori as bedding for sleeping on due to the thin texture of the 'hairs'.

The symbol of the silver fern is widely used in sport which and it has also inspired New Zealanders in all aspects of their lives.

It has played an inspirational role for the military - New Zealand Army contingents who saw overseas service in the South African war of 1899-1902 are understood to have worn fern leaf badges, while the fern leaf had become the predominant badge in the Army by World War I ... and of course in New Zealand's national game, rugby.

When the All Blacks first played overseas (In NSW in Australia) in 1884 they are understood to have worn blue jerseys with a gold fern leaf. However, at the first Annual General Meeting of the NZRFU, held on 27 April 1893, "It was resolved that the New Zealand Representative colours should be Black Jersey with Silver Fernleaf, Black Cap with Silver Monogram, White Knickerbockers and Black Stockings".

http://www.nzflag.com/silverfern.cfm
red45, anel, eng55, Pitoncle, eqshannon, uleko, Heaven, marhowie, Bass has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To vmukherjee: FernsJanice 1 08-16 03:15
To red45: Brilliantly cold here!!Janice 3 07-03 01:28
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2814 W: 75 N: 7958] (26909)
  • [2008-07-02 23:08]
  • [+]

Hello Janice!

Silver fern as always beautifull :-) I like shrpness and composition of your photo. Silver leaf looks excellent on green BG. Good frame and high quality.
I'll try to take few photos today or around weekend - weather is still brilliant!

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1211 W: 0 N: 2132] (9006)
  • [2008-07-02 23:20]

hello Janice,
Striking picture with excellent graphical character. A beautiful composition and wonderful contrast between upper- and underside. An eyecatcher with fine colours
Best regards
Anne

hello janice,
nice presentation of the sliver fern, the darg bg suits well, the pov is ideal and the lighting is managed properly, liked the composition too,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 3 N: 427] (1335)
  • [2008-07-03 0:49]

Hi Janice,
Very nice capture.I liked contrast between silvern fern and dark green leaves.It's well composed and exposed.Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 787 W: 31 N: 20] (5002)
  • [2008-07-03 2:17]

Hi Janice,
fern is favorite Your theme. Another unusual species. Excellent quality of photo. I likeit.
Gr., Aleksander

  • Great 
  • vral Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 60 W: 1 N: 191] (861)
  • [2008-07-03 4:17]

Hello Janice,

Color and composition are too good. Details and DOF are excellent.Most of all,now I understand the emotions behind the silver fern. Though I've noticed silver fern on the black caps I was unaware of the significance and the history behind.
Thanks a lot for sharing with excellent image of silver fern.

warm regards
vral

Bonjour Janice,
Très belle composition, très détaillée, dans laquelle l'opposition entre les deux couleurs est remarquable ainsi que le POV qui permet d'apprécier les textures de ces mplantes.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Hi Janice,

Nice and sharp with good contrast. Really shows the difference between the two sides. I see you are still supporting the "All-Black" background.

Robin

Janice;
this image is a first place winner in any photo shoot in its catagory. There is a minimal part to it and yet a complex part...almost irony in the use of a word which might otherwise be self canceling. This image tricks the mind...it looks real. And yet it also has an unreal quality to it. but again...I can tell you if this were judged in print format, it would have a ribbon sticking on it!
Bob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734] (24475)
  • [2008-07-04 8:31]

Hello Janice,
This is so beautiful - I love your composition and the silvery colour and the green against the dark background looks so beautiful. The light is just perfect and details very sharp. Well done!
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hello Janice,
Love the idea here :)
The inverted underside "Silver" of the fern just jumps out of the frame on the green topside of the plant..
And excellent comp with very nice details, color, and light.
Well done!
Howard

  • Great 
  • Bass Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 101 W: 0 N: 115] (467)
  • [2008-07-10 20:27]

Hi Janice!
that´s why the All Blacks has this plant over the t-shirt!!! i had a discussion some time ago about this! thank you so much for the note!!
Good compo, Jan! great colours and light. Good sharp too, the silver one seems from an other world! good POV and BG
great great pic!! compliments!!
have a nice day
brenda

Wow... this is a gorgeous image. I've never seen a fern like it. The Pacific Northwest of the USA is a lot like NZ and has very similar ferns, but nothing like this one.

Hi Janice,
This is beautiful natural design Janice. I like the contrast between pale and darker color and this judicious composition! Congrats on a very nice capture!
Claudine
PS I have problem imagining that you can have winter down there... Here, summer has just beginning for real and will last for a month or two :)… There is a running gag in Quebec which tells that we have four seasons: winter, winter, winter and winter…

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 508 W: 85 N: 958] (3543)
  • [2008-07-13 11:13]

Hi Jane!

I can't help chosing another of your fern pictures to say hello to you. I like them so much, and you are so good at photographing them. I really love these patterns and colours and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them!

Together with your very interesting notes, this is a highly valuable posting!

Kind regards

Markus

Great picture and note, thanks Janice!

Great shot! The patterns, symmetry, all look beautiful. The white leaves seem to be somewhat overexposed, but may it cannot be done better than this with the present technology. Thanks for sharing.

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