Skunk cabbage

Image Critiques
, ,
1

Skunk cabbage.jpg
Skunk cabbage.jpg2343×1899 2.67 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Skunk cabbage is one of the earliest ground-dwelling flowers to bloom in our area (this was taken March 8), and it is uncommon as we are the northern limit of its range. Botanists and naturalists thrill at its early appearance, as it literally warms the environment around it through thermogenesis, melting snow and allowing it to flower. I wanted to get close and see what was going on inside that lovely maroon spadix, and this was what I found. Stamens were beginning to shed their pollen, the individual grains of which can be seen here.

Specific Feedback

This is a bit monochrome, but that is the nature of this plant. Is it interesting enough? On composition, I might have improved it with more cropping (I did crop it some), but I worried that the image was not up to any more scrutiny. Any advice welcome.

Technical Details

Nikon D7500
AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85mm ƒ3.5G ED VR
ISO 100 f/8 1/125 sec
cropped to about 70% of original, a tiny bit of color boosting in LRC.

2 Likes
2

Elizabeth, you certainly got close to this plant, how was the smell :zany_face:. I think this view works well. It is quite colorful and your emphasis on that central stamen with the somewhat softer adjacent stamen looks good. I’ve tried photographing Skunk Cabbage both just leaves and just the spadix with only limited success, so I’m aware of the challenge that you’ve handled well here.

3

Oooh cool. Stinky, but cool. And a tiny world revealed. With your explanation, I can see the progress the different stamens are making at this point. Excellent work and info. When I learned these guys make heat, I was floored and have always looked for them in early spring since. Fascinating. Have you found them to be popular with deer? I’ve found them nibbled quite a bit.

4

This is really nice, Elizabeth. I’ve never seen this much of a closeup of this species. Usually there’s not much dry land around it to photograph it. I think your composition works very well here and the reds and yellows work very well together.

5

Thank you, Mark. Yes, it is a challenge getting this close, for a variety of reasons! And true confession: I had to open up the spathe to get inside to the spadix.

6

Hi Kristen, thank you so much. Yes, the fact that they make heat is kind of astonishing. I have not seen them browsed by deer, but on the other hand I don’t see this plant much at all, since I live in a place where it is not common.

7

Thank you very much, Dennis. When I go to photograph this plant, I am prepared to get wet, as I have to lie down on the ground to get close enough. I’m glad to hear that you think the colors and composition work well.