Bamboo

I've been experimenting a bit with this one. Below are four variations. I find that I like them all. Which one do you like best?


1. Full Color, picking up the aesthetic flavor of a sume-e (墨絵) bamboo painting photographically.


2. Inverted Monochrome. Capturing more of the feeling of sumi-e painting but still clearly photographic.


3. Stll making no pretense of being anything other than a photograph, the enhanced contrast more closely resembles the contrast of a painting.


4. With a sumi-e algorithmic filter applied, to interesting effect.

An afternoon visit to both the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden and Descanso Gardens

Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden

Peacocks, among many other animal species, are all around the park, on the ground, in trees, on rooftops - everywhere. They're accoustomed to being around people, and don't run off when approached. The males often can be found displaying their exquisite plumage.


Viewed up close, the eye-like designs on their feathers look as though they were painted on.


Do these birds actually experience something akin to pride? From a human perspective, their behavior often appears so.


Note the more densely packed patterns behind the bird's neck. These also look almost as though painted on.


Leaves on a ginkgo tree cast a pleasant shade over a park bench - a nice place to eat lunch.


A Chinese Lantern flower.


A Wood Duck stands next to his mate on the edge of a large pond.


Close to the large pond is a bamboo forest.


The bamboo plants, actually a huge member of the grass family, form a canopy high above the ground.


Even on a bright sunny day, only a soft light filters down to illuminate the floor of the little forest.


There is something very peaceful about standing beneath the bamboo.


Descanso Gardens

A blossom on a "Tulip Tree", illuminated by a patch of sunlight filtering between its leaves, almost appears to be on fire.


A fairly large area of the park is covered by a thick oak tree canopy. Some of these trees are well over 100 years old.


A relative of the Rhododendron, this bright orange flower appears to jump out from the softly lit background beneath the oak canopy.


Harshly lit against a dark background, a lone Calla Lily graces the scene.