Summer survivors

I like travelling to discover new images, but sometimes they are close at hand, staring you plainly in the face. The place where I write, edit photos and interact with the world is next to my window ledge which is populated with geraniums.

It’s late November and the wild, cold autumn weather is taking hold. Some of the bright red blooms of the summer are holding their own and show no sign of dying. One morning as I sat here, they were dappled with rainwater and spurred me to pick up my camera.

I decided to treat the shot above with a blue filter, which made the droplets stand out and even catches the London grime caught in the petals. But for the purists there is a full colour photograph below.

Which do you prefer?…

See also:   THE BLOSSOM DILEMMA    A PHOTOGRAPHIC QUANDRY SOLVED

Waterlillies

I decided to defy the abysmal weather and make a trip to Kew Gardens, a real urban oasis and home of some amazing plant life in south-west London.

Even if it’s a chilly, sunless day, you can take refuge in the hot houses and be transported to the tropics. There is a relatively small glasshouse which houses a pond and beautiful collection of waterlillies. Cue a photographic indulgence in colour, form and reflections.

Click on the first image to launch the full-size gallery.

But staying true to the spirit of previous posts about floral captures, a monchrome version of the darkest lily was created. I think it brings out the contrast between the dark water and the brilliance of the bloom.

What do you think?