Flower Power - November 2024

No, weren't harking back to the days of bloom-wielding hippies for November's Show and Tell theme of 'Flower Power', but to the beauty and intricacies of flowers.

Broadly, there are two categories of flower images: those taken 'in the wild', for example in gardens and the countryside, and those taken as a still life study, either arranged or found. Banks of flowers can make an arresting image as can close-ups, and macro photos can reveal often unnoticed details.

Of course, our ever-imaginative members explored the boundaries of the theme, seeking different interpretations of the power of flowers. There were many images that fell into the categories mentioned above: a wide variety of blooms photographed in locations at home and away, many liberally sprinkled with invertebrates, and a selection of artfully and meticulously arranged still lifes. Flowers' other powers were explored through smell (a pungent Titan Arum), but it was perhaps the poppy that has a particular poignancy at this time of year. Several members submitted images of poppies, however the one that caught our members' attention, and was voted their favourite, was Reflections by Alastair Bell. His picture had as its subject the graceful cast iron bridge across the entrance of Braunston Marina - poppy-bedecked and perfectly reflected in the water.

The Image of the Month section of our Show and Tell meetings are photos taken by members since the last meeting. It's always fascinating to see what members have submitted in this section of the Show and Tell meeting. There's no set theme, so you never know what you'll see and we had a good selection again this month. In black and white, a moody black and white photo of an art installation representing a lost railway, and street shots of a helter-skelter and receding pillars. In colour Saints' win over Leicester Tigers was captured; a jewel-like ceiling in Tewkesbury, trees, fireworks and a vintage car. However, simplest is often always the best and Colin Waite's  Catch a Falling Leaf - a simple shot of a single leaf, it's autumnal colours echoed in the tones of the out of focus background - was the members' favourite.

Which photo would you have voted for? Let us know by emailing info@whphoto.club.

Click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.