I love simple beauty, like that of a single tulip flower that opens in the sunlight to reveal its colorful center, and closes at night as if to protect its precious treasure. This red tulip was the first full-sized tulip to bloom in the garden of my friend and photography mentor Cindy Dyer. I spotted it early on Easter morning when it was closed up, as shown in the second image. I was pleasantly surprised that afternoon to see that the tulip was open and I captured the first image.
I love this time of the year, when so much color is beginning to appear. Take the time this season to smell the roses—tulips do not seem to be particularly fragrant.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I agree – it has been so great to see nature responding to the light and sun
Lovely. Especially like the veins in the lower photo. My first one came up yellow! At least the rabbits did not eat them this year!
Both are lovely images. I know it can be tricky to capture reds in photography so I know it takes skill to capture them accurately while maintaining detail and not throwing out the other hues in the image. I really like the closed flower image because of the visual texture of the underside of those petals.
Thanks, Laura. I pay quite a bit of attention to trying to get the reds as accurate as I can. I processed the two images separately and noted that the red of the open flower was warmer, but I think it was mostly a factor of the afternoon sunshine versus the early morning light when the sun was lower on the horizon and the red looked a little cooler. I too loved the way I managed to capture some of the beautiful texture of the closed tulip.
Very nice, Mike, both versions. The color that is appearing all around is is a joy, even here where winter was not so drab.
Nicely done.
Thanks, Ted.
Poetic beginning 😍, beautiful captures, and humorous closing. Never disappointed with your posts… 🙂 I love simple beauty, too.
Thanks, Laura. I think it shows that I have a lot of fun writing my posts. I don’t pre-write my text. I simply sit down at my keyboard and compose on the fly as ideas come into my head. It can sometimes be a little rough around the edges, but is a pretty accurate reflection of me.
Both very beautiful! I didn’t realise how fast they open 😀
I think, Liz, that it may have opened for the first time the previous day and when I saw it close it was merely “asleep.”
Oh right! that’s interesting. Thanks!
Absolutely beautiful pictures!
Thanks, Lisa.