I was feeling a little “artsy” on Saturday morning when I composed this close-up image of one of day lilies now growing in the garden of my dear friend and neighbor Cindy Dyer. Over the last nine years of so Cindy has served as my photographic mentor and muse. I remember how liberated I felt when she first told me it was ok to photograph parts of a flower and not just the whole thing—it opened my eyes to all kinds of new creative possibilities that went way beyond merely documenting “reality.”
Beauty is everywhere!
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
It’s lovely. At first I thought it was a painting!
Thanks, Louella. On of my friends said the photo made her think of Georgia O’Keeffe. Photography provides such amazing latitude for to be as painterly or as technical as I choose to be.
Beautiful.
Thanks, Tricia
That’s an elegant composition and dreamy colors, Mike. Great detail on the pollen and I like the lacy edge of the petals…all came together nicely!
Thanks, Ellen. I have a much better idea of what I am trying to achieve when I am photographing birds or insects than when I am photographing flowers. Consequently I am really happy when I take a shot like this one that “works” for me.
This is lovely, Mike!! 💗
Thanks, Patty Anne.
This is beautiful, Mike. Well done!
Thanks, Dan.
I haven’t heard anything about Cindy in a long time. I hope she’s doing well. She was one of the first “blog friends” I met in person, close to a decade ago.
She is doing pretty well. I celebrated the 4th with Cindy and her husband and another couple. Cindy is responsible for pushing and pulling me along in my photography. Almost exactly nine years ago she sat me down and told me I should have a blog and helped me set it up. I’ve now had 4,066 posts (including some reblogs). She is a little less active in her blog than ten years ago, but is still really busy as a free-lance photographer and graphic designer.
Thanks for that update. Tell her hi for me.
Beautiful Image Mike!