Peony in decay

Flowers are beautiful when they're fresh, but, in my opinion, also when they're fading away, decaying. If you let go of your conventional perception of beauty, you discover the beauty of other stages in their life than early or full bloom. As always, your comments are very welcome.

Everyone captures images of flowers when they are in bloom, fresh and alive. But as you state there can be beauty in death as well. As always very well captured Vincent.....................Sincerely, Holger

Hi Holger,

 

thanks for commenting on this particular photo. It doesn't show a stage in the short life of a flower that many of us like, as other stages are considered aesthetically more beautiful. But isn't that just a very culturally determined way of looking at nature? I think there is beauty in flowers fading away, even in rotting leaves. Kind regards, Vincent

Even in decay there is beauty, Vincent. It's just arranged in a different manner. The background does a great job of highlighting the flower. The colors are vivid and deep and bright. An excellent image of life in its changing cycle of time. Best regards, Paul.

Hi Paul,

 

the beauty of this flower in decay is a subject many of us don't 'see'. I think it's important to let your mind wrap itself around the idea of natural decay enough to embrace this kind of beauty. Why do we think an old car in a meadow is beautiiful, but a flower past its bloom is not? The combination of this body and lens is one of my favorites; it has super smooth bokeh. Kind regards, Vincent