Bluebonnet Flower Wallpaper

"All the flowers would have very extra special powers" This is a quote from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Flowers have been a symbol of peace and love throughout the ages. From the "Flower Power" movement of the 1960's, when activist and young pacifist Jane Rose Kasmir was photographed planting a flower on the bayonets of guards at the Pentagon during a protest against the Vietnam War on October 21, 1967. A Moment in time that would go on in American culture and heritage to reflect a moment of peace in a time of war, symbolizing a new type of passive resistance, coined by Ginsberg's 1965 essay titled How to Make a March/Spectacle. During the late 1800's a woman rejecting a suitor might send him yellow roses. During world war one a man leaving for a battle overseas might give his girlfriend forget-me-nots. Most people remember that red roses mean "I love you," but floriography itself has been largely forgotten, a Victorian practice where particular types of flowers meant different things. In some cases flowers may have a more grim representation such as calla lilies at a funeral. Recently evidence of flowers dating back to the prehistoric period have been discovered through 'Flower Fossils'. Archaeologists uncovered skeletons of a man, two women and an infant buried together in soil containing pollen of flowers in a cave in Iraq. This association of flowers with the cave dwelling Neanderthals of the Pleistocene epoch is indicative of the role of flowers in burial rituals. Analysis of the sediment pollen concentrated in batches, implied that possible bunches of flowers had been placed on the grave. Closer examination of the flower pollen enabled scientists to identify many flowers that were present, all of which had some therapeutic properties. That's right, before we had the local drugstore pharmacy with it's many colorful cough syrups to aid our aliments we relied on flowers. Flowers like calendula for aches and pains or hyssop for a sore throat. Today you might be able to find Ecanechia at your local pharmacy. Although most of the immunity boosting qualities of this flower comes form it's roots, it is a healing flower all the same. For the most part healing flowers are a thing of the past. That is of course if you are excluding one of today's most controversial flowers, the cannabis or marijuana flower. This highly debated flower is said to aid in a number of ailments such as chronic pain, depression and stomach upset, just to name a few. Although some states have legalized cannabis for medical use, it's distributors and the patients that have come to rely on it's healing properties are under the constant scrutiny of not only our federal government but the state elected officials whom continue to argue the validity of this flowers power.

Flowers Photography

Flowers are a passionate subject to shoot. Whether you're shooting below, above, on the side, far or up close, flowers will always remain to be an interesting subject with many possibilities. If you're using a DSLR for shooting roses or any type of flora and fauna, it is important to remember the color rule - that red is the most powerful color in photography. Even so subtle, the color red if placed in any photograph will tell your eyes to move towards it. Thus, red attracts the human eye.

If you have styling experience and want to go the extra mile, experimenting with dew drops can create very pleasant effects to your photos. Have you ever seen those photos where a plant leaf has a single dew drop hanging by its tail, waiting to fall to the ground? This very dramatic shot can be achieved in many ways but the formula for creating the dew can be made at home. There are two ways to recreate the image that your flowers are "fresh from the rain." Simply put dewdrops can be sprayed onto flowers with water to create that artificial effect.

For a more "solid" dew you can hop over to your local drugstore and purchase a bottle of glycerine (Mercury Drugstore in the Philippines carries these) which in turn you have to mix with a little water. A 50-50 solution of glycerine and water and poured into a small spray can can create a more consistent dew effect for your flowers.

Of course, there is nothing better than the real thing. Studio shots are great but don't you think something out natural should be taken out in the wild? The best way to photograph flowers out in its natural habitat would be to do so early in the morning or sometime in the afternoon but never with the noon sun because your subject will appear saturated.