Aquilegia. Click for full size.
© C. Ford
Columbines have been important in the study of evolution. It was found that Sierra Columbine (A. pubescens) and Crimson Columbine (A. formosa) each have adapted specifically to a pollinator. Bees and hummingbirds are the visitors to A. formosa, while hawkmoths would only visit A. pubescens when given a choice. Such a “pollination syndrome”, being due to flower color and orientation controlled by their genetics, ensures reproductive isolation and can be a cause of speciation.
Aquilegia petals show an enormous range of petal spur length diversity ranging from a centimeter to the 15 cm spurs of Aquilegia longissima. Selection from pollinator shifts is suggested to have driven these changes in nectar spur length. Interestingly, it was shown that this amazing spur length diversity is achieved solely through changing cell shape, not cell number or cell size. This suggests that a simple microscopic change can result in a dramatic evolutionarily relevant morphological change. Source.
Ohhhh, I love the detail on this one
Thanks! Technically, it’s a no-no, but it’s one of my fave photography rules to break -- go out just on the cusp of dark, and use a flash. You get a black background and great detail. It’s actually cheaper cameras that are the best at this, I took this with my little Nikon Coolpix L1.
It’s Super Effective!
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Why is it such a no-no? It looks amazingly dramatic, and I’d been wondering about how you achieved the effect.
Also, columbines are beautiful. I used to think they came only in red; I had to seea blue one IRL to believe it. :) I love the shade on this one.
rq:
Oh, it’s considered to be a cheat, of sorts. It’s a rule that gets broken fairly often. Mostly, photos taken like this will get a sniff from snotty photographers, who will go to great lengths to lecture you on how to take a proper low light photo, and unfortunately, photos taken with this particular technique will often be spurned by judges, so most people won’t do this if they have any intention of entering a show.
Myself, I love the dramatic presentation, so I’ll keep on doing it. In spite of what snotty people might say, I have found that photos using this technique sell very well.
Snotty people are snotty, if the technique works, who cares? I mean, besides all those show judges. :P Anyway, it’s wonderfully dramatic, and I have decided to give it a try once the rose garden wakes up, since the long summer evenings are perfect for experimentation in low light.
rq:
Cool, let me know how it turns out!
Will do! :)