Comment from pfemd
Thank you for posting this lovely flower. I don't think it's the wind so much as your aperture. You need a deeper depth of field. These tiny blooms are hard to capture without a small aperture. If it's bright outside the wind is less a problem because your shutter speed is so fast. Hope this is useful and not annoying. Paula

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2013

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reply by the author on 31-Mar-2013

Thanks Paula, I appreciate constructive comments and don't find them annoying - my biggest problem is remembering when I get out in the field at my age the memory isn't what it was :) Cheers Mary

Comment from SteveANH
I really like the focus on the green leaves and the stem. Nice focus on the flowers themselves, tho maybe a tad too dark of a flower to even have a chance at any fine detail.
The background gray is well done.
Looks to me that you handled the wind just fine, focus is good!

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2013

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reply by the author on 30-Mar-2013

Thanks once again Steve, your positive comments are appreciated.

Comment from Geokat
Amazing color and detail in this fantastic photograph. Famed in front of the light blurred background it is a tremendously in your face image. Wonderful texture in the flower and a color than in my part of the world is just not that common. I think the focus is very good especially if you said it was subjected to wind while shooting. Very nice illumination with a nice sheen on the black portion.

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2013

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reply by the author on 30-Mar-2013

Thanks so much, your positive feedback is appreciated. Very windy up in the foothills which surprised me as it was so still when we left home.

Comment from susanlen
You have called this a bell flower but it looks more like a Salvia to me. Beautiful colour with those very dark petals. There are types of Salvia which has this colour blooms. Like the angle and also the fact there are two blooms rather than one in the shot. You have filled the entire frame with the flowers and I also like the blurred background in tones that compliment the flowers and enhance the whole shot. Very well framed with spot on focus.

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2013

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reply by the author on 30-Mar-2013

Thanks so much for both the review and telling me what it was - never guessed it was a Salvia but looked it up on internet and there it was :) Cheers Mary

Comment from kimartist
I do like the unusual composition of this (two flowers, instead of the usual odd number) which works well, I think, with the stem adding a third element? The purple-almost-black color of the buds is very eyecatching and unique. I think, also, since part of the buds have an almost "bird-like" shape, it also adds some more "life" to the image. Really intriguing, though, is the shape of the green "sheaths" around the flowers and the fuzzy, almost fake-looking texture - makes me want to reach out and touch it and see what it's made out of... I also like the shade of green very much. There is just so much to like in this despite (as I said) the unusual composition. VERY nicely done! :)

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2013

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reply by the author on 30-Mar-2013

Thanks so much, I appreciate your feedback. True it was unusul composition but there were only two of these. The sheaths were a quite furry texture which I found very different.

reply by kimartist on 30-Mar-2013

And I forgot to say that I love the SHAPE of the sheaths - like the tops of boots, or slippers. Very lovely and feminine.

Comment from bill_collett
Excellent macro shot. Focus is crystal clear and reveals all that amazing detail. Excellent range of colours. Lighting is great and enhances the shot. Presentation and composition are well suited. Well done Bill

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2013

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reply by the author on 30-Mar-2013

Thanks so much Bill, I appreciate your positive feedback.

Comment from Lynnette Smallwood
Wonderful texture, I understand trying to photograph on a windy day. I agree I would like to have seen it clearer and I like how you have muted the background. good job.

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2013

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reply by the author on 30-Mar-2013

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your feedback.

Comment from seshadri_sreenivasan
This is a beautiful shot of the flowers. You have framed it well. Light and sharpness are very effective in creating a lovely capture. Good effort!

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2013

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reply by the author on 30-Mar-2013

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your feedback.