Vigorous Pale Coneflower

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Close ups have this power to make us feel more the presence of the subject, because we can see more of its details, especially when looking at large prints.

This is a single Pale Coneflower and like all flowers it is beautiful at its own. But a beautiful subject does not make a good photograph, contrary to popular belief. A good photograph has more to do with how the subject is composed, framed, the angle it is portrayed and other things which all carry meanings that we read consciously or unconsciously, based on our cognitive experiences.

A beautiful subject can make us forget it all about the photograph and appreciate the subject alone. To be honest, this is a very simple photograph which caught my attention because of the beauty of the flower alone. But as a photographer I don't look only at the subject but at the photo as a whole, because it is from it where we find the photographer's expression that carries their personality, identity and sometimes messages.

What I like in this photograph is the flower leaning to the left side of the image and because of its shape it suggests a imaginary diagonal line crossing its extremities in the right and left side. Diagonal lines feels harmonious  and suggests dynamics, even if there is nothing happening it proposes that it is alive, symbolizing vigor.

The green leaves on the right side of the image point our attention back to the flower making it stand out  to our eyes as the main object. The leaves are also elements that help to compensate for the flower leaning on the left side of the image, creating a harmonic visual balance.

​Flower: Pale Coneflower, Pale echinacea.
Family: Compositae.
Genus: Echinacea.
Species: Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt.
Color: Pink and Purple.
Region: Europe and North America.
Use: Ornamental and medicine.

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