Snake's Head (or Fritillary Meleagris)

[chris dees]

In the Netherlands this flower is an endangered species in the wild but commonly in gardens.
I had some bad luck with the weather, hard wind and some rain, so I was not able to use Jakov's Heligon.
But I stil was able to get a few nice ones.

D810 + 24-120/4.0 VR

[Jakov Minić]

It's not windy and rainy today
I believe I shot the snake's head in Keukenhof with the Heligon, but I think I had difficulties getting the exposure right because of the flower's darkie colors...

[chris dees]

Luckily I had an other cream machine with me; the 58/1.4

[chris dees]

And the 300PF is no slouch either.

[HCS]

Chris, all of them nice.

I especially like the 1st one in post #2, even though the jpeg compression artifacts show through in the bokeh areas.

The 3rd one of post #3 is also to my liking.

[elsa hoffmann]

Once again Ditto Hans.

[chris dees]

Chris, all of them nice.

I especially like the 1st one in post #2, even though the jpeg compression artifacts show through in the bokeh areas.

The 3rd one of post #3 is also to my liking.

Thanks Hans, but can you explain what you see?

[HCS]

Thanks Hans, but can you explain what you see?

Most certainly! I see posterization in the light(er) background.

[rosko]

Very nice shots, Chris !

You are actually lucky to have a whole field of these fritillaries !

I drove miles this week to find a location where I saw these flowers few years ago with no success at all : no one...

Some species appear one year and disappear the following year. I often notice this phenomenon.

[s.smith]

Beautiful shot - so pretty too

[chris dees]

Most certainly! I see posterization in the light(er) background.

Next time we meet you have to explain this to me as I don't see it.

[chris dees]

Very nice shots, Chris !

You are actually lucky to have a whole field of these fritillaries !

I drove miles this week to find a location where I saw these flowers few years ago with no success at all : no one...

Some species appear one year and disappear the following year. I often notice this phenomenon.

There're literally thousands and thousands of these flowers in bloom for a period of about 2 weeks.
It's every year and "Staatsbosbeheer" (our national nature conservation organisation) is taking care for creating the best conditions/environment for these flowers.

[HCS]

Next time we meet you have to explain this to me as I don't see it.

No problem, then it must be me