The Moon blossom appears to me to be quite different from other flowers. The twist and turn to the tip almost looks like a soft server ice cream cone š¤£.
I think it might be interesting to create a small collection of blossoms like this for a B&W gallery.
Photograph taken early morning as the dew began to cover the plant. Interestingly the dew doesnāt seem to effect the blossoms, the plant withers only after the flower has opened for the night.
Specs; OM-1 (1), OM 12-100, Lightroom, Topaz, DxO Silver Efex.
Indeed, a soft-serve ice cream cone could be a good description! š¤£ We actually have something similar here in ironwork and fencing, with twisted shapes like this – sometimes more like a pine cone, sometimes spiralling like this one.
Either way, itās quite special. I donāt think Iāve ever seen this particular shape in another flower. And yes, I think it works beautifully in B&W.
The Pine Cone / Pineapple iron work. ! Traditional design going back centuries. My town was known for its wrought iron work, with the pine cone. In many of the photos I take in the old cemeteries you can see that design.
As for B&W, I love shooting that format. Being of that certain age it was the only thing we could afford to shoot āback in the dayā. These flowers are custom made for it.
I started exactly the same way, Ted. In the beginning I shot nothing but B&W – Ilford FP4 and HP5 were my two films of choice. I developed everything myself, in the dark, by feel, in the bathroom at home. š I did my prints at the photo club, usually postcard size, or 11.8 Ć 15.7 inches for club competitions. Where did all that time go? š
Oh yeahā¦. I learned developing in a tin hut where US Air Force took 16mm movie film from cameras that were mounted on old single engine planes. High Tech lol. Not exactly James Bond stuff šš. My home base was right besides the Air Force and they let me learn with their dark room when I was thereā¦well dark hut.
Oh, and you know I have a soft spot for old aircraft, Ted. Iām a little jealous now š² , getting to learn film developing in a darkroom used by the US Air Force must have been an unforgettable experience.
It shows the kind of technology used in Vietnam. The little planes were called ābird dogsā. Old engines with carburetors (I only know this because my brother in law had one) that had a spot to tie on an old film camera. I dragged around a Spotmatic while in the army.
Those Bird Dogs are definitely going on my āthings to look upā list, Ted! Iāve always had a soft spot for old aircraft. And I had a Spotmatic SV myself for quite a long time, those old Pentax cameras were wonderful pieces of engineering. Your story certainly brings back some memories!
āBeen a long strange tripā
The most sought after private planes are the mid 1970ās. Required maintenance is costly, however planes with older engine blocks, carburetors, etc. are much easier to work on. Or so Iām toldā¦