All about light ~

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Here are two details from “Albedo” (2010), by Osman Akan. “Albedo” is a two-story-tall sculpture installed in an open area of the parking garage at the Denver Botanic Gardens. It’s made of dichroic glass panels affixed to long, vertical, curving steel tubes. As the identification sign explains, “Albedo is the measure of how strongly an object reflects light. It is an important concept in climatology, astronomy and computer graphics—a relevant combination of disciplines for the Gardens and for Akan, whose art specializes in the physics of light.”

At 3 p.m. on April 2, the sculpture was casting teal shadows on the wall behind it. I didn’t get a good photo of that, so I need to go back. It would be interesting to document how the color and intensity of the square panels change throughout the day, how they vary from sunny to cloudy days, and how they alter over the seasons. I also want to take photographs of this sculpture from which I can isolate even smaller details. I find the colors and the overlapping forms almost hypnotic in their effect.

Spring flowers part 2 ~

Continuing with some Sunday photos from the Denver Botanic Gardens. Clockwise from top right: Some type of fruit tree, unidentified, tulip interior, unidentified, hellebore, unidentified, unidentified, tulip interior, poppy (I think) against a background of purple pansies, orchid (probably some type of phalaenopsis), fritillaria (checkered lily). If anyone can help with identification, please comment. My knowledge of flowers is pretty limited, and the signage was spotty. I didn’t saturate any of these photos; in fact, I frequently knocked the saturation down a bit.

Orchids part 2 ~

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Rhyncholaeliocattleya

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Phaiocalanthe Kryptonite “Ursula”

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Cymbidium Tom Thumb “Calliope”

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Phalaenopsis Carolina Tiny Phil

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Phragmipedium Jason Fischer

Taken at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s 2017 orchid show. I’ve probably written this before, but anyone interested in orchids should read “The Orchid Thief,” by Susan Orlean. It’s fascinating. It’s also the book that the movie “Adaptation” was loosely based upon.

Orchids part 1 ~

These photos were taken at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s 2017 orchid show. I’ve carried various cameras to four or five of these shows, but this is the first time I felt pleased with more than a small handful of shots. It’s also the first time I was patient enough to photograph the identification labels, so I now can actually name what I took. Just call me a slow learner.

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Paphiopedilum Black Thorpe. This is the orchid whose sexual organs were featured in yesterday’s post.

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Cattleya Los Gatos

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Bulbophyllum cumingii

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Phalaenopsis Hampshire Clouds

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Aliceara Purple Passion