Cacti Flower
This stunning flower is a Cacti flower, and only opens at night time - and lasts for just one day.
This stunning flower is a Cacti flower, and only opens at night time - and lasts for just one day.
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Mar, 2014Views
2673
Likes
Awards
People's Choice in Single Flower Photo Challenge
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
All Star
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Peer Award
Jaw Dropping
Outstanding Creativity
Exceptional Contrast
Genius
Love it
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank week 3Top 30 rank week 2
Top 10 rank
Platinum
ChrisKIELY
April 11, 2014
You are so very kind!!! I truly appreciate your wonderful boost of confidence!!
Platinum
ChrisKIELY
July 22, 2014
Thank you so much Karen, vote again? Wow you don't see that too often lol :)
PRO+
ChrisKIELY
July 22, 2014
Thank you so much Brian - your comments and feedback are very greatly appreciated.
ChrisKIELY
July 22, 2014
Thank you so much Krishna - your comments and feedback are very greatly appreciated.
ChrisKIELY
July 22, 2014
Thank you so much Laura - you're such a sweetheart my Lady!! Your feedback is very greatly appreciated.
kathleenweetman
August 02, 2014
Wonderful...so pretty Chris......this is great for this comp...voted
PRO+
PRO+
synergySB52
May 11, 2015
Boy, did you step up to my Challenge, Chris! Thank you so much for your support....as always, beautiful work!
ChrisKIELY
May 12, 2015
Sandra, you are so very kind. Thank you so much for your amazing feedback. It is my pleasure to join your challenge :)
PRO+
PRO+
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken late at night in my loungeroom, when the flower fully opened.Time
This cacti flower only opens once, and blooms only during the dark of night, then it dies. This cacti plant has only flowered the once, and the flower shown here is its only flower to date. I am eagerly waiting for another flower. It is an incredible period of anticipation waiting for the flower to open, bit by bit over a period of several hours, waiting for it to open in full bloom. It truly is a spectacle.Lighting
Because the flower only blooms at night, the only light available to me at the time was the light shone by normal household lights. I was afraid if I had too much light on the magnificent bloom, it might not come out as well as it should. In its natural environment, it would be in pitch dark, so I chose to have as little light as I could without the need for a camera flash.Equipment
My camera had broken just before this flower opened, so I frantically drove to a friend's place to borrow her Nikon camera, which I have never used before. I was unfamiliar with the settings so hoped for the best. I was delighted with the way the photo turned out, in light of my camera dying at the most inconvenient time, and borrowing a camera I had never used before.Inspiration
Once I knew this flower was going to start opening, the excitement grew on me moment by moment - after all, the flower takes around 12 hours to flower and then slowly die.Editing
I didn't really need any post-processing. The amount of lighting was adequate, and I was hesitant to use any other artificial lighting, except for the normal house lighting once it had opened.In my camera bag
In my camera bag, I have my Canon 700D Camera, 18-55mm lens, 70-300 lens, and the small macro lens. I always carry a full cleaning kit to keep the camera at its optimum. I carry a notebook and pencil or pen for jotting down anything special about the shot you have captured. A spare charged battery and charger is a must.Feedback
Patience - over a 12 hour period you need patience. The end reward was brilliant.
