The. Flower Essences series attempts to seat a wildflower in the truth of both what it is and where it lives. This Desert Willow though is an exercise in contradiction. So I chose to set it within the environment it creates for itself rather than the greater desert from which it grows. As its name suggests a Willowy almost tissue paper like flower Whimsically emerges from a tall, lush, green bush. It blows gently in the warm desert breeze surrounded by little more than packed sand, and starkly denies with every indication the environment from which it emerges. 

In capturing the clusters of flowers that generally emerge together, I chose an off center focus, so the eye pans around them left to right or right to left. While, the slight diagonal of the composition adds to this almost back and forth S curve, giving a sense of movement through the photo, like an afternoon desert breeze. A medium depth of field blurs the bush sufficiently enough to fade to background, but provides enough softened detail to hint of the chaotic nature it takes to emerge from the desert floor. Finally, soft afternoon sun pours in from the upper left corner to give more context of the surrounding environs. 

The Desert Willow flowers in this fine art photo almost romantically entices the viewer. Background greens softly but actively frame each delicate white flower that pulls back to reveal bright purple and yellow veining. Such a display would find a lovely home in a bedroom, personal retreat, or boudoir. As its colors, composition, and the motion of the flowers themselves send with Whimsy a Soft Invite.

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