Summer Lilies
A close-up photograph showcases two water lilies in varying stages of bloom.
Photographed at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, this gallery explores the color, texture, and quiet elegance of its renowned water lily collection. In this close-up, two lilies appear at different stages of bloom: a fully opened lavender-and-yellow flower above and a deeper pink, partially closed bloom below.
Floating among green lily pads on dark blue water, the flowers are isolated with a shallow depth of field that softens the background and keeps attention on their delicate forms. Gentle natural light brings out the subtle textures and rich color variations that make Longwood’s water lilies such irresistible photographic subjects.
Water-lily petals can photograph with unusually intense, almost luminous color due to very high pigment concentration, particularly anthocyanins in pink, purple, blue, and red varieties, and carotenoids in yellows. Another reason is that pale cellular layers beneath the pigmented surface can effectively send light through the pigment twice, rather like putting a reflective backing behind colored glass.
