Peonies in Abstract

To get up to speed, see this post.

Peonies, with their petal structure, are loaded with texture. It’s almost impossible to get a bad shot. A large flower, you certainly have some leeway in playing up the angles. I wasn't too worried about sunlight and shadows, but in general I do prefer slightly overcast conditions.

The thing about peonies is they secrete a nectar attracting primarily ants, which is why you see them crawling all over the buds before they bloom. Afterward, too, and they are joined by gnats and these little, itty-bitty bugs, I don’t know what they are, but they’re easily Photoshopped out, and that’s all that matters.

Next year, I’d like to try something with a non-reflective black cloth and (at least) four strategically placed lights. I’m hoping the result will look as if the bloom is floating in space. We shall see.