Congratulations Paul. The rich colours and incredible detail set against that black background make this a stunning photo. Would you accept a ten ?

WOWWWWW PERFECT... another beauty, a perfect macro once again, you can see every fine hair on it, great water shot too..... the black background definately makes it stand out even more.... love it

Another great shot from you Paul, my friend...are you sure these are the 'clowns' tears!..and not yours!......

Wondeful Paul. The color are stunning.

This is another incredible macro. Your camera's eye can see a lot more than we can. The details are wonderful. Worth more than a 10!

Incredible, Paul. Agree with Dehli... can i vote more than once for this once.. cos 10 is just not enough! Great work.

Marietha

I don't know which I like better, this or the open version. You have a great eye for the composition and your skill with your camera does not let you down.

Hi Paul !!
Very, very, very good !! ......even better than your early Pulsatilla !!!
Really excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers!.............John.

paul......this shot is brilliant! jen

This is a very nice Image I like every part of it but why is it called Tears of a clown? Keep up the good work.

Love the script. It describes the scene perfectly. Boy, what detail...even the fuz...each piece of fuz was captured. Be sure to send us one when it has opened. Good work on a an unopened plant. Usually it;s the other way around.
Pat

An amazing show stopper, Paul! After I pick my jaw up off the floor, I would like to say......Fantastic, awesome, incredible and perfect. You have done a absolutely fine work here!

A big smile, It's a beautiful picture

Very nice image but I think it's laughing at us. LOL

But seriously, well done.
Jackie

This is so cool! It looks like it will turn it's head and start talking to me! Such beautiful colors and details. Congrats!

Oh my Paul...this is one of the most amazing macros I have seen! How can that flower bud have so many little hairs on it? The detail you captured is mesmerizing ..I just want to keep staring at all the minute details. The lighting is excellent & the composition is spot on. Hope you don't mind if this blooms on my desktop for a few days. I want to continue to admire it's beauty~!
Oh, thanks also for visiting ~painted moth~. I think the snake heads on the wing tips is what fascinated most people as well as the size of the wing span. Quite a beauty it was. I was grateful to get off a shot before it decided to seek another tree to rest on!. I am glad that you enjoyed it also. Drop by anytime....the door is always open :~)
P.S. are these native to where you live or did you capture your image in a conservatory?

Hi Paul!
I can't believe your talent with a camera! This shot is magnificant! Just gorgeous! Vicky

And I adore the humor of the capture. The flower looks like a completely wet face of some animal... and it is so hairy... The flower seems so helpless and clumsy. The only thing that comes to my mind is: CUTE like a puppy!

Ditto to the above....I know that's a little bit of a copout, but I truly don't know what else to say. Well done!

One of the nicest images of a flower I have seen in here.
Details are outstanding!
Colours amazing! Clarity takes my breath away! Well done, see this one on the front page soon I suppose?
JuneBug

o what a beautiful color and clarity! gorgeous, into my faves.

This is lovely have uploaded 2 flowers myself with raindrops on them they look so magical don't they...very pretty

This is a cool image, but for me, it looks like Audrey2 (Little Shop of Horrors)...very cool image.
**and sorry to take away from the prettiness, with my relating it to Audrey2**

Fantastic macro!
Really wonderful detail and colour.

I saw this flower for the first time this past spring and loved it so much I went out and bought one for my garden, so come next spring I hope to get some shots as good as yours. Did you take shots of their seed pod as well, its as interesting as the flower itself. I think I have one posted in my gallery.

Hi Paul,
Your photos are absolutely outstanding! I have a particular interest in one called "Tears of a Clown" here http://www.caedes.net/Zephir.cgi?lib=Caedes::Infopage&image=Paul_Gerritsen-1143974761.jpg
I do digital painting from scratch as a hobby and am self taught. I would like to use your photo as a reference to paint a flower to include in my "Flowers of Emotions" series. I do not sell my artwork nor do I allow downloading of it and have the page java scripted to prevent it.

My web site is here http://www.barbkermisdesigns.com/ where I do offer free graphics I created to use for personal fun use. What I refer to as my serious artwork and where my flower collection is, is here http://www.barbkermisdesigns.com/ABarbsartintro.htm

I will give you credit for the photo reference and will be happy to provide a link to your web site if you have one or to the forum you have this photo on. I do this for any photo reference I use if I use one. Some I painted from my imagination which is not very good ha ha.

On one of my flowers at this link http://www.barbkermisdesigns.com/ABAflonat16.htm if you click on the blue link, you will see an animation I put together to show people how I go about drawing and painting from scratch. I do not paint over the photo, I only use it as a reference.

Could you please email me at my website addy
barbsplaygroundfb@yahoo.com to let me know one way or another if I may use it? If you prefer I do not use it I totally understand I would just like to know. If you will allow me to use it, could you please tell me if you have a link for me to include in the credits to you?

I live in Rochester NY USA and I see you live in Holland so our time is different but I read my email daily. Thank you so much for your time and keep up the wonderful photos!

Sincerely,
Barb Kermis :)

Very nice, Paul - faved -

lovely photo. well done