<< Previous Next >>

Saguaro Cactus


Saguaro Cactus
Photo Information
Copyright: Dean Ln (deanophotos) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 208 W: 14 N: 393] (2612)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon EOS 30D, Sigma 17-70mm MACRO
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-25 9:02
Viewed: 539
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
#4 in the Arizona series, so far not my most popular topic but hopefully this one will change things!!!

Range

Sonoran Desert of extreme southeastern California, southern Arizona and adjoining northwestern Mexico.

Habitat

Desert slopes and flats, especially rocky bajadas.

Flowers

Creamy-white, 3-inch-wide flowers with yellow centers bloom May and June. Clustered near the ends of branches, the blossoms open during cooler desert nights and close again by next midday.


Description

The magnificent Saguaro Cactus, the state flower of Arizona, is composed of a tall, thick, fluted, columnar stem, 18 to 24 inches in diameter, often with several large branches (arms) curving upward in the most distinctive conformation of all Southwestern cacti.

The skin is smooth and waxy, the trunk and stems have stout, 2-inch spines clustered on their ribs. When water is absorbed , the outer pulp of the Saguaro can expand like an accordion, increasing the diameter of the stem and, in this way, can increase its weight by up to a ton.

The Saguaro often begins life in the shelter of a "nurse" tree or shrub which can provide a shaded, moister habitat for the germination of life. The Saguaro grows very slowly -- perhaps an inch a year -- but to a great height, 15 to 50 feet. The largest plants, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old. An average old Saguaro would have 5 arms and be about 30 feet tall.

Courtesy of Desertusa.com


PP Raw conversion, removed slight blue cast, saturation (just enough to bring out the true colours) and resized and sharpened!

Thankyou for looking.
Alice_40, shelbeesmom, Kilted-Arab, lilimih33, wenqing, GreenBaron, rychousmama has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekLens members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rychousmama: Hi Laradeanophotos 1 08-17 02:07
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Nice compo Dean :) Good idea and colours
Regards
Alina

Hi Dean,
Beautiful composition and color contrasts.
Good for a poster.
Well done and TFS

The smoothness of this is really nice Dean! Wonderful gradiation of oranges! Great silouette! Just love it!
B-)
Linda

Super stuff Dean...very "Joshua Tree". The off-centre composition is ideal and the gradiated orange in the background is just superb. Great photo and well-balanced pp work, well done.

Hello Dean!
Very nice colours in your composition!
Great clarity!
Lovely perspective and nice frame!
Excellent done!
Lili

i like this image dean :)
it look a lot like a poster
i think this would also make a very good album cover :)

koh

  • Great 
  • timtim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1058 W: 106 N: 560] (9550)
  • [2007-06-25 16:35]

Great shot postcard perfect

surely a postcard material! nice silhoutte of the cactus. love the orange bg. well done!tfs

jowhite

  • Great 
  • pathy Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 417 W: 38 N: 70] (1734)
  • [2007-06-25 17:09]

tres belle idee et jolie reussite

Superb postcard! The colors of this sunset are fantastic and the composition is very strong.

Hello Dean,

Beautiful picture. It's like a postcard. Lovely colors.

Tfs,
Tjutjut

Hi Dean,
I'm catching up your portfolio, boy I missed some. Like this stunning catcus Superb colours I almost can feel the warmth of the ending day.
TFS
Hans

Beautiful capture, Dean. Living here the saguaros almost become mundane, but you have created a photo of timeless beauty.

Great warm colors with a nice clear silhouette. Well composed.

TFS,
David

Perfect icon!

Anjhello Scoring System:
DOF - 3 POV - 3 CREATIVITY - 3 COMPOSITION - 3
LIGHTING - 3 SHARPNESS - 3 COLORS - 3

Average: 3.00

Range:
1 point: Average < 1.99
2 points: Average > 2.00

Scoring System:
1 Good 2 Better 3 Best

tfs!

  • Great 
  • ose Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 508 W: 0 N: 18] (5400)
  • [2007-07-17 14:18]

Hi Dean
Nice shot. Simle and beautiful. Great colours and POV.
Well done

osse

Yup, enough saturation to bring out the TRUE colors ;) The sunsets in Arizona are just magnificent, aren't they? I was looking through all of your Arizona shots now and I miss it there so much! I definitely want to go back there soon, hopefully. Looks like you had a blast there.
I love how crisp the silhouette came out here, the incredible rich contrasts, the sharpness. And that gradient of light eggplant to rose to orange to gold in the sky is just stunning. Excellent vertical framing with the saguaro off-center and just the right amount of negative space and inclusion of the background at the bottom edge for balance and context without distracting from that old saguaro. Sigh, nostalgia......
TFS!
-Lara

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF