Velvet tulips

It's always difficult finding shots that haven't been done before. Macro tulips are often bright and airy. If I'm stuck for inspiration I often try to take the opposite of my first thought. And that's how I ended up with this shot.

This is 3 deep red parrot tulips, nestled in a vase and exposed for the darks.

Macro people - did you know the IGPOTY macro class is now open, entries welcome until 30 June?

In other news my mother took me to a Gardens in Art lecture this morning. Fascinating stuff - lavender was originally a fabric conditioner (Romans), you can smoke white water lilies to commune with the departed (Egyptians), and Monet may have painted as he did due to uncorrected astigmatism.