#67 Lily Pond

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I have always felt that a flower has to be one of God's most beautiful creations -- especially when I look at one of my orchids while it is in bloom. The flower I choose above all others to photograph would be the water lily.

Photographing water lilies does not bring out the best in my verbal expressions; fortunately however, my language falls on deaf ears, because the pond where I photograph is very secluded.

Water lilies must be photographed in the early morning hours while the blooms are still fresh -- this of course is the easy part. So you might ask, what is so tough about filming water lilies... well, I'm generally in about a foot and a half of water and ankle deep in mud; then just about every time I'm ready to trip the shutter and produce the perfect portfolio image, a honey bee or some other type of fly will land on the stamen or leaf of the flower. Now of course I must strain like hell to dislodge my submerged hip waders from the mud in order to take a few steps forward and shoo this little insect off the flower, and then of course there is always the wind that greets me whenever I film flowers -- starting to get the picture?

Nevertheless, I am persistent in my efforts and will do most anything to capture the perfect image on film. This shot was produced on about the fifth day of filming water lilies, and I really don't think I will ever find this combination of pads, buds, and flower in one composition again.... enjoy!

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