#MONOMAD: Velvet and Fluff (aka poppy center)

This image has not been postprocess edited at all. I like when I get one that speaks to me like this not to edit it if I can, because then I can feel a certain pride in the fact that I am getting a bit better about how I put things in the lens and not just relying on my GIMP skills.

This photo was taken June 17th but I didn't get it off my camera until today (explanation later)

ISO 100
f/5.6
1/100sec

Taken with my Sony Hx400V

While the contrasting colors of the bright orange petals and the dark burgandy velvet and fluff are neat, I prefer the black and white here because it highlights the textures. Most people just look at the color--they may not even look at the centers--just the widespread bright orange petals waving in the wind. We need to look inside. Also note the dusting of dark pollen all over the inside of the petals.

If anyone has actually been following me, you will have noticed I'm barely posting anything, especially the photography I used to post all the time. The writing dropped from posting because I'm selling it--or trying to--more on that in another post coming soon.

But the overall... I've been in a very long slump. I got a rib injury last winter that had me barely near my computer and not functioning for more than 3 months. Recovering from that.... I've been a mess of both physical and emotional symptoms with "the usual" health issues, the psychological impacts of my pain levels, cutting back my pain killers, and still trying to deal with my mother's death more than a year ago. I've retreated into my hermit's cave and can't or don't care to do much of anything.

My friends are trying to help me find my way out of it. The fact that the past month has been totally lost in a migraine I can't kick hasn't help. But I got up this morning determined to finally look at the last batch of photos I had taken, even if my head wants me to go back to bed, thanks to prompting a few days ago from @thinknzombie, and I need to get back out with my camera and do some more. The summer of flowers and bugs is passing me by and I'm not seeing it. And I'm not sending my grandmother the photos she needs to help keep her world from being so drab.

Anyway, thanks for looking at my shot and listening to my weird babble. Now I need to find some tea and breakfast and try to tease some words out of myself for my current WIP before a certain blue friend takes his whip to my back again.