Mastodawn

The ‘Amazing Parrot’ tulip, captured in a sea of color at Appeltern.

Shot low to the ground with a Canon 5D Mark IV and Canon 100–400mm, this perspective allowed me to isolate the intricate, almost flame-like petals while still hinting at the surrounding field. Parrot tulips (*Tulipa*) are known for their ruffled edges and vivid patterns—cultivars shaped as much by human selection as by nature itself.

They appear delicate. Harmless, even.

But cultivated flowers often carry a less visible story. Many contain residues of insecticides and fungicides, some of which are considered highly toxic to humans and harmful to ecosystems. It’s part of the hidden cost behind the global flower trade—one that rarely shows up in the image.

Appeltern states that they avoid chemical toxins and work with biological solutions. I’m not in a position to verify that claim, but it is an important direction—and one worth paying attention to.

Because when we give flowers, we usually think in terms of beauty, gesture, and meaning.

Perhaps it’s also worth thinking about origin, impact, and process.

Special thanks to @smartmedj

What looks soft and fragile can carry a much harder reality beneath the surface.

#Tulip #ParrotTulip #AmazingParrot #Tulipa #FlowerPhotography #NaturePhotography #Canon5DMarkIV #Canon100400 #Telephoto #LowAngle #SelectiveFocus #DepthOfField #Appeltern #DutchFlowers #SpringColors #Botany #PlantScience #FloralBeauty #HiddenImpact #Pesticides #EnvironmentalImpact #Sustainability #ThinkTwice #NatureAndHuman #FlowerIndustry #VisualStorytelling #NatureLovers #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #WonderingLens

Maikel de Bakker Apr 24

Talking about something “typically Dutch”… the tulip.

And yet, it isn’t Dutch at all.

Tulips (Tulipa) originated in Central Asia and were cultivated extensively in the Ottoman Empire before arriving in the Netherlands in the 16th century. What followed became one of the most remarkable chapters in economic history: Tulip Mania. At its peak in the 1630s, individual bulbs were traded for the price of a house. Speculation drove values higher and higher—until the market collapsed almost overnight, marking what is often considered the first recorded economic bubble.

And still, the story didn’t end there.

The Netherlands refined, cultivated, and exported the tulip on a massive scale, becoming the world’s largest producer. In later years, even the Vatican received Dutch tulips as a gesture of gratitude and diplomacy—a symbol of beauty, grown from a complicated past.

This image captures a ‘Negrita’ or ‘Purple Prince’ tulip, standing among many others. Shot with a Canon 5D Mark IV and Canon 100–400mm, the telephoto allowed for selective focus—isolating form, color, and structure within the layered field of blooms.

A single flower, surrounded by history. Not just botanical, but economic, cultural, and human.

What we often see as simple beauty is rarely simple at all.

#Tulip #Tulipa #DutchTulips #NegritaTulip #PurplePrince #FlowerPhotography #NaturePhotography #Canon5DMarkIV #Canon100400 #Telephoto #SelectiveFocus #DepthOfField #Botany #PlantScience #FloralBeauty #SpringColors #Netherlands #DutchHistory #TulipMania #EconomicHistory #FirstBubble #NatureAndCulture #HiddenStories #VisualNarrative #PhotographyStory #NatureLovers #GardenPhotography #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #throughthewonderinglens #Wonderinglens #thewonderinglens

Velvet Poetics Apr 18

When the Subject Chooses You: A Burst of Curiosity and Light

In photography, intention often serves as the starting point. But, it is not always the destination. What begins as a careful study of color, form, and composition of a flower can quickly evolve into something far more spontaneous. This image, originally conceived as a portrait of a vibrant orange marigold, became instead a quiet narrative of curiosity, instinct, and the gentle unpredictability of life. At the center of the frame, the marigold stands in soft focus with the orange petals […]

https://velvetpoetics.wordpress.com/2026/04/18/when-the-subject-chooses-you-a-twist-of-curiosity-and-light/

Jack Groundhog 📷📸🪶Apr 5

Lumen
A #poetry thread

In sable night
that lacks the stars,
a sealed off cave.
A man, five scars.

The tail of night,
a crack is heard.
Black stone is rolled,
a flight of birds.

Beloved with
her oils and herbs.
She sees the stone
and finds no words.

🧵👇🏼

#poem #poemaday #easter #happyeaster #sunflower #flower #nature #holyweek #anglican #catholic #selectivefocus #spirituality #photography

Velvet Poetics Mar 4

An Uplifting Conversation

Photography by Laura L. Leatherwood In An Uplifting Conversation, Laura L. Leatherwood presents a study in relational composition, where color, focus, and gesture interact as though engaged in quiet dialogue. The image is not simply a floral portrait; it is an exploration of visual support expressed through form and light. At the forefront, a violet bloom curves upward from the lower portion of the frame. Its petal, softly defined yet textured with delicate striations, becomes the anchor […]

https://velvetpoetics.wordpress.com/2026/03/04/an-uplifting-conversation/

Velvet Poetics Feb 10

Painting With Reflected Light: Using Metallic Wrapping Paper to Illuminate Floral Subjects

A Photography Tutorial by Laura L. Leatherwood Light does not always need to come directly from a lamp or window to shape a subject. In this tutorial, reflective wrapping paper is used as a creative lighting tool. Light is redirected, softened, and colored as it interacts with a floral subject. This approach offers a painterly alternative to traditional reflectors and encourages experimentation with subtle, atmospheric illumination. Understanding Reflected Light Reflected light is indirect […]

https://velvetpoetics.wordpress.com/2026/02/10/painting-with-reflected-light-using-metallic-wrapping-paper-to-illuminate-floral-subjects/