” FLOWERING BEAVERTAIL CACTUS” (18 x 24in.)

Many people think of a cactus as a desert plant that barely subsists in such a harsh and arid environment. Fortunately, under the right circumstances (enough moisture and appropriate temperature), there can be a burst of creative energy. Vibrant  colorful flowers explode from the sleeping plant. These blossoms ooze this incredible vitality for only a short time so timing is important to see this ephemeral event. I was lucky to catch this image. The main flowers and some pads are in direct sunlight while the buds and other pads are illuminated… but only indirectly (mostly “backlit”…the light is behind the object) The way the blossom emerges as a purple bud and then transforms itself into a lovely yellow/orange flower is simply amazing. The various greens of the pads along with some of the earth tones provide complementary  colors to the background. The lines of the pads also give a linear perspective and help tie the image together.