Botanical Portraits

From the smallest fleck of lichen to the largest palm frond, plants present an amazing variety of shapes, patterns and textures for the lens. Sometimes they are readily apparent, like the scalloped edges of a tropical leaf, or the hairy spines of a cactus. Other times, a plant’s patterns and textures may go unnoticed until viewed through a color filter, diffused light, or macro lens - tools that can help us to see differently, but no less faithfully. Many of the photographs that follow were taken in the rain forests and botanical gardens of Costa Rica. Click on the thumbnails to view larger versions, or simply play the slideshow.