My good friend and Photographer Hallie Burton and I decided to do a test in the midst of a cold rainy winter in NYC, When you live in such a cold climate for so many months, you long for that time when the snow melts and birds begin to tweet, Spring in NYC is just so beautiful, so refreshing and our eyes can't help but be drawn to the wondrous beauty of flowers, popping up with bursts of colour, they are the explanation mark on the season. Paired with a white on white setting, flowers really do sing and used in unexpected ways they never cease to inspire. With a fresh take and often using them in single flower arrangements, you can be quirky and tongue in cheek with the way you approach your very own still life. Used as a garnish, used in multiple vessels or even potted, having fun is the key! Stifled, old-fashioned arrangements simply don't do the flowers justice, taking them beyond posies and cliqued groupings is the right approach for a modern take. It’s time to show those shackles of opinion or disfavor away, old notions that Gerbera’s and Sunflowers are so 90’s should be disregarded, (It was 20 years ago after all!) See each species in a new light, with the right approach any flower is beautiful and distinct.
Part of being a Stylist is knowing your flowers, Featured flowersin this test are:
Hydrangeas, Hydrangea (pronounced /haɪˈdreɪndʒ(i)ə/,[1] common names Hydrangea and Hortensia) is a genus of about 70–75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia (China, Korea, Japan, the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and North and South America. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Korea, and Japan. Most are shrubs 1–3 m tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.
Hyacinths, Hyacinthus is a genus of bulbous flowering plants, formerly placed in the lily family Liliaceae but now regarded as the type genus of the separate family Hyacinthaceae.[1] They are commonly called Hyacinths, and are native to the eastern Mediterranean region east to Iran and Turkmenistan, Hyacinths are sometimes associated with rebirth. The Hyacinth flower is used in the Haftseen table setting for the Persian New Year celebration Norouz held during the Spring Equinox.
Gerbera (pronounced /ˈɡɜrbərə/)[1] L. is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It was named in honor of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber, a friend of Carolus Linnaeus.
It has approximately 30 species in the wild, extending to South America, Africa and tropical Asia. Gerbera species bear a large capitulum with striking, two-lipped ray florets in yellow, orange, white, pink or red colors.
Orchids, Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, is the largest family of the flowering plants (Angiospermae).[1][2] Its name is derived from the genus Orchis. The number of orchid species equals about four times the number of mammal species, or more than twice the number of bird species. It also encompasses about 6–11% of all seed plants.[4] About 800 new orchid species are described each year.
Rose, A rose is a perennial flower shrub or vine of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species and comes in a variety of colours. The species form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Most are native to Asia, with smaller numbers of species native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. Natives, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance.
Spider Mum, Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are a genus (Chrysanthemum) of about 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to Asia and northeastern Europe. Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC, Spider: The disk florets are completely concealed, and the ray florets are tube like with hooked or barbed ends, hanging loosely around the stem.
Amaryllis (pronounced /ˌæməˈrɪləs/)[1] is a monotypic genus of plant also known as the Belladonna Lily or naked ladies. The single species, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape. It is in the family Hippeastreum, a flowering bulb commonly sold in the winter months for its ability to bloom indoors.
Others featured: Cabbage Flowers, Succulents.
For more of Hallie's amazing work see www.hallieburton.com, This test will appear over 2 posts, We just did so many shots! : )
