Spring plants

[Steve Foss]

Finally, spring seems to have arrived.

These are April images from up the Echo Trail.

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS

Alder catkins

iso400, 1/100, f5.6, handheld at 275mm

Leatherleaf from the bog

iso200, 1/160 at f9, handheld at 400mm

[MN Shutterbug]

You have some nifty plants up there. However, the first one almost looks like it was artificially created. It appears to have something draped over the end of the branch. That's the way it grows? Cool. Thanks for sharing.

[caseymcq]

The leaves on the first one look like birds taking off.

[Steve Foss]

Casey, I like that about the image, too.

X-T, I rarely alter nature. I generally use my eye and emotion to record it and hope it makes some people feel as good as it makes me feel. I've added, removed or significantly altered nothing in this image. I say "significantly altered" because I have used sharpening and color correction in Photoshop, which is required of most RAW images.

[Redstormy]

Awesome images Steve

[Powerstroke]

That is exactly the way those catkins look in the wild. Birch trees are also very similar. The buds on top and bottom have them attached so the ones on top have to drape over the sides.