almost time to pop

looks much better against a black background

wandered round the garden with my macro lens yesterday afternoon. It was a bit too windy for taking many photos, but did give me a few ideas for things to try in the future. It always amazes me that these enormous oriental poppies manage to fit into their buds. I love the way that this one is straining to get out.

[Yao RL]

macro lens is amazing, I never see flowers so squashed inside. it must be so liberating when they get out. Cool shot.

[Padlock]

Excellent shot

[Maggiemae]

This is a different shot and so good! Fav for the fine photography!

[Beryl Lloyd]

GREAT !!

[Alison]

Wonderful

[Al Perry]

Nice shot.

[iSunSeaSurf]

magical

[Jo]

Perfection. Fav.

[Rachel Withey]

This is fantastic

[Sue Barnicoat]

Gorgeous Jan, you caught it just at the right time

[Paul "Snapchap" Everest]

Fabulous! The amount of texture in that almost emerging petal...

[Corrie]

Beautiful shot!

[Marie]

Love the texture in this image and the glimpse of red popping through. Gorgeous!

[Adrian]

Amazing. An almost medical-looking picture. The focus and dof keep your attention transfixed on the emerging flower. Instant fav.

[Lynda]

Totally love this. Well captured :0)

[Katie Busick]

Fabulous shot!! Fav for me :)

[Emlar]

Love this emerging petal!

[Helene]

super pic indeed

[Cathy]

How beautiful... when spring is about to be sprung. Lovely shot

[Chris Nowell]

very nice

[Cathy Donohoue]

What promise!

[Debra Hall]

lovely

[Mike Gifford]

Very nicely captured!

[🐞Lucy Dolittle]

This is just beautiful, the dreamy outer layer with the perfectly focused and sharp red flower curled up and ready to stun. Fav

[Pam Knowler]

Gorgeous capture!!

[Pat Knowles]

Tightly packed Jan!!

[Lee]

Great find and capture, beautiful!

[Sue Rose]

Amazing capture. It's incredible how much flower is packed into that bud. Well seen.

[elkehochban]

I love this stage - so exciting to see colour begin to show!

[carol white]

Wonderful capture,superb timing!!Fav!!

[Elle Steward]

Stunning!

[Sally Ings]

Amazing capture!

[Judith Greenwood]

Oh yes - fav! Brilliant detail in the scrunched up petals.

[Julie Bailey]

Lovely capture with great detail in the opening bud.

[Kristen]

Love the colors and detail, beautiful shot!!!

[Wendy]

Awesome texture! I love emerging flowers, it's so exciting to see the colours begin to show.

[Sarah]

This is an amazing shot - how does all that flower fit in there? Love the colours and focus!

[JulieCo]

I do so love poppies and this is a great shot: the focus, macro, colour.

[Hazel]

Great shot and I like the way you've captured it all folded up inside!

[Pete]

Exquisite. The focusing and DOF is perfect. Fav.

[JH]

I think it looks a bit...well...rude! God knows what that says about my psyche.

[Jan Hall]

@jewelsandbinoculars that's just what my best friend said when she saw a similar one I did last year. I can see exactly what you mean....

[Sue Rose]

@jewelsandbinoculars @jantan well.... I didn't like to say anything in polite company - I thought it was just my dirty mind!

[Amrita]

Lovely..... amazing shot!

[kali]

and another lovely from me

[Skip Tribby - ​🖖]

Amazing shot! Love the detail!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

saw this on fav of fav thread! This is just beyond GREAT! I love it! Fav

[SarahP]

Gorgeous and fave :-))

[❀ Lynn]

Beautiful shot....perfect timing....fav

[ZambianLass]

It's a fav - love this

[Jerri]

like a package being unwrapped or a jack-in-the-box! amazing shot jan. fav.

[Lisa]

This is just beautiful Jan! : ) fav

[Sean O'Neill]

This is stunning Jan. Such detail. Fav.

[Laura J.]

Birth of beauty

[Lisa Pouncy]

Wow! It looks like a scrunched up balloon waiting to inflate :o) Fav xx

[Trisha King]

Beautiful capture. FAV

[Alice Burghart]

Beautiful

[PasadenaRose]

"I want to be a flower...I want to be a flower. I think I can, I think I can."
Somehow I never realized how many things there are that emerge from a very tight beginning...flowers, birds, BABIES.

Amazing shot. FAV

[KWind]

Wow... saw this on the poppy thread. INCREDIBLE shot!!

[amy spada]

Wonderful!