by Viviana De Cecco

Today we’re excited to feature the second place winner of our 2024 Spring Photography Contest, Sardinian Crane Flower (Bird of Paradise), by Viviana De Cecco. She will receive a $200 cash prize and regular payment for publication. We will publish our third place winner on Friday this week.

Here, Viviana talks about what inspired her photograph –

I took this photo on June 9, 2023 at Poetto’s Beach (Cagliari, Sardinia). I was walking along the seafront in the city of Cagliari, Sardinia, where I live and work. On my way to the beach, I passed a small bed and breakfast. In the garden overlooking the street, I noticed a bush with no less than seven Crane Flowers in bloom. With their bright colors, they really looked like a group of sharp-billed birds resting among the large green leaves, ready to take flight. I had seen many of them around town, and even my father had grown potted ones, but the one I was photographing was absolutely perfect. Its shape gave me an impression of elegance and majesty. I thought it was really amazing how nature’s forms can sometimes trick the human eye in such a wonderful way!

Our guest judge and photographer Patricia Joynes shared:

The flowers in nature always intrigue me, particularly their innermost parts, but here the focus is on the exterior. The composition of the work, along with the contrasting vivid colors, makes for a striking photo. It is so realistic that I expect the flower to strut across the page.

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Stay tuned for our third place winner coming on Friday!