Floristic fireworks

Captured with supplemental torchlight at night, the spectacularly bright inflorescences and the long styles of the Leucospermum cordifolium – or pincushion resemble an explosive fireworks display.

Exposed under delicate torchlight, the colourful flower spikes of the krantz aloe (Aloe arborescens) stand out like ethereal candelabras in the gloom of the night. Ranging in colour from deep orange to bright yellow, these are a delight to photograph.

A symphony of fireball explosions lights up Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden when the Leucospermum tottums come into bloom. Endemic to parts of the Cederberg and the Western Cape mountains, these “ribbon” pincushions are my favourite “floristic fireworks”.

Pollinated by the Cape sugarbird and several species of sunbird, the attractive colour and the sweet nectar of the Leucopsermum vestitum, or silky-haired pincushion, make it universally popular. For this lowlight shot I used a subtle magenta filter in front of a stopped-down flash for a creative effect

The sugar bush, Protea eximia, makes for a great low-light floral portrait. The colourful inner flower bracts are
covered with delicate hairs which appear to shimmer under the light. I often use backlighting to “pop” these shots and to enhance the natural colour of the crimson bracts.

The “scarlet ribbon” is a cross between Leucospermum tottum and Leucospermum glabrum. First propagated in South
Africa in 1974, this popular hybrid can be found in gardens and nurseries across the world. In this shot the orange styles and yellow tips (stigmas) resemble flaming matches radiating out from the magenta tepals at the centre.

Multiple lift-offs. Leucospermum reflexum rockets appear to take off in unison in this low-light, shallow-depth-of-field portrait. This is a handheld shot (it’s often impossible to get a tripod into awkward spaces) and I’ve used soft light from multiple sources to light-paint the “rockets” without highlighting the background.

Multiple orange tracers appear to rise up in unison from this Leucospermum glabrum. It is challenging to determine the most appropriate focal point and since these are mostly handheld shots, focus stacking is not an option. I shoot as slow as possible (shutter speed) and as low as possible (ISO) but this does tend to limit the depth of field.