Coneflowers, also called Rudbeckia, left standing in the fall, dry out and morph into an abstract composition, vivid against the snow. They present differently every winter — as if arranged by a master painter — and bring new pleasure.
In this scene, a fine haze has subdued the brilliant sun. The finely textured stalks play against the soft, luminous tones of freshly fallen snow. The white backdrop is not a studio prop set there by the photographer, but new snow covering the pond ice.
The photo was taken on December 18, 2013, at 8:54 am. More than most, this photo comes alive when viewed in low light. Click the image to view it full screen; click the back arrow to return.