I’m thinking of the famous quote by Georgie O’Keeffe (see below), about how nobody really sees a flower – not only because the flower is so small, but because it takes time.
That’s really my whole modus operandi when it comes to photography – taking the time to see. It’s especially true with familiar things, like a vase full of flowers. It’s easy to glance at them, there, in the middle of the table and think: fresh flowers! how nice! so pretty! But that’s like taking the beauty in one big, fleeting gulp and not really seeing the flower at all.
119/365: peruvian lilies (alstroemeria)
“Nobody sees a flower, really, it is so small. We haven’t time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it no one would see what I see because I would paint it small, like the flower is small. So I said to myself – I’ll paint what I see – what the flower is to me but I’ll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it…” – Georgie O’Keeffe
avant garden 365 
All around wonderful thought, quote and composition for this photo, thank you.
Thanks. I always liked that O’Keeffe quote, but only recently read the whole thing. I like the idea of surprise people into taking the time to look!
How beautiful. That is also my mantra, to “really look at them”, like Hollyhocks for instance.
The great thing is – it applies to everything, not just flowers!