Heart Like a Mallow
Mallows are annuals or perennials of the Malvaceae family. Spreading from their origins in Southern Europe, they’ve given us fiber and marshmallows.
Often considered a weed, a number of the varieties of mallows are grown in gardens for their wonderful flowers. I’ve come to appreciate the wonderful baroque shapes and curliques made by the pistils, stamen, and anthers of this flower, as well as the transulence of the flower itself.
View this photograph larger.
I photographed the mallows shown here using a handheld vibration reduction lens and a short, low depth-of-field exposure in sunny, bright conditions.
Here’s an earlier photo of a mallow spiral using a more classical technique that I like.
