Despite the recent cold weather and clouds, new wildflower species begin blooming every day now. (I was afraid that I had missed these: I’ll try to keep up!)
Hookedspur violet, Early blue violet, Viola adunca, Violet family
Montana Outdoors 
Both photos are lovely. Such a pretty blue.
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Comment by kateri — May 2, 2010 @ 8:53 pm
I almost seems that each wildflower, as it blooms, is my favorite. I know where some yellow ones bloom too, but they come later.
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Comment by montucky — May 2, 2010 @ 9:10 pm
Very nice photo those both two. I always, when situation it requres, take also photos with flash and without. I have noticed that in some cases photos without flash are better, but not always.
Inside churches I use ISO 3200 setting to take photos to preserve ambiance.
In Your case I prefer the the second photo from this flower which can be found here also.
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Comment by sartenada — May 2, 2010 @ 10:58 pm
I usually take photos with different setups too. I have no tripod that works for photographing small wildflowers and by using flash I can use a fast enough shutter speed to get a fairly good hand-held image with a large f-stop. It does often make a difference in the colors though and I prefer accurate color.
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2010 @ 9:03 am
I like the second on. The added depth of field lets me look right into the flower. Beautiful!
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Comment by Scott Thomas Photography — May 3, 2010 @ 9:07 am
I think the color is more accurate in the second one too.
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2010 @ 4:00 pm
I like the second one best. Probably because rarely use a flash.
New things are blooming everyday here, too. I want to go down in the woods to see if the starflowers are blooming, but spring turkey season started today. I might slip down anyway, for a second!
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Comment by sandy — May 3, 2010 @ 10:14 am
You must have lot of hunters in the woods then? Our season is open too, but here one hardly sees the hunters, they are spread out so much and I ignore turkey season.
I tend to shoot a lot in low light and so use flash quite a bit. Nearly everything I shoot is hand held.
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2010 @ 4:04 pm
How beautiful! These are my favorites, so bright in blue-violet, and yet small and fragile.
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Comment by Anna Surface — May 3, 2010 @ 10:24 am
I love these too, for those reasons. They also seem so “at home” in the edge of the forest.
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2010 @ 4:06 pm
These are so gorgeous and dainty!
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Comment by Barbara — May 3, 2010 @ 11:33 am
Yes, they are very pretty little things. I like the blues better than the yellows, but the white ones are pretty special too.
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
and both shots are very pretty! I guess the second looks more “natural” but the first seems to accentuate the violets more. always good to do two (or more!)
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Comment by silken — May 3, 2010 @ 11:53 am
I’ve learned to take more shots than I used to, but invariably by the time I get home I’ve thought of several things I didn’t try. Maybe some day…
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2010 @ 4:10 pm
Lovely color. I try not to use flash but yours doesn’t have that garish look my flash photos usually have. Generally, as you know, one doesn’t need flash much outdoors in AZ 🙂
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Comment by Candace — May 3, 2010 @ 10:42 pm
I remember how bright it always in in Arizona. The bright days are the hardest to shoot though for wildflowers. Most of the time on close ups I use flash compensation to help cut down on the harshness.
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Comment by montucky — May 3, 2010 @ 11:31 pm
Beautiful subject and capture! The colors are so rich.
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Comment by victry1 — May 4, 2010 @ 8:22 am
Thanks! They are beautiful little wildflowers.
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Comment by montucky — May 4, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
they are both beautiful. it would have been a hard choice for me to choose one over the other as each one has unique beauty from the other one.
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Comment by Tammie — May 4, 2010 @ 9:59 am
Thank you Tammie! It’s often difficult for me to choose, too. I always try to capture with the camera as closely as I can to what my eye sees, but later I’m not always sure. Thank you for the visit!
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Comment by montucky — May 4, 2010 @ 7:14 pm
Desperately need a picture of a viola palmata seed for school project, ideas?
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Comment by Anonymous — December 15, 2012 @ 6:24 pm
Try: http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/vascular/database/vascular-photos-enlarge.asp?CategoryID=Dicots&FamilyID=Violaceae&GenusID=Viola&SpeciesID=palmata&PhotoNameID=vi_palm1&PhotographerNameID=TENN
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Comment by montucky — December 15, 2012 @ 8:36 pm