Habenaria dilatata- Tall White Bog Orchid 1931

This platinum print of four orchids, Habenaria dilatata, was created by Edwin Hale Lincoln. I like to imagine the platinum shimmering on the paper’s surface. I wonder about Lincoln's process; what was it like to be him, wandering through fields and bogs? He's got his camera, setting up each shot, focusing on these delicate white flowers. The platinum printing process gives the image this silvery, ethereal quality, like a dream, or a memory. There’s an incredible softness and depth in the tonality. Each flower, carefully composed, stands out against the muted background. Looking at them, I am reminded of other artists, like Karl Blossfeldt, who also captured botanical forms with such precision and reverence. Each of them sees the plant kingdom as a site of endless wonder. I can imagine them inspiring each other across time.