Stills

As an abstraction, you weave some interesting color combinations through it and the repeat of those patterns holds my attention. My mind keeps trying to create some order of this.
 

This is a very interesting colour set and I shall be intrigued to learn what the ingredients are.

The different effects such as spikes, ghosting, apparent folds and blending work very well together. Inevitably, one compares this to either an abstract or impressionist painting and compositionally it more than holds its own. If it has a weakness (for me), it is that it is largely about surface: there is a 3D feel but one can't see beyond what is essentially a curtain-like effect.

But it is very beautiful and very well executed.
 

I agree with Rex about the title -- I don't think "daggers" with this -- not hard or sharp in that way.

It is a very nice abstraction (created by moving the camera during exposure?). I like the color palette.
 

I get a great sense of vertical movement with this - very explosive. The pastel shades then calm it down somewhat. No escaping the sharp edges though and just enough variety in the direction of the 'leaves' to keep it interesting.
 

'there is a 3D feel but one can't see beyond what is essentially a curtain-like effect'

I'm not sure what is we are looking at, but I keeping thinking of an impenetrable curtain of grasses. Is there a lion back there waiting to eat me?
 

I am sorry that I have been MIA due to the chaos of moving. Now, I really will be missing. My computer chose this ideal time in my life to destroy the Windows system and I have no access to anything on it. Things are getting curiouser and curiouser here.

Anyway, about the image. The subject was one of the dozens of Spanish Dagger plants at one of my favorite places a few miles from where we are now—not where I will be in a little over a week. The effect was achieved by vertical camera movement during exposure. I was attracted to the idea of softening the dagger-like blades and translating it to a soft pastel image.

Thanks for the comments. I had meant to have a follow up of a Spanish Dagger in literal form to follow up on this, but the best laid plans....

I'll be back sometime after we complete the relocation and I find my socks, not to mention unpack the coffee. Then, I can deal with restoring my system and reloading all the programs. Don't have all the fun without me. Save some for me.
 

Robert - There was a lion. How did you guess? And, he had me cornered. There was no way out.
 

Anita - supposedly one of the most stressful times in one's life (and I'm not talking about your computer!). Good luck with the move.
 

the effect looks more like reflections in the shiny stuff they put around bunches of flowers than a plant itself, reminds me of something I tried to do and failed at.
This is not a failure though, a very intriguing pattern.