Thistles can have their own elegance if you let them
They are a weed. Their spiky heads can leave a child wailing and an adult cursing. They are often a blight, an eyesore, something to be dealt with or avoided. They also can have their own beauty and intricacies, if you take the time to look a them in the right light (figuratively and literally).
The proud bloom of a thistle in its prime
When they are fresh, they can be an amazing mix of color.
And sometimes those colors can be surprising
And they are important to our bees, as they flower when little else does.
Hurrah for bees and thistles!
Most of these pictures were taken in the same way- with a long lens and an aperture that was opened up wide. This gives a very tight composition on just the thistle, while blurring out the background for a nice even backdrop. It simplifies the picture, leaves behind extraneous details, and gives the audience only one thing to focus on. Thistles.
A little color is added to the golden fields, for better or worse
I had no idea how excited I would get about this post, until I started it and began remembering about some of the many thistle pictures I have taken and wanted to include.
And finally, winter claims the forgotten thistles of the fall
New
New
Brownie thistle... sometimes even the name can be a little surprising
New
Beauty and pain mixed into simplicity
Galen Leeds Photography 
Very beautiful wildflowers and nicely photographed.
Thanks Donna. There is a competition where I live right now between the frost and the wildflowers… Hopefully I will be taking even more wildflower photographs soon
Absolutely stunning Galen!!
Thanks Cee
So beautiful.
Gracias!
Beautiful, Galen, especially with the bees – I always love the idea of focusing on a subject that is under (or less) appreciated. Thank you!
Thanks Irene. A little insect life can always add a little extra interest. There is very little that can’t be interesting in a photograph, as long as you can find the right angle and the correct depth of field.
Your post has given me a whole new perspective on thistles. I will still fight to keep them out of my lawn, but will allow them to continue to grow on our manure pile! Thanks.
I’m happy to have given you another look at thistles… careful of letting them go too crazy on the manure pile though, as they can be apt to spread quickly… The blessing and a curse syndrome.
Beautiful job and a great photo lesson. I love to photograph thistles also. The number of totally different pictures one can take is amazing.
Thanks Marilyn. I’m happy you enjoyed the photos
Beautiful job, thanks for the tips!