Brightest in the Firmament

despite having some delicate coloring, monochrome just does this flower better than leaving it in color. Asters are so shy to me in reality, I had no idea they could be so dramatic in photographs.

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Photog...-in-the-XL.jpg

Nice highlight control here WD - dig the bokeh as well.

thanks...the sun was being shaded by a tree in the wind, so I did have to watch it and time the shutter release so it wouldn't be full sun. Good times. ;)

dig the tones, textures and bokeh

thanks Ed. My standard zoom lens has pleasing bokeh actually, which surprised me.