Her Superman

More and more these days, weddings seem to be the bread and butter of the photography industry. You almost have no choice, if you are going to stay afloat you have to do weddings. For me, this is enjoyable. I love the textiles, the colors, the people watching. I love reflecting a couples love for each other in their images.

What I love most however, is getting to know my wedding clients as a couple. I meet the most amazing people this way, and count myself very blessed for the opportunity.

Chelsea and Darin were so sweet with each other that it almost left a sugary taste in your mouth. I rarely see a couple giggle and play so much together. These two were absolutely, no doubt in my mind, made for one another.

Referred to me by a family member who helped design custom invitations for the pair, these two happen to be one of those couples I am truly excited about working with. Their wedding is just under one month away. There is a fun sort of ease about them. They very clearly mean the world to one another.

"Pick her up like superman" I prompted as they stood in front of my favorite giant LOVE sculpture. And he did.

En Pointe in Purple

A dancers feet are like a painters brush. Her strokes across the stage move her audience and evoke strong emotions. Angular and precise, more work goes into her craft than she shows. Each movement, each position carefully calculated, rehearsed and executed. The symbolism behind her every movement and the carefully choreographed steps help to paint a clear and fantastic image for the observers who are lucky enough to witness this living art.





She carefully wraps her toes in lambs wool and foam to absorb shock and pressure. Delicately, she slips the well worn pointe shoes onto her feet. They conform to her skin. The shoes wear quickly and are often replaced. She has done this hundreds of times before.

Artfully, she laces them past her ankles and ties the satin ribbons- the ends carefully hidden on the inside of the ankle under the ribbons. She stretches, takes fifth position and gracefully rises into releve.

The grind of loose pavement giving to the hard toe boxes and aged satin is heard. She arches her feet carefully and positions her arms. Her full height extends as she stretches and adjusts her posture.

Beautiful.

Vintage Baby!

Anything with a hood hinged anywhere but the "conventional" modern under the windshield location will automatically catch my attention. I will admit that among cars that fall into this category, the vintage cars are my favorite.

While their function is the same as modern vehicles, these older autos have curves, lines, character. They seem to spring back to a life of their own when fired up and lets be honest, they turn everyones head. They usually smell like history, even long after they have been reupholstered.

The folks who drive them are relentlessly loyal to their expensive hobby and generally love their cars almost as much as life itself. They share their character, their history. They know every nut and bolt, every knock and sweet spot.

Vintage cars inspire a culture all their own, with countless clubs, groups and friends lending one another expertise and anecdotes.

These cars are more than just transportation, they are a lifestyle. Just ask the group of owners who would faithfully meeting with their cars at the little dive diner in Tucson every Sunday for their regular gear headed chat. Rain or shine, these cars are a part of their lives, a part of their hearts. I do not believe they could imagine life or history without them.

To The Point

Or points as it were. All manner of spiky, spiny, sharp things live in the sonoran desert. Among these is the ocotillo plant. Also called coach whip or vine cactus, this may be one of the most under appreciated plants in the cactus family.

Most of the year this plant sorta looks like an angry collection of very dry sticks. No leaves, no flowers- nothing but thorns. This time of year however, they are covered with tiny oval-ish green leaves, and topped with reddish orange blooms at the end of the branches.

It is common to see verdin, cactus wren, thrashers and hummingbirds hanging out towards the tops of these plants as well- an amusing site to see since most of them have to work a little to perch on the mainly vertical branches.

What I love most about this plant however, are theintricate details no one notices. Each individual plant is so incredible unique. The number and shape of branches, the thickness of the branches, the density of the thorns, and the floral and leaf growth seem to vary widely between specimens.

This plant's unique features and interesting shapes make it an excellent subject for imagery and an interesting and integral part of the local scenery. Certainly, its worth a look.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Yep. That is how you spell her name. And trouble she is- no doubt about it.

Pink lipstick, coach bags, contagious laughter with a serious streak (yeah, right, thats it!), and a plea not to show her belly button in the photos because even the most beautiful women are self conscious. Out of a series of serious portfolio images, this ONE shot let her silly side shine through, completely accidentally.

Who is she? If you know her you know. I won't tell you if you don't. You can call her Serendipity if you like.
Why is she trouble? In all that girly sweetness, there is a side of her that is almost adorably impish- leading you to call her that in that endearing sort of way.

You don' t have to know her specifically to know her. She is every college girl with a wide eyed future, every aspiring something-or-other. She is your best friend, your co worker, your accomplice. Shes the hopeless complicated one you worry about until 2 am just because she seems that innocent. She is the one that perseveres against all odds.

She just is.

Macro Macaw

I regularly provide pet portraits for loving owners and pet enthusiasts. I specialize in birds, a pet which many photographers continually fail with. As a parrot owner myself, I feel that I have a specific understanding with them that other photographers do not, as well as the ability to better predict their movements and anticipate poses.

On other occasions, I see things in a way that others don't.

As a professional, this is something I strive for and pride myself on. In this particular instance what caught my eye was the yellow band of wing coverts on a very sweet scarlet macaw. The bird stood perfectly still and simply watched as I approached nearer than most are accustomed to with the camera, lens and ever so scary flash bracket.

He continued to sit still as I did a careful study of the finer points and structure of his beautifully colored feathers.

The result was this image, among others of this stunning creature. People do not appreciate parrots as much as I feel that they should. There's a saying that often goes around zoos and ecological institutions..."You only save what you love". I feel that this is incredibly true. In the wild these birds, and the majority of parrot species are severely threatened or endangered. Some are virtually extinct.

Stop and look closely, even at this minute detail. Tell me you do not want to make sure that this creature is still flying wild when your great great grandchildren roam the earth.

Natures flying jewels, once in great danger of habitat loss as well as poaching and smuggling (primarily because of those gorgeous colors we all love) is now being restored. Through protective laws and breeding programs, these species are now slowly being replenished in the wild.

I am incredibly captivated by these creatures. I hope that through my images, others might be too.

Japanese Koi

One of my favorite getaways is La Jolla, California. Its hard to visit there without at least stopping by Balboa Park.

This park is amazing. A unique mix of culture, horticulture, and history make this large park special. Balboa park boasts a large listing of museums, a really cool giant historical organ, a golf course, several trails and the world famous San Diego Zoo. In addition to all of this, it also hosts San Diego's Japanese Friendship Garden.

For just a few dollars- or less if you happen to be a member of a reciprocal garden like we are- you can take a leisurely stroll through this beautiful and well tended garden filled with various plants, bonsais, small Japanese style buildings and its key feature- a large koi pond. This central garden feature is absolutely stunning, complete with reflection pavillion and a well planned waterfall. A couple dozen large koi lazily swim about, surfacing every so often with their gaping mouths and alien faces protruding from the water. An attendant sits near by, giving children koi pellets and showing them how to hand feed these large decorative carp.

He sat and told stories to the patrons and eagerly exchanged home pond tips. Several adults eagerly eavesdropped while the children laughed hysterically because the fish were so excited about the food the kids were sharing.

While this particular garden is smaller than many of the Japanese Friendship Gardens found around the country, there is something about the serene environment this particular location provides. It is quiet- subdued and set back from the regularly beaten path.

In the end, Kirk and I sat watching these beautiful fish dance through the water for a good hour or so and felt at peace with the world. Its so easy to lose track of the time in this mini world in garden form. I left feeling renewed and blissfully happy. I think that the garden has accomplished its goal.

Twisted Tree

Recently, Kirk and I took a small hiatus to Tucson. Funny how when we lived there, we were incredibly desperate for the considerably more lively and modern Phoenix, and then when we are in Phoenix, we are desperate for the solace of somewhere more natural. The grass is always greener on the other side of our fence.

On our recent trip, we enjoyed several of the delights of our old college haunt. We visited the Desert Museum, ate at our favorite little dive and drove up Mt. Lemmon.

It had been a while since we had taken this drive, so we casually drove part way up, despite snow warnings at the 12 mile marker. After all we had no intentions of visiting Summerhaven.

As is our tradition we drove up to the main lookout point instead- stopping at every smaller one on the way to take photos. Mt. Lemmon is unique in that its terrain is varied, and it is still in the recovery stages from a severe wildfire a few years ago. Very haunting habitat.

Today's image is of one of the winding trees that was damaged in the wildfire. Things are growing back nicely but for stretches, you still see scorched plant life that happened to be large enough to still be standing so long after the fires have stopped ravaging the mountain side.

I rarely find an image I like better in black and white than in color, but this is one that just spoke to me.

It was very chilly when we reached the best look out point on the side of the mountain. So chilly in fact that Kirk stayed in the car for the most part and it was really mostly just me, the camera and tripod. We have some great panoramas of the mountain range and sunset from this lookout- the city of Tucson resting quietly below. I will share those another day.

For now, this image serves as a reminder of the fortitude of nature and the fragile balance we are all a part of.

Little Blue Corvette

Although I seem to constantly drive imported vehicles I have always had a love affair with the classic corvette. I think that may have been part of my reasoning that inspired my love of the Opel GT, along with its historical significance with my family. This fondness for what is arguably Chevrolet's best car of all time seems to span my entire extended family, culminating primarily in my husbands recent trip to Bowling Green with his father to watch his new C6 be built. Sadly, I am not a big fan of silver on such a hot car, but at least Glenn went wild with the ever so sexy red interior.

However, this one particular specimen has always caught my eye. Something about a second generation corvette in beautiful sky blue- all original says the owner, who regularly attends the Pavillions event. Maybe it makes me feel like I am traveling in a time machine but something about this car makes my heart pitter patter every time I see it.

The exquisite lines of this car and flawless chrome that mirror reflects the beautiful details of the tail lights is almost too much to bear. It wears its badging proudly, almost like its knows what an integral part of Americas heritage it is. This is the epitome of cars.

Modern cars do not share the painstaking care, and beautiful design that this beautiful example of a corvette boasts. Sure, they have tv's in the back seat, never leak fluids and have lush interiors. I don't need all that. Give me some beautiful clean chrome, and a car with some shape to it and some real trim. Give me something with every tiny detail in place- not for my comfort but for beauty, style and grace. Give me a classic.

It's a Damn Buick!

Our friend Frankie's license plate used to say that- as did he when we discussed the origins of my 1973 Opel GT (it's an Opel, hence the name but was sold at Buick dealerships). His white beast is currently in the perpetual restoration process by his father- a project he never got to finish with his son before his time with us was up.


Strangely, now when I see a Buick, I can not help but hear that phrase. And it's just so true. It just is.

I love photographing cars- especially the vintage variety. Something about the lines, the reflection in the chrome and the cool smoothness of the paint is almost seductive. Perhaps this is why our entire country has had a love affair with the automobile since day one. Show me a set of white wall tires and its all over for me baby!

Luckily for me, there is a weekly car show in these parts- the longest running one in the country! Every Saturday, come heat, hell or high water- the hot rodders, modders, sports car enthusiasts and even a few crazy grease monkeys pull out their Sunday driver, daily driver or barely driver and park in a McDonald's parking lot. Its not for the food. These gents and gals get a chance to socialize, talk shop and even do some under the table buying and selling of the goods (just don't let the show staff catch you!).

Every week is a grab bag of the most beautiful, interesting, unique vehicles in the state. Some folks have had their cars since day one and have poured their lives into their cars. Blood, sweat, tears, busted knuckles, spare clams- all of it for the love of their beautiful machine.

Its a sight to behold. Sadly I fear it will get too hot again soon and the regular stream of enthusiasts will trickle to the truly hardcore as the temperature approaches that of the sun.

I will still be there at least one a month with my water bottles and ice packs, rooting around for interesting shots of sleek metal and chrome. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

The Canon IP6700D Photo Printer

I decided recently, that in order to fill some of my less orthodox printing requirements so that I can offer my clients the products I wish to, I needed to purchase a photo printer.

This was not an easy feat for me. First, I know what a scam a lot of printers can be- especially these days. Print heads get ruined, they don't print quite up to your expectations, only work with their own special paper (don't get me started on the availability or lack there of of good lustre paper) and drink ink like my husband drinks mountain dew. Overall, a consumable product- my least favorite kind.

But for the good of my clients, and my desire to bring some interesting products to my lineup, I bravely shopped on.

I have to admit, I let price sway me for a while. The Epson R380 was an attractive and extremely affordable option- and it prints direct to cd! Further research proves however, that this is Epsons attempt at a clever scam- the thing goes through cartridges like nobody's business and on top of that, the high capacity ink tanks could ONLY be purchased direct from- you guessed it- Epson at high cost. Forget it! It would have been very expensive long term.

So I opted to look closer to home. I have a strange, loyal love for canon...probably in a bigger way than is actually healthy.

So after looking through their line up, I selected and purchased the Pixma IP6700D
from amazon.com. Now, normally I can not stand amazon. Its hard to navigate, shows me crap I don't want from other strange sellers and is overall big and scary. However, it was about fifty dollars cheaper there.

After several days of waiting patiently for the mail man, and then having him leave it my printer on my door step without anyone home and despite the sign- my printer arrived! Kirk unpacked and set it up (albeit on the couch- he didn't know where I wanted it) before I got home.

After some rearrangement it was set up properly and ready to go.

Pretty huh? (Image courtesy of Amazon.com)

Now if I may, let me back up for a minute and further explain my purchase of this magnificent machine- short of my own selfish desires to "print cool stuff!".

Canon has an amazing track record for being the best with the digital and the imaging. I should know I shoot with a canon. This printer is no exception. Check out what Amazon.com has listed about this fine piece of machinery:

Product Features

• Features patented print head technology and six ink tanks to produce beautiful, long-lasting prints with startling color and detail
• Extra-large 3.5-inch color LCD viewer lets you enhance images before printing; advanced paper handling increases your productivity
• Print from your computer, compatible memory cards, cameras, Bluetooth devices, and even camera phones
• Uses Canon's ChromaLife100 system, including FINE print head technology, for vivid photo printing

Technical Details

Print speed (maximum): 4x6 borderless color photo: approx. 47 seconds; 8x10 color photo: approx. 76 seconds Number of nozzles: 512 x 6 colors (C, M, Y, BK, PC, PM); total: 3,072 Print resolution (maximum): Black: 9600 x 2400 dpi; color: 9600 x 2400 dpi OS compatibility: Windows XP/2000/Me/98 and Mac OS X v.10.2.8 to 10.4.x Standard interface: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, direct print port (cables not included), IrDA version 1.2 (JPEG only), Bluetooth version 1.2 (optional) Buffer / RAM: 42 KB Paper size: Credit card (2.13 x 3.39 inches), 4 x 6 inches, 4 x 8 inches, 5 x 7 inches, 8 x 10 inches, letter, legal, U.S. 10 envelopes Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

In addition to this, Amazon neglected to mention the following:

This printer prints perfect little 1picoliter droplets. In addition to that nifty little factoid, the six ink tanks this machine uses are optimized for max color and effectiveness and are individually replaceable- with their own status reminder light for us dimwitted people. This neat little feature means that I replace only the ink that I need more of, leaving me to use the rest that would normally be wasted. The cool warning lights mean that I don't run out mid print.

This printer is also SILENT. You could put a sleeping newborn right next to this thing in full swing and never ever wake the kid. Its that quiet. Its also slightly faster than Canon's specs say- maybe I got a ringer! I am getting 4x6 prints in about 30 seconds rather than the listed 47.

In addition to all of the technical nifties here, the prints this baby puts out are GORGEOUS! Which really, is the bottom line here. The prints this thing puts out rival my print shop for quality (though for mass printing binges, they work out a little cheaper) with an instant gratification factor.

Over all when I need just a few high quality prints, or something off beat this printer is where its at! The colors are flawless with high quality inks and precision printing on a whisper quiet machine.

The only thing that I see as a small negative is the amount of sway this thing puts out when in full swing- but even I understand the print heads have to move. I just need to get a sturdier table.

Oh! One more cool detail I forget to mention. You remember that I mentioned the Epson could print direct to cd? Canon can too. Now, they don't package it this way in the US market but this same printer has a cartridge to put in disc media- which you can purchase from another company online for about $20! How nifty is that?

4.75/5 stars for the awesome features, but less than awesome sway. From my point of view a great buy- hopefully my clients will enjoy some of the cool things I can do now too such as printing directly to canvass or stickers or any number of other cool mediums to share photographs on. Awesome.

Carousel Horses

Alright, let me first admit that today I cheated. Its a pair of images. I am sorry and I know you are horribly sad that my title is misleading- but they are just better together. Think of them like peanut butter and chocolate.

The state fair arrives in Arizona around October. Its about the perfect time. We usually have tolerable weather and a lower chance of fatal sunburn during that particular section of the year.

The fair here is an interesting collections of sights, sounds, smells and textures and tastes (deep fried coca cola anyone...ewww). For a photographer- things couldn't be better. You get an interesting environment with a bunch of stuff going on, the opportunity to play with different light situations than you usually use and maybe some icecream.


One of my favorite things there is the carousel horses. There is something about them... Maybe its the fact that they bring me back to being a little girl and laughing hysterically at a simple ride that has been around seemingly since the dawn of time. Perhaps its that they are beautiful and artistic creations, each unique in its own way.

These two shots in particular were taken late one evening as I was on my way out. Children have left the fair grounds since it was rather late on a school night, so it was prime time to photograph this childhood classic. If you were wondering, parents don't usually like you using a big scary camera and lense when their precious baby, though not in the shot, might have its soul stolen by your sensor.

Of all of my fair images, I have a special place in my heart for this particular set. They capture the mood and feel of the fair perfectly- as if to say that each time I look at them, I am there again- a five year old little girl happily giggling and waving at adoring parents waiting for me to finish the ride of a lifetime.

Spring is here!

Ok, well actually it feels a bit more like summer. Arizona gracefully opted to skip the mild season and head straight into $300/month air conditioning bills. That being said, the plants and animals around here have decided its spring. My allergies are certainly feeling it.

And when there is pollen there are pollinators. After all, something has to act as the genitalia in this giant plant sex fest going on here...how else would anything grow? This means that I am seeing countless hummingbirds, verdin, bees and of course, butterflies of all types.


In addition to our native species, our local garden brings in a nice selection from farms in Florida to enjoy our nicest time of year in a beautiful, well planted aviary where they are safe and respected. Its quite a pleasure to see.

They get new species in every week. This week, in addition to zebra longwings, cabbage butterflies, and painted ladys, they added in the spicebush swallowtail, admirals and even a couple luna moths.

I am glad to see the general public take interest and be educated, and also to have a chance at some interesting subjects I would not otherwise see in my area unless they were a long way from home.

They offer this program in spring up until it gets too warm- and then again with monarchs only during their fall migration through Arizona into Mexico. The specimens they find then are tagged and released.

Something about spring always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. For now, we will assume that fuzzy feeling is my sinuses begging for mercy.

The Equine Escape

On nice days like today, I am reminded that it has been far far too long since I have been up to my friend Patricia's ranch. I love that place- its a literal desert oasis. In the middle of what could be considered BFE, where coyotes and hawks easily outnumber people, there is this little ranch. They have a lush yard overflowing with flowers and a pretty rose garden. Chickens run all over the place and there are even two free roaming peacocks (in addition to her others in the aviaries). Its nice. Time seems to just stop when you are there and life becomes incredibly tranquil.

There is a small wash on the property and across it, they keep burros, the occasional beef cattle or swine, and the horses. My friend Deb boards her arabian and her thoroughbred up there and they also have a mustang, another arabian and a cute flea bitten grey named Festus.

Occasionally they board others and at the moment there is another pair up there. The gelding in that pair is Rio- whose breed I can not recall at the moment...welsh maybe? He is the subject of today's image.




I grew up riding so its only natural that I still love it. If you have ever visited my gallery, you also know that I love photographing them.

There is something about equines that makes them very appealing. They are often very calm, loving creatures with beautiful movements and graceful form. They are also occasionally a symbol of strength and power...nothing quite like working a 17 hand horse in the round pen and feeling the ground tremble beneath you as he gallops.

This particular horse had something different about him. He had the most incredibly deep eyes I had ever seen, and a mane that could only be described as amazing. His coloring and markings were flawless, truly a unique animal. Beyond all that, he would put himself in your pocket if you would let him (hence the very close shot...he insisted on being right on top of me!).

You may notice, if you are a photo aficionado, that this particular image is very heavily saturated. This is something done intentionally...the image came to life once this change was made. I have to admit, I don't usually bump up my saturation- but this image was made for it. It made the highlights and shadows pop and put his color much closer to his 'in person' look.

I need to get up to the ranch again soon...its been a few months and I would love a chance to play with the horses again. Time goes by so fast these days...I rarely get my chance to escape to someplace where things slow down I can just enjoy the world around me.

I LOVE business portraits!

And with good reason too! There is something so incredibly personal about offering your clients an image of yourself- especially in this day and age with more and more business interactions taking place in web medium.

I love business portraits because the clients I have that want them are always genuine, approachable, sweet people that I would be happy to hire the services of any day. Seriously, if you are looking for any sort of personal service through the web, you can learn a lot about the person you're working with if they share an image of themselves. And lets admit it, you are just that much more comfortable working with them aren't you.

This past weekend, I had the great honor and pleasure of photographing one of the most friendly real estate agents I have ever met (and I have met a lot! Kirk and I are house shopping!). Julie arrived and looked beautiful! She did a great job and was very flexible- even when our shoot location had an event and did not pan out quite as expected. The result? A fun, fast shoot with beautiful portraits! The resulting images will allow Julie to share herself with her clients and be more approachable!

See?


You like her already don't you? We did too.

Julie isn't the only great business portrait client I have had lately. In the last short while, I have photographed a non religious wedding officiant, a pair of web biz whizzes, an author, countless real estate agents and more. All of these folks have made an investment in themselves and their businesses by sharing their image with their clients and prospects!

If you are a small business owner or professional and business portraits are not something that you have considered yet, I urge you to think about it. Compared to a lot of things you could do to bring in sales, this is a very small and inexpensive personal touch that can make a big difference!

Old vs. New

Downtown Phoenix is one of the most interesting and dynamic areas I have ever come across. Between the bizarre mix of old and new architecture (believe me, its staggering), the interesting mix of people, and abundant cultural influence its no wonder I find something new and interesting every time I go with my camera.

I will be the first to admit that I don't get there all that often. Living in suburbia means that there are plenty of distractions along the way, most with less rush hour traffic and more user friendly roads. After all, the development of the pending light rail system has left driving in the area to be a somewhat arduous task.



This image is from one of the few trips I have ever made it all the way to the heart of downtown Phoenix to go exploring, as it were.

It was a Sunday evening, after dinner at my mother in laws home. I remember this detail because she had asked why I had brought a full load of gear and tripod to our weekly family meal and I had absentmindedly explained that we were "going to shoot downtown". Only after noticing the look of abject horror on her face did I realize my verbal faux pas. Oops. I still get crap for that.

At 6pm on a Sunday, apparently downtown Phoenix morphs itself into an old west ghost town. Surely you must be thinking "But Kate, thats absolutely preposterous, Phoenix has 1.3 million+ residents!". I would have thought so too. With the beautiful cultural centers, multiple sporting complexes and heck, even just the pure square acreage- you would think there would be at least a decent number of people strolling about.

We counted two. The entire evening. No cars were on the roads, they were all closed due to the light rail development and civic center addition construction. So there we sat. My camera, Phoenix (devoid of residents) and me.

This image was shot from the top of the parking garage Kirk had haphazardly flung the "beater" into. If you have never tried it, find a tall parking garage in the city sometime, and sit there for a while...amazing the things you will see from that vantage point.

I have never really bothered figuring out what this building houses. It doesn't really matter... I look at form and very rarely function. What matters is the dichotomy of its surrounds. Behind this building and beside it stood nothing but modern, glass filled corporate towers. Yet here it was- obviously vintage compared to its neighbors- a testament to what Phoenix was in times past.

As they continue to tear down the older buildings in favor of newer structures, a small piece of me hopes that this and a few of the other older buildings are allowed to remain. Sure they are a little older- but so is your mother and you still love her don't you? These older buildings give the downtown area a lot of architectural character it would be otherwise lacking- a brick and mortar history as it were. Besides, lets be honest...steel and glass can only go so far.

Cactus Spines

Not everyone looks as closely at the world around them as they should. It can be really hard sometimes in our fast paced world to “stop and smell the roses” or what have you.

Lets all be honest though, the truth is in the details. Often the littlest, most overlooked things can have a big impact.

Today’s image was one of those overlooked things. Living in Arizona, I occasionally find myself taking what seems commonplace to me for granted. Case in point: My aunt and uncle visited recently and enjoyed our very natural and deserty botanical garden immensely. It seemed hard to understand. Nothing is blooming right now, and while the weather is quite pleasant compared to their native Minnesota, there was really very little to be impressed with.

The fact was, for them, what they were seeing was different and unusual. The tiny details in the texture of the plants, or the sharpness of the spines were just as important and interesting as the entire plant itself.

I would say that I have to agree completely.