Buttercups have very reflective petals, often said to be able to determine a person's taste for butter by reflecting light under the chin. In actual fact, the petals have thin yellow layers separated by air (a unique structure among flowers) that help to bounce light including infrared; this warms the stamen to help attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The gloss from this air-divided structure also helps to shine onto your chin.
These bright and colourful flowers have finished for the year but more fine colour will be finding its way in front of my lens soon.
Join Panoramic Ireland, here in the Irish countryside or online on a private photography workshop.
