A couple of days ago I visited one of my friend's photography stream and was stunned by the beauty of a picture he shared, that of a Rhododendron flower shown in black & white. I have been struggling with our Rhododendron flowers and unhappy with the pictures I've gotten. However, with the inspiration that Dr. Ewan filled me with, I went out this morning and took some pictures, and then transformed this one into a sepia monochrome which has the dreamy qualities I'd hoped to achieve. I would have never thought to turn this purple flower into a b/w image, thanks for the inspiration, Dr. Ewan! :)

Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a champion of individualism and a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society, and he disseminated his thoughts through dozens of published essays and more than 1,500 public lectures across the United States. Wikipedia: Ralph Waldo Emerson