By Scott Shephard

Generally, when I go looking for photo opportunities, I look for color, texture, and lines, among other things. On the morning I took this photo I was first looking for small things that are easily missed and then for color, texture, etc.

When I am taking photos, I am thinking about composition and framing. It's only later, when I am back in the "darkroom," that I think about potential meaning. Today's photo made me think about how many things start as flowers, including ponderosa pines like this one. (You are looking at baby pine cones.)

It also makes me think of aspirations - things that we hope to be, do and see. Humans can have aspirations but I don't think trees can. Humans, to a fair degree, can control what they become. Pine trees can't. It is inevitable that pine cone flowers will become pine cones. Beyond that, who knows? External forces are in total control.

Canon 5DIII 1/125s f/4.0 ISO500 100mm