Bee Balm-Monarda didyma is non-native and mostly an escaped garden plant when found in the wild. In this case, these are in our garden and I’ve not photographed them as often as I should. I posted one from 2008 a little while back and today’s are from this past Tuesday evening as the sun was setting.
I wrestled with having the closer or middle bloom in focus and decided having the second and third falling out of focus as they receded was the more attractive.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
I side with your choice of focal points. Having something prominent out of focus in the foreground rarely appeals to me.
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Gorgeous!
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Thank you.
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Generally I agree with that with the exception of the look through technique where something in the foreground is so out of focus that it lends a green hue (in the case of a leaf) to the whole image without actually interfering with the subject’s detail. Here’s an example. I know I posted the image on its own but right now can only find this one from an exhibit. The bottom of the orchid is done with the look through effect.
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I agree you used the out-of-focus leaf in a manner that doesn’t draw attention away from the flowers.
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I agree with your choice. Complementary colors are dazzling.
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I tried to have as much green in the background as possible and shot/processed the image so the contrasts back there were as soft as possible.
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It worked.
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I also agree with your focus choice. I sometimes experiment choosing other points, but most often prefer the closer point, with the exception you mention of shooting through something.
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That technique isn’t for everything, of course, but there are times when it works splendidly. See the link I provided for Steve for an example from me. I don’t usually worry about rules, but in this case one rule reads that subjects work better in threes and I followed that one.
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Such a pretty plant. I’ve only known beebalm from our natives; it’s interesting how many varieties are available for gardens. I have a friend who puts the plant (native and otherwise) to use for teas, tinctures, and such. She doesn’t fool with some of the wilder herbalist concoctions, but the tea is pretty good.
I like the way these flowers rise up above the leaves. Our natives sometimes seem messy and crowded, although, caught at the right time, they can photograph exceptionally well.
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Often there will be secondary blooms from the axillary buds. We have another variety with more purple petals but I haven’t shot one yet The whole section of the garden with these is pretty neat with all the flowers above everything else. I don’t harvest wild stuff but since these are in our garden I suppose I could. I’m fond of green tea but maybe should give this a try.
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