Chinese Lantern

The Chinese Lantern (or Physalis alkekengi) plant is grown for it's intriguing papery lanterns which slowly become ornate skeletons enclosing bright orange Autumn fruits. They are often cut and dried for use in flower arrangements.

I brought this one in from the garden and photographed it with a mixture of tungsten light and fill in flash. A New Years resolution is to buy a couple of large cold running continuous lights for flower photography.

I thought it looked like a delicate piece of jewelry so added a cracked leather preset for a sumptuous look.