Third Place - Robert Berdan

Title: Prairie Crocus in Snow

Location: Bowmount Natural area along the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Date taken: March, 2004

Equipment used: Nikon D1, tripod, ISO 100, f/22, 60mm macro lens

Comments: My wife and I often take walks along the Bow River in Calgary and I usually have my camera with me. These flowers appear to create heat that melts the snow around them. Several plants do this using chemical reactions. The flowers are poisonous to eat.