Last Saturday, I purchased three Easter cactus plants. The plan? Photograph their brilliant blooms as closely as possible.
At least do it before the plants drop dead from too much Chuck-exposure.
So between Saturday night and Sunday morning, between battling blooms falling off the stems, and stems falling off the stalks …
I was able to snag some photos, and here they are.
Cacti Blossoms. Nikon Df camera, Medical Nikkor lens, photos combined in focus stack. Photo (c) 2026 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved. 
Cacti Blooms. Nikon Df camera, Medical Nikkor lens, photos combined in focus stack. Photo (c) 2026 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved. 
Cacti buds. Nikon Df camera, Medical Nikkor lens, photos combined in focus stack. Photo (c) 2026 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved. 
Cacti 02. Nikon Df camera, Medical Nikkor lens, photos combined in focus stack. Photo (c) 2026 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved. 
Cacti 01. Nikon Df camera, Medical Nikkor lens, photos combined in focus stack. Photo (c) 2026 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved.
In order to get these images as tack-sharp as possible, I took multiple images of each bloom – then “stacked” the images in PhotoShop to get as much detail as possible. A few highlight adjustments, and here we are.
One of these could be a longshot for Competition Season. But I’m just glad I was able to pull this off.
Now it’s time to donate these cactus plants so that they can survive in their new homes and I won’t be responsible for their demise. 😀
Chuck The Writer 
Nice!
Now I’m no lawyer, or horticulturist, but I think I read somewhere that “accessory to demise” might be punishable by severe pruning. Just sayin’.
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