Color accuracy in photographing flora is a much discussed topic. Botanists agree that color is often not a reliable characteristic in flora identification, due to the fact the color changes with maturity of the plant, and can vary according to soil conditions and moisture.
Another variable is that within a species, slight variations in color are noticeable: Eschscholzia californica, the California Poppy, for example.
Variations in color occur from changes in light: The poppy as it opens in early morning looks different than when observed at midday or early afternoon.
Databases of photographs of flora show all of these variables. CalPhotos Berkley is a good example, where dozens of photographers submit photographs of a given flower, each with slight differences in hue.
Many photographers choose their camera/lens based on how it reproduces color according to their preconceptions of what a given color should be.
Most botanist-photographers, however, agree that they attempt to record the color as observed. Anything else comes down to personal preference when editing the photograph on the computer.
I want my camera/lens to record flora colors accurately. Below are samples of flora as they looked when I photographed them. I am happy that the camera/lens did an excellent job in this regard.
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