Wild Sunflowers

[David Stephens]

I was shooting a Swainsons and a Coopers hawk along a ridge road when these flowers caught my eye with the sky in the BG.

Canon 7D, EF 500mm f/4L IS, ISO 800, f/7.1, 1/2000th second (didn't change from my bird setting, plus it was windy and this is hand held), AV mode with +2/3EV. Processed with DxO Optics Pro, pulling down levels slightly and default settings. I chose a square crop because it's for internet use only and I thought square worked for the tall flower on the right:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6086834174_12ce2d5c77_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcstep/6086834174/)
Wild sunflowers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcstep/6086834174/) by dcstep (http://www.flickr.com/people/dcstep/), on Flickr

[Steve Maxson]

Hi David. I love the light on the flowers set against the dramatic sky! Nice job hh the big lens in the wind. I think there are a few things that would make your image even stronger. I would suggest removing the cut blossom on the LRC. I would like to see a little more room at the top - and also on the left where the blossom is just touching the frame - alternatively, you might consider cropping the left stem altogether which would simplify the comp and focus our attention on the strongest elements of your image. In this case, I would then suggest cleaning up any remaining OOF elements in the LLC and you would have a very nice vertical comp. Just some possibilities for you to consider. :S3:

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey David,
Great advice above by Steve! You had great light and very good use of the lens too I may add. I do think concentrating on one bloom with that set-up may have been preferential........but not always easy given the size of the flowers so good idea to keep a few tubes in the bag for just such occasions.

[David Stephens]

Steve and Roman, thanks for the useful suggestions.

I did have my tubes sitting on the dash of my car-blind, but I wanted a more environmental view of these flowers, rather than my usual tendancy to go toward macro. I'm finding my view mostly attractive, but I particularly like Steve's cropping and editing suggestions. Thanks for looking and taking time to comment.