Bill and I were able to make a couple of trips out to McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area outside of Poolesville, Maryland last weekend. The sunflowers are full bloom – and are incredible.
This is my third year photographing the sunflowers at McKee-Beshers. The first year I was there towards the end of the peak bloom and photographed isolated flowers. Last year, I photographed a panoramic photo of part of the field. This year, I was hoping to photograph isolated blossoms to add to my series of gallery wrapped flower canvases I’ve been showing, and to try a few different views of the sunflowers.
Here are some of my favorite sunflower photos from this year.
First are a couple of isolated flowers.
Sunflower III (c) 2008 Patty Hankins
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
Next, another isolated blossom from a slightly different angle. I liked the way this blossom seemed to be reaching for the sun.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
Since I’ve taken probably hundreds of photos of the whole sunflower blossoms, I decided to try for something a little more abstract. Here’s a sunflower from the back – I thought the pattern of the leaves on the back of the petals was neat. With my macro lens I was able to capture the detail of the fuzz along the edge of the leaves.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
I photographed this sunflower from the side – shooting across the flower. I tried several different apertures for this look – decided that I really the one at f22 the most. Just about everything in the photo is in sharp focus.
Sunflower Closeup (c) 2008 Patty Hankins
I couldn’t resist taking a few photographs of the field. I like presenting these as panoramics. Looking at a field of sunflowers just makes me smile.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
My last photo is something completely different for me. I got my first digital camera in 1999 and have shot less than 30 photos on film since then. Sunday morning, I decided to try taking a photo on one of Bill’s Graflex SLR’s. I used the Graflex RB SLR Super D with Polaroid Type 56 Sepia Toned 4″x 5″ Film. I’m beginning to understand the appeal of the large format SLRs – it’s got a big focusing screen. I did miss the instant feedback of the histogram from my DSLR!
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of my sunflower photos from last weekend. I’m hoping to get back out to McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area later this week. The sunflowers there are one of my favorite photo spots every year.
July 17, 2008 at 7:33 am
[...] 17 Update: I’ve just posted some of my 2008 Sunflower photos from McKee Beshers in a new [...]
July 17, 2008 at 7:50 am
I really like the detail shots you did Patty. Thanks for the tip on location Patty.
July 18, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Absolutely beautiful – congratulations! Love the two close-ups of the petal/leaf and the stamen – very corporate. Thanks
July 18, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Patty, these are lovely. I especially like the one from the back – the colors and angles are interesting.
July 18, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Love the view from the back. Very nicely done.
August 7, 2008 at 3:09 pm
[...] addition to photographing the lotus blossoms at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and the sunflowers at McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, I’ve spent some time at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD this summer. Here are some of my [...]