Picture of the day - September 11, 2007

The beauty of a sunflower

Photo courtesy of Winston Rockwell. Today's picture features a spectacular sunflower, one of the most beloved symbols of summer here in the United States. With this photograph, frequent contributor Winston Rockwell has once again managed to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, and the following is his story behind the image: "Sunflowers, with their golden heads swaying in the breeze, are for many people the epitome of summer. Nodding lazily in the sunshine, they attract honeybees and butterflies, and the wondering gazes of small children amazed at the sight of flowers taller than they are. I was out and about recently, and came across a field of sunflowers glowing in the bright sun, their brilliant yellow heads crowded together, competing for the warmth and light, and the little ones, only a foot or two high, scattered around the edges of the patch. Being a sucker for sunshine and the beauty of flowers on a warm summer day, I simply had to stop and snap some photos. It was just after noon, so the light was harsh, but a polarizing filter helped tone it down, and also enhanced the contrast between the flower and the sky. To get this shot of the brilliant yellow against the deep blue sky, I used a wide-angle lens, crouching down and shooting upward at the flower to frame it against the backdrop of a summer sky that seemed to go on forever. Alas, summer, unlike the sky, does not go on forever, and these flowers will soon be gone, leaving only brown, withered stalks to tell of their passing. But I will have this photo to recall their beauty and grace..."   --Winston Rockwell Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!            Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"