Firewheel in motion
Gaillardia pulchella: firewheel, Indian blanket, blanket flower.
Lupinus texensis: Texas bluebonnet.
Shutter speed: 1/40 sec.
Movement: plenty.
Approach: experimental.
Place: Bluegrass Dr.
Date: April 4.
© 2016 Steven Schwartzman
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Portraits of Wildflowers 
It looks like you were doing a little freewheeling, and I like the result. I especially like that the firewheel seems to be in motion, while the background is stable, and that some of the rays are sufficiently in focus to give a sense of the flower’s true appearance. Sometimes experiments fall flat, but this one certainly didn’t.
shoreacres
April 20, 2016 at 5:52 AM
Thanks for the validation. Your first sentence reminded me of “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” whose first song is conveniently “Blowin’ in the Wind.” A different Dylan song could symbolize the weather of the past few days in some parts of Texas: “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” It’s raining again here in Austin as I write this.
Steve Schwartzman
April 20, 2016 at 8:29 AM
Joyous!
Gallivanta
April 20, 2016 at 6:04 AM
Welcome back!
Steve Schwartzman
April 20, 2016 at 8:30 AM
Steven: I really like the blurring effect.
elmdriveimages
April 20, 2016 at 7:34 AM
I’m glad to gear that it works for you. Experiments can fail.
Steve Schwartzman
April 20, 2016 at 8:37 AM
This experiment works, no failure here.
Steve Gingold
April 20, 2016 at 9:13 AM
I appreciate the positive take on this from another photographer.
Steve Schwartzman
April 20, 2016 at 9:21 AM
Result: Magical.
esther
April 20, 2016 at 10:28 AM
Reply: Thanks.
Steve Schwartzman
April 20, 2016 at 10:37 AM
Love your details on the exposure. It has come out well.
Raewyn's Photos
April 20, 2016 at 3:57 PM
Just call me Mr. Details. Glad you like the result.
Steve Schwartzman
April 20, 2016 at 6:17 PM
That was an experiment that really worked well!
montucky
April 20, 2016 at 10:26 PM
Thanks. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
Steve Schwartzman
April 20, 2016 at 10:53 PM
An idea is always worth trying!
montucky
April 20, 2016 at 10:59 PM
That’s one of the advantages of digital: there’s not much to lose except a little time. I tried this concept with the firewheel three times, all with what I’d call acceptable results.
Steve Schwartzman
April 20, 2016 at 11:06 PM
I really like your experiment .. Blurry beAutiful
Julie@frogpondfarm
April 22, 2016 at 11:11 PM
Then we could also say the picture blurs the distinction between beAutiful and beArtful.
Steve Schwartzman
April 22, 2016 at 11:17 PM
Lol .. You are clever!
Julie@frogpondfarm
April 23, 2016 at 2:34 AM
May we never sever the desire to be clever.
Steve Schwartzman
April 25, 2016 at 3:13 PM
A delightful tribute to the nonstop action in natural beauties. 😀 Dazzling movement and light!
Cheers to you,
K
kathryningrid
April 25, 2016 at 2:21 PM
Oh, it is a cheery scene. Fiat lux, let there be light.
Steve Schwartzman
April 25, 2016 at 3:12 PM
Nice one! Also enjoyed your photo-notes, particularly these:
Movement: plenty.
Approach: experimental.
Susan Scheid
May 1, 2016 at 4:07 PM
Vive la différence, right?
I’d thought of putting “playfully experimental” or “playful” but I ended up settling on “experimental.”
Steve Schwartzman
May 1, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Very nice Steve!
Brian Comeau
May 3, 2016 at 7:16 PM
Thanks, Brian. It’s something different.
Steve Schwartzman
May 3, 2016 at 9:29 PM