Maximilian sunflowers and feathery clouds
Along State Park Road P31 south of Guadalupe River State Park on September 29th I stopped to photograph some Maximilian sunflowers (Helianthus maximiliani). The only way I could line up any of the tall plants against the array of feathery clouds overhead was to face toward the sun. Even with a lens hood on my wide-angle lens I had to hold one hand out in front of and above that lens to block the sun that was just above the frame in order to eliminate flare and polygons inside the frame. It was hit and miss, what with my left hand involuntarily moving as I held the camera in my right hand while the plant swayed back and forth in the breeze, so I took a bunch of pictures in the hope that at least a few would work well. The one shown here seems pretty good.
© 2016 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Really neat composition.
elmdriveimages
October 9, 2016 at 5:54 AM
Those clouds were too dramatic to pass up. The tall Maximilians were the right subject to play off against them.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 6:07 AM
love the wonderful contrast against the clouds and sky!
DailyMusings
October 9, 2016 at 6:03 AM
I was taken with it too. Give us this day our daily drama.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 6:36 AM
Beautiful – really captures that end of summer feeling.
Michael Richards (certainline)
October 9, 2016 at 6:04 AM
Your latest post
https://certainline.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/into-autumn/
shows you quite conscious of the change from summer to autumn. In Austin, sunflowers of two species (the Maximilian and the common) are still flowering, with afternoon high temperatures 30°–32°C. Nevertheless, finally we’re getting the overnight cooling down that leaves no more doubt about what season we’re in.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 7:34 AM
Wow, 30 degrees C would be a glorious summer’s day for us!
Michael Richards (certainline)
October 9, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Now is the autumn of our blooms contént made glorious summer for this son of New York.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 7:58 AM
Genius!
Michael Richards (certainline)
October 9, 2016 at 11:45 AM
It’s good of certainline to recognize a certain line from Shakespeare.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 5:03 PM
It is pretty, and it is good. With the clouds as warp and the flowers as woof, you’ve woven together a marvelous image.
shoreacres
October 9, 2016 at 7:11 AM
Better to be pretty and good than the woven-together “pretty good.”
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 7:36 AM
Very nice!
belindagroverphotography
October 9, 2016 at 7:16 AM
Happy wispy clouds to you.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 7:52 AM
Yep…you did get it. Some photos are very challenging to capture.
Jim Ruebush
October 9, 2016 at 7:36 AM
We might say that this Maximilian sunflower plant rose to the challenge.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 7:53 AM
Such a wonderful perspective on our world; sunflowers are a personal favorite.
Charlie@Seattle Trekker
October 9, 2016 at 6:14 PM
I’m fond of them too, and we have three native species of Helianthus in Austin that I can play with photographically.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 6:34 PM
That’s a great photo!
montucky
October 9, 2016 at 11:08 PM
I was thankful for the opportunity to record such a dramatic scene, even while I had to contend with solar artifacts in the image.
Steve Schwartzman
October 9, 2016 at 11:10 PM
I haven’t yet had the camera out much on this trip, but I did find what I took to be a variety of sunflowers yesterday, and remembered your comment about holding up your hand to help shield the lens. I was able to prevent flaring with my hand, and it made clear the value of a lens hood. Another lesson learned.
shoreacres
October 12, 2016 at 6:51 AM
It’s good that you tried out that sort of hands-on technique and found it came in handy.
Steve Schwartzman
October 12, 2016 at 9:15 AM
This photo was taken with such dexterity, I am sure you could easily manage this latest craze https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/shortcuts/2016/oct/11/can-you-master-the-no-hands-high-five-selfie
Gallivanta
October 13, 2016 at 5:00 AM
That’s a funny article. I’m gratified you think I have the dexterity to do a high-five selfie. I used to be able to stack pennies on an upraised elbow and then catch them in midair as they fell. Will there ever be an end to wondrous feats?
Steve Schwartzman
October 13, 2016 at 7:12 AM
The high-five selfie is a non-event compared to your stacked penny trick.
Gallivanta
October 13, 2016 at 7:51 AM
At least the downside to missing was only pennies scattered all over the floor. I’d hate to see a phone get smashed against the floor.
Steve Schwartzman
October 13, 2016 at 7:55 AM
Exactly so.
Gallivanta
October 13, 2016 at 10:38 PM