The Last Sunflower...(w many crops!)

this is great again Stan, a different dynamic to this one though. Waiting for the light (or not as the case may be! ) has paid off. I really like its solitude in the shadows. I prefer your first post due to the dune FG details and its different mood. Great work

Thanks, Steve. I prefer the previous as well
The thought occured to me that this might benefit from being more minimal, w/o the sky, sorta like this:

Nice! I like the selective light on the sunflower

Or maybe go all the way, like this: (am i losing it??)

I like this bg, and the fg from your previous shot.

I´ll be honest and say that I liked your last post better That image had a supernatural quality that I liked very much.

Rune Hansen

I have to go for #1.
Excluding any of those wonderfully side lit dunes and/or the really good sky would be just wrong.
Including those elements also enhances depth and the stark aloneness of the flower.

Stan, my vote would be for the initial post. The 3rd all out crop is my least favorite. The surrounding sand of the 3rd it is too mundane, and alittle too dark for my tastes. I enjoy seeing the sky and the dunes and their shadows / patterns in the BG!

Simply great! Masterful control of light and shadow. I like the first version best.

Ok, thanks guys, that's what i wanted to hear, it's good to know when your first instincts are the right ones!

I prefer the top version of this photo vs. all the others, including your first post. The creeping shadows really add to the sense of isolation for me. But that's just my preference.

The first post with the sky is my favorite. Great job waiting for just the top of the flower to be lit, what a wonderful effect!

Stan,

This is excellent! I prefer the first image with the sky. The blue sky is a nice color compliment to the yellow sunflower, and somehow seeing clouds and blue connect me to the story of how a sunflower can survive in this harsh environment and there is hope for the sunflower. When you crop out the sky, I'm left with the feeling that this flower's days are limited in a vast dry dunefield.

Awesome and well seen! I prefer the first one. I'm very inspired by your last shots. They're very creative. Congrats!

The first one definitely has the look Stan. Beautifully done.

Stan, leave well enough alone and stick with the first version.

Another vote for the first post of this image. The sky is beautiful and the image as a whole has a beautiful look and feel.

Definitely the first one, what an amazing image Stan!

Hello Stan

I would have to join the chorus and pick the first post as the crop adds depth and gives the shot a much better dynamic. What a great find to come accross that flower in this fantastic landscape. You did well to capture it.

Another vote for the first version. The backlit flower is AWESOME! I love the sky and the S shaped shadows on the dunes.

This is really good too, Stan. I definately prefer the first one.

Chris

Excellent concept, Stan. The shadows seem a tad heavy to me, and I'm wondering about trying to make them just a bit lighter.

Stan!

This first one absolutely brilliant. I think you need it all, and it will be great as fine art as will as one of those inspirational posters. (Of course this consept is likely to be copied by some advertizing company that brings potted flowers to the desert.)

Stan,

I've failed to comment on your previous postings, but I've thoroughly enjoyed them all! This one is beautiful - your timing is perfect. I really like that you didn't allow the sand to go completely dark and there are hints of texture in the sand. You've really maximized your opportunities with these flowers in sand. Great work Stan.

Lon

Beautiful, Stan !! I also prefer the 1st - it really needs the background for the flower to make the most sense to me..... great shot.

I like the image as originally posted. I'd like to get just a hint of detail in those black-as-deep-space shadows, as I think they're too dominating right now. But this is a great get.

I like the first shot best. I think I might actually prefer this one cropped a little from the left and right. Nice shot.

What a stunning image! I might even entertain a 3:2 vertical crop ration focusing on the left side of this image. I wouldn't want to give up that blue sky... it mixes so well with those golden flowers. Again really well seen and captured!

Beautiful image, Stan. I'm voting for #1 as well. I also think opening up the shadows just a little might add to this.

Thanks for all the comments!!

Congrats on the EP, Stan. Outstanding work

Congratulations on the EP Stan!!

Congrats on the win Stan, well done!

Your first instincts were definately the right ones! Congrats on WC win.

A beautiful image Stan and a well deserved EP!

Congrats, Stan. This is a really nice shot. I can see a lot of improvement in your photo work in the last several months.

I like the original and the 3rd crop, but the 2nd one does nothing for me. Really neat idea and a well executed image, Stan. Congrats on the EP!

Great shot, Stan. That 1st one tells a lot about the environment the flower is found in with excellent lighting. Kudos for recognizing the potential and hanging around for it to happen.

Congrats Stan!!! Nother vote for #1. Beautiful comp, beautifuly executed. Patience always pays off when working the light and this is just masterful! Next time your up Monument way I'll buy da beer!
John

Stan...what a shot!!! Great details in the shadows and love the interplay of light and shadows here!! Great job as always... regards, Rajeev.

Glad you won, otherwise I never would have seen this gem! I most definitely prefer the first. It puts the scene in perspective and enhances the color scheme. What a great find and you caught it with great lighting. Great stuff, Stan!!!!!

OMG, how I missed this? Fantastic, Stan, as it is in the original post, uncropped.


Paolo

Thanks, everyone, i really appreciate the comments from a such a great talented group of people!