The Usual Suspects

sweet. it certainly pays off to know your backyard well...
georg

That's a cool composition Stan! It is so well balanced and that line of sunflowers is so perfect. Really good stuff!

Great shot, Stan. I love the light and colors. Wonderful composition really makes this. Very nice layers going back through the image. This is really nice to look at!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Definitely my favorite shot from your recent dunes batch. I like the nice red color in the foreground sand and the color in the clouds. The comp makes it look like the sunflowers are trying to climb up the incline which is cool and the blur doesn't bother me in this case since it seems to promote the same implied motion. You've got some dust spots to clean up in the sky (image that while shooting the dunes! ).

Love the layers, diagonal lines, and light you've captured here, Stan.

Very cool to see the sunflowers growing in the sand, love the dunes in the mid-ground.

Thanks!
Josh: yeah, thanks for 'spotting' those--i changed lenses about a dozen times up there, and even doing my best to shelter things the sand was pretty much unavoidable--im still cleaning things out!
Avishek--you'll notice that apparent 'tilt' in every shot ive taken from the high dunes, its just the natural slope of the land--the valley is to the left--the 14000 foot peaks are to the right.

Wow, what a great scene! Love everything here!

Interesting, I always thought sunflowers turn their head towards the light. Maybe they're not sunflowers though. Nice find!

This has really come together perfectly. While the scenery is outstanding, its the flowers that elevate this photograph to next level. Outstanding work, Stan.

Gorgeous light Stan! Wow! The sunflows look like they are marching across a great desert looking for water.

Man oh man, this is strong as new rope! This is one of your all time best IMO - just fantastic.

Without even seeing your name I thought it was you.

I hate to say it again but this is really, really nice. And... you were there.

The lines in the sand add texture and a windswept affect; the flowers contrast with the darker dunes in the distance; the overall cast of the orange a blue compliment the color wheel; lastly, a great sense of depth and space.

From an underling--this is a great shot.
the fisch

Lastly

Strong image Stan. I like all the diagonal elements repeated over and over. Great color. Nice representation.

This is terrific Stan, I cant stop looking at the the line of sunflowers. The composition really works for me in this.

Gary.

Thanks!
Steve: that's one of the first things that i noticed when i started shooting the sunflowers out there--that they all face to the north and the sun is predominantly to the south. Frustrating since most of the scenery is to the north--and all the flowers are turned the other way! But it's due to the constant strong winds--generally from the south, the same winds that form the dunes. Wind trumps sun in this case

Always great to find relationships like this in nature. They really tell us a story of the area and even though dunes can be desolate and harsh can still harbor life beyond our comprehension. Lovely shot Stan

The second thing that came to mind after seeing this was "why are the flowers in a straight line". Things in nature line up for a reason. Whether it be a variation in the sand that allowed seeds to be deposited, a groundwater barrier caused by a fault (which is obviously not the case here), or you planted them last year in anticipation of this shot (also unlikely), something caused these plants to grow in a line. The first thing that came to mind was “wow, cool shot“.

I guess they need to set their seedlings in the right direction.

An interesting question, guys--ill have to pass that one on to my ranger friends--they'll know! Actually, even though this area is very dry (the mice here don't even urinate, apparently!) the sand holds water remarkably well, on this particular day i could dig down a few inches and find wet sand. The water table in this area used to be extensive, consisting of numerous inter-dunal ponds. Most of those have dried up (due to natural and human causes) but there is plenty of water to still be found. Ill vote for the fault/variation in sand.

One of your best from here, Stan. The warm colors really put this over the top. Excellent comp too.

This is beautiful Stan. Way to perservere and get a great image.

Usual suspects and the usual greatness from the Stan-dunes.

Stan,

It's quite obvious to me that you planted the seeds last year just to set yourself up for this lined up row of sunflowers. It's just obvious.

I guess all I can say is that it was a masterful plan. Yet another fabulous - and unique - image from the Great Sand Dunes. No nits or suggestions. Great work Stan.

Lon

Incredible Stan. Simply incredible.

Love everything about this one: comp with those strong diagonals is great, the lighting is awesome, the colors vibrant. Very beautiful image.

sweet .. Prefect time Stan

How can these flowers live in that environment - crazy. Great shot, Stan.

That is really bizarre Stan. To someone like me from over the pond the sunflowers look so completely out of place. Very interesting, there is an illusion that the scene is tilted down to the left a little.

I like the dueling areas of light in the foreground and background with shade (but plenty of detail) in between. The natural anomaly of the arrangement of sunflowers is pretty fun, for sure. For some reason, the fact that they're facing away from the sun isn't what I was expecting. Dust spots in the sky?

I really like the light on the distant mountains and clouds!

Killer Stan, love the light, colors, layers, and comp. Well done as always!

One of your finest shots, IMO, Stan. Great find!

Mark Capurso
Phoenix, AZ

Looks like quite a bit of scenery in this direction too!! Amazing how things fall into place sometimes, huh? Really nice!

Chris

Great shot, Stan. The color contrast of yellow/orange and blue works wonderfully here. I like the layers in the comp, each with their own distinct color and texture. The lighting is excellent with the sunflowers highlighted beautifully.

Thanks for all the kind remarks, folks!

Wow!

Superb comp, great color, and fantastic light. All make for a stunning shot!

Great color and composition. It almost has a surreal look to it... which I like very much. Beautiful work, start to finish!