Sunflower and Bottle, photo by Harold Davis. View this image larger.

I’ve been growing sunflowers for photography in a raised bed along the warm, southwestern side of our house. I took some time out from visiting Katie in the hospital, childcare, and mundane work to chill out and refresh my spirits with some recreational photography of these sunflowers.

I photographed this glorious bud in an old, glass Japanese soda bottle. I put it on a black velvet stage, and controlled the natural light (using shades) so that only the bottle and sunflower were illuminated. I like the color contrast between the bottle and the flower. It’s easier to see this when the image is viewed a little larger.

You’ll find more about the multiple exposure technique I used to capture the extensive dynamic range within the flower and bottle in Yellow Roses.

[85mm perspective correcting (PC) macro lens (127.5mm in 35mm terms), four exposures at shutter speeds ranging from 2 to 25 seconds at f/45 and ISO 100, tripod mounted.]