Early Gold

Beautiful John.  The detail in the flowers is excellent and the blended exposure is very natural looking.  The BG isn't very dramatic compared to the FG but it's still very nice.

I really like this photo, adding the background and doing a vertical really works here.

"In your face" good, John. How close were you focused for the flowers?

Great balsamroot flower portrait. This really captures the size and intensity of these guys. 

The flowers really come alive, beautifully done, John. Vertical was a good choice.  

The flowers are pretty spectacular. I think maybe for this one, I might just crop the top as an
option, and just have a balsamroot portrait.

Thanks all!

Michael, I believe the camera lens was ~10" from the closest flower.

Bill and Dan, I agree that the sky doesn't keep up with the Balsamroot. Even so, I liked the image overall enough to be willing to share it.

My glorious plan was to wait for the sun to creep into the upper right corner and grab a sunstar; the clouds had an agenda of their own though, and it never happened. I thought about waiting to see if there was sky color, but didn't think it would happen. The wind was whipping pretty hard and I was worried I wouldn't be able to grab the flowers without movement, so I didn't wait. (The full story is that I've been out to this area in April for a number of years now, Since it times with my Birthday, it has become a bit of an annual trek of sorts. Because of this, I know that it is hard to catch a great sunset there. Noting the prediction for rain, the rapidly building clouds, and satellite images that said it would only get worse, I confidently predicted there would be no sunset and headed to Avery Park and set up camp. While cooking supper, I had the displeasure of enjoying the best sunset I have seen in quite some time, and certainly the best I've seen from that area. Ugh... I tried to console myself as the wind WAS really whipping at that point.)

John,

What a gorgeous set and arrangement of the balsamroot. the near/far comp is perfectly executed.  What is most striking to me is the glow, the luminosity of the flowers, pedals.

Dang near impossible to be critical here.  If there was a skosh more room to the left, I'd take it.  But really, this is just a wonderful image.

Lon

I love how I can almost stretch my hand out and touch those flowers. Very nicely done, John!

The close up view of the Balsamroot flowers is great, John.  The ability to then include a fine look at the surroundings creates a great sense of place.  Those flowers look so good, I'd like to pet them.  Yeah, weather prediction can be very frustrating, but sitting through a non event sunset is frustrating also..take your pick.

Those flowers really pop and nice blend to fill the frame.  The look so smooth and velvety, lush. Beautiful.

The balsamroot sure do make for a lovely vibrant FG, John. Even without the sunstar I think this works beautifully because the overcast light does a perfect job of showcasing all the wonderful details in this image. Nicely done.

Ed

John, If these flowers popped out any more they would be coming right out of my monitor! I like the included background as well. This is a beautiful image and wonderful photography!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

John: Just a superbly crafted image. Of course I like the flowers most of all but I like this understated BG and think its a great complement to the subject and not a competitor. Many thumbs up! >=))>

A striking image! The low perspective showcasing the flowers is qite something. I am also enjoying looking past the main subject at the rest of the glorious scenery.

Very nicely done, John.

Beautiful flower portrait!   I might try brightening the yellows a bit in the fore flowers, but really minor stuff. Very nice!

Just beautiful, with no possible suggestions to make!

Hi  John     This wonderful  composition will  inspire me to  use  my  wide angle lens  more  often  on  flowers          you  perfectly captured  drama  and  beauty  in this  remarkable  scene

Albert Darmo
Canada