This year was certainly a year to remember for the blazing star at Wah-Sha-She. A big thanks to Don Kurz for suggesting I include this prairie in my excursions this year. In all, I made five 4-hour round trips up there - just couldn't get enough.
I'm sure Don will notice, but this shot was taken slightly past the peak, yesterday afternoon. I'll try to post one later that was taken more during the peak on Friday.
A really nice photograph Bill, the colors are very inviting. This will make a great print.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on July 21, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Bill, a very pleasing prairie comp and a beautiful image overall. I'm always amazed at the detail you get in your web presentations. Great web processing!
Yes, that was an incredible display that doesn't get repeated every year. It is nice that you picked some of the ashy sunflower, Helianthus mollis, to add to the display. The heavy coat of gray hairs on the leaves and stem gives an ashy look, hence, the appropriate common name.
Also note the dried, branched grass in the lower right quadrant. It is called tickle grass, Agrostis hyemalis. For folks wearing pants instead of shorts, it has a tendency to work its way inside your lower pants leg and climb upwards with every step. The only way to remove it is to lower your drawers. On an open prairie, there just ain't that many places where one can be very descrete.
Best,
Don
Posted by Brad Mangas on July 21, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Very nice Bill, good job in handling the light. Wonderful dof in this. Well done.
Brad
Posted by Jim Peacock on July 21, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Thanks for the compliments everyone. Don - I've had several experiences with tickle grass - all when I was a youngster quail hunting with my Dad. Unfortunately, that was during December and January when the air temperature made a dropping of the drawers a most unpleasant event...
Beautiful shot Bill. It looks like you caught the light just right to show the blooms without blowing them out. The color contrasts between the purple and yellow make quite a statement. It was nice that you could include the yellow flowers in the shot.
Beautiful image Bill. I bet you hunted a while for such a great composition, with the foreground flowers fairly isolated and multitude of blooms in the distance. Very well done!
Thanks Rob, Merle, and John. John - I did have to look around quite a bit to find the best ashy sunflower - many had been nibbled on, and were not in the best condition. These two had not been open long. I think the sunflower normallys peak after the blazing star. Too bad they don't occur together. Here's a shot from a different prairie 3 years ago where they came close...
Discussion
12 repliesI'm sure Don will notice, but this shot was taken slightly past the peak, yesterday afternoon. I'll try to post one later that was taken more during the peak on Friday.
Yes, that was an incredible display that doesn't get repeated every year. It is nice that you picked some of the ashy sunflower, Helianthus mollis, to add to the display. The heavy coat of gray hairs on the leaves and stem gives an ashy look, hence, the appropriate common name.
Also note the dried, branched grass in the lower right quadrant. It is called tickle grass, Agrostis hyemalis. For folks wearing pants instead of shorts, it has a tendency to work its way inside your lower pants leg and climb upwards with every step. The only way to remove it is to lower your drawers. On an open prairie, there just ain't that many places where one can be very descrete.
Best,
Don
Brad