This morning, I had one of the most challenging brawls with a strong and bright sun. I love flower photographs, which really show the intensity, emotion, and beauty of the sun, mother to all flowers.
The noon sun was directly level with my eyes, the flowers, and my camera. It kept blinding me, even indirectly or when I looked away (this is perhaps why I am probably going to need cataract surgery in August or September. It isn’t the flower’s fault or mine; I have become much more sensitive to direct sunlight but no less stubborn about taking my pictures.
(See one sunflower in the sun above.)
It came out well. I wouldn’t dare taunt the sun by suggesting I win a struggle with him, but I got a bunch of photos I really like, and I hope you do, too.
I had to try each picture about a half dozen times, standing up, lying down on different chairs, moving them so the sun would be where I wanted it, and rapidly changing exposures so I could get the pictures I wanted.
I didn’t look directly into the sun, but it was very difficult to see through the lens or viewfinder. My eyes are back to normal. It is a gift to capture the beauty and emotion of the hearts and souls of flowers. It was worth every minute.
I’m using eye drops, staying close to the air conditioner, and giving my eyes a rest. They deserve it. According to our outdoor thermometer, the flowers captured the feeling on a day when the temperature was close to 100 degrees. I’m checking out for tonight. See you tomorrow in the morning.
Base of a Sunflower
I am still determining the names of these flowers. I love the threads coming off of them.
Wildflowers in the sun.
Wildflowers
Sunflower leaves.
Wildflowers
Sunset.
I think they are Nigella, or love in the mist.
Thanks Rae I love the name
Sunflowers always make me smile. Thank you, Jon, for sharing the beauty of your flowers.
Hi Jon, Something that does affect eye sensitivity to light, but which may not be in eye doctors’ knowledge base, is declining adrenal sufficiency, as occurs frequently for those of us who age. It would be a different doctor to ask, a test perhaps. I merely mention it since you
like learning new things, and this could be an item of interest since you want to work in bright light, appointments
potentially could be sooner, and if there is a match for the cause of sensitivity to light, you might have access also to sooner remediation. (My experience with the local eye doctor was no solution because he immediately looked for
cataracts, but didn’t find any. It turned out that not only did I have severe adrenal dysfunction, but it had never occurred to the eye doctor to consider it. I guess hormones are not in their scope.) It doesn’t mean that consulting another local expert in their different field wouldn’t potentially be advantageous.
Thanks I have two eye doctors and was rested as recently as last week.
I find this set of flower pictures to be particularly strong. Thanks for making and sharing them.
Beautiful, colorful photos…as usual. Those flowers with the threads are Nigella, or Love in the Mist, I believe.
Beautiful photos again, the brown seed capsules look like those from love-in-a-mist, nigella damascena.
Your pictures brighten up my days.
These are pictures of love and beauty. I resonated with your account of the time and joyful effort put forth in getting a picture. The process opens our eyes , informs our hearts —the picture is only part of the gift. Thank you.