“I find comfort in contemplating the sunflowers.”
~Vincent van Gogh
Hello Dolly
Pick Me
Bangs
Still Standing
Crowned
I’m Ready For My Close Up
“Above all, bring a lot of joy to your work.”
~Fred Lyon
Farewell, Sunflowers
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Jane Lurie Photography 
Great photography art! Bravo!
Would love to see a ‘Making of’, how you exactly did this.
Greetings from Austria!
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Thanks very much, Prattenberg. Appreciate your comment and visits to my posts.
Glad you enjoyed these flower “portraits”. My setup for the sunflowers was quite simple: placed against a white wall lit by sunlight from the window and shot with 90mm prime (135mm equivalent) set on a tripod.
The Tulip series are placed in front of a brightly sunlit window shade and shot in the same way except they are backlit.
Glad you asked- I am enjoying creating this series of flowers “past their prime.” 🙂
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Those pictures are amazing! The slow dwindling of those petals and the different names that you have found for each stage is so creative! 🌻🌻
I love sunflowers, such beautiful flowers and they emit such a happy vibe, even when totally dried up.
I would love to see you doing a series of other flowers too!!
And do not forget to visit my website and go through my blogs and let me know what you think of them!
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Thanks very much, Deb. I love sunflowers, too, and their beauty shines through in their final hours. I recently posted a tulip series in the same theme that I think you would enjoy. Appreciate your visit!
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Your pictures is very beautiful and charming
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Thanks very much, Anu. 😊
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Beautiful
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Even as they wither into their next phase, they exude joy. 🙂
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So true, Julie. Poignant. Thanks so much. :)🌻
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Such beautiful pictures of the different stages of the sunflower. They are nicely highlighted due to the white background 🌻
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Thanks so much, Anita. I’m happy you enjoyed these. A new project with the high key background I am experimenting with. 🌻
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Amazing images.
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Thanks very much, Rupali. They were interesting to make. 🌻🙂
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I wonder if you had the “Pacino” or Helianthus ‘Early Black Heart’ hmmm just curious is you know
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You mean flower types? Not sure. But they look like Pacinos, (she said upon googling.) 🙂
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😊
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Magnificent.
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Thanks so much, Natuurfreak. 🌻🙂
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Hey – love the sunflower post – farewell and ready to be opened for harvesting those seeds 🙂
and just planted some sunflower seeds and it says 65 days til harvest – 🙂
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Hi Yvette, That’s a long wait but it’ll be worth it. Glad you like my homage to these faded sunflowers. I didn’t enjoy the seeds, though. Thank you for stopping by! 🌻😊
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years ago we tried to harvest the sunflower seeds (children were small) and we roared them and they were chewy compared to the ones we buy- and then any other times we grew these maybe twice) we left the spent blooms out for the birds-
I am trying to figure out the sunflower variety that you featured here ?
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Wish I knew but when I see the flower vendor at the farmers’ market on Thursday, I will ask him. 😀
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right on
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beautiful pictures of sunflowers and happy weekend to you jane
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Thanks so much, Novel Reader. And I hope you’re having a great weekend, too. 🙂
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These are wonderful Jane! I especially like … ‘Hello Dolly’ for its pose … kind of resembles Carol Channing! I can tell that like me, you have a lot of fun with titles. ‘Pick Me’ … I get it!
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Haha, Denise. You get me! I did have such fun making these and the captions came almost while they were “talking to me” in my lens. Thank you so much! 🌻💚🌻
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These are gallery-ready! It’s fun to see how you find the personality and life in each subject – you tease it out and make it sing. Technically I know yellow flowers can be hard to deal with, but I see no evidence of that here. I think each of these warrants returning to look again, and again. I hope you print a few and hang them up. 🙂
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Thank you, Lynn. Their personalities really came out as I studied them through the lens and I couldn’t help but caption them that way. You’ve made me remember also to print them…I’ve gotten out of doing that lately. Good idea. 🙂 🌻
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🙂
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Loved this post so original and fun🌻🌻
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I’m so glad, 🦋. Happy you enjoyed these sunflower studies. Thank you! 🙂 🌻
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Thanks for sharing, Keith. 🙂
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Again stunning work, Jane. Different from most of your outdoor shots, but equally amazing nonetheless. Really enjoyed the short, sharp and creative captions under each photo – sort of gives the sunflower a different personality in a different moment in time 🙂
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Hi Mabel, You picked up on my feelings that each sunflower exuded a certain personality. This has been an interesting project photographing faded flowers in this high-key format. So glad you enjoyed. Thanks very much. 🌻😊🌻
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Really gorgeous photos of a sunflower. It’s almost prettier than when it’s in full bloom.
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Hi Otto, I am intrigued photographing flowers past their prime and I agree, they are prettier and more interesting in many ways. Rather poignant. Thanks for letting me know- great to hear from you. 🌻🌻
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Wonderful photos and captions, Jane!
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Thanks, Belinda. They were interesting to shoot. The captions flowed when I saw their personalities. 😃
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What a series of wonderful clicks!!
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Thank you, Eshakendhe. Happy you enjoyed! 😊🌻
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Sunshine❤
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Indeed, Vatsal. Thank you. 🌻😄🌻
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Wonderful. ♦️🙏🏻
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Thanks so much, Amber. 😊
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And you used a nice and good example.
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😊thanks.
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Its so beautiful.
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Thank you, I Hear U. They are quite stunning in their final hours.
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So realistic and brilliant images!!
Good job, Jane!
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Happy you like them Saloni. Thanks so much. 🌻😊🌻
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If that photography could bring a more feeling of the flower being stale still reflecting its beauty around!
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Thanks, Justblog. I do hope that this brings an appreciation for the beauty of their final hours. Glad you enjoyed.
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What a lovely inspiring visit with you this evening Jane as I send you my best wishes on your Memorial Day. Your macro photography is stunning and of course I love the accompanying Van Gogh quotes. We recently went to the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition “Imagine Van Gogh here in Vancouver.” If it comes to San Francisco you mustn’t miss it.
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Thank you, Andrew. Glad you like these fading blooms. The Van Gogh did come to SF but I didn’t see it. I think it may be coming to LA. I’ll keep and eye out for it.
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Wow… what an incredible series of these sunflowers! Great images, Jane!
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Thanks, Amy. They are beautiful right up to the end. Glad you enjoyed.
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What a fun collection with wonderful captions, Jane!
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Thanks so much, Ellen. Happy you like them. 🙂
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How many photographers would devote an entire post to spent, or almost spent, flowers? Not many if any others, Jane. And all are presented in their glory. Love the captions too. “Pick me”? I don’t know…hard to choose. 🙂 Plus a nod to Norma Desmond in the end. 🙂
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Hi Steve, Me! I am really enjoying working on these. Glad you like the captions- I can’t help but personify them with their golden “hair”. 🙂 Thanks so much!
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These are so expressive… your captions are so whimsical, but they seem a bit sad too.
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Thank you, Ruth. I’m glad all the feelings came through. 🌻
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somehow a beautiful sadness..
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Agree, Andy. There’s a poignant feeling I get when I photograph them in their final hours. Thank you.
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Absolutely love the presentation and innovation here, Jane! 🙂
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I’m so glad, Adrian. Thank you! 🙂
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Sunflowers are sooo photogenic! What is it that brings our attention to them..maybe the rich yellow ..mmm 😘😍
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Hi Therese– I think the vibrant yellow sure appeals. Glad you enjoyed these as they move into their final moments. Thank you so much. 😍
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Such gorgeous photos. Sunflowers are among my fave flowers.
Alison
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Thanks, Alison. They are beautiful in every stage. Glad you like the final hours. 🙂
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These pictures are absolutely exquisite, Jane. So much detail, rich colour – and those white backgrounds really help every picture to stand out. Well done. 🙂
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Thanks very much, Frank. I’m having fun with this project and I’ve found the white background really shows them off. Glad you enjoyed! 🙂
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Wonderful images, it was smile after smile seeing these – thanks, Jane!
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Thanks, Adam! Just what I hoped for. 😄🌻
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Even as they decay they are beautiful
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Thanks so much, MM. A metaphor, perhaps?
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Stunning images, Jane. Your captions made me smile in the happiest way possible. 😀
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Thank you, Sylvia. That makes me smile– I had fun with captioning their personalities. 🙂
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sunny wit !! enjoyed – eco !
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Thanks, Eco. These were fun! 🙂
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I personally love rumpled sunflowers. Your images are great.
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I’m so glad you like these, Kewtiebird. Faded sunflowers have quite the personalities. Thank you so much.
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Love the details and the bright background!
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Thanks, YC. My latest series- trying different flowers against a white background. Glad you enjoyed! 🙂
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Perfect examples of how something simple can have beauty that speaks to the soul.
janet
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Thank you, Janet. Beautifully said. 🌻
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I have always found it difficult to know exactly when to “toss” my sunflowers! This post confirms why”
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Agree, Linda. I always hold on until the bitter end. Glad these opened your eyes. Thank you so much. 🌻
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Flower inside our soul a bright transformation to the world breathe in and out sparkle of sunshine the Sunflower can be you
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That’s beautiful, Robin. Thank you. 🌻
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What a sweet tribute to their fading beauty.
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Thanks, Janie. This has been a fun and interesting project. 🙂
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Love these!!
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Thanks, Sue. They were really fun to make. 🙂
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I’m sure!
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Always worth the time Jane. I eat their seeds every day and it was a great way to say THANKS!
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Thanks, Bob. They are healthy and beautiful. Glad you enjoyed– keep on eating those seeds! 🌻
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Flowers don’t have to be perfect, neighter do we 😉
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You are so right, Rudi. That’s a great analogy. Thank you. 🙂
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Excellent series, Jane.
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Thanks very much, Rabirius. 🙂
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That’s a cool story through pictures. Brilliant work. 👌
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Thanks so much, Lokesh. I like the way you said that– it’s exactly what I am hoping to do. 🙂
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Jane, your key light fading sunflowers are just glorious. I have a thing with fading flowers especially with roses and hydrangeas.
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Thanks, Cornelia. I’m working on different flowers in this high-key mode and enjoying the results. We both have an appreciation for flowers past their prime. 🙂
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It is so much pleasure to photography in high key light, Jane.
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Wow! It’s surreal!
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They do look a bit otherwordly in this setting, Garima. Thank you! 🙂
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Loved that “Still Standing”. You named it perfectly 😀
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Thanks, Harmit and Piyush. I had fun with the captions. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
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What a fun series, Jane!
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Thanks, Susan. These were fun to shoot. 🌻😄
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The tagline is so powerful!
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Thanks so much, BookWorm. Glad you enjoyed!
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Thanks for the combination of beauty and fun. Enjoy your 3-day holiday weekend.
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Thanks, Frank. Glad you enjoyed- I can’t help but see different personalities in these. Hope you had a good holiday. 🙂
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Flowers’ late stages often get neglected, yet attentive photographers find much to like in those stages.
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Thanks for this lovely comment, Steve. I do get lost in the details of these blooms. 🌻
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How can I download this pictures?
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Hi Halime, If you would like to share my images, you will need to reblog this post. Thanks and I’m glad you enjoyed.
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Interesting. As I age I am appreciating fading flowers . Picked a magnolia blossom recently to enjoy up close and as it faded I was about to throw it out, but saw in it a new kind of beauty. Diane
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Hi Diane, You have opened my eyes– maybe that’s why I am fascinated with fading blooms (although it’s been a longtime love). I think their beauty shines through and gets better with age. Now that’s an obvious metaphor, for you. 🙂 Thanks so much for letting me know.
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Your macros are exquisite, the captions charming…. who could ask for anything more? 🍷
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Hi Gunta, I’m very glad you enjoyed the captions with the images. I can’t help but to personify them. Thanks so much! 😀🌻
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Wonderful study, Jane! They do have a rag doll look about them, made me smile. 🙂 ❤ Happy long weekend to you.
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Thanks, Eliza. I want to put faces on them. Glad to bring a smile. Wishing you a lovely long weekend. 😊🌻❤️
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