Beach Sunflowers (w/macro shots and more)

"For man, as for flower and beast and bird, the supreme triumph is to be most vividly, most perfectly alive."

~ D.H. Lawrence

Yesterday, in addition to getting shots of the Little Blue Heron, I was also able to capture shots of Florida Beach Sunflowers. The Beach Sunflower (it's scientific name is Helianthus debilis) is quite common in the central Florida landscape. The reason why is because they are quite adaptable, even flourish, in hot, dry places like the Florida beaches and can withstand scorching temperatures that we have here. They are also known to be one of the favorite flowers for Florida Bees.

The first two shots that I captures, I did some editing and turned them into b&w (black and white) shots, giving them another added dimension in depth. By editing them to a b&w shot, the natural shadow casted by the sun on the flower gave it a signature looking stroke along the petals. Here are those first two shots:

The next shot taken is of the Beach Sunflower in it's natural coloring, standing tall next to a hanging adjacent plant from all the rain that had fallen:

The next shot is a grouping of flowers that were in the same vicinity as the other three flowers that I captured. Though there were a lot more in the area, you get the jist for just how many were in that particular area.

The final shot of that day, though not a sunflower, I found quite interesting. It is of a cricket just as it was hopping along the surface of the accumulated rain water. You can see the ripples it left in it's wake as I captured it mid-hop. It is truly amazing how their light weight and agility allows them to do so.

A day not spent in nature is a day wasted. And what a beautiful day it was.

One love,

@jgullinese