Photography – Page 8

December 23, 2022December 23, 2022

The Head of a Sunflower

Sunflowers are an iconic symbol of summer, bright and beautiful – and more.

A sunflower’s sunny yellow petals seem to beam out a message of joy and happiness. But have you ever considered what lies at the heart of this flower? The head of a sunflower is a complex structure that plays an important role in the growth and life cycle of the plant. It is also remarkable for its intricate design and adaptability to different conditions. What lies inside the sunflower head are features that make it a uniquely incredible structure.

What exactly is the Sunflower Head?

The sunflower head is actually made up of many individual flowers. It is a pseudanthium, or flowerhead, consisting of many tiny flowers arranged in spirals around a central disk, with each flower facing outward. The disk is made up of the flower base, which includes a stalk and a peduncle. The flowers themselves consist of five petals and an outer ring of many toothed ray florets. Each petal has a green bottom half with a white top half. At the center of each petal, there is a dark brown to blackish spot. The only “downside” is that the flower has a fetid smell. At the base of the flower are five stamens with anthers that are yellow or white and hair-tipped. They are longer than the filaments. The fruit (the seed) is a follicle with five valves.

Sunflower seeds are a nutritional powerhouse, hidden inside the head of a sunflower. Not only are they rich in healthy fats and vitamins, but they are also a great source of edible oil. Sunflower seed oil is full of essential fatty acids and antioxidants that can help improve overall health. As an added bonus, this oil has a light flavor that won’t overpower the taste of your favorite foods.

sunflower face in detail — Face of a Sunflower

The most common type of sunflower seed used for extractable oil is black-oil sunflowers. These seeds have thinner shells than other varieties and produce up to 40% more oil per pound than any other type of seed available on the market today. The high yield makes them ideal for commercial production and use in processed foods such as crackers, chips, breads, cookies, sauces and dressings.

sunflower lost in the crowd — A sunflower lost in a crowd of sunflowers.

A sunflower is truly a work of art.

Each individual flower has its own stem and petals, though they are much smaller than traditional blooms. The center floret is larger than those around it and provides the famous yellow disc that we’ve come to associate with sunflowers. Every other floret produces a small black seed surrounded by thin bristles that help disperse the seeds when ripe and ready for sowing. It’s truly fascinating how Mother Nature can create such magnificent works of art!

Each sunflower image can be “clicked” to see more detail or you can click a link below to see even more choices…

Link to: Bill’s Sunflower Power Wall Art Collection

Link to: Bill’s Fine Art America Gallery

field of sunflowers — Field of Sunflowers on a farm near Roxanna, Delaware

December 15, 2022December 15, 2022

Bill Swartwout Photography on Redbubble

Check out my store on the Redbubble platform for unique items.

Redbubble.com, or for my store Swartwout.Redbubble.com, is now gaining more of my photographs for use on their products. Check it out – and please give the shop a “follow” and a few likes (if you see something you like, that is).

redbubble store header image — This is the current header for my Redbubble Store emphasizing 2023 as #AYearForArt.

From the “About” page on their website: “Redbubble was born in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. The dream was simple. Give independent artists a meaningful new way to sell their creations. Today, we connect over 700,000 artists and designers across the planet with millions of passionate fans. A brave (and dare we say stylish) new world of self expression.” I am now one of those 700,000+ designers and artists.

Link to: Bill’s Redbubble Store

Here is a sample of a December upload with an unique holiday design on shirts.

crab basket christmas tree on redbubble shirts — Here is how the Crab Basket Christmas Tree Watercolor looks on T-shirts at Redbubble. A wide variety of shirts and sizes are available.

Do artists actually buy art from Redbubble?

Yes they (we) do. Here is an item that arrived as I was creating this post. I needed a small spiral bound notebook to keep near my keyboard and this one caught my eye. It is the creation of a Florida designer known as Pen and Rose Stationers. The item arrived only four days after I placed the order, it was exactly as described, well packaged and is perfect for what I need.

Victorian Starry Night Sky Memoranda Notebook by PenAndRose at redbubble — Victorian Starry Night Sky Memoranda Notebook by PenAndRose at Redbubble.

Here is a related post about: buying one’s own art.

December 14, 2022December 16, 2022

The Making of a Classic Bridge Photograph

Charles W. Cullen Bridge over the Indian River Inlet at Sunset

Once in a while I get asked, “How long did it take for you get that picture?” My usual answer is, “less than a second, but…there’s more.” Yes, “but” – because there is a lot more involved than snapping that shutter at 1/125th of a second or thereabouts.

Indian River Inlet Bridge at Sunset Printed on Canvas — Sunset under the Indian River Inlet Bridge printed on artist-quality canvas.

Imagine planning to create a pleasing sunset photograph of a popular and photogenic bridge – such as the Charles W. Cullen Bridge over the Indian River Inlet at the Delaware Seashore State Park. Here’s a sequence to think about: 1) Packing the camera gear, 2) don’t forget the tripod), 3) driving to the location, 4) setting up the gear and tripod, 5) calling on years of experience to frame the shot from the right angle (or several angles because one is not enough), 6) repacking the gear and trekking back home, and finally 7) editing the image captured from the outing to create just the “right” couple of images for display and to offer for sale. The 1/125th of a second to get “that” picture was actually several hours of time on “that” day and, really, might have been several years in the making. Also, figure in the complexities of the weather – to have the clouds and the sun cooperate in just the right way.

Camera Screen with a Scene of the Indian River Bridge at Sunset — Trusty ol’ Nikon on a tripod on the north jetty at the Indian River Inlet.

Not only did I have prep and driving and time on site, I also had a slight bit of danger involved. (Cue the ominous music here.) I had to walk out on the rock jetty with no handholds and water-sprayed rocks (slippery?) while carrying my camera bag, a tripod – and me. But the result was well worth it. Shots from this particular photo shoot have proven to be quite popular photograph over the years, having been purchased by several art buyers to decorate their homes and offices. Another photograph from this location has appeared in a popular Indian River Bridge Calendar.

Indian River Bridge at Sunset Wall Art in Room Setting

Where would you hang this in your home?

Click the links below to see the actual image in a larger size and to browse or shop the different substrates for wall art and/or a variety of home décor items.

Link: Indian River Inlet, Bay and Bridge Wall Art

Link to: Bill’s Gallery at Fine art America

But, please don’t get me wrong. I am in no way complaining. I love doing my photography – as I have for the last half century. It gets me outdoors and it provides exercise. It is mentally stimulating and fulfilling – to know that, in my own way, I am contributing some art to the world.

There can be more…

Oh, yes, once the image has been rendered as it was envisioned then some creative editing may be applied. Here is a simulated watercolor version of the above photograph. This version is popular for t-shirts and other apparel items.

sunset under the Indian River Bridge Watercolor — Simulated watercolor of the sun setting under the Indian River Inlet Bridge at the Delaware Seashore State Park.