Sunflower

This is a close-in photograph of a sunflower with backlit petals. The only critical part of making this image was using as much of the field of focus as possible to get everything sharp. This image was photographed hand-held, if it wasn't for the wind a tripod would have helped.

The little flowers in the bigger flower head are call disc flowers. Each disc flower produces one seed. The colourful outer petals are called the ray flowers. Their purpose is to attract pollinators (e.g. bees) from a distance.

The camera recorded the following information in the original image file:

Sunday, 5 October, 2003
   12:29:49 PM
   Color
Data Format:         RAW (12-bit) 
Compression:         Lossless
Image Size:          3008 X 1960
Lens:                105mm f/2.8
Focal Length:        105mm
Exposure Mode:       Shutter
Metering Mode:       Multi-Pattern
   1/160 sec-f/6
Exposure Comp:       0 EV
Exposure Difference: 0 EV
Hue Adjustment:      3
SpeedLight Mode:     None
Sensitivity:         ISO  800
Color Mode:          Adobe RGB
White Balance:       Direct sunlight
Tone Compensation:   Low-Contrast
Sharpening:          None
Model:               Nikon D1X
Camera ID:           Gerald & Irmgard Carter