Sunshine: Brightness and Warmth

• Photographer
  Kevin Cloughley

Bathed in direct late morning sun, this California Poppy seems to reflect that Sunshine right back to the viewer. I buried the focus deep in the center of the flower, below the stamens. This gives an almost burning sense, like the center of the sun. The shadows of the stamens from the direct light also add to this affect. The focus further tempers the texture of the petals, while maintaining the orange striations of rays spreading outward on top of their iridescent yellow base.