Last week, I headed out to Tower Road, where last year there was a huge field of sunflowers. No luck this year. Yesterday, late afternoon, I headed further east along I-70. Near the Watkins exit, I left the interstate. In the distance were fields of yellow that caught my attention, so I meandered through various roads to get there. As I walked along the roadside, I noticed one corn plant growing up among the sunflowers — a case of “pattern interrupted”!
Corn Among The Sunflowers
Most of the sunflowers face the rising sun, so I had the opportunity of shooting back-lighted flowers in the afternoon sunlight.
Backlit Sunflower
One of the flowers was side-lighted against a dark background. This was perfect for a black and white, monochrome conversion.
Single Sunflower
Walking carefully among the plants, I setup with a wide angle lens, and angled down to make this image that shows all the flowers facing east.
Field Of Sunflowers
The sunflowers were planted in rows, aligned east-west in this image. Shooting into the sun was going to be tough — the lens needs to be shaded to prevent flare spots. The lens already had a lens hood, but I had to shade the front of the lens with my hand to block the sun. I just love the all those flowers, with dark orange centers surrounded by yellow petals. In the distance were storm clouds, which added to the drama of this image.
Sunflowers And Distant Storm Clouds
With a long lens, I focused on the clump of sunflowers in the middle distance, so that they were peeking out behind the foreground flowers.
Sunflowers Peeking Out
I made several more images as the sun went down. After the sun disappeared below the horizon, the setting sun lighted up the clouds — pink against the blue sky. The grain elevator was also included to balance the composition in this image.
Sunflowers, After Sunset
While enjoying the sunflowers during the afternoon, I heard voices in the distance. Returning to the car, I found several cars parked along the roadside. Several visitors, some with school kids, had stopped nearby to enjoy these magnificent flowers.
Do you know if the sunflowers are still there in the beginning of September?
Katherine,
I don’t know if the sunflowers are still there in September. This year the sunflowers are much later than previous years, so it is possible that they are there. As the flowers grow, their heads become very heavy and they bend over. I will probably be going out this weekend to check them out.
Match
Hey, I’m going to Denver in late August. I was just wondering how far the sunflower fields are from the airport. Are they within walking distance?
Cristhian,
That are a short drive but I would not say walking distance exactly.
Do you know where sunflowers are blooming near Denver or slash Eastern Colorado this year2016?
HI Sandi,
I went yesterday looking for the sunflowers. The field is located off of 56th and west of Monaghan Rd. They are not bloomed yet and are very small. I think with in 3 weeks the should be perfect. There is a dirt road that is NOT marked that travels along side of it. There are no signs for trasspassing or private property so I think it’s good to go.
It is out by DIA.
Here is where I dropped a pin on Google maps.
Dropped Pin
https://goo.gl/maps/gNPmMw2FdhS2
I hope it helps.
We went out this w/e looking for fields. We found some on the Bennett Kiowa Rd- 79 at 104 and some around 128th.
Also on Imboden Rd around 104th. Also on 56th west of Monaghan Rd like Nicole commented. Can’t wait for them to bloom. If anyone sees more spots please post.
Thanks Nicole- I’m planning on going up the 2nd or 3rd week in September.