Opinion requested sunflowers

[doubletakes]

I was wondering if any of these images stood out or said something interesting or if they were all kind of a wash.

If I could ask anyone who cared to reply which was the best in their opinion, I'd appreciate it.

By the way, sunflowers have a very short life span.

1)


2)


3)


4)


5)



This one I'm just throwing in because it looks like zombie flowers chasing a normal because they want to eat its seeds and it made me laugh:

[jpiano]

Technically, the photos are good, but the subject is just not very appealing. Sunflowers need to be large with splashy colors. I like the last one best. You could call it "survivor". The contrast between the dead and the living is striking.

[kenwae]

same....but I like the first one best, for the same reasons as stated above for the last one.

[doubletakes]

Originally Posted by jpiano

Technically, the photos are good, but the subject is just not very appealing. Sunflowers need to be large with splashy colors. I like the last one best. You could call it "survivor". The contrast between the dead and the living is striking.

Thank you so much for the feedback...

I figured out later I didn't give you context. These were inspired by a contest on photos of dead plants. I had been watching these fields for a few weeks and they haven't been harvested yet.

Here are the more appealing photos:

[studiozahzah]

Aha! That last one is my favorite. I love the bokeh sunflowers in the background and the geometry of the unfolding sunflower in the foreground. The monks of Castile who make Monks Bread used to grow sunflowers every other year and I regret not taking any photos the last time they grew them. Thank you for sharing these Tracy.

[KateMorgan]

I find there are too many to comment on individually, better to do one or two at a time for critiquing. #1, I like it and would crop it just above the yellow flower head. Blown skies are never that attractive but it works rather well in this case. The last shot I feel is your best effort. It tells a story and is entertaining. As the yellow flower is the object of the shot it would have been a good idea to get it in focus. Food for thought for the next shots you take. Good series all round.

[zemlin]

I think the first set would be more interesting if you had better light to give some contrast, shadows, and stronger colors. Of the first set, I think #1 has the most potential.

[Wayne]

I also like #1 the best in the first set. I would personally crop (in portrait format) keeping the live flower, and the two dead above it looking down as if startled by the new growth. Well my interpretation anyway. Hope this helps.

[doubletakes]

Thank you Renata, Kate, Zemlin, Wayne...

Turns out, I chickened out of entering the contest. They had some very good pictures entered. Some silhouettes and interesting textures, dried flowers and such. Mine probably wouldn't have done well.

Athough I just passed the fields of sunlowers today. They STILL hadn't harvested them, there are several fields in different areas so it seems like they have to not be ready.
When will they harvest the ugly buggers anyway?
Maybe I'll start a pool.