Black Eyed Susan 8-27-2015

While walking through the Bronx Zoo, I noticed they have some really well-maintained floral displays spread throughout the park. I took a few minutes away from the animal exhibits to photograph these Black-Eyed Susans. Shooting flowers requires getting close and using a shallow depth of field to separate the subject from the background. The bright petals caught my eye immediately.

This macro shot focuses closely on a vibrant Black-Eyed Susan flower in full bloom. The flower features vivid yellow petals that transition into a deep, burnt orange color near the center. The dark, textured seed head is sharply in focus, while two similar flowers in the background are intentionally blurred out. The surrounding area consists of soft, out-of-focus green foliage.