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Spoonflower
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Make a Flower (Standard Editing)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Location: Home
Date: Apr 15, 2020
Date Uploaded: Apr 15, 2020

 Had I known what was going to be involved with this project I probably would not have begun with it. I wanted to try something a little different and came up with the idea of plastic spoon flower petals. I found some instructional videos on the internet and it did not appear very difficult. I thought I would throw in a plastic spoon butterfly as well. I did not have enough yellow spoons so I had to order them online. It soon became apparent that they wouldn't arrive on time. I did the butterfly first Then I came up with the idea of using clear plastic spoons which I had enough of and paint them yellow. There are 79 of them. It required using sandpaper to roughen the surface of the spoons and 3 coats of paint on each spoon. The handles were cut off to create the petals. The petals were attached to a cardboard backing with hot glue. I ran out of glue and was able to order more and have it delivered with 2 days left but the wrong size was sent so I had to use a soldering iron to melt and deliver the melted glue. I used pinecone petals for the next inside layer of the sunflower having collected many of them around my backyard. They had to be removed from the pinecone and each one cut to fit and glued in place. The center of the Sunflower is made of coffee beans. Luckily, I prefer whole beans to be ground for my morning coffee! I found a stick in my backyard which served as the shaft and painted it green. I made the leaves from poster paper and attached them to the shaft with wire. The butterfly was made from 4 orange plastic spoons. I had to make the back wings smaller than the front ones using a wood file and sandpaper. I made the body of the butterfly from the shaft of a plastic spoon. The antennae was made from wire. I used black magic marker and acrylic paint to create the design on the wings.
Taking the picture was the easy part. I attached the sunflower at an angle to the swingset in the backyard. The sky was perfect. I used fill flash, played around with the exposure and the placement of the flash. Voila! This project really helped fill the time during the pandemic. Better than watching the news!

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 25
Avg (all users): 6.7500
Avg (participants): 6.8750
Avg (non-participants): 6.6667
Views since voting: 852
Views during voting: 106
Votes: 40
Comments: 16
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 04/28/2020 12:28:43 PM
Wow, Larry!

I was impressed when I first saw it. But... reading of your troubles in the making of it... WOW!

You're more dedicated than I, for sure.

Congratulations on your RIBBON!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 02:18:30 PM
Crazy good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 02:15:57 PM
Wow -what a project. well done and so much detail Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 12:26:40 PM
Wow, that was a lot of work! I was especially impressed with thinking to use a soldering iron in lieu of a hot glue gun.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 11:57:43 AM
First of all Larry, many congrats on your "extremely" well deserved ribbon. Your making of is amazing... Great shot, great story.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 11:57:17 AM
Whoa! I am truly in awe on so many levels! The craftsmanship!!! The attention to every detail! The effort put into it! It blows me away! And the result is outSTANDING!!! It certainly deserves to be in the winners circle! I wonder if those ridiculous 3 and 4 voters thought it was a real flower. No way could anyone in a good place in their head and/or heart give those scores on this. Shame on them!

Anyway, congratulations!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 07:14:14 AM
I am not surprise to see the details BTS, these are done so well and as I said, first it looks like flower but when you go close, really amazing work! and congratulations!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 01:29:28 AM
Thanks for the making of story
Congrats! Idea and implementation derserve extra appreciation!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 01:16:30 AM
WOW, wish I had of voted on this challenge, but looks like it probably wouldn't of made a difference, since the top two were significantly higher, albeit not sure if they should of been that much higher but it is what it is. I have to say I doubt I'd go through all this to create an image like this so hat's off to you. So brilliantly done, I was in awe reading how you created this. I hope you get to use the yellow spoons you didn't receive in time for another challenge. Pity the two three's shame on them!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 12:49:17 AM
OMG !!! ..
firstly many congratulations on the ribbon ..
second .. is the OMG .. reading how you achieved this fantastic image ..
good thing you're retired .. lol .. ;)
and you've got lots of time to be super creative with the pandemic ..
there's always a plus .. :)
really really good one .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2020 12:14:09 AM
You have too much time on your hands, Larry ;) Congrats on the Yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
04/26/2020 09:47:06 PM
far out .. if you hadnt said spoon flower i wouldnt have known .. even after reading the title it took me a while to actually realize the spoons .. its pretty clever .. wonder if you made it yourself .. if so .. what an artist .. and photographer you are .. love the butterfly .. great added touch .. this could ribbon .. altho i havent seen all your competition .. its bright .. colourful .. and happy looking .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/24/2020 03:23:18 PM
This is beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/20/2020 11:15:57 AM
So lovely! WOw!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/20/2020 07:36:36 AM
for a moment I thought this is a real flower! well captured!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/20/2020 12:55:59 AM
Show off. :p
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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