Joe Klimasiewfski (cq) of Warwick, R.I., frames up some of the 500,000 sunflowers growing at Buttonwood Farms during the 9th Annual Sunflowers for Wishes event at the Griswold farm. From July 21st through 29th, thousands of people will visit the sunflower fields where bunches of the giant flowers are being sold for $5.00 each. All the money from the event is donated to the Make-A-Wish foundation, an organization that helps wishes come true for children battling life-threatening illness.
This was a can’t miss photo assignment. A half-million full grown sunflowers growing in a tightly packed field. We shoot it every year but this year I assigned it to myself. Years ago, Duane and Kim Button grew one acre of sunflowers to give their ice cream customers something to look at. They started selling the flowers for charity shortly after and the fields grew to 15 acres. Last year, the Make-a-Wish foundation received $100,000 from the event.
The key to making this photo work is to get up high to show the vast expanse of flowers. I found a hill nearby that was perfect. Then I had to wait for people to be in my photo. It did not take long. As morning turned to afternoon, the parking lot filled and streams of spectators marveled at the giant flowers as they posed for photos and ate ice cream. As I said, a can’t miss situation.
The Cow Train chugs along the path behind a tractor driven by Duane Button, the owner of the farm, around the 500,000 sunflowers growing at Buttonwood Farms during the 9th Annual Sunflowers for Wishes event at the Griswold farm.
Cameras and camera phones were kept busy as thousands came out to view the 500,000 sunflowers growing at Buttonwood Farms.
A bee is busy in this close-up of one of the giant sunflowers in the 15 acre field of sunflowers.
Awesome pictures..absolutely amazing!!
Beautiful! And I love the close up.