{"id":24949,"date":"2022-07-15T14:35:45","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T14:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949"},"modified":"2022-07-15T14:38:04","modified_gmt":"2022-07-15T14:38:04","slug":"24949","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949","title":{"rendered":"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom"},"content":{"rendered":"

MDC challenges all photographers with the <\/strong><\/h1>\n

Columbia Bottom Sunflower Photo Contest<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Shutterbugs can enter their pictures using hashtag #ColumbiaBottomSunflowers to win weekly prizes.<\/em><\/h3>\n

SPANISH LAKE, Mo.\u2014<\/strong>It\u2019s the middle of another sunny St. Louis summer.\u00a0 But the sunshine isn\u2019t just coming from the sky at the Missouri Department of Conservation\u2019s (MDC) Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in Spanish Lake.\u00a0 The fields themselves are awash with sunshine as the sunflowers are now in full bloom.\u00a0 The magnificent sight draws sunflower watchers and photographers from all over.<\/p>\n

MDC is issuing a challenge to photographers of all levels with the 2022 Columbia Bottom Sunflower Photo Contest.\u00a0 Photographers are invited to enter their best photos by posting them to their favorite social media sites using the hashtag #ColumbiaBottomSunflowers<\/strong>.\u00a0 Users can submit as many photos as they like but must use the specified hashtag.\u00a0 MDC invites photographers using any gear, including smartphones, point-and-shoots, or interchangeable lens cameras.\u00a0 The contest will run until Aug. 15.<\/p>\n

Each week, MDC staff will evaluate the tagged photos and pick up to 10 weekly winners, depending on number of submissions, each of whom will receive a prize.\u00a0 There will also be an additional three larger prizes awarded from among the very best of all the weekly winners.\u00a0 Contest winners will be contacted through their social media sites.<\/p>\n

MDC photographers offer the following tips to help create the best photos.\u00a0 Try going during the early morning, or later into the evening.\u00a0 The light is usually much better during these times than the harsher, midday sun.\u00a0 Soft, cloudy days can also make for some pleasing light.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget to fill the frame with your subject\u2014close-up photos tend to be much more engaging than subjects seen from a distance.\u00a0 Consider pulling out a macro or closeup lens.\u00a0 There are amazing details to be discovered in the sunflowers, and a host of tiny and cool insects and pollinators.\u00a0\u00a0 Capture fun or off-beat poses with yourself, family, and friends.\u00a0 And finally, be creative and don\u2019t be afraid to experiment.<\/p>\n

So, fill up Facebook and inundate Instagram with Columbia Bottom sunflower photos.<\/p>\n

MDC reminds visitors not to pick the sunflowers.\u00a0 Vehicles should park in designated parking lots or on the shoulders and avoid blocking roadways or gates.\u00a0 MDC also reminds visitors to pack out any items they bring with them for the consideration of others.<\/p>\n

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is located at 801 Strodtman Road.\u00a0 The area can be reached by taking the Riverview Drive Exit from I-270 and travelling north approximately three miles. \u00a0Signs posted will help direct visitors to the multiple sunflower fields on the area.<\/p>\n

Columbia Bottom is open every day from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour past sunset.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MDC challenges all photographers with the Columbia Bottom Sunflower Photo Contest Shutterbugs can enter their pictures using hashtag #ColumbiaBottomSunflowers to win weekly prizes. SPANISH LAKE, Mo.\u2014It\u2019s the middle of another sunny St. Louis summer.\u00a0 But the sunshine isn\u2019t just coming from the sky at the Missouri Department of Conservation\u2019s (MDC) Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"0","ocean_second_sidebar":"0","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"0","ocean_custom_header_template":"0","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"0","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"off","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,14,15],"tags":[1434,1435],"class_list":["post-24949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blackjack-spanishlake","category-events","category-features","tag-columbia-bttoms","tag-giant-sunfloers","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nSunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom - flovalleynews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom - flovalleynews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"MDC challenges all photographers with the Columbia Bottom Sunflower Photo Contest Shutterbugs can enter their pictures using hashtag #ColumbiaBottomSunflowers to win weekly prizes. SPANISH LAKE, Mo.\u2014It\u2019s the middle of another sunny St. Louis summer.\u00a0 But the sunshine isn\u2019t just coming from the sky at the Missouri Department of Conservation\u2019s (MDC) Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"flovalleynews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-07-15T14:35:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-07-15T14:38:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"independentnws\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"independentnws\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?p=24949#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?p=24949\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"independentnws\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7bede6d4517a6be3345b47415b09cebd\"},\"headline\":\"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-07-15T14:35:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-07-15T14:38:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?p=24949\"},\"wordCount\":458,\"keywords\":[\"Columbia Bttoms\",\"Giant Sunfloers\"],\"articleSection\":[\"BlackJack \\\/ Spanish Lake\",\"Events\",\"Features\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?p=24949\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?p=24949\",\"name\":\"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom - flovalleynews.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-07-15T14:35:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-07-15T14:38:04+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7bede6d4517a6be3345b47415b09cebd\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?p=24949#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?p=24949\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?p=24949#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"flovalleynews.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7bede6d4517a6be3345b47415b09cebd\",\"name\":\"independentnws\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f76505b4d7bc95b432faea9b79d00a6abc40ba8a96aef3a5fbd567ecb14b19a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f76505b4d7bc95b432faea9b79d00a6abc40ba8a96aef3a5fbd567ecb14b19a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f76505b4d7bc95b432faea9b79d00a6abc40ba8a96aef3a5fbd567ecb14b19a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"independentnws\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/flovalleynews.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom - flovalleynews.com","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom - flovalleynews.com","og_description":"MDC challenges all photographers with the Columbia Bottom Sunflower Photo Contest Shutterbugs can enter their pictures using hashtag #ColumbiaBottomSunflowers to win weekly prizes. SPANISH LAKE, Mo.\u2014It\u2019s the middle of another sunny St. Louis summer.\u00a0 But the sunshine isn\u2019t just coming from the sky at the Missouri Department of Conservation\u2019s (MDC) Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in […]","og_url":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949","og_site_name":"flovalleynews.com","article_published_time":"2022-07-15T14:35:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-07-15T14:38:04+00:00","author":"independentnws","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"independentnws","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949"},"author":{"name":"independentnws","@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7bede6d4517a6be3345b47415b09cebd"},"headline":"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom","datePublished":"2022-07-15T14:35:45+00:00","dateModified":"2022-07-15T14:38:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949"},"wordCount":458,"keywords":["Columbia Bttoms","Giant Sunfloers"],"articleSection":["BlackJack \/ Spanish Lake","Events","Features"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949","url":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949","name":"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom - flovalleynews.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2022-07-15T14:35:45+00:00","dateModified":"2022-07-15T14:38:04+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7bede6d4517a6be3345b47415b09cebd"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=24949#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Sunflowers at Columbia Bottom in Full Bloom"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/","name":"flovalleynews.com","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7bede6d4517a6be3345b47415b09cebd","name":"independentnws","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f76505b4d7bc95b432faea9b79d00a6abc40ba8a96aef3a5fbd567ecb14b19a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f76505b4d7bc95b432faea9b79d00a6abc40ba8a96aef3a5fbd567ecb14b19a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f76505b4d7bc95b432faea9b79d00a6abc40ba8a96aef3a5fbd567ecb14b19a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"independentnws"},"url":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?author=1"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24949"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24952,"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24949\/revisions\/24952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}