whydangle 0 Posted March 2, 2009 I have been keeping my eye on this meadow for three weeks now. This is a spectacle I have not witnessed before. My return trip yesterday was an effort to catch the last light of day gracing these wildflowers. The low clouds on the horizon had another idea. Block the sun out. It was a half mile walk round trip carrying my 4 year old daughter (snakes slither in the tall grasses) with no regard to my ailing back. I am paying for that today Thank You. Luckily, once in position, the sun squeaked through a narrow opening on the horizon, illuminating the flowers just enough to eliminate the bluer light of dusk. This was taken at the entrance to Wind Wolves Preserve along highway 166 in South Central California. There will be much more "Springing" to come to this area if we can avoid a hard frost. Thanks for taking the time! A larger view is recommended. Link to comment
whydangle 0 Posted March 2, 2009 Thanks for any comments or suggestions. Please enjoy the Larger preview! Link to comment
Guest Guest Posted March 2, 2009 6-6 for the image , 7-7 for the effort and story behind obtaining this ! Well done ! Link to comment
Not Here 93 Posted March 2, 2009 Mark... Excellent shot! Sigh... tough getting old :-), but this is well worth the effort. Just a wonderful solitude and utter calm... Mike Link to comment
lesliejbng 0 Posted March 2, 2009 Very peaceful and beautiful as well. Love the lavender in the foreground! Excellent! take care, Leslie Link to comment
Bob Peebles 95 Posted March 2, 2009 Sorry about the sore back, I understand. However I hope it was worth it. This is a wonderful photograph. Bob Link to comment
hus 0 Posted March 2, 2009 Very nice image indeed! Great composition and colour tones. 7/6 anon. Link to comment
dacamera 0 Posted March 2, 2009 What a beautiful image. I like the colours, almost understated except the purple which has a wonderful vibrancy. I am enjoying less contrived compositions like this more lately, a good honest simplicity. Very refreshing. Simon Link to comment
jeff.grant 0 Posted March 2, 2009 Mark, what a wonderful scene. I'm glad you suffered for your art. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Link to comment
whydangle 0 Posted March 2, 2009 Thanks All! Jeffrey, thanks for the Maximus on my oddly curved spine. Mike, old men like us shouldn't be carrying 4 year old children, yours are grown and would be too much to carry. I really had no choice as for the snake potential and the slow leisurely pace of my daughter would have had us in position well after dark! Thanks for the comments Leslie, Pat, Robert and Hussein. Yes it was worth the pain I am going through today. Simon, the composition choices here are limited. There are no trees or rocks to break up the expanse, so I decided to include more sky and avoid overwhelming the scene. What made it work was the low angled sun brushing across the tops of the flowers (these are referred to as "Blue Dicks" or Dichelostemma capitatum.) Link to comment
whydangle 0 Posted March 2, 2009 Sorry Jeff, you got in there while I was posting my reply. My back may be taking the hit, but with scenery like this, my photography shouldn't be suffering. I hope to get back here several more times over the next month or so to complete a portfolio on this area. It is owned by the Nature Conservancy. At 97 thousand acres, there is alot to explore, problem is it has to be by foot since no vehicles are allowed beyond the campground (as it should be for many of these conservation areas). Link to comment
brian_s8 0 Posted March 3, 2009 1st ... great photo 2nd ... I'm jealous, because we are still a month from Spring here Link to comment
llgarcia 1 Posted March 3, 2009 The beauty of Central Valley captured. Congratulations for a magnificent landscape. - Lester Link to comment
jefvandenhoute 0 Posted March 3, 2009 A 'classy' landscape: the light and the color tones in it fit perfectly together Link to comment
davidnoblephotography 0 Posted March 3, 2009 Superb colours. what a fantastic image. I love it! Link to comment
john_h.1 5 Posted March 3, 2009 A very eye catching image. What would have happened with your carried 4 year old daughter if YOU were bit by those snakes? Would you and your back still be able carry her on the way out or make it out at all? Link to comment
szattler 0 Posted March 3, 2009 This is really place for Breakfast in the grass. Extraordinary landscape Link to comment
yttergaarden. 0 Posted March 3, 2009 EXCELLENT, in all its fantastic beauty. Cheers, LKV. Link to comment
whydangle 0 Posted March 4, 2009 Thank you Dr. Didi, Brian, Lester, Jef, Dave the DJ, John, Eduard and Lennart. John, you pose an excellent question aside from photography. In a philosophical response, getting out and living life, especially living large, is risky business. No risk, no reward. On an intellectual level, I would say that my risk was minimal compared to my daughter's, being that I was wearing boots and thick jeans and could better see the slithering buggers from the top of my 6' 4" vantage (the actual presence of snakes at this time of day is probably minimal being it was cool and near dark). Kennis could get struck in the arm or trunk because she is so much closer to the ground. The other necessity was to get to the desired location quickly. Allowing Kennis to walk would take twice the time (she likes to stop an pick flowers along the way). If I was successfully struck by a Copperhead, well, I would describe the outcome as grim. So much for that thought, lets go do it again! ( Doubtful I will, actually). Link to comment
Larry_G1664882113 15 Posted March 5, 2009 Mark, this is a beautiful shot. The bright lavender really sets off the image, and the texture of the hills and mountains and lines in the sky complete the image. You are fortunate to live in an area where you can seek out these shots. Wonderful photograph. Link to comment
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