“It’s a pure joy to wander the woods and fields in the spring. Life and colour abounds with the the promise of more to come.” – Ed Lehming

Above is another image made in the Sacramento area. I went for a walk along one of Sacramento’s many small creeks. These urban oases offer so many surprises. In the river valley it’s pure natural bliss, but when you look up, office towers and houses fill the hilltops, so I keep my eyes focused on what’s ahead and pretend I’m out in the wilderness.

One of the things I love about California in the springtime is all the wildflowers, especially the clumps of bright orange California poppies. Sometimes there are only one or two in the group, while other times they fill entire hillsides.

I made many photos of them while visiting, trying to catch the essence of the flower effectively. While I did not have the opportunity to see the vast fields and hillsides filled with poppies that I have seen posted by local photographers, this little patch served me well and I photographed it from several angles and distances looking for just the right shot. I landed on this one which shows nice detail and also shows a bit of the dry wild oats that surrounded them. A simple but effective image that I enjoy reflecting back on.

Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 165 mm
1/1250 sec, f/4, ISO 400