Impressionistic Wildflowers, Carrizo Plain, CA

During the spring of 2005 the wildflowers in the
Carrizo Plain had the best bloom that I've ever
seen there. With some filters in photoshop I
attempted to give a more painterly Monet-like
rendition to a meadow of Poppies, Lupine, and
other wildflowers.

Canon 10D
Canon Lens: 35-105 Zoom
Manfrotto Tripod

I welcome your comments.

Robert, over the years I have seen some very impressive widlflower images from this general area. This scene surely seems to have a nice mixture throughout. Just curious as to what the original image looks like. Maybe if you have time you could post that one too. Just looking at this modified one I would think it has some excellent growth coverage.

Paul, here's posting of the original. Feel free to comment.

Well, Robert, I sure will. This is wonderful. I really like this original one as presented. I can tell there is compression going on here, but that is totally understandable with the amount of detail. Probably one of the things I do not like about my own fall color shots, in most cases not all, the detail is too much and the things start falling apart on me when I finally down size it for jpeg mounting and web presentation. But, as we all understand that short coming we can still tell when a photo is going to be nice as a print, like this one here.

I think the difference is between the photos is amazing. I like the Monet version.

Nice stuff Robert! I really like both but prefer the original. It is really cool seeing poppies and lupine mixed together like this.

Speaking of Carrizo Plain I was just reading Carol Leigh's description of it from her Wildflower CD I picked up. It sounds like it may be good this year with excellent potential -

"Depending on when you time your visit, plan to be able to photograph goldfields, lupine, blue phacelia, tidy tips, popcorn flowers, owl’s clover, baby blue-eyes, California poppies, and fiddlenecks. Over 70 different varieties of flowers burst into bloom here."

Things normally start in early to mid March and peak in early to mid April. With all the late season rain we recieved this Winter I am thinking it could be peak a bit early which means sooner rather than later!

Hmm... I may have to consider a road trip there soon. As an added bonus Montana de Oro is also due soon as well. Man, it is almost time for the games to begin!

Derek

While I like more natural interpretations in photography, I think you succeeded in creating a Monet like effect incredibly well - so well done on that! Man, these next few weeks are going to suck.. I likely won't have much of a chance to get out at all, those flowers better hold out till after march 31st!

Robert,

I really like both versions and the mix of flowers and colors are wonderful. And while I like the Monet type interpretaton, personally I think it's a little "heavy." In other words, if it were mine, I would soften the effect somewhat. Not soft, as in sharpness or focus, but soft as in a watercolor type painting, perhaps a little less saturation and contrast. But that's just me. This sure is a beautiful field of flowers.

Lon

I really like the original. Carrizo Plain is a place I've wanted to check out for a while now because people always seem to come away with something interesting from there.