Sutter's Fort Poppy

Eschscholzia californica (Papaveraceae)

Most favorited, viewed & commented - yet somehow NOT "most interesting". And still has not shown up on the "Explore " page ! ***(edit: YES !! Made it to # 2, I think, as of April 21, 2005)***
A poppy at Sutter's Fort, Sacramento, backlit by the sun. I've been disappointed by the number of poppies I've seen in the wild this spring. Seems like when I first came out here they were all over the spring landscape. Is it that development has come to the areas I used to see them in ? Or are they just "on hiatus" for a bit ? I really hope they come roaring back next year. They are so definitively Californian, I'd hate to see them relegated to existing only in preserves.

PS (edit) - I did it. Lots of my friends were encouraging me to enter this shot into contests. I finally did - the California State Fair Fine Arts Competition. Hopefully the jurors find the same merit in it so many of you have. I'm keeping my fingers crossed (typing is tough this way).

PPS (edit) - California State Fair said "thanks, but no". Didn't even make the first cut for the competition. Ah, well. Next year ?

Comments and faves

  1. Futurefabric, floresita, jogales, lancy wang, and 326 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. jogales (87 months ago | reply)

    Easily faved!

  3. laura.bell (86 months ago | reply)

    RE: vanishing poppies - Took a drive up to Foresthill on Mother's Day (rainy & I wore a dress, so no pics). Looks like it's at least in part a case of urbanization. Get away from big new development & the poppy population is booming. Guess it's time for that house in hills !

  4. KimHolland (86 months ago | reply)

    Holy smokes. I love this shot. Nicely done. Wow.

  5. ipernity.com/home/nicoleb / No to censorship [deleted] (85 months ago | reply)

    Lovely shot and lovely colours.
    WOW :)!

  6. Kevin Day (85 months ago | reply)

    Stunning, you can even see the stamen through the petals

  7. Van in LA (85 months ago | reply)

    They grow like weeds - sprinkle some seeds around...

  8. Sister72 (85 months ago | reply)

    ....and this color is "in" this summer!

  9. eico (85 months ago | reply)

    lovely ;D
    poppy, sun, sky...
    i love those very much

  10. k-girl (85 months ago | reply)

    love the way you've lit this and the colours are simply beautiful! good stuff ... and good luck with the competition.

  11. neoviking (85 months ago | reply)

    very nice. curious: is it all natural light or did you have to hit it with some fill flash?

  12. pauly... (85 months ago | reply)

    wonderful contrast of colors.

  13. palomino (patsy) (85 months ago | reply)

    this is really a swell picture.Such clarity.SUPER

  14. Davoud D. (85 months ago | reply)

    Just plain wow! This shot is razor sharp and packed with colour - a favourite!

  15. Emerald2810 (85 months ago | reply)

    Wow, what more can you say! Perhaps another Wow! This is perhaps the best Poppy photo I have ever viewed!

  16. OskarN (85 months ago | reply)

    Amazing colors! Love it.

  17. evilgreg3000 (85 months ago | reply)

    Must agree with the throng--this shot is fantastic. Good work!

  18. Michael Sarver (85 months ago | reply)

    absolutely wonderful! A fav indeed!

    Nice shot! ;-)

  19. cindiann (85 months ago | reply)

    beautiful! I noticed that there weren't as many poppies this year, too. Perhaps it had to do with our (so cal) super-rainy spring?

  20. laura.bell (85 months ago | reply)

    The super-rainy spring may have done it, Cindiann. I'm in NorCal, but it's been pretty rainy here, too. Usually the weather guys start talking drought in December. This year it wasn't even posed as a possibility. We had rain just last week (June 16th). Most years it's dry from mid-May on.
    @NeoViking - all natural lighting

  21. !efatima (85 months ago | reply)

    Congratulations! This awesome photo is featured in Catchy Colors PhotoBlog

  22. McBomb (85 months ago | reply)

    amazing.

  23. Kika BR (85 months ago | reply)

    This is fantastic! GOOD LUCK!

  24. laura.bell (85 months ago | reply)

    I'm sad to report that this photo didn't make the cut for acceptance into the CA State Fair Fine Arts Competition. Thanks for all the encouragement, "faves", and happy thoughts.

  25. Foxicat (85 months ago | reply)

    Well, it's their loss, this is a gorgeous picture!

    We had a lot of rain too and the poppies were poppin' in the desert!

    Bug's View!

  26. Koninho [deleted] (85 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful played with light !
    Faved !

  27. Jeff Clow (85 months ago | reply)

    This is a terrific photo....

    Simple, but wonderfully well composed....and VERY nicely done...!

  28. andiereihe (85 months ago | reply)

    Very simple. This picture makes me happy.

  29. Temeculamom (85 months ago | reply)

    So perfectly shot. An instant favorite.

  30. laura.bell (84 months ago | reply)

    Thanks everyone ! My wounded ego (from not being ACCEPTED into the State Fair competition) is soothed.

  31. Fábio Carvalho (84 months ago | reply)

    WOW! I love this picture; your photos are THE GREATESTS! congrats!

  32. Morgacito (84 months ago | reply)

    wow, beatiful shot

  33. Season Moore (83 months ago | reply)

    I really like the simplicity of this one.

  34. Feathers McGraw (83 months ago | reply)

    Wow great picture!

  35. Jimmy_Joe (83 months ago | reply)

    Beautiful orange glow!

  36. lawroberts (83 months ago | reply)

    stunning color and form

  37. Kaká (83 months ago | reply)

    Beautiful angle and colors!

  38. popscratch (83 months ago | reply)

    Very stunning!

  39. NATTY H (83 months ago | reply)

    Excellent capture and nice color.

  40. Ryan Brenizer (83 months ago | reply)

    Already a classic. great job.

  41. freemysoul (83 months ago | reply)

    What a beauty!

  42. dsmithok (83 months ago | reply)

    one of my faves!

  43. MarniMELT (83 months ago | reply)

    An immediate favorite. What a beautiful picture. I'm sorry it didn't fare better in the competition.

  44. randi rivers (82 months ago | reply)

    wow! a perfectly beautiful poppy, an instant favorite.

  45. randi rivers (82 months ago | reply)

    blah! California State Fair judges are missing the boat!

  46. CharlieBrown8989 (82 months ago | reply)

    This is excellent...

    Please post it with

    www.flickr.com/groups/flickr-yahoo-coalition

    I appreciate it...

  47. Hughes500 (82 months ago | reply)

    hey, absolutely great! Perfect catch of natural colors!

  48. darkmatter (82 months ago | reply)

    fantastic backlight - i am glad i found this one

  49. Rune T (82 months ago | reply)

    Yay! I was the 100th person to favourite this one!

    Beautiful picture!

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