[Leica] IMG: Poppy Bloom

[rgacpa at gmail.com (Bob Adler)]

I expected to see Dorothy asleep in the grass, though she and her companions 
would have rolled down the hill into the Merced River long ago. 

This was Hite Cove Trail today. Left home at 5:45am and returned at 7:30pm. 
4hr drive each way. Just to the west of El Portal Gate into Yosemite. 

The wildflower bloom here is very rare and only lasts a few days. Last one I 
saw was 5 or 6 years ago, and I look out for word of it every year. It is a 
one person foot path about 500 feet above the Merced river. The hills, which 
this shot show, continue up at the same 125 degrees that they slope 
downward. The tripod had two legs at their shortest uphill and one leg full 
extended on the side of the path so folks could get by. I actually got 
scolded once for "not staying on the path". There is always a flower Nazi 
somewhere... ;-)

Anyway, tough shooting physically (MFDB, precarious, sunny 16, no room to 
move) and mentally ("there HAS to be an image here somewhere!). The wind did 
not cooperate much either. 

Well enough excuses. Here's the only image from the day that is passable. I 
plan to refine it if it grows on me. Your thoughts/suggestions would be 
really appreciated. 

http://www.rgaphoto.com/sierras/content/Pano-HitePano1-HiteCove-MASTERCF000666_large.html

Thanks,
Bob

Oh yes, techie stuff: Alpa MAX with a 50mm Rodegon in portrait orientation, 
7 degress lens tilt, ISO 50, polarizing filter, 1/125, 3 blended images 
(shifted 10 deg left, center and 10deg right). Phase One IQ160. That's a lot 
for some freaking flowers that I could have lost it all for!

Sent from my iPad