On the first day, clouds marked the sky. And it was good.
And we were wet with rain and frozen by wind and pelted by hail and splattered in mud, and we did not care.
For the Earth was carpeted with yellow and red and purple and blue and we were soar amazed.
Tomorrow: Poppy Paradise.
(Nikon D500, Tamron 100–400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD. Nikon D850, Tamron SP 24–70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2. RAW processing in DxO PhotoLab 2.2; Editing in Adobe Photoshop.)
AMAGA Photography Blog 
Wonderful …. Think creatively with the Poppy Paradise 🙂
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
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Thanks Oliver. The bar just got higher.
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How gorgeous. Seems like a wonderful trip. Wonderful shots as usual. Love the drama especially in shot 3.
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Thanks Derek. It was definitely dramatic. In shot three I thought I heard a chorus of angels.
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I love shots 2 and 3 in particular and when I look at 3 I can surely hear the chorus of angels too! Really wonderful and I’m sure Jacob’s ladder is just about to materialise in the middle of the God Light. Photo 4 reminds me of the hills around Cromwell in Central Otago here in NZ. They have so many moods, depending on the light.
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Wow!
You were right, when you told me to wait until today! 😀
Amazing!
Perfect views !
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Thank you, Nuno. It was an amazing experience.
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You’re welcome.
I believe that! 😃
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Gorgeous.
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Thanks Paula. And to think this is a four hour drive from home!
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I always find it dramatic when a dark sky looms over a bright earth, as especially in the first photograph.
Looking forward to the countdown reaching Day Zero.
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Mother Nature was being a drama queen for sure.
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Michael – Otherworldly! Where is the Carrizo Plain! To see this in person must be awe-inspiring. Thank you.
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Thanks Carolle-Ann! Otherworldly is exactly the word. Carrizo Plain is Central California east of San Luis Obispo. Click the link in yesterday’s post for more info.
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Beautiful light and fantastic landscapes, Michael. Nice work.
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Cinematic, in the best sense of the word!
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Thanks Robert. As you know, I rarely post straight landscapes,
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. . .but what am I supposed to do?!
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Maybe “dramascape” would be a better term in this case.
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That works.
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Stunning – and what a gift those clouds were!
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Thanks Melinda. As we were driving in from the west, we saw a mass of clouds and we both thought it too good to be true. It was true. As I said in another reply, I rarely post straight landscapes — but these were worthy. Glad you liked ’em.
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I took a weekend class with Sam Abell at the Los Angeles Center for Photography last year, and it was in the middle of monsoon rains. Sam sent us out to shoot, saying “Shitty weather makes good pictures.”
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Shitty weather makes GREAT pictures.
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This is outrageously beautiful ! Lol
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Thanks!
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Amazing landscapes.
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Thank you!
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wonderful, and love the “soar amazed” – hah
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Thanks. And we were!
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Extraordinary light!
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I could not believe our good fortune.
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You’ve captured such dramatic light, Michael. Bravo!
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Thanks Jane. As we were driving in, we saw a cloud in the distance and said to each other that we hoped was over the plane. It was. And it was plainly beautiful.
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Even though this was unexpected, the weather adds so much drama to the scene…..I truly liked it!
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Clouds are ALWAYS better! Thank you!
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All wonderful sights, but the lighting and color and texture of the last really impresses.
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Thank you. It’s almost an abstract. Ma Nature is quite an artist.
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Nature provides the best art, doesn’t she?
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She’s the one.
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Wonderful drama, light, lines, and color in these images. I have to say, thanks to you, I have a new appreciation for landscape photography!
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Thanks very much. Me too!
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Oh, those deep purple clouds…the first and last photos are favorites. You must have been very excited to see that front coming, or to come upon it – or whatever!
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We saw it as we were approaching and we hoped that it was over the plain. We were ecstatic when it turned out that it was.
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Michael, Your work is absolutely spectacular. I’ve spent some of this morning taking a deeper dive into your site and I’m sitting here in humbled awe.
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Thank you very much, Paulie. I’ve been noticing the likes pile up. I like that you like it. I’ve been following your commentaries with great interest. I agree with just about everything you have said. We need to do something to stem and reverse the rising tide of stupidity, but that’s difficult to do when so many apparently prefer to be stupid.
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I’ve also followed your lead to Melinda Green Harvey’s site. More good stuff. I need to get reacquainted with my camera.
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You’ll discover that Melinda is not only a fantastic photographer, she is also a sharp wit.
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And by all means, get reacquainted with your camera!
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Tell Melinda that you were referred by my blog.
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