What if? What if I head to one of my very favorite places to see the wild poppies in bloom and only bring a tilt shift, my hacked 50mm to freelense, and a prism. What if I 100% do not interject myself at all and just sit and observe my kids? These poppies are a favorite site of mine and only bloom once a year. Will I make any images I like? Am I willing to take that chance since this bloom only happens once year?
What if is a good question to ask. I tend to live my life this way. "What if I try something new? What if I just jump in the car and go somewhere I have never been?" I find that this very simple question often leads me to really amazing places, both literally and figuratively.
It is said that a lady named Mrs. Lambert brought these oriental poppy starts and some yellow roses across the plains in a covered wagon. You can see the remains of her house in these photos. I bet she asked herself "What if I bring my favorite flowers in my wagon on my two month long trek across the United States?" I would bet money that that is the question she first asked herself when contemplating her big move. I am sure many people on the trail thought she was crazy and impractical for bringing flowers with her but I am glad she did. Now these poppies dot the mountainside around where she once called home and I look forward to seeing them bloom every year.
You may have seen me photograph these poppies before. I am sure these photos look similar to others I have taken at this spot but somehow they are different to me this time. I am more in love with them than any other images I have shot here. Not because they are really better images to the outside viewer, but because I asked myself "what if" and did things a little differently. Sometimes that is all it takes to push yourself and ignite that little satisfying internal spark.
I am grateful to all people out there who ask themselves "what if" and for all the amazing and simple things that result from that question. I am thankful to this pioneer woman, Mrs. Lambert, who asked herself "what if" and carried her poppies across the plains in her covered wagon and planted them here so that I can enjoy them every year. If we all just ask ourselves that question more often, and not let the fear of failure get in the way, good and sometimes unexpected things will come!