Field Trip "SoCali Poppy Fields"

04/13/2004 08:57:13 PM · #1

I'm curious to see if there is an interest on taking a photography field trip with some fellow DPC'ers to the Gorman Poppy Fields and the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve.

Because of the lack of rain this past season, I'm not sure of the conditions, but it would be fun to get out and explore anyway!

I was thinking the weekend of April, 24th Saturday

Anyone interested?

04/13/2004 09:11:28 PM · #2

I can't make it but it sounds fun. Poppies in my area (Corona/Riverside) bloomed about 3-4 weeks ago and are already gone until next year. Just once I would like to hear one of them pop as they open and spread their seed.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

04/13/2004 10:19:12 PM · #3

Where's Gorman? I am pretty new to LA, but perhaps... if it's close. Saturday's suck for me, but I can try to meet everyone down there after 1pm. I work in the mornings.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

04/13/2004 10:33:36 PM · #4

l'm visiting Santa Cruz at the moment on business. l'm interested if it's within an ok distance to drive.

04/13/2004 10:47:02 PM · #5

From Santa Cruz I think about a 5 hour (270+ miles) drive depending on traffic and speed. But would likely to be a very scenic drive.

Gorman is north of L.A. near interstate 5 and highway 138. A great location to take my jeep to play.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

04/13/2004 11:02:49 PM · #6

What�s with all of the Canon owners? I feel like the minority and I haven�t even met anyone yet! LOL

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

04/13/2004 11:13:09 PM · #7

5 hours... Maybe that's a little far!

04/13/2004 11:13:10 PM · #8

lol =) You have a very nice camera

04/13/2004 11:14:07 PM · #9

Originally posted by PaulMdx:

5 hours... Maybe that's a little far!

Take the coastal route and it will be worth it imo

04/13/2004 11:17:40 PM · #10

I was just there about a week ago, all of the Poppies I've seen have been outside the poppy reserve. Seems funny. I will upload some pictures of the current conditions.

Link to the poppy reserve home page with directions on the bottom.
//www.calparksmojave.com/poppy/

I live only 30 min away. I will find some of my other pictures from last year and upload them.

Message edited by author 2004-04-13 23:22:59.

04/13/2004 11:26:55 PM · #11

By the way I would be interested, what time would we gather and where.

04/14/2004 04:45:44 PM · #12

This sounds like fun. I want to go! Can we go on a Sunday? How's April 25th at 10:30 or 11:00am? I can't imagine that I have other plans I am forgetting...

:) Arie

04/14/2004 08:41:12 PM · #13

Okay, so far we have 2 people on the Poppy Fields field-trip for Sunday Apr 24th around 10:30am. Anyone else want to go? arie@mirdonamy.com

04/15/2004 01:24:48 AM · #14

All right I finally found my pictures from last year.
The first one is what the reserve looked like last year, same location. Similar dates.

2003

2004

Second picture is of a place 10 miles south of the reserve last year.

amazoneea

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

04/15/2004 01:46:08 AM · #15

The ones that are lucky enough to be able to go, make sure you bring lots of photos back to share with us. And maybe some of you will allow me to paint after those photos. There is a long time to go until I will see any poppy around my area.

Here are some of my paintings.

Message edited by author 2004-04-15 02:23:20.

lindsay

Canon PowerShot SD700 IS

04/15/2004 01:54:30 AM · #16

I'm right near there too! Thanks to Ram21, I know where they're at. Also, thanks to him, I've learned that the poppy festival is this weekend. I'd be interested on meeting up on the 24th too, though. Maybe learn a thing or two from people who've been photographing longer than I have!

qazwix

Canon EOS-30D

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/15/2004 01:50:03 PM · #17

hey qmdi, would love to go to the ever famous poppy fields... I live in riverside and imagine its not that much of a drive ....give us more details when you know for sure...
qazwix

photom

Nikon D200

04/15/2004 05:08:34 PM · #18

For those planning a wildflower photo outing, be sure to visit Carol Leigh's Wildflower Hotsheet at: //calphoto.com/wflower.htm She does an excellent job of reporting conditions throughout So Cal (and the rest of the state.)

Alas, the Poppy Preserve and Gorman Hills are both getting pretty negative reviews this year.

Message edited by author 2004-04-15 17:09:23.

04/15/2004 09:33:37 PM · #19

Originally posted by photom:

I'm starting to get a little concerned that there will be no poppies. Thanks for the useful website photom. A quote from that website reads in regards to the poppies "Practically nothing, except for the usual mustard."

The website that Ram21 posted //www.calparksmojave.com/poppy/
Says, "This has been a very poor rain year and we have not seen very many poppies or other wildflowers.
"

Does anyone have any suggestions for a different photo shoot?

Message edited by author 2004-04-16 09:36:19.

04/15/2004 11:43:28 PM · #20

Originally posted by qmdi:

I'm starting to get a little concerned that there will be no poppies.

There are poppies, outside the reserve, as seen in my pictures. Perhaps this weekend I will be able to get some more pictures of the current conditions.

04/16/2004 10:41:11 AM · #21

I have an idea... if there are no poppies, or hardly any that look good. Then we can take a few macro shots of good ones, a few landscape shots and get out of there... what else is near there? We can field trip to a few places in one day if there other interesting things close by! I don't know the area well yet, so I don't want to pick the location. I just will again recommend the date as Sunday, Apr 25th btwn 10:30am and 11:00am. Anyone who can't make it Sunday can perhaps do the same trip on Saturday, and we can compare photos and thoughts later. Anyone with me?

04/20/2004 01:00:02 AM · #22

I went to the poppies today. Not much to see in the reserve, outside the reserve is kind of empty too. There is a hill that has Poppies hiding but there are some there.

04/20/2004 08:03:44 AM · #23

Originally posted by Ram21:

I went to the poppies today. Not much to see in the reserve, outside the reserve is kind of empty too. There is a hill that has Poppies hiding but there are some there.

Thanks for posting the photo Mark. To you think we will be disappointed with the quality of the flowers if we take the drive out there? Do you think we should plan a different trip? Vasquez Rocks is always a fun place to go!

Let me know what you think.