Cone Peak flowers with Three Sisters in the background.

Canon 30D, 17-40 f/4L, ISO: 100, aperture: f/11, shutter: 1/50 second, filter: circular polarizer

I had a car with a 10-foot paint job awhile back.  If you didn’t get closer than 10 feet the car looked pretty good.  This photo reminds me of that old car.  It looks pretty good until you look close.  There was enough movement in the flowers that nothing appears in sharp focus.  That spoils the shot for me.  Next time I’ll kick up the ISO so I can use a faster shutter speed.  Even though I didn’t get the shot I wanted it was wonderful to be among the flowers and peaks on such a beautiful day.  The view east to the high Cascades was spectacular, as the below shot reveals.  Although sometimes the view under foot is noteworthy too.  The aphid tending ants were interesting to watch and photograph.

The above photo was taken from the summit of Cone Peak, a wonderful botanical area in the Central Oregon Cascades.  The area is known for its great wildflower display and plant diversity.  The cool wet spring has made this year’s bloom especially good.

Three Sisters from Cone Peak, Central Oregon Cascades

70-200 f/4L, ISO: 800, shutter: 1/200, lens: zoomed to 126mm, filter: circular polarizer, HDR: 3 exposures (2 stops over, 2 stops under) combined with Photomatix, local adjustments made in Lightroom.

Aphids and Ants, Cone Peak

60mm f/2.8 macro, ISO: 100 aperture: 2.8, shutter: 1/250

More information on the Cone Peak Trail.