A month ago I was out snapping the compelling display of poppies at the Tower of London. It seemed then that everyone with a half reasonable camera (or an iPhone) has been to this amazing photo opportunity. Few, though, have made it from the heights to the depths of the Tower moat where the ceramic poppies, one for every soldier killed in World War I, are being painstakingly planted.
Only volunteers get the chance to take their cameras down into the moat and Ivor Cooper of Red Dot Cameras decided that he just had to volunteer. So it was that he was admitted to the poppum popporum one morning with his M and 35mm Summilux ASPH in hand.
It’s a slow business, assembling those teacup-sized blooms and getting them planted in the hard ground. But Ivor managed to pop off three full boxes of the magnificent designer flowers and says he enjoyed every minute of it. His reward was the opportunity to obtain a completely new take on the poppy fields. Come Armistice Day on November 11, when all 888,246 blooms have been planted, the image will be sensational.
I am sure you will agree with me that Ivor’s shots are exceptional and are a credit to the M and Summilux–as well as the photographer’s eye for composition. The panoramic shot was taken with a V-Lux 4. It’s also good to know that when you are buying a new camera you are talking to someone who really knows his stuff and can give you the best advice.
If you would like to volunteer to plant a few poppies you can find all the information here.
Great colour from the M
Next time I visit the Red Dot shop, I shall congratulate Ivor on the wonderful poppy images.
Why don’t we and a few other forum members offer to volunteer?
That panorama shot is magnificent and unusual, well spotted, Ivor