For several reasons, I’d decided not to photograph Dorset’s pink poppies this year. But, as time went on I knew I’d have to get out there again.
I took advantage of a brief slice of sunny weather, albeit with threatening-looking clouds, and there I was, back in a huge poppy field. For the tenth year in a row.
Not opium poppies!
Contrary to what the masses say, these are not opium poppies. Opium poppies haven’t been grown in this area for several years. This variety is a crop that is grown for its seed.
In fact, these poppies are whiter than the opium poppies used to be, although many other photographers (I won’t name them but they should know better) oversaturate their photos to make them look a lot pinker, and nothing like reality.
When I was in this poppy field there was a very brief moment with a definite slight tinge of pink to the petals, as you can see here. This type of poppy is usually a white/mauvish/grey colour, even in the best light. The pink tinge I saw only lasted a few moments and then the light changed, the clouds rolled in and the poppies became a flat, dull white again.
My visit to Dorset’s pink poppies
Above: The Dorset poppy field in full flower. A brief moment of sun at exactly the right angle tinged the petals to make them look slightly pink.
Above: Sheep graze next to a pink poppy field in Dorset.
Above: The poppies usually appear a whitish colour.
For the record, my photos show what the poppy field looked like when I was there. I have not attempted to edit them to make them falsely pink.
* This was a permission visit.
[UPDATE 2025 – poppies are not being grown in this area anymore. It is all maize crops now].
