Balsamorhiza Sagittata Over the Jocko Valley
Balsamorhiza sagittata or Arrowleaf Balsam Root is found throughout the northwest in the more arid zones. The roots are used as a medicinal herb. I find it a very attractive subject. It can normally be found in bloom between late April and early July. I captured this one near Moiese, Montana in early May. This area has some stunning wildlife in an area with moderate human population and development. One of my favorite areas is Irvine Flats Rd just west of the town of Polson. I have seen deer, wild turkey, porcupine, owl and badger all in the same morning, and it is only a fourteen mile drive.
My images have been flat lately, as in only a subject, so I have been trying to incorporate a distinct foreground, background and subject into my images this year. I placed the main flower heads in the lower-left power point with the eye traveling up the valley from there. Just to see what it would be like, I flipped the image horizontally with Image Composer and found it to be a very uncomfortable composition. My eye was drawn to the flowers which were now in the lower right power point and I was stuck there and could not escape. as it is above the flowers balance with the valley
This image was captured with my Minolta X-700 with Tamron 28-200. The exposure was f22 at 1/30 sec. on Fuji NPS film and printed on Fuji Crystal Archive paper and scanned with my desk top scanner.
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