This image is the result of combining two techniques: focus stacking to achieve greater depth of field, and time blending to merge the foreground and sky while minimizing background noise. The foreground was shot during the blue hour, whereas the sky was captured at night.
The image was taken at the end of the final flowering season on the Pian Grande in Castelluccio di Norcia, Italy. The photo captures the final moments of the wild poppies beneath the late-July Milky Way—hence the title “Ephemeral Poppies,” reflecting their short lifespan.
What struck me most while shooting was the contrast between the poppies’ stunning red hue and the intense blue of the sky, framed by the billions of stars of the Milky Way.
