Spring flowers are slowly appearing on the California coast. On the beach near Monterey recently I found purple sand verbana. (There is also a yellow variety.) The purple variety it quite striking close up, but the flowers are so small it can be missed. Each flower in the cluster is about a quarter inch (6 mm) across. As the season progresses the flower becomes common in the sand along the coast.

Larger version “here”:http://quickshotartist.com/blog/images/250.jpg

There are challenges for the photographer on days when puffy clouds cover the sky. At worst the subject will in the shadow of a cloud. At best the lighting will be uneven and potentially confusing. An opportunity in the situation is to get a bright subject against a dark background. This involves waiting for the clouds to cooperate and light the subject while dimming the background.