"best of " 2008?

Original title "Coquellicots s'ouvrent (13)V"

This is the picture on my 2009 calendar cover, perhaps one I like most from all year.

It has also a long story behind it.

I was under the highway, and have suddenly seen two men picking poppy buds, and they told me "it opens in water, home" so I took also some from the field. Day by day, they opened, florished, died slowly, each one was a joy to photograph near the while wall or a white paper behind them. I had days and days of joy and discovery: I have never seen until then a poppy "pop out" from the bud, nor seen so many stages their life could take, so much beauty in a small cup of water.