Wine country weekend

nmoody

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Took a trip this weekend to Healdsburg (just outside of Napa) to a B&B just to get away from it all.

1. This is the B&B we stayed at, grounds and rooms were fantastic
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2. This is one of the "hosts" Gracie, she hung out with us on our deck often.
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3. Here is an old barn I loved the look of down the road.
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4. A single lane bridge we crossed. Not sure if the lens flare works or hurts the picture...
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5. Another of the bridge from a different angle.
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6. One of the countless vineyards we passed while driving around.
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Have many more of the grounds and room at the B&B if anyone is interested. Was a great relaxing weekend.
 
Looks a wonderful place. I particularly like the first bridge shot although all decent.
 
I am a fan of the first bridge shot as well and like the flair. Adds a bit of interest to the rest of the shot. So often we try to reduce the flair, but in this shot, it works well. Nicely done.

Cordially,

Mark
 
Great set. Thanks for the photographic tour! I like the barn shot the best. I’d convert that to BW, and some of the others too
 
I am a fan of the first bridge shot as well and like the flair. Adds a bit of interest to the rest of the shot. So often we try to reduce the flair, but in this shot, it works well. Nicely done.

Cordially,

Mark

I agree with this comment. Lens flare and other sun spots really can be used as an element in a composition, but only under certain circumstances of course. I have a few shots where the glare actually added to the feeling of the photo I was trying to portray.
 
Nice, Looks like Alexander Valley or nearby. Glad to see the somewhat clear air.
 
Looks a wonderful place. I particularly like the first bridge shot although all decent.

Thank you!

I am a fan of the first bridge shot as well and like the flair. Adds a bit of interest to the rest of the shot. So often we try to reduce the flair, but in this shot, it works well. Nicely done.

Cordially,

Mark

Awesome!

Good set......

Thanks!

Great set. Thanks for the photographic tour! I like the barn shot the best. I’d convert that to BW, and some of the others too

Gave it a shot as a B&W an due to the high contrast difference in the wood it looks a bit unreal. Maybe I need to soften it a bit?
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Nice, Looks like Alexander Valley or nearby. Glad to see the somewhat clear air.

These are all in either Russian River or Alexander Valley, nice eye!



Glad to hear the bridge flare works, thank you all so much.
 
Here are some of the room we stayed in
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I agree, the flair adds to the image of the bridge for sure.

Honestly, I'd keep the barn in color. One of the elements throughout all of the pictures you posted is the quality of the light, and that gets lost in the conversion. You end up with contrast for its own sake, whereas contrast in a black and white should be there to highlight a graphical pattern or lines, or when the contrasting light itself becomes the pattern. Here, it doesn't add to the image, but instead actively removes the golden light in the distance that does add to the image.
(ETA: There are a couple of dust spots visible in the sky in the barn image, if you worry about such things.)

Finally - and yes, I'm totally biased ;) - but kudos on the image of the cat. It's hard to get the furry little contrarians to keep their picturesque poses long enough for a photo, so good capture :) Love the DOF and the light on the whiskers.
 
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I love the lovable little fuzzball.

Lucky that you could get to the B&B's and they are in business!

Great shots overall.
 
Gave it a shot as a B&W an due to the high contrast difference in the wood it looks a bit unreal. Maybe I need to soften it a bit?

I think this is a great bw shot. If the contrast is realistically that way (and in this case it is), then I'd go with it. My rule of thumb for stuff like that is...if is so "naturally" contrasty that it is a distraction, i tone it down a little, but never compromise the natural constrasty tones.
 
I agree, the flair adds to the image of the bridge for sure.

Honestly, I'd keep the barn in color. One of the elements throughout all of the pictures you posted is the quality of the light, and that gets lost in the conversion. You end up with contrast for its own sake, whereas contrast in a black and white should be there to highlight a graphical pattern or lines, or when the contrasting light itself becomes the pattern. Here, it doesn't add to the image, but instead actively removes the golden light in the distance that does add to the image.
(ETA: There are a couple of dust spots visible in the sky in the barn image, if you worry about such things.)

Finally - and yes, I'm totally biased ;) - but kudos on the image of the cat. It's hard to get the furry little contrarians to keep their picturesque poses long enough for a photo, so good capture :) Love the DOF and the light on the whiskers.

I saw the dust particles this morning, and did a cleaning. Will have to fix this in the photos I took this weekend. Thanks for the feedback.

I love the lovable little fuzzball.

Lucky that you could get to the B&B's and they are in business!

Great shots overall.

Thanks, this was one of three outdoor cats they have. All three were very affectionate. The poor B&B is lite on customers with COVID and the fires/smoke recently but still up an running thankfully.

I think this is a great bw shot. If the contrast is realistically that way (and in this case it is), then I'd go with it. My rule of thumb for stuff like that is...if is so "naturally" contrasty that it is a distraction, i tone it down a little, but never compromise the natural constrasty tones.

Very cool, I will play with it a bit more and see what I can do. Thanks again!
 
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Normally, I am such a sucker for a black and white barn shot, but I have to agree with the comment that the color version here is really nice as well, and preferable. I would vote for the color shot. I think, in consideration of that, if the barn shot had a nice blue sky and clouds, I would most likely vote for the black and white. The reason I say this is that the big detraction in the black and white version is that there is so much blank sky with burned in edges. Not as noticeable to me in the color version. Again, just my opinion and your mileage may vary, and that's groovy if it does. :)
 
Went through my discarded shots again and was specifically looking for ones with lens flare I shoved off. This is one of them, again im conflicted about the lens flare but like it.
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