A rare snowfall in the lower elevations along with a set of animal tracks
EXIF data: Nikon D7000, center weighted metering mode, ISO 100, 40mm, f/13, 1/50 sec
Sutter Creek (CA), Snow, Animal Tracks. Sutter Creek, CA. December 07, 2013. © Copyright Steven Tze – all rights reserved.
Another image from the “it’s too sunny so I’ll shoot from shaded spots to capture the color” collection. Even though the purpose of the day was the ever-cherished tasting at Shafer Vineyards, as a photog you always plan on the off-chance you have a few minutes to shoot. You work with the conditions, in this case a bright sunny cloudless sky.
(Click thru the image for the 700px view)
Thankfully I was able to capture the variations of color in this vineyard bordering Stags’ Leap Winery. The deep crimson vines in the center are Cabernet Sauvignon, which the Stags Leap District is famous for.
Interesting sorta-technical note here. Even though I had the lens hood attached and the sunlight was not directly hitting the front of the lens, I had to use my hand to shield the lens just a little more to capture the deep, rich color from this scene. Without doing so resulted in an image that appeared washed out.
EXIF data: Nikon D7000, center weighted metering mode, ISO 100, 165mm, f/5.3, 1/80 sec
Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon Leaves, Early Autumn. Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, CA. November 01, 2013. © Copyright Steven Tze – all rights reserved.
Midday sun. A complaint of many a landscape photogs. Unfortunately I had to deal with this unforgiving light source during a recent trip to Napa. It was either shoot now or shoot nothing for the rest of the day. So it was then a matter of finding shaded areas to shoot from and occasionally holding my hand over to lens to shield it (and the resulting image) from direct light and its washed out effects.
At the very least, I wanted to capture the variations of vine colors that occur in the autumn, just about the time the last harvest is over with. I had hoped for some weather, but rain was not in the forecast to give the vines a bright shiny, color-rich look. Nor was there lingering fog which would have shielded the landscape from all this light. So we are left to make due with images in less than optimal conditions.
EXIF data: Nikon D7000, center weighted metering mode, ISO 100, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec
Napa Valley, Crook of a Tree, Vineyard Layers. Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, CA. November 01, 2013. © Copyright Steven Tze – all rights reserved.
13 hours, 3 photographs. Even the turning of colors on the grape vines, and the colors were everywhere even in late November during this seasonally warm year, was not enough inducement for me to pull out the camera. There were more important things to do: eating and wine tasting.
(click through on the image to view the Mountain Range in 700px)
The highlight of the day was the tasting at Shafer Vineyards that was scheduled weeks in advance. With only 10 people per tasting and only 2 sessions a day, these sit-down tastings held in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to a view of the vineyards and of the Napa Valley are an absolute treat. From my seat, this view was what I had to stare at for about 60 minutes. So needless to say, I finally had to get back to the car to pull out the camera and tripod for 3 compositions of this scene.
Besides the shading of the mountain range near Mt. Veeder, I do enjoy the little touch of color and the white buildings in the small pocket view of the Napa Valley floor.
EXIF data: Nikon D7000, center weighted metering mode, 55mm, ISO 100, 1/400 sec, f/8
Shafer Vineyards, Napa Valley, Mountains. Shafer Vineyards, Stags Leap District, California. November 26, 2012. © Copyright Steven Tze – all rights reserved.
Steven Tze Photography 
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