Springtime near Napa, California
On a drive to Napa during the spring this year. The mustard is beginning to bloom in the fields.
On a drive to Napa during the spring this year. The mustard is beginning to bloom in the fields.
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Jun, 2017Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on a drive through the Coastal Range form my home in Davis, CA to the Napa Valley in the springtime, just when the wild mustard begins to bloom. This field is part of the Somerston Estate Winery, right on the road.My lens is peeking though a fence.Time
This photo was taken near noontime so the light was a bit harsh but the cloudy sky helped mute the harshness a bit.Lighting
I always look for clouds when I go out with my camera and rarely take my camera out if it is a clear blue sky if I am out photographing landscapes.Equipment
Canon 70D, handheld, lens: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM with a Hoya circular polarizing filter, no flash, @ 1/125 SEC at f/9.0, ISO 100Inspiration
We belong to a wine club in Napa, Stag's Leap Cellars, and so we drive to Napa in the spring, summer and fall to pick up our wine shipment and always pass by this field on our way along the back roads. I especially like this field during the spring when the wild mustard is just starting to bloom. This particular day in April, the cloud patterns above the filed caught my eye and so I stopped to take this image.Editing
I used Lightroom and reduced the highlights to bring out the sky and also dehazed it to make it the image more vibrant.In my camera bag
Hoya circular polarizing filter and lens cleaner brush to keep the lens free of dust. Frequently I will have a Gorillapod in case I need a tripod. That is usually all I take with me so that I am not bogged down with gear. I usually take this lens for the versatility a zoom provides.Feedback
I like going back to the same spot for landscapes and seeing how it changes throughout the year as well as visiting the same spot at different times throughout the day or during different kinds of weather. And...look clouds when shooting landscapes.
