During 2006 and 2007, I spent time photographing a beautiful large vineyard in Santa Maria.  It is called Bien Nacido.  The vineyard has received numerous awards over the years including being selected as one of the top 25 vineyards in the world!  It is called a "cool climate vineyard" known for the grapes produced from its soil and the cool, foggy weather brought in from the nearby ocean.  The fog in the shot below is a frequent sight ... and not necessarily a welcome one for a photographer trying to create a good image in good light.  I got lucky as the fog broke just as I was preparing to leave! 

(C)ADAM FELDE NaturalLightImages

Two weeks ago, I got an email from a company wanting to use two images of Bien Nacido.  This well-known wine producer uses grapes from this vineyard in the production of its wine.  That, of course, provoked me looking poking around the archives where I discovered some images that hadn't been worked before.

First, another fog image taken at a different time and place in the vineyard:

The next image was taken from atop one of the hills in the background... more fog!

And still more fog looking down on a field.

Of course, along the way, you have to get a shot of the product:

1\ 320s, at f\10 || E.Comp:-6 \ 6 || 105mm || WB: AUTO 0. || ISO: 200 || Tone: AUTO || Sharp: NORMAL || Camera: NIKON D2Xon: 2007:08:29 16:10:33

A field of new plantings.  They will take some time to mature.

Finally, some sun!  This afternoon exposure was taken of a small group of vines called the "Z Block" near the very top of one of the hills.  As I recall, they were Pinot Noir grapes; something this vineyard is known for.

Lastly, compare the shot above with the one below.  It's the same "Z Block" taken from a different perspective on the valley floor. The good afternoon light in the image above is nice giving it a pastoral feel.  But doesn't have the drama of the rapidly disappearing fog and focused light you see in this last image.

(C)ADAM FELDE NaturalLightImages

I find Vineyard photography to be not so different than other of landscape photography.  The kind and quality of the light is critical to telling the story in both cases. In Vineyard photography, though, the weather is not just a factor in shaping the light; it is part of the story!  The other big difference is a distinct emphasis on patterns.

Can you guess which of these images the company wanted to use for their promotion?

Of course, they are the first and last images of this post.  Oh, by the way, both of these two images were taken at the same time ... not more than 10 feet from the guest cottage where I stayed while there.

It really is better to be lucky than good!

adam