Nicasio Valley Barn Photo

Photographer’s Note

Fans of photos of rust will surely appreciate that I've been tempted more than once to bring this image to the board simply because of the roof of this barn. I shot it from both sides and even worked up a graphical image focusing on the rust. But it works much better as part of this series on Nicasio Valley, showing once again the hill forms that make this area so special. Another interesting feature is that the hill in the background displays the California Live Oak, which is spotted on hills throughout northern California. The live oak has a very tiny leaf with a shiny surface, a response by nature to the arid climate. These leaves capture the sunlight needed for photosynthesis, but lose very little moisture because of their compact size and dense surface. But beyond the scientific facts of these wonderful trees is their simple presence, often standing alone, though here they stand in a cluster.

This barn is about three hundred meters up a narrow lane from the parish church with which I began this series. It has been around quite a few years, if one is to judge by the condition of the wall facing us, but it is still in use by the owner who maintains a large garden at the rear of the property.

Tomorrow I'll post a photo of some of the four-footed creatures who call the Nicasio Valley home, Jersey cows from one of the many dairy farms that dot the landscape of West Marin.

carper, JustinAK, Galeota, Rinie_Hoff, timotey, RegisMinot, RGatward, jackwp, pamastro, avigur_11, GrahamB, kikvel, ChrisJ has marked this note useful

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JustinAK (115) 2004-07-25 3:17

Great color and sharp - informative note to accompany the photo.

carper (64746) 2004-07-25 3:17

Well Curtis this is a good one.
The colours are great, the contrast is fantastic, the composition is good, Yes this is a good photo. I like it a lot. Very good job you did here.

Galeota (10334) 2004-07-25 3:17

Very good. The contrast of shapes, in this case the geometrical human touch on the barn vs the curves of nature, is superb.

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2004-07-25 3:51

a cow! and you already got birds in this one! OK, I know, in may you did know that I wanted to see those Arabian mares. Nice one Curtis, the wood is so dark and old, the winding fence, and the oaks that are on highest point on the slope, they do love to have dry ground! The lines are great in this onee, again, Curtis, meandering lines of th hill, and the diagonal of the barn on the right place. Good colors

timotey (1926) 2004-07-25 4:13

An astonishing picture with this so great light ! You have rendered all this scene aspects with a very good sense of details (just take a look at the so fine roof !).
An excellent composition with this contrast between natural curved lines and straight human buildings lines.
Colors are so nice and warm well rendered in their advantage with this almost clear and naked sky. Very beautiful !

RegisMinot (1317) 2004-07-25 5:22

You have here many igredients to make a great shot: beautiful colours in an harmonious palette from yellow to brown, diversity in textures and again a bright californian light contributing to a contrasted image. Your composition is original and well frames.

RGatward (19737) 2004-07-25 6:50

Well spotted subject, and good compo.

kikvel (4772) 2004-07-25 9:07

Hola Curtis:

El techo de la granja parece de cobre!!! It seems like copper. Very nice combination of rust, ground, and wood.

Are those birds at the top of the barn?

I like the shadows of the trees. It gives me a clear idea of how the sun was in relation to the horizon and in relation to the slope of the rusted roof. You were playing with geometry, didnt you?

I like it,

saludos!!

Kikvel

jackwp (519) 2004-07-25 9:34

You have captured the earthtones very well, very clear, colorful and interesting.

avigur_11 (21273) 2004-07-25 22:41

Amazing textures of the rust and the wood. I can almost touch and feel them. The position of the barn is good and it creates a very interesting composition. Very good bold colors and light. Wel done, Curtis.

pamastro (7213) 2004-07-26 1:21

Again a simply breathtaking landscape. The textures here and contrast are amazing, as well. This really has a film like quality that the others have also had. This one just is even more so. I can imagine this being used for a film and I'm sure it has since I recognize these hills and have never been there. The lines on the barn are excellent. I want to touch this barn and am upset that I can't even though it looks so right there. :) Beautiful sky for this, too, adding to the tranquility that is this landscape. Excellent once again.

GrahamB (939) 2004-07-26 2:28

Great colours and texture in the barn. I like the composition with the barn filling a lot of the frame but still with the view to the wide open space beyond.

manny (21378) 2004-07-26 2:39

Nice colors again. But most of all...I like the composition. I like this series.

For this pic, I think it is better off if it were cropped tighter on top. It will mae the picture look more solid. JMHO.

cdewet (0) 2004-07-27 13:55

I like this one too, Curtis, but you really have great rust here.

ChrisJ (70165) 2004-07-30 3:21

Great warm / cold oppostion between the cyan & red. The attractive lines in the shed, intersecting with the lines formed by the tree shadows, are wonderful.

sn00zie (2384) 2004-09-19 8:09