End of the (VA Wine) Trail
(HDR image of a vineyard and woods beyond in full fall regalia.) We arrived at Mountainrose in late morning after a beautiful, scenic ascent through Virginia coal country, through gorgeous farmland and glorious fall foliage. The trees were already at their peak and the fresh mountain wind was already beginning to denude the colorful woods. It was mostly overcast up in the hill country that day; for much of the day we had a glowering, dramatic sky (threatening, but never actually raining on us) — but every once in a while the fresh wind would rip away the cloud cover to briefly reveal a brilliant blue sky.
Old Barn HDR
I found this barn quirky and full of character. Not having grown up in the country, I have no idea what might have been the purpose of this unusual structure. Standing there in that field, I was struck by the way the builders arranged the building with a pass-through and on the level, even though the place where they put it clearly is not level. I wondered about that old building’s many stories as that day’s bright sunlight illuminated the grass and trees around and brought out the textures and colors of the old wood in the open passage, doors, and walls.
Quirigua HDR
High Definition Images (HDR) images taken during a tour group visit to Quirigua Archaeological Park in central Guatemala. Quirigua is home of one of the largest and most well-preserved collections of Mayan stelae and zoomorphs of the Mayan classic period, displayed under thatched roofs in beautifully manicured gardens.
Isn’t It Spring Yet ?!?
Rehoboth Beach, USA
Springtime shots of dogwood blossoms on a sunny spring day provide a bright contrast to today’s present February snow, ice, rain, and drizzle. Wasn’t “snowmageddon” a stupid rubric for the press to choose for a snowstorm? And announcing the launch of the new web sites, RickCollier.com, www.RickCollierImagery.com, and this site, thePhotoTourist.
Reflecting Fall
Reston, Virginia, USA
It is a still, cool day at the lake. The colors of autumn leaves and the clear blue sky are reflected in the calm lake, bordered by boats that have been put away for the season. There has been a break in posting as I upgraded our systems to Microsoft’s new Windows 7 operating system, which I have to admit I greatly prefer over its predecessor, Vista.
