I have driven by this spot hundreds of times over the years and always wanted to make an image but never saw the right conditions. That changed Sunday morning. I would usually go somewhere that is all nature, but a combination of getting out a few minutes too late to get anywhere and remembering that I wanted an image here convinced me to give it a try.
The light was nicely balanced with the sky not too bright to allow enough data to be collected in the foreground meadow. I was happy that, once again, no HDR was needed. There is actually enough information in the shadows to bring everything up to almost daylight exposure but that is unnecessary. The name of this farm is recent. The owner used to call it “Mad Woman Farm” but she is now a psychotherapist and “Thistlebloom” seems just a bit more appropriate.
So here is Sunday morning…with a bit of fog and a brilliant sky. Please click for a better view and a nice neutral page to display this better.
If you look closely and squint, you may be able to see the name of the farm below the front window on the barn. 🙂
I am not sure what will be up next. Maybe more yard follies?
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Very beautiful, the right moment. But couldn’t see the name…
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Thanks, Bente. Yes, it is very hard as it is a little dark. I should have done a crop but it is not all that important.
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This is outstanding Steve, the light, color, and mood are exceptional!
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Thank you, Phil.
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Interesting light. I prefer Mad Woman Farm. Much more fun than Thistebloom.
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Thanks, Andrew. Yes, I think “Mad Woman” is more interesting although, as Yvonne mentions below, not a good advertisement to attract clients. 🙂 To boot, she also has life-sized cutouts of herself, one as Carmen Miranda and one with only a towel wrapped around herself, standing in the windows. 🙂
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Gorgeous image Steve !!
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Thank you, Bernie.
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You really captured the fog and sunrise beautifully. Just enough detail on the shadow for a realistic reproduction of the scene. The colour of the sky fits really well with Thistlebloom. The thistles are blooming here right now and have that same pink/purple mixed tone.
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Thanks, Rod. Ours are blooming here too. Summer is starting to fade fast…although as I say that we are approaching what I hope will be our last heat wave of the year.
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That’s a very nice as a dawn shot. I rarely se
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Thank you, Gail.
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The sky is absolutelhy gorgeous. The pinkish colors are fantastic in the early mornign light. A lucky shot maybe since you hit it just right.
Things must change when one moves up in this world. Mad Woman would have cost her some clients/patients most likely. Thistlebloom sounds more elite/professional. 🙂
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Thank you, Yvonne. Luck favors the prepared. 🙂 I agree about the name change. Although there would be those who might say “Hey, she’s one of us”. 🙂
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If I ever get round to writing a book for children, you can be sure that part of the inspiration came from the wonderful names and places that you so beautifully capture in your photographs 🙂 Steve, the light in this is just incredible, perfect. I really love this picture.
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Thank you, Lottie. Funny, I feel the same way about your homeland. I love the names of the shires and towns which were one of my favorite things in the Tolkien trilogy. 🙂
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Okay, let’s compromise: I’m mad for thistle blooms.
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Compromise is an art, Steve.
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Gorgeous! But no, even zooming in on the full sized image I can’t read the name!
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Yeah, I shouldn’t have mentioned the name of the barn. Thanks, Lucy.
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Just passing through the archives…this one~wow!
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Melissa’s taking a ride in the Wayback Machine. 🙂 Thanks. That was quite a sky. And look! Fog!
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Haha! Yeah, good old fog. One of the things I miss the most about northern CA is fog, and now I understand they don’t get much fog anymore.
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