Sunrise is coming earlier each day as we near the summer solstice and luckily long beautiful days of summer in Napa Valley. Tomahawk Vineyard produces the Cabernet grapes for their excellent Tomahawk Cabernet.
And, with the very warm early spring weather there are quickly passing bloom and into seeing grapes forming on the vines.
Early yesterday morning I was at Chimney Rock Winery photographing their vineyards. In this shot we see a Cabernet vineyard in beautiful sweeping light of early morning.
Here is a view of the newly released poster of Napa Valley in the spring. A beautiful vineyard in Oakville with afternoon clouds.
Being a photographer the search for light, clouds and photos is so intrinsic to who I am. Each day, each step it seems life is always a possibility of a photo. I read today a few words from Henri Cartier Bresson, “The world is my open-air studio.” Indeed and Napa Valley a gift to the senses and visually magical.
Spring at Chimney Rock Winery.
These images were shot one week ago and while only seven days there has been a huge boost in growth due to the high heat of last week. In the third photo you see the buds of the Cabernet grapes on the vine. So beautiful and very close to bloom.
These mornings when I’m shooting so early in the morning it’s most often quiet, peaceful and a time when I find myself be fully present in the moment with Nature. Simply walking along looking at the clusters of buds can be so focused, when the only thoughts are of that moment, those buds, that light and the shadows of the area.
Standing on the lane to Far Niente Winery is Nicole Marchesi, winemaker to this winery.
Dalia Ceja at Ceja Vineyards in Carneros.
Angelina Mondavi in the Dark Matter Vineyard on Howell Mountain in the Napa Valley.
Maggie Pramuk at Robert Biale Vineyards and Winery in Napa Valley. Maggie wrote the introduction to the book Rock and Vine.
Starting with with Christina Turley of Turley Wine Cellars. This photo taken during harvest. 
Meeting and photographing so many young winemakers this past summer was always interesting and what I found across the board of those involved was their passion for making the best wines possible. Right now thinking back I remember many who once they entered the vineyard their world was about the grapes and their vines and as a journalist I simply followed and photographed them as they tweaked their vines or walked their land. 
