A little piece of old Russia in California

[FrozenInTime]

Playing tourist today at Fort Ross which was established by Russia in 1812 only 90 miles North of San Francisco.

M9, Noctilux with ND 0,9 and 21mm Summilux - mostly full open

[BobYIL]

Beautiful pictures... I wonder if you cropped them much as they do not seem like 21mm shots except the indoor one. Thank you for sharing.

[kdemas]

Very nice Donald! I've never even heard of Fort Ross, I'll have to make a road trip there sometime.

[Sparrow]

I find the blurred backgrounds frustrating in documentary photos, particularly in bright sunshine like that. It seems unnatural somehow, sorry

[lem0n]

Nice pictures! I find that the shallow DOF on some pictures reminds me of old 4x5 pictures, very nice!

[skibeerr]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I find the blurred backgrounds frustrating in documentary photos, particularly in bright sunshine like that. It seems unnatural somehow, sorry

+1 and another 10

[brainwood]

I find the blurred backgrounds frustrating in documentary photos, particularly in bright sunshine like that. It seems unnatural somehow, sorry

I agree on some of the wider shots but the crosses work very well. I love the mood they create. The one where the crosses almost touch is my favourite. I assume the closeness of the crosses means they were buried in the same grave which gives it added poignancy.

The interior shot is very nice as well with the circular hole in the ceiling , the hanging chandelier and the lovely warm colours of the wood

Nice series frozenintime. I had no idea the Russians had a foothold in the States

Chris

[Gabriel M.A.]

Very nice photos. And I didn't know that the Russians had a little colony in Colonial New Spain (and then Mexico)!

[jarski]

yes nice shots. not very often seen, blurred background in bright daylight. some of them has sort of miniature look (like cannon in third one), bit surreal, but good.

[raid]

Thank you for pointing out this fort to us. I did not know about Russia having been there.
As for the blurred background, this is a matter of personal preference. I like the posted images. I may have also used small apertures for balance, but I am not the OP.

[maggieo]

The interior shot is just stunning!

I used to escape to Fort Ross and environs when I lived in San Francisco and your photos really brought the place back for me. Thank you!

[ampguy]

I also like # 4, but mainly the top 2/3 of it.

Many of these images show the unique bokeh of the noct, which while not preferred by everyone, it does hold together double line contrast areas better than some other fast lenses, IMHO, and have a unique painterly effect, again, IMHO.

[FrozenInTime]

Thanks for all the comments - from both sides of the fence.

Well worth the trip up Kent - with some great alternative mountain grade roads inland if you want to take it easy and avoid the RVs lumbering along Highway 1.

I was perhaps trying too hard to avoid the historical theme park postcard / record shot view so did not provide a very balance coverage - that's just they way I was seeing that day.
For the cannons I had pre-visualized the large format look - Roger Fenton ?

I like that shot of the cemetery in the mist - something that is very suiting to the location.

As alternatives to the narrow depth of field I did also take some stitched panoramas showing the Fort and Bay.
21mm,50mm and 12mm lenses respectively.