[Pavel]

Porto wine was not and is not actualy made in Porto, but further east along Duoro river and the wine was only shipped to Porto. Pinhao is the current port wine capital. The town lies at the base of hillsides covered in vines where the Douro and Pinhao rivers meet. Pinhao is dominated by the various port wine lodges and you can taste the local wines.

[matthew]

This is very nice, but I'm thinking that a contrast adjustment could bring the clouds out a little more. Not too much, because I do like the realistic representation, but a little.

[Pavel]

Thanks Matthew. I agree. Pavel

[Zig]

Yes..perhaps a bit of dodging highlights in that back third? Or a contrast-masked layer, then tweak the opacity...
Did you get to take any wide angle shots with really strong foregrounds, by the way? This looks a lovely area and I keep wanting to get up close and personal.

[Pavel]

I agree, this photo does need a lot of post-processing work, Zig and Mathew. The reason I did not do it and posted theis photo in "Snaps" is because I do not see this as a good photo. I posted it, because it gives a feel for the countryside.

I agree Zig that wide shots of a landscape call for a strong foreground. I tried to get shots with strong foregrounds Zig, and indeed my drive has a number of shots with some foreground, but only one has anything remotely strong foreground and it is mared by my trying to minimize showing piles of roadside garbage (Mathew, I was thinking of you and thinking you would have tried to include it and make the shot more interesting that way, but I was really bothered by the garbage, tried to exclude it from the shots and it ruined my composition). Part of the problem was that this was one day when we were returning for the flight home and did a lot of driving and had little time for walking. Most shots are from a few quasi-safe stops on a twisting narrow road. My wife was usually too afraid to even get out of the car at some of these stops. These are just excuses, I suspect and what may be a problem is my lack of imagination. I have seen how Matthew takes his photos and he would have thought of something. I guess I am trying to say that I am aware of the limitations you guys have raised. I am still very glad you commented and your views confirm mine and that is good to see - it means that my judgement is on the right track or we are all wrong ().

Thanks Matthew, Zig Pavel