Only Color Left

Here’s a secret. This is my favorite photo of the trip and it was totally unplanned. I love the simplicity and focus of the shot, as well as how majestic, towering, and frankly imposing the castle looks from the main gate. I can’t imagine being an invader, trying to storm the castle. This view, to my mind, would be totally demoralizing. It looks unassailable, impregnable — and that’s without archers at every window and spearmen on every wall. I took this shot handheld while standing in line, waiting for them to open the gates for the morning. I polarized the sky to darken it and add drama. Because the castle is black and white, I think the shot works best with the warm tones of the morning scrubbed from the white walls. But the cherry trees were in pristine full bloom, so I decided to make a selective color photo out of this one. I know those can be a cliché, but I think it works with the soft pink of the blossoms.