This photograph was captured early in the morning during one of the few breaks in the clouds throughout the week. The calm canal reflected the buildings, clouds and blue sky beautifully. I used a neutral grad filter to keep the brightness-contrast in balance. Colmar was my base for exploring the region and this was the only morning such a scene presented itself.

Although my visit to Kaysersberg was the coldest day of our trip, I made the best of it. There was off and on rain and a stiff cold breeze blowing through the town. Kaysersberg is the home of Albert Schweitzer. However, it is a pretty town and I captured some lovely images there. This is one of my favorites.

The character of this old wisteria vine speaks volumes. The accent of this grape hod repurposed as a wall planter adds to the charm of this photograph. Many homes had these grape hods on the walls filled with flowers.

I was attracted by the color combinations of this café scene in Colmar. Getting the composition just right was a challenge but it came together.

This lovely photograph of wisteria on a home in Riquewihr captures the charm of the region. This image went viral on Facebook (at least for my work that is) when it was pulled off Etsy and featured on Faerie Magazine's Facebook page. People envisioned it as a Hobbitt home.

Normally cats will not stand still for me. Perhaps this cat found satisfaction in that I was standing there photographing in the rain, with my tripod, under an umbrella and the cat was dry under the overhang of a roof.

I am often asked: "Was this building really this blue?". The answer is yes! The buildings of Alsace are painted with very bold colors. In fact the building next to this one was orange. The bold colors, combined with the half-timber buildings contributes to Alsace's charm.

A view of the colorful village of Rodern nestled amongst rolling hills and vineyards. You couldn't ask for a more picturesque setting.

Green and more green. If you like the color green it can't get more green than this... well they say Ireland has more shades.

This photograph possesses a very simple composition. I was drawn to the harmony of the pastel colors and textures in this scene.

This section in the village of Colmar is called La Petite Venise or "little Venice". Can you guess why?

The village of Zellenberg is a little off the beaten path in Alsace. It sits high up on a hill overlooking the vineyards and valley below. Finding this home covered in wisteria made the side trip worth it.

An old well that has been repurposed into a flower planter in the village of Riquewihr.

This bold orange colored house was really this orange and it sat next to a bold blue building. Such is Alsace boldly colored half-timber houses with lots of character.

Another planter from a repurposed object. This old pump makes a great planter. I was standing under the awning of a café, out of the rain, to get this shot.

The collection of rustic objects in this courtyard in Colmar creates a wonderful scene and captures the feel for this region.

This photograph can certainly be said to be minimalistic. Although it is a simple composition, the bold yellow and green combination give it a strength of character.

There were a number of these stone troughs that were being used as flower planters in the village of Kaysersberg. It made a great still life.

Voila! This is Alsace, colorful villages nestled amongst rolling hills and vineyards. You couldn't ask for a more picturesque setting. It was our intention to sit out here in the lovely spring weather and picnic with such views. Alas, I made this photograph in the cold rain, under an umbrella, and we ate our picnic lunch in the car.

The village of Zellenberg is a little off the beaten path in Alsace. It sits high up on a hill overlooking the vineyards and valley below. Finding this home covered in wisteria made the side trip worth it.

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I set up my tripod, made all my settings, composed this scene and took one image when a car pulled up right into the scene (no more than 20 feet from me) and parked. The driver got out, looked at me and then walked away. Was I wrong to expect a little more politeness and consideration?