• 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Artichokes grow just behind the sand dunes of the Monterey Bay where the marine layer diffuses the sunlight to povide a greenhouse effect.
    Bottle of Hahn Pinot Noir wine and glass of wine with artichokes, strawberries and blackberries on a barrel top with a vineyard in the background
    Aerial photo of vineyards changing autumn colors in the Steinbeck Country.
    Black and white high contrast photo of wild winter grape vines
    Close-up of a cluster of Pinot Noir grapes changing from green to purple with a little morning dew.
    Part of a year-long project photographing the farmland of Scheid Family Wines for a 2020 calendar.
    Wine grapes are best harvested at night when the tempertures are cool so the fruit isn't damaged by the daytime heat.
    Organic cauliflower is packaged in the field for maximum freshness.
    Road leading through a vineyard into the sunset.
  • Aerial drone photo of vineyards and fields along River Road winding south through the Salinas Valley by the light of a full moon with the city lights of Gonzales and Soledad in the distance.
    Green and yellow vertical curvy parallel rows grape vines in the spring.
    Backlit yellow and green grape leaves and clusters of pinot noir grapes on vineyard trellises that extend into infinity.
    Smith Family Wines brings a bottling truck to their Paraiso Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, California to bottle their Chardonnay on site.
    Smith Family Wines brings a bottling truck to their Paraiso Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, California to bottle their Chardonnay on site.
    Smith Family Wines brings a bottling truck to their Paraiso Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, California to bottle their Chardonnay on site.
    Smith Family Wines brings a bottling truck to their Paraiso Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, California to bottle their Chardonnay on site.
    Smith Family Wines brings a bottling truck to their Paraiso Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, California to bottle their Chardonnay on site.
    Wine grapes are best harvested at night when the tempertures are cool so the fruit isn't damaged by the daytime heat.
    Aerial photo of green, yellow, orange, and red vineyards with a road, winery, and mountains.
    Silhouette oak at sunset.
    Two geese standing in a fall-colored vineyard
  • Part of a year-long project photographing the farmland of Scheid Family Wines for a 2020 calendar.
    Black and white photo of barren grape vines pruned into the shape of crosses with dramatic white clouds shrouding the top of the Santa Lucia Mountains in the background.
    Bright yellow, orange and red leaves in a vineyard landscape with a clearing storm over the Salinas Valley
    Green vineyards in the foreground lead into the Salinas Valley with red sunlit mountains in the background and a tobacco sky.
    Purple Ripe clusters of Pinot Noir grapes on green leafy vines.
    Red Pinot Noir grapes against a red leaf background.
    Photo of an autumn vineyard in a painterly style
    Part of a year-long project photographing the farmland of Scheid Family Wines for a 2020 calendar.
    Part of a year-long project photographing the farmland of Scheid Family Wines for a 2020 calendar.
    Vineyard rows leading off into the horizon and mountains.
    Yellow and green vineyard rows.
    Green vineyard rows.
  • Wildflowers and vineyard rows.
    Road running up hill between vineyard rows to green mountains with clouds in the sky.
    The Lucia Highlands Vineyard on a spring evening with the lights of Gonzales, the Salinas Valley, and Gabilan Mountains in the background under a blue night sky.
    Rows of pruned grape vines with mountains and clouds in the background.
    Close up of green and purple grapes sprinkled with morning dew.
    Green wine grapes ripen on the vine.
    Tiny grapes populate a vine against a green leaf.
    Bunches of green Chardonnay grapes ripen on the vine.
    Pinot Noir grapes of different colors ripen on the vine.
    Blowing white grape buds blossom with a scattering of water droplets on a black background.
    Ripe purple Pinot Noir grapes.
    Pinot Noir grapes of different colors ripen on the vine.
  • Part of a year-long project photographing the vineyards and winemaking of Smith Family Wines.
    Cluster of ripe Pinot Noir grapes surrounded by green leaves.
    Cluster of ripe Pinot Noir grapes surrounded by green leaves.
    Cluster of green Chardonnay grapes dripping wet.
    Cluster of green Chardonnay grapes.
    Close up of ripe purple grapes.
    Bunches of wet ripe Pinot Noir grapes on the vine.
    Close up of young grapes on the vine.
    Part of a year-long project photographing the vineyards and winemaking of Smith Family Wines.
    Wine grapes are best harvested at night when the tempertures are cool so the fruit isn't damaged by the daytime heat.
    Wine grapes are best harvested at night when the tempertures are cool so the fruit isn't damaged by the daytime heat.
    Wine grapes are best harvested at night when the tempertures are cool so the fruit isn't damaged by the daytime heat.
  • This Organic cauliflower farm is adjacent to the Salinas River for easy irrigation.
    Organic cauliflower is packaged in the field for maximum freshness.
    Organic cauliflower is packaged in the field for maximum freshness.
    Organic cauliflower is packaged in the field for maximum freshness.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
  • Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
  • Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.
    Abstract black and white aerial drone photo looking directly down at crisscrossing field rows.
    Streaks of red, green and white light softly illuminate a vineyard at night.
    Aerial photo of vineyards changing autumn colors in the Steinbeck Country.
    Aerial photo of vineyards changing autumn colors in the Steinbeck Country.
    Aerial photo of vineyards changing autumn colors in the Steinbeck Country.
    Aerial drone photo of auntumn colored vineyard rows set against the Salinas River at sunset.
    Aerial drone photo of auntumn colored vineyard rows set against Pinnacles National Park with puffy clouds acattered across a blue sky.
    Aerial drone photo of expansive vineyards rows of autumn colors at the foothills of the Gabilan Mountains.
    Aerial photo of vineyards changing autumn colors in the Steinbeck Country.
    Aerial photo of green, yellow, orange, and red vineyards with a road, winery, and mountains.
  • Aerial photo of green, yellow, orange, and red vineyards with a road, and winery.
    Aerial photo of green, yellow, orange, and red vineyards with a road, winery, and mountains.
    Aerial photo of vineyards changing autumn colors in the Steinbeck Country.
    Aerial photo of vineyards with autumn colors.
    Aerial photo of vineyards changing autumn colors in the Steinbeck Country.
    Aerial photo of green, yellow, orange, and red vineyards with a road, winery, and mountains.
    Aerial photo of vineyards with autumn colors.
    Aerial photo of vineyards and other farm land with autumn colors.
    Close-up of grape blossom covered with tiny drops of water.
    Unpruned leafless red grapevines line up against a pale blue sky.
    Columns of twisted barren grape vines in the fog in black and white.
    Rows of blossoming grape vines in black and white.
  • Hundreds of tiny drops of water cover a close-up of a blossoming grape vine.
    Grapevines being watered with hills and mountains in the background.
    Silhouetted barren grape vines reach up to a cloudy sky with a cluster of dried grapes that never dropped.
    Aerial photo of vineyards with autumn colors.
    3 cascade hop cones close up.
    Soft focus close-up of 2 green Cascade hops flowers on a green background.
    Sunflower
    Public-private partnerships such as those formed by CSUMB alumni of the Environmental Science, Technology & Policy’s Return of the Natives program do much of the native plant restoration on the former Fort Ord bringing students and graduates working for local companies together for hands-on education.
    Public-private partnerships such as those formed by CSUMB alumni of the Environmental Science, Technology & Policy’s Return of the Natives program do much of the native plant restoration on the former Fort Ord bringing students and graduates working for local companies together for hands-on education.
    Public-private partnerships such as those formed by CSUMB alumni of the Environmental Science, Technology & Policy’s Return of the Natives program do much of the native plant restoration on the former Fort Ord bringing students and graduates working for local companies together for hands-on education.
    Public-private partnerships such as those formed by CSUMB alumni of the Environmental Science, Technology & Policy’s Return of the Natives program do much of the native plant restoration on the former Fort Ord bringing students and graduates working for local companies together for hands-on education.
    Public-private partnerships such as those formed by CSUMB alumni of the Environmental Science, Technology & Policy’s Return of the Natives program do much of the native plant restoration on the former Fort Ord bringing students and graduates working for local companies together for hands-on education.
  • Public-private partnerships such as those formed by CSUMB alumni of the Environmental Science, Technology & Policy’s Return of the Natives program do much of the native plant restoration on the former Fort Ord bringing students and graduates working for local companies together for hands-on education.
    Public-private partnerships such as those formed by CSUMB alumni of the Environmental Science, Technology & Policy’s Return of the Natives program do much of the native plant restoration on the former Fort Ord bringing students and graduates working for local companies together for hands-on education.
    A single brightly colored red, orange, yellow, and green pinot noir leaf sharp with detail cutout on a black background.
    Even ripeness is a sign of quality fruit.
    Black and White image in fog of young strawberry field rows.
    More lettuce is grown in the Salinas Valley than any where else in the world which is why it is called The Salad Bowl of the World.
    More lettuce is grown in the Salinas Valley than any where else in the world which is why it is called The Salad Bowl of the World.
    Rainbows are common when looking through square miles of sprinklers watering the baby kale.
    Pinot Noir grapes at their various stages of being crushed and juiced prior to fermentation.
    Pinot Noir grapes at their various stages of being crushed and juiced prior to fermentation.
    Artichoke field with town in background.
    Growing cannabis organically outdoors produces the best results.
  • Growing cannabis organically outdoors produces the best results.
    Growing cannabis organically outdoors produces the best results.
    Growing cannabis organically outdoors produces the best results.
    Growing cannabis organically outdoors produces the best results.
    Growing cannabis organically outdoors produces the best results.
    Black and white photo of wine bottles being filled in an assembly line.
    Black and white photo of wine bottles being filled in an assembly line.
    Black and white photo of Monterey County Pinot Noir grapes ready to harvest.
  • Product photo of a Scheid wine bottle in its vineyard of origin for marketing.
    Wine grapes in their ripening stage.
    Vineyard worker on an ATC racing through the vineyard rows.
  • Aerial drone photo of a summer vineyard bordering the Salinas River.
    Wine grapes in their ripening stage.
    Wine grapes in their ripening stage.
    Part of a year-long project photographing the farmland of Scheid Family Wines for a 2020 calendar.
    Close-up of hands and clippers pruning winter grape vines.
    Product photo of a Scheid wine bottle in its vineyard of origin for marketing.
    Close up photo of colorful green and red buds that will grow into clusters of Chardonnay grapes.
    Long exposure of a wine grape harvester at night when the air is cool.
    Long exposure of a wine grape harvester at night when the air is cool.
    Long exposure of a wine grape harvester at night when the air is cool.

“I love everything about food, from its genetic design to its deliciousness, and I celebrate it through my photography.”

Steve Zmak captures the essence of California and the West through its agricultural beauty. His studio sits on the edge of strawberry and artichoke fields with the famous Santa Lucia Highlands AVA and Salinas Valley just down the road—Zmak’s playground.

 

Castroville artichokes growing by the Monterey Bay.

Zmak has documented a year of operations for Smith Family Wines and a year in the vineyard for Scheid Vineyards, taken aerials from Ray Franscioni’s helicopter, taught vineyard photography workshops at Hahn Family Wines and Pessagno Winery, and published a book about the Santa Lucia Highlands. He has probably photographed you if you’ve been to the River Road Valentine’s Passport or SLH Gala in the last few years.

 

Harvesting Pinot Noir grapes at night outside of Soledad, CA for Smith family Wines.

Zmak strives to capture orchards, farms and vineyards, and their produce in their most luscious states while maintaining the integrity of documentary work. He celebrates all things that grow and nourish us, and the people making it happen. His perspective covers the full spectrum from aerial to near microscopic.

 

Aerial photo from about 200 feet above a vineyard looking at the tasting room festivities with vineyards and mountains in the background.

Getting a higher perspective using a drone at the scenic Hahn Estate Winery in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County. FAA certified commercial sUAS/Drone photography.

 

Genetically designed cherries on exhibit in IFG’s demonstration orchard where buyers from around the world come to view, taste and shop.

Photographing 7 varieties of genetically designed cherries on a demonstration orchard in Delano, California for International Fruit Genetics (IFG).