Tag: Photography

Water Fall Relief

On By JohnLeave a comment

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There’s no place better on a hot summer day to take refuge from the heat than a waterfall.  That’s exactly what happened a few months back on a crazy hot day this past summer.  We decided to pack up, and hit the trail.  This place is so cool.  There is a huge lake on top of the mountain, and it cascades down a  five mile slope resulting in close to 40 different waterfalls, some of which are 100 feet (30  meters) high.  The trail has some challenging elevation changes but that’s what gives you these awesome waterfalls, and on this day, some much needed relief from the heat.  If your ever near Red Rock, PA, check it out, it’s Rickets Glenn State Park.  It’s a bit of a drive from my home, but well worth it.  It’s funny because I always knew it was a nice place for photography, but when I started seeing pictures taken there by people from Europe, I was so surprised.  I guess it goes to show you a truth we often ignore in photography, that some of the best shots to be had are practically in your own back yard.  I once believed I could only get amazing shots by traveling somewhere exotic, but not any more.  Rickets Glenn proved that to me.  Challenge yourself to see what you’ve been missing in your own hometown.  Look at it with a strangers eyes and you’ll be amazed at what you’ve missed.

With that said, I’ve included a shot of one of the many waterfalls at Rickets.  I love photographing waterfalls, but I have such a difficult time framing them, or finding the best point of view.  Then there’s the whole, ” to long expose the water or try to freeze it” conflict.  If I made a top 10 list of favorite things to photograph, waterfalls would definitely be in there, but if I made a list of most frustrating subjects I try to photograph, waterfalls would be right near the top.  (I think this just gave me an idea for another post)  Anyway, I hope you like this one, and remember we’re on the downslide to the weekend at this point.  Have a great rest of the week.

Twin Stars

On By JohnLeave a comment

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Enough with the fall colors and early spring shots!!  It’s time for some real color from the source that wrote the book on it.  And by that, I mean flowers!!  I love flowers, and I especially love taking pictures of flowers.  Not only are they colorful, but their intricate designs and diverse shapes make them a challenging subject, and a source of constant inspiration.  What are some of your favorite subjects to photograph?  I know some people really don’t like flower photographs.  How many times have you heard someone say, “I’m not a flower person”, when describing their photography.  They can sound so condescending when they say it.  In the future, I want to explore flower photography more.  I’ve seriously been considering the addition of a macro lens to my gear for that very purpose.  I’ll be sure to let you know how that  goes.

In the meantime, here is a flower shot from this past summer.  No flowers were harmed in the taking of this picture.  They were shot on the stem, handheld in some beautiful morning light.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think these are Purple Astors.

Two Speeders

On By JohnLeave a comment

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While this may look like a shot from just last week, since there are no leaves on the trees and it’s looking pretty Fall-ish, I actually shot this last Spring.  It was one of the first nice days outside, and it was finally starting to warm up, so we went for a quick hike through a local park.  The late afternoon sun made for some great light, and the Geese were new arrivals after returning from their defection to the warmer South for the winter.  Actually, they caught me by surprise.  I heard them coming, it wasn’t hard with all the honking,  but they were moving really fast across the water. I only had a split second to snap a picture before they were out of frame again.  I never even brought the camera up to my eye, I just shot from the hip all Western gunslinger style.  I was with a few people and they were quite impressed.   Of course, I’d be lying if I said the image didn’t need a little straightening in Lightroom.  I still can’t believe how fast those geese were moving.  I would have loved to try a panning shot and give a sense of their speed, but there was no time to set up for that.  I think it must be cool to speed across a lake just inches above the water like that.  That’s the way I’d fly if I was a goose.  Have a great weekend everyone.  I know Call of Duty is coming out today, but get out there and take some pictures!!!

Fall Colors, A No Brainer!!

On By JohnLeave a comment

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Wow! The last few weeks here in the Northeast have brought color to a whole new level.  The leaves are all changing, and whatever it is that determines how bright and how varied the colors get, well it happened, and the trees are “on fire”.  Shooting in the fall is a no brainer.  Everywhere you look there are gorgeous pictures waiting to be taken.  It’s like a last gasp of nature before winter replaces all that color with the whites and greys we are so accustomed to here in the north.  There’s plenty of beauty in that as well, you just have to look a bit harder.  For this picture I had just finished some yard work, and the golden hour was in full swing.  So I put the lawn mower away, and went for a walk.   It couldn’t have been more perfect. I really liked how the low angle of the sun was causing the leaves to cast their own shadows on the tree behind them.  It’s funny how I had been planning to take a big hike to get some fall shots;  you know, pack a lunch, put on the Merrells, grab the backpack and such.  Then one of my favorite shots of the season was taken literally along the road in front of my own house. Who knew!!!

I hope your liking the blog so far.  I’m still trying to figure out a few things with the set up and choices.  It’s kind of like moving into a new house and you move the furniture around a bit to see how you like it best.  You can definitely consider this a site under construction, so don’t be surprised if you see some changes.  I hope to mix in some technical content from time to time too.  Let me know what you think.  More to come for sure, see Ya later!!

Well…Here We Go

On By JohnLeave a comment

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Five years into the process and I’ve finally arrived.  My blog.  I guess I’m supposed to start off by saying “Hello World!!” or something cliché like that, but honestly, after all the trouble of figuring out how to do this, my only real thought is …”Well, Here we go!!” I look forward to meeting you all.  My blog will be about my journey though the world of photography and what inspires me. I consider myself a gearhead with a philosopher’s heart, I hope you’ll find something here worth your time and repeated attention.  I look forward to finding a host of like minded people who enjoy photography as much as I, and derive the same joy I do from it.  I’ll share my photography, and my philosophy along the way.   This is a hobby for me, so I won’t be plugging my trips to Iceland to bolster my portfolio anytime soon.  Though I admit that’s said with a tinge of jealousy for those who do.  I’m a practical guy with a day job, and if I ever have a spare $10,000 sitting around, I will probably spend it on a new roof rather than buying the Nikon 600mm f/4E.  Well..probably anyway. See Ya soon!!!