Winter Light

ISO 800 f/14 1/125th of a second 18mm lens 

West Townshend, Vermont

Our first significant snow fall of the season 

Petals

ISO 400 f/7.1 1/30th of a second, on camera flash boost. 40mm lens

Nancy's Carnations on the dinning-room table 

Nancy's Bracelet "Atlantis"

ISO 200 f/20 1/80 of a second 90mm Macro Lens under studio light conditions

Nancy finished her free form bracelet project Atlantis, I photographed it in the studio this evening. This one was fun to work with using narrow beam, directed light from one of the

 studio light heads. 

My iPhone Project: The Bridge

Somerset, Vermont

This afternoon  I went looking for an old foot cable suspension bridge that several years ago my father and I crossed to access the National Forest area in Somerset VT.  It was a friendly piece of history with wooden slats across the length of it that swayed in the wind and challenged your balance.  I have been in search of a   cable bridge to photograph for many weeks now, and I thought this one would be perfect.  I was in the area today and found that the old bridge was gone and had been replaced with this stainless steel span.  At first it was very disappointing to see the old bridge was gone, replaced with this cold and modern version, but as I looked at this one I started to see the possibilities for a different kind of image, one that could be thought provoking as well as appealing.

My iPhone Project: Ice on the Pond

Petersham, Massachusetts

Today's travels brought me to Petersham, Massachusetts, a very small town on the Franklin County/Worcester County border.  This pond is starting to feel the effects of the cold, late fall ice is starting to form during a crisp cold day that still has no snow.

My iPhone: The Gorge in the fall rain

Quechee Gorge  Quechee, Vermont

Since beginning the iPhone project I have taken pictures all over Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York.  It seems like the majority of the photographs have been taken in the rain.  I was in Quechee, Vermont today and as usual it was raining, I was able to capture this image of the Gorge from the Route 4 bridge.  

No snow in yet !

Christmas Flake

ISO 400 f/5.6 1/15th of a second  90mm macro tripod mounted

From our Tree Crystal Ornament   

Standing Post

ISO 400 f/8 1/640 of a second 35mm lens  Sepia

Saratoga Battle Field,  Stillwater, New York

This place interests me a great deal not only 

because it is  historically significant,  or because 

I 'm a history nut at heart. 

A great great grandfather ancestor of mine; 

Eleazer Whitney fought here, with the 

4th Massachusetts Regiment.

This place is a wonderful place to visit, 

history and nature is all around 

Our Old Moon

ISO 200 f2.0 1/40th of a second  1000mm Mirror Lens tripod mounted 

From West Townshend, Vermont

What an awesome site the Full Moon 

November 27, 2012 about 10:00 PM EST 

Time to go boys!

ISO 12800 f/16 1/400th of a second 400mm lens

Brattleboro, Vermont

I set out this morning camera in hand to capture animal images, 

had a list that I wasn't able to complete, pesky birds just would

not co-operate,  but had a really good time looking 

Hello! Whatcha Doin'

ISO 12800 f/8.0 1/3200th of a second 400mm lens

Brattleboro, Vermont

While standing in the weeds waiting for the ducks to come back around and do their thing I was distracted by this little guy.  He flew in and stayed for awhile, watching what I was doing.  I wish I had a shorter lens than the 400 to catch this guy a bit sharper, but the other lenses were in the car and moving around 

too much would have scared him off.  Cool birds Cardinals!

Toolin' Around Canadian Style

ISO 12800  f/8  1/6000th of a second 400mm lens

Brattleboro, Vermont 

My second stop of the day, these geese were part of a flock that I would guess numbered a couple of hundred and were set down around this meadow pond. Yesterday when I saw them for the first time, they were all in the pond.  You could have walked across that pond on geese and never got a toe wet.  Very small pond, lots of geese!

Thanksgiving Moon

ISO 200 f/2.0 1/50th of a second  1000mm Mirror Tripod Mounted

Photograph taken from my driveway about 6:00pm this evening.  Happy Thanksgiving All!!

My iPhone Project: Little Falls

Dummerston, Vermont

This afternoon while driving on Route 30 around dusk I saw this little water fall that had formed in the rocks. It was cold enough for the mist from the falls to create this flowing ice in tree branches and sticks.  Because the space around this fall is so closed in I could not take just one shot to get everything so this is a 5 image stitch taken at the base of the falls.

From the Earth to the Moon

ISO 200 f/2.0 1/40th of a second  1000mm Mirror Lens  Tripod Mounted

Townshend, Vermont

Space is Cool 238,900 miles away!! 

Inside Beads Beaded Bead

 ISO 200 f/11 1/50th of a second  90mm Macro Lens: Studio Lighting conditions

Last night I posted a photograph of this beaded bead 

which was created by my wife Nancy. That photograph 

was taken with the same lens and nearly the same 

settings as these are, with one major difference.  This

series is lit primarily from inside of the bead, with a single 

umbrella outside. The designer of the bead, Florence Turnour, 

left a comment on my previous post; 

"Those photos are beautiful. One thing I love about this bead 

design is how hollow it is.  Any idea how to capture 

that in a photograph?  Just some food for thought."     

I did start thinking about it and this is what I came up 

with. I fashioned a "snoot" out of black photo background 

paper, which  allowed me to concentrate the light under 

the bead, and then added a single umbrella on 

the outside, bracketing the exposure I came up with 

these results

As Time Passes

ISO 12800 f/32 1/800th of a second  400mm Lens

It is interesting what you can find in your own yard;  

this is the remains of a rather large tree that fell on our 

barn in the spring a year or so ago, 
it didn't do much damage other than 
breaking a railing and knocking a shingle 
or two out of place.  I cut up what remained 
of the tree and disposed of it and was going 

to cut down this 5 or 6 foot remnant as well, 
but decided not to; it isn't in the way 
and I wanted to watch what happened with 

it over time. What remains of this 
once tall and thriving tree is slowly fading 
back into the earth; bugs, birds, wind, 

rain, hot and cold are all conspiring to reduce what is 

left to mulch.  

The textures and light on this fading tree remnant really 

caught my attention this morning so 

I thought I would share.

Beads; Beaded Bead

ISO 200 f/22 1/60th of a second  90mm Macro Lens: Studio Lighting Conditions

Nancy created this bead from different sizes and colors of 

seed beads, photographing her wonderful work has been 

given me a great opportunity to take the macro photographs 

that I like the best. 

My iPhone Project: The last Colors of Fall

Hinsdale, New Hampshire

Nancy and I were at local store one afternoon recently and they had the last of their fall flowers outside,  the colors as you can see were very striking I created these 4 images with my iPhone 

Christmas Star in Beads

ISO 200 f/4 1/1000th of a second  90mm Macro Lens Tripod Mounted 

Natural Light with a gold reflector

Nancy just completed this Christmas Star Ornament and she wanted a photograph to post, as it has been an exceptionally nice day, for a change, here in southern Vermont. I took it outside and used our Spruce Tree to hang it on for this image.  The only light enhancement was accomplished by a gold reflector under the piece to lighten from below. A little challenging as it rotated in the breeze but I like a challenge, makes it fun!!  

The ornament was designed by Nancy's friend Helena Tang Lim.

My iPhone Project: River Reflections

River Reflections

West River Brattleboro, Vermont

Returning home from shopping this afternoon, Nancy and I were traveling along Route 30 in Brattleboro VT. The West River was perfectly flat and calm, and this caught my eye, as it is usually flowing along at a good pace.   I took 13 photographs with my iPhone and stitched those together to create this approximate 180 degree view of the river and mountains.  The sun was in perfect position to create this wonderful reflection.   

Bridge Refections

West River Bridge  Brattleboro, Vermont

My iPhone Project: Tumbling Water

Bradford, Vermont

Today's travels brought me to the little Vermont Town of Bradford. On entering the village from the south there is a small park that borders this water fall, which is created by a small dam.  Every time I have passed this place there is a mist hanging in the air. It is one of those places that if you're not looking for it you will miss it and you truly need to stop and look to appreciate it.

Macro Bead

 ISO 200 f/14 1/60th of a second 90mm Macro Lens  Under Studio Lighting Conditions

Nancy needed some photographs take today or her new pieces so I was playing around with this necklace and these shots were the result.  Kind of cool, very interesting effect in the center on the lamp-work bead.

My iPhone Project: Beaver Pond

Beaver Pond

Monroe Bridge, Massachusetts

~

While traveling the other day, this Beaver Pond caught my eye,  another rainy autumn day!  
~
Beaver Pond Island

Portrait: Grandparents

Pentax 645 Medium Format Camera 135mm lens ISO 200 f/5.6  

Portable Studio Lighting 

I took this photograph several years ago with a film camera and converted the image to digital format.  I remember my grandfather had a great time watching all the setup he really like the picture and the fact that I took it right in his house they didn't have to travel to get it done.

My iPhone Project: Entering

Bethel, Vermont

Today's wonderings brought me to Bethel, Vermont.  I was travelling down a very narrow dirt road that twisted along the edge of the river.  I stopped in this spot which afforded me a view of the river about 20 feet above the water.  Most of my day was overcast and dark, except for this place at this one particular moment, when I was presented with this scene in rich, spectacular colors and fantastic depth.

My iPhone Project: Grazing

Townshend, Vermont

We have a farm right next to our local market, so when we stopped this evening, these guys caught my attention.

Sunset Bridge

 Townshend, Vermont 

ISO 200  f/29  1 second exposure 32mm lens  Tripod Mounted

In a departure from my iPhone project this evening I went out with my DSLR and photographed the Scott Bridge in Townshend, Vermont again.  This time using low ISO very slow shutter speed and high f/stop.  I want to achieve the misty water effect around this old bridge. 

ISO 800 f/22 1/8 of a second  32mm lens tripod mounted

A little different exposure and a conversion to Sepia 

ISO 200 f/13  2.5 second exposure 21mm lens tripod mounted  Sepia

My iPhone Project: On the Bridge

On the Bridge

 French King Bridge, Erving Massachusetts 

From the Bridge

Through the Bridge

Over the Bridge

The French King Bridge, Erving MA, in the rain.  It seems like I've been in the rain more than the sun this fall, there is something very dramatic about photographs taken on a dreary day, if you have never tried it you should the results can be incredible.  

My iPhone Project: Leaves From the Bridge

Erving, Massachusetts 

Leaves are a great topics for photographs especially during a New England autumn, in a rain storm.  The purples, pinks and blues are a result of natural colors morphing in the rain and mist.  It's an optical elusion, the wet leaves, bend the light and they take on different colors depending on the angle of the photograph, there are no filters or computer enhancements that create these colors.   This is just one reason why rainy day photography fascinates me so much.