Author Archives: Mike

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

Posted by Mike on

The Daily Post at WordPress.com offers up a weekly photo challenge. This week’s challenge is unique. It can be an image of something unique, a unique view or take on a common item, someone unique in your life, etc. You can read about the challenge here: Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique.

This is the first weekly challenge from The Daily Post in which I am contributing an image. Although I have a great group of regular visitors I found participating in these types of events helps me in a couple of ways. One, it gets me thinking and seeing differently when I am out exploring. And two, it gets me exploring outside my comfort zone. Writing more within the post, viewing a bigger pool of blogger’s work. Pushing myself to comment on other’s contributions. I promised myself I would be less of a voyeur online and more of a participant.

I thought this image of a tree remnant in the middle of a frozen swamp was quite unique. Typically, the trees are standing tall or if they have fallen they still remain straight and true. This gnarled, contorted tree stump or root has a lot of unique character. I wish I could have been about a foot higher in elevation to isolate the subject a little better. I’m thinking of going back with my telephoto lens and searching for a better vantage point that will help me remove a few of the distractions.

Unique Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 200

Unique
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 200

Conifers in Winter

Posted by Mike on

I’m going to consider this my practice image! I have had this image in my head ever since the snow started falling here in Central NY. I keep seeing this grove of conifers with their branches covered and the sun catching everything in the early morning. There was actually one moment already this year where the scene was almost as I envisioned but I was unable to capture it before it disappeared.

The January thaw didn’t help my chances but the snow we just received has re-sparked my desire for this image. It still is not “right” since there is not enough snow on the branches of the trees but it is getting closer. Saturday morning the sun was doing its part but by the time I walked down to the field the clouds decided my walk would be in vain. I did take the opportunity to check out the possible views in the field and from various locations along the road. I’ll be ready when the snow completes my image!

For now another entry in my Monochrome Winter series…

Conifers in Winter Nikon D5100, 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/60s, 70mm, f/11, ISO 100

Conifers in Winter
Nikon D5100, 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/60s, 70mm, f/11, ISO 100

Trail Safety

Posted by Mike on

My exploration of Rockefeller State Park Preserve was really just a tease for me. I’m thinking I will need to return either during the summer or the fall to see what else this park has to offer. Plus in the few hours that I was there I was able to only walk through about a third of the trails. It is a wonderful place that will be calling to me as the seasons change.

I came upon this fire hydrant along one of the trails and I couldn’t resist capturing an image. There is a theme over on Google+ called Fire Hydrant Friday which I have been having fun contributing to which probably had a part in my decision to raise camera to eye…

Another image for my Monochrome Winter series…

Trail Safety Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/400s, 42mm, f/8, ISO 200

Trail Safety
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/400s, 42mm, f/8, ISO 200

Power of Water

Posted by Mike on

Non-typical January day in the Oriskany Creek. The past couple of days have been full of unseasonably warm weather and rain. The snow is gone and the water is making the dash to the low lands. It is hard to believe but I was in the middle of all that exactly one week ago photographing the snow covered creek in below zero temps. I wonder what tomorrow will be like?

Power of Water View from the top

Power of Water
View from the top

Power of Water In the heart of the action

Power of Water
In the heart of the action

Power of Water The ice chunks moved out of the waters way

Power of Water
The ice chunks moved out of the waters way

Power of Water Low view of the action

Power of Water
Low view of the action

Outcropping

Posted by Mike on

For the Monochrome Winter series… discovered along a trail in the Rockefeller State Park Preserve near Tarrytown, NY.

Outcropping Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/80s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 200

Outcropping
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/80s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 200

Tarrytown Light

Posted by Mike on

When I realized my daughter would need to make a trip to Pace University for the FTC Robotics competition I started searching on the web for what would be available to explore with my camera. As I mentioned in a previous post I didn’t research deep enough and feel I missed some great opportunities but too late to cry about that any more. The very first attraction I found that I wanted to capture was the Tarrytown Light.

The Tarrytown Light is a small lighthouse on the east side of the Hudson River in Sleepy Hollow, NY. The main attraction for me, besides just being a cool lighthouse, was the ability to have the Tappan Zee bridge in the background with the lighthouse. I thought there would be some great possibilities for images. One of my original ideas was to get a late evening, early night capture with the bridge lights in the background and maybe even some light reflections off the water.

I did manage to find the Kingsland Point Park which would allow me to get a clear view of both the lighthouse and bridge but when I arrived after dropping my daughter off at the college the first night it was too dark without any park lights to allow me to venture far from the car. The next morning was a much better time for my first trip through the park and resulted in the images below. If it wasn’t almost four hours from my house I would be heading back some time soon to grab that night view.

I will also have to keep an eye on the status of some construction occurring near the lighthouse as it did prevent me from getting closer. Other images I have found on the web appear to be from a very close vantage point and there was a walkway that brings you right past the lighthouse. I’m thinking a weekend trip later in the year!

Tarrytown Light and Tappan Zee Bridge Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/400s, 90mm, f/13, ISO 200

Tarrytown Light and Tappan Zee Bridge
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/400s, 90mm, f/13, ISO 200

Tarrytown Light - Landscape Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/400s, 190mm, f/13, ISO 200

Tarrytown Light – Landscape
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/400s, 190mm, f/13, ISO 200

Tarrytown Light - Portrait Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 200mm, f/13, ISO 200

Tarrytown Light – Portrait
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 200mm, f/13, ISO 200