Author Archives: Mike

Clutter, Clutter Everywhere…

Posted by Mike on

Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

Bloganuary – Daily Prompt

Snow Clutter
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/50s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 100

The first step to answering the daily prompt was understanding the word. Sometimes I think I know a word but when I check on its meaning I learn a thing or two. From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary –

clutter (verb) – to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness; often used with up

clutter (noun) – (a): a crowded or confused mass or collection; (b): things that clutter a place

The second one has my name written all over it. I tend to create collections, good and bad, which grow before I realize I am out of space.

I know the prompt is “Where can you..” but I reduced a ton of clutter in 2019. I moved into an apartment in order to get the house ready to sell. I used that transition to reduce the clutter I created over my twenty-five years of living there. For the most part, it worked. I say that even though there are boxes of “stuff” tucked away in my closets.

So, on to today. I need to decide what I want to do with the boxes in the closet. It is a lot of Disney knick-knack. Jim Shore, Precious Moments and other figures picked up over the years. They were displayed in numerous shelving units in the old house but for the past five years have been mostly out of view and mind.

I recently did a good job with my camera stuff. I tend to hold on to old equipment even though I rarely pick it up or use it. I “proudly” display it on a shelf and all it really accomplishes is to gather dust. I sold almost all of it to fund the latest purchases. I haven’t missed it and now I don’t have to clean it.

I am a book hoarder by nature but I don’t see that ever changing. My shelves are packed full of books. To help with that bad habit, I have been getting books on my Kindle. Not my sci-fi books or those I get about photography and Disney, but the fiction, mystery, and thriller books I find myself enjoying lately. So, maybe that counts toward reducing clutter.

The definition for the verb clutter has me thinking, especially the “impede movement” portion. What is the clutter impeding my movement forward. I planned on being in this apartment until I sold the house. That happened in early 2020. I wanted to move out of NY, away from the cold and yet, here I am waiting for the snow storm to arrive today.

My mental clutter needs to be reduced as well. I don’t see myself as a deep thinker or one that does self-reflection. When I do jump in though, I can surprise myself. We’ll tug on that thread another time.

Time to get ready for work. Crap, what about the clutter there? Good grief….

Working Bellamy

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor, Rome, NY

There was a sliver of light in the sky Sunday morning. The forecast didn’t look good for the rest of the day, but I wanted to capture colors. I wanted the sunrise. I drove to Bellamy Harbor in the hope I could capture both.

The light was changing fast as the clouds were fighting the rising sun. I could see it already, my normal view down the canal with the sun providing the color against the gathering clouds. It was going to be a good one.

This time of year the sun rises to the right of the Mill St. bridge as I look east down the Barge Canal. When I arrived at the harbor my first choice was to setup at the water’s edge near the pedestrian bridge over the Mohawk River. I would be looking straight into the sunrise and could include rocks with river debris as foreground elements.

First Choice
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 26mm, f/11, ISO 100

Not a terrible image but not the one I had in my head. Time to move to “my spot” next to the water control gates at the opening of the harbor.

Damn.

The city fixed the fence again. Not sure what my thought process is or why I think this way, but I have no issue going around the fence if someone else has made the opening. I refuse to do it myself. It is a small difference but I stick to it.

Now what?

There is still a view to capture. Keep working the area.

Maybe the view looking down the canal framed by tree branches and the over growth? It could work. I’m not a fan of obscuring the sky but at least give it a try. Placement of the camera is important for this one. Too low on the bank and all you get is the over growth. Too high and the branches from the tree invade the harbor view. There it is…

Framed View
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 38mm, f/11, ISO 100

Still not the one. The light is changing too. Closer to sunrise. Next option?

An elevated view? Same spot in the harbor as the first image but from the top of the bank. I’ll still be looking into the sunrise. The light will be centered.

Higher View
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 29mm, f/11, ISO 100

Almost. Is it getting darker? No, my eyes must be playing a trick on me. Any other thoughts for your sunrise?

Something with out the over growth in the foreground?

Wow! Look at that color. Definitely a view with more water to get the color reflection. From the pedestrian bridge? That could work.

Bridge View
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 26mm, f/11, ISO 100

Damn. It’s cold out this morning. Fingers are getting a little numb.

One more. Back to the water’s edge. Look at those colors.

Fire in the Sky
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/4s, 29mm, f/11, ISO 100

As you can probably tell, the last two images are my favorites. I didn’t know what I would find for an image but I stayed with it. I didn’t get the image in my head but I didn’t walk away. The light was constantly changing providing new and different opportunities..

Looking at the last two images, I wish I had used a neutral density (ND) filter. It would have slowed down my shutter and created smoother, silkier water. It could plus these images or maybe not. The option for me as I processed the captures would have been nice. Next time…

Don’t give up on a scene, especially if an obstacle prevents you from the planned image in your head. Don’t be tied to that vision, create a new one.

Losing Battles

Posted by Mike on

52-week Challenge
Week 2 – New Technique

I struggled with this week’s challenge, use a new technique. From the beginning of this photography journey I have experimented with different techniques. I typically stick with the landscape and macro images but have tried intentional camera movement, minimalism, abstract, B&W, square format, etc.

We had a meeting this week for the photography group at work. Our goal was to get ideas for increasing the group, where we would like to go on photo walks, and what other types of “lessons” we would like to share. It was a great meeting and we came away with a plethora of ideas. We decided we needed a goal of meeting at a minimum of once a month. Out of this meeting I got it in my head to get back into my Game Pieces project. I thought maybe I could do something for this week’s challenge.

And then my mind made a left turn…

I picked up Battleship at the store. I could see numerous possibilities for the project. But would that be enough for the challenge? What did I want out of this self-imposed challenge? To push myself. As I walked around the store a concept became clear. Part of me wasn’t going to like it.

I did something way out of my comfort zone last week. How could I plus that? The title of the image was already in my head, it would be called “Losing Battles.” Another self portrait but this time with a twist. I would incorporate the Battleship game. I love a good play on words and/or double meanings.

So, I expanded on what this weekly challenge would be for me. I would follow, as best as possible, the challenges from 52frames.com but was free to challenge myself differently if I so desired. I guess in the long run, whatever keeps me moving forward with my photography is what I’ll do.

Losing Battles
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 53mm, f/8, ISO 100

Communication

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In what ways do you communicate online?

Bloganuary – Daily Prompt

Cloud Cover
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/13s, 29mm, f/8, ISO 100

My initial thought for this prompt was focused on the how, i.e., which sites, apps, online tools, etc. Then I took a breath and thought about the question. The question is not “What sites/tools do you use to communicate online?” It is about the ways I communicate. It is a deeper question than I originally considered. Now, where do I go with it?

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

– Maya Angelou

As a photographer, I communicate visually. But that is not completely correct. I don’t post images alone (not always; some days I get lazy and I do), I write words. Maybe not always effectively, but I share some of me. Thoughts, comments, and intentions, all get attached to the images I post.

I add titles to my images. Some of the titles enhance the image or provide that extra bit of context. The titles can change how the image is communicated. They can influence how the viewer feels about the image.

And then I thought about communication. Where I feel communicate can be a one way street, communication is about an exchange of thoughts. I’m not always the best at communication, especially online. I will respond to comments on my posts but it is typically that, me responding, not initiating the communication.

I still refuse to call it a resolution but I want to be better at communication this year. There has been a lot of support from my online friends for my photography and this experiment I call a blog. I want to reciprocate that support and hopefully improve how I communicate.

Three Sisters

Posted by Mike on

Squared – SQ183
Monochrome Winter

Continuing with the winter scenes as rain is in the forecast for the next few days. I’m struggling with it being the middle of January in Upstate NY and there is barely any snow. What am I to do if I want to build a snowman?

Three Sisters
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/160s, 52mm, f/8, ISO 100

Home 103

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park

Work and the short winter days have a tendency to impede my photography. Not an excuse, a simple statement. Those conditions do afford more opportunities to be creative, but not today. I still have a few images to process from a walk on Sunday along the Mohawk River Trail and the quick run up to Delta Lake.

I liked the snow on top of the bird house. I was high on the bank of the pond for this image, zoomed in to isolate the bird house. I thought maybe a landscape view would be better to give a bigger feeling of isolation. To achieve that I walked closer and zoomed out a little. I failed to watch my background, and I lost the separation of the bird house.

The first image is my “reject” and not fully processed. Notice how the bird house is mixed in with the background. It doesn’t stand out as I wanted. The second image separates the areas of the image and has a greater focus on the bird house, my intended subject. In my rush to capture images before I lost the light I didn’t “see” the scene in my viewfinder.

Home 103 Miss
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/15s, 50mm, f/8, ISO 100

Home 103
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/25s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 100

White Caps

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday
Monochrome Winter
Mohawk River Trail

White Caps
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/25s, 29mm, f/8, ISO 100

To Do The Impossible

Posted by Mike on

What is your mission?

Bloganuary – Daily Prompt

You’re right, that isn’t my mission. Although, there are times at work it is what I am asked to do. That would be a story for a different day.

My first thought upon reading the prompt might be the same for others of my generation. The Mission Impossible television show. Fellow blogger Robin over at “breezes at dawn” started off the same way (this tape will self destruct in five seconds). A good read for sure.

I let this prompt ruminate though out the day. I was hoping to write a response but I’m never positive how the day will turn out, especially during the week. So, I’m setting the video games and photography aside for now to get these thoughts down on paper(?)…

What is your mission?

I don’t think I have one. Not one clearly defined. Definitely not one I can point to and say, “this is my mission.” Maybe I have already completed a mission or two, and now I am looking for the next one. I have things I want to do or accomplish, but a mission, not really.

And then…

The light bulb clicked on at work today. Maybe I found my mission. I’m there to share my experience and help the younglings grow. I enjoy those teaching moments that crop up during the day. I have the most fun when I’m working with the young engineers. They have questions, and although I might not have the answer we can work through it together. They are way smarter than I think I am. But, I have experience. Experience has taught me how to seek my own answers. Experience gives me a breadth of knowledge to draw upon and the ability to see different solutions. Experience has allowed me to understand how to work with people.

My mission is to pass on my experience.

At the very least, if I decide to accept it, this is how I will view what I’m doing at work.