We got snow! The predictions I was hearing on Friday turned out to be correct. It started snowing Saturday afternoon. Even though it was coming down pretty good I had planned on going out for dinner, and I intended to keep to my plan (at least for food). When I returned, I shoveled. It was wet snow, and I didn’t relish the thought of trying to move that much snow in the morning.
My divide-and-conquer plan worked. Sunday morning, I only needed to shovel half the snow again. I’m guessing about four to five inches each time. I went about my normal chore routine—laundry, breakfast, and groceries—before settling in for the remainder of the morning.
After lunch, the snow tapered off to the equivalent of a rainy mist. I was going to go for a walk. The city was still working to uncover all the roads and sidewalks, so I thought I would be able to capture a few good winter scenes. I drove over and parked in the lot for the Mohawk River trail.
It was a nice afternoon. Although there was a little snow coming down, it was in the low thirties. I walked the trail back toward my place and was able to capture a few good scenes. There was a path by someone and their dog on the trail, which allowed me to follow in their footsteps. It did make the walking a little easier. I had forgotten to bring my snowshoes.
The bridge over the river provides one of the best views looking downstream. I have captured this view on almost every walk. The wet snow sticking to the trees definitely creates a classic winter scene…
Winter on the River Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/80s, 32mm, f/8, ISO 100
I do not like images of myself. Let’s make it worse, as I had to create it myself. What am I thinking?
As I mentioned in another post, I want to challenge myself this year and doing this 52-week challenge is my punishment. I refuse to sign-up in order to post the image so it will only be seen here. I am going to follow the challenge found on 52Frames. The next few challenges will definitely be more my speed. Saying that I will need to find ways to up the challenge rather than fall back into my comfort zone.
Enough babbling… show them the image.
Thoughts in Reflection Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.4s, 47mm, f/4, ISO 400
The mirror seemed like the best option for me. The fun part was setting it up (not the best lighting but options are limited) and executing the exposure. Luckily I could connect my phone to the camera through the Nikon SnapBridge app and see what I was doing. I could ensure I was positioned in the mirror properly and set the focus point. Then it was simply clicking the shutter button on the phone.
Nope! Still don’t like images of myself.
This one is in the done pile. On to the next challenge…
For quite a few years I published a “Best of” post for this blog. With my roller coaster ride last year and lack of interest at the end of the year, I consciously chose not to do one but now I’m having second thoughts. Weird where the mind goes…
I need to back up a little. So, what happened today? I thought of joining a 52-week photography challenge to push myself creatively (historically, they haven’t worked for me). The challenge I read about started out with a “Best of 2023” for week 1. I didn’t like having to sign-up for the website in order to post images in the gallery and changed my approach.
I now want to do the review. Who knew?
I think it is good to review your images. Doing an honest review is helpful to understanding what I gravitate toward photographically, and what I need to improve. Plus, it allows me to show off my images again and let everyone tell me how great I am… just kidding. No, really, I’m not that vain. I swear… ;)
I do not need to post on another site, I can use this one. I did find a 52-week challenge list at 52frames.com which might work for me. The first few challenges will not be favorites of mine but I did say I want to challenge myself. I’ll keep reading the post I wrote on my challenges this year to remind myself “to get off my arse.”
Back to the review…
One of the first few weeks of picking the camera up again I went to the West Canada Creek for long exposure water flows. I can’t get enough of these types of images. I enjoy the challenge of finding the best exposure to showcase the flow of water in the creek.
Mixed Emotions Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II, 1/10s, 132mm, f/5.6, ISO 200
I was going for more walks in the Spring. It helped that the city completed the trail along the Mohawk River which ends very close to my apartment. I can walk out the door and get in a good five miles all while exploring the river with my camera. I also stop for a lot of macro images. I really enjoyed how this close-up of a dandelion turned out.
Gentle Caress Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/400s, f/2.8, ISO 200
I’m a waterfall nut. I don’t have any problem driving to capture a waterfall image. Most of my trips to Ithaca are due to the plethora of opportunities for waterfalls. I also have one (or two) in my backyard. Pixley Falls State Park is twenty minutes north of me. I arrived very early one morning in June and was rewarded with great light.
Cascading Pixley Falls State Park Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.6s, 23mm, f/11, ISO 200
My trip to Florida was postponed from May until June due to my worry for one of my cats. He was not feeling well until I cancelled the trip and miraculously he seemed OK the next day. It was a Florida coast and short Disney trip. I was fortunate enough to get a sunset image of a sailboat moored in the Indian River as a storm was rolling in.
Stoic Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/500s, 50mm, f/5.6, ISO 100
Another waterfall. You were warned. This is my favorite section of the gorge trail at Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca. A very good portion of the waterfall images hanging in my place are from this park. I also have a habit of processing the images as B&W unless it is during the fall season. If the color is a distraction I will remove it and this one didn’t need any color.
Hush! Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.6s, 47mm, f/11, ISO 100
One morning in August I went to Bellamy Harbor Park for the sunrise. The fog had other plans. I rolled with it. I miss the trees that lined the walkway. They deteriorated to far and the city needed to remove them. But, I’m still able to include the benches.
Rest Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.6s, 54mm, f/16, ISO 100
I had a really good time sharing my photography with friends at work. I did a lunch & learn session as well as a few photo walks. Engaging with everyone definitely keeps me going creatively and photographically. This image at the sculpture park is a result of the first photo walk and me attempting to explain the difference between taking a picture and creating an image.
Just Over There Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/500s, f/5, ISO 100
I have to include one of the images from my walk on December 31st. I hadn’t picked up the camera in months but due to a conversation with someone I met at my go-to place for dinner I felt the need to go exploring. It was not a particularly good evening and the sunset was non-existent but I made it work. Plus, I can’t resist trees without leaves. This image was also the mood I wanted to capture when I drove to the park.
The Park Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/5s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400
Well, let me know what you think. Is there a different image that is your favorite. Comments are appreciated.
I’m going to check if the snow has slowed enough for me to go grab a few images. And then I need to figure out what I’m doing for the first week’s challenge. It is a self portrait (which I abhor!). Wish me luck, or this might be over before it even starts… :)
Morning Calm Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1.3s, 18mm, f/11, ISO 200
I didn’t participate in yesterday’s prompt and after reading a few posts I wish I had jumped in. I don’t have a clear direction with my answer for today’s prompt but we are going to see where this goes. Oh, the image is included because, as a photographer, the post feels bare without one of my pictures. I chose a scene from Florida due to the current light snow falling outside.
OK, how do I start this?
Make me laugh. I enjoy having fun. If we can laugh together, we will be OK.
Yesterday at work was a PITA day. The last hour turned it around for me. I sit in a room with a group of engineers. Sitting together helps us work on the issues from the manufacturing floor. With the right mix of people this works well. We discuss problems, we bounce ideas off each other and we come to solutions.
During the last hour of work, while we were doing all the above, we had a good time laughing. I’ll admit I might have been the instigator of the mood, but when everyone joined in on the fun, my headache melted away. I laughed a lot. It turned into a good day. Well, at least, that is how I will remember it.
I refuse to call it a resolution because I don’t make those types of statements. Especially since I historically do not keep them. But I will say the photography bug has struck again. Well, not again actually, that implies I didn’t have it. Let’s say it has reached the front of the line.
I knew there would be no sunrise. After my sunset excursion, I wanted to capture Bellamy Harbor in the morning light under the cover of clouds. I wasn’t disappointed in the scene. I was frustrated by my lack of memory. I struggled with the camera settings, which annoyed me immensely. It was too cold to search for what I wanted in the menus. I made it work, but told myself I needed to learn my camera better. Or, at the very least, not forget what I already should have known…
Cold Start Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 2s, 48mm, f/11, ISO 100
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
Bloganuary – Daily Prompt
Wait? What? I’m not sure I understand the question. Is there any other time?
OK, yes, I know it isn’t all fun and games. But I do think this prompt is looking directly at me. See my first post of 2024 (Stop and Play). Literally the last words in the post.
I typically have fun.
At work I’m the one bringing a little levity to the meeting. Understand, I can drone on during the meeting as needed. I can become quite passionate on different topics, but you do not have to leave the fun at home. You do need to know how to read the room though, it is a skill and not everyone can do it.
Playtime.
Hhhmmm? The prompt is “What says ‘playtime’ to you?”
Letting my mind have fun. Strolling with my camera is playtime. Processing the images once I get back home is playtime. Writing the blog post is playtime. Creativity or being creative is playtime.
I play video games, a lot. I have a two bedroom apartment and the second room is my video game room. I mostly enjoy the RPG genre but I occasionally branch into other types of games. Exploring the worlds with the game and solving the adventure is definitely playtime. I would say more identifiable as playtime than my statements above. The room…
I like to bake and cook. I think there is playtime involved in both of these activities. Again, it is about creativity. I love trying out a new recipe and then tweaking it to better suit what I like. I’m not always successful but who cares. I have fun trying.
I think of myself as a big kid. I like to have fun and I do enjoy my playtime. I wish to never stop playing…
Follow through. Definitely one of my challenges. Look at my last post of 2023 and you’ll see how my photography looks like a bad bell curve. I’ve done different photography challenges over the years but it rarely ends well… :) I will work on following through on those challenges I give myself.
Overcome complacency. Or maybe it should be don’t settle. No, not settle, more like don’t be lazy. Put in the effort. Do I want to get better with my photography? Yes. Then challenge myself. Do I want to be more creative. Again, yes. Then push myself. Or to be more simple about it… get off my arse…
Change. Not a fan, but generally want it. I guess this one is closely tied to the first two. You really can’t change unless you are will to follow through and not be complacent. I’ll focus on the first two and this one should follow along for the ride.
Not a challenge but more a thought I like to encourage… stop and play.
Stop and Play Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/6s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400
This year has been a roller coaster ride, photographically, that is…
The lull in picking up my camera that started in late 2022 continued through most of the first quarter of this year. It wasn’t until after a few conversations at work did I consider anything with photography. I started slow late in March and gained good momentum through the summer months.
I managed a couple of trips to Florida, one mostly for Disney and another included a few days on the east coast. I think it was the second Disney trip that started the decline in my interest again. When I returned I wasn’t engaged. I couldn’t “see” the images and didn’t feel satisfied with what I was creating. I turned to my other hobby again…
Until the last day of the year.
It was in no way a great day. Temps around freezing. A cloudy sky with off and on drizzle. But I went to Delta Lake at sunset. Or at least when sunset was occurring, who could tell through the clouds. My thoughts were on creating monochrome images. I felt I could pull some drama out of the clouds and maybe I would be able to convey how the day made me feel.
You’ll have to let me know how I did…
Cold Beach Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/20s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400
Through the Reeds Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/20s, 36mm, f/8, ISO 400
The Point Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/15s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 400
Guarding the Point Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/13s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400
The Lake Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/15s, 41mm, f/8, ISO 400
Symmetry Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/10s, 38mm, f/8, ISO 400
Collect the Tables Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/4s, 27mm, f/8, ISO 400
Winter Trails Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/4s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 400
Lonely Sentine Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/6s, 34mm, f/8, ISO 400
The Park Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/5s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400
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