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
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… :)
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
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
Looking through my Lightroom catalog it has been about ten weeks since I picked up my camera. The last few images I captured even feel ‘meh’ to me. I wish I had a better understanding about what happened or switched inside me but I don’t. I wasn’t feeling the photography and turned to other hobbies. It is time to be OK with that…
I received an email through the contact form on this blog from a blogging friend. Someone who has been away from photography for a while and is getting back into it. Asking a few questions about posting images and looking for a little help with WordPress.
The opening statement in the email about me not posting in a while and hoping everything is all right struck at me. I get lazy. I forget how much my online friends contribute to me and how much I can give back. I’m a bit of a loner by nature and I don’t put in the effort I should. It is a two-way street but I usually drive it as a one-way…
I want to be better.
Today might not be the day to pick-up the camera as it is currently raining. We are expecting a little snow (if I am to believe the forecast) and I’m wishing we get a nice white coat for the landscape. I want to explore and grab a some images. Until then, I went back ten years to December 2013 and re-processed this image at the Delta Lake dam. The original can be viewed here. I modified the crop from 16×9 to 5×7. I also chose to go with a faded blue look which I feel conveys the cold a little better on this overcast day.
Oh, I almost forget to say thank you to Karma for sending that email… I’m looking forward to seeing what you will be creating.
A Day to the Dam Redo Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.5s, 28mm, f/20, ISO 100
MLCreations Photography 