Category Archives: landscapes

Bridges

Posted by Mike on

This is the first week on a new adventure! When I was on vacation, running around Disney with my camera like a mad man, I met a lot of photographers. I know, no surprise there since it was a photography event, but I guess what I really should say is I connected with a lot of photographers. There was one couple in particular that every time we ran into each other we would stand and talk like old friends. I wish we had spent more time exploring together but we have stayed in touch since returning to our respective communities.

It is with these new (old) friends of mine that I will be adventuring. We are going to work on our photography together. Selecting a theme each week, getting out with our cameras, posting the results and discussing each image. The main goal is to get ourselves out with the cameras with a subject in mind. Explore some themes outside each of our own comfort zones and basically have a lot of fun showing off our communities. The first theme is bridges!

The weekend weather didn’t understand that with the shorter days I needed to use Saturday and Sunday for my exploring. I did manage to get out around sunrise on Sunday for about an hour before the rain eventually forced me back inside. I had a few bridges in my head that I wanted to explore, one I had even captured before but I was going to go for something different this time. I also found a covered bridge about an hour away but those plans fell through. It made my list of places to visit in the future…

Both of these bridges are in South Rome next to the barge canal. I have typically used the second bridge in a supporting roll for the images I capture of the canal. This time is was the main player. The first image was something I wanted to capture while trying to bring out all the detail. I liked the fact that this railroad bridge also had asymmetric tunnels for the cars. Both images required multiple exposures to capture all the detail. I did push the HDR look of the first a little farther than I normally do but one of my goals for this adventure was to try different things. So it is what it is.

Bridge for One, Tunnel for Two Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.6, 1.3, 2, 3, 4 & 6s bracket), 28mm, f/16, ISO 100

Bridge for One, Tunnel for Two
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.6, 1.3, 2, 3, 4 & 6s bracket), 28mm, f/16, ISO 100

Support Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1, 2 & 4s bracket), 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Support
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1, 2 & 4s bracket), 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Our Beautiful Parks

Posted by Mike on

Way back in early September I received an email from Scott Thomas of Views Infinitum about a photography show he puts on for Hospice of Central New York. I know many of you reading my blog also know Scott (mostly because I ‘found’ a lot of you through Scott’s blog) so you will see information about this show from a few sources. I was very honored and excited that Scott thought of my images for this show. The theme Scott chose for this year is ‘Our Beautiful Parks’ which could include local, state and national parks. Right up my alley!

I quickly replied to the email with a resounding ‘yes’ (well after doing a little happy dance around my office!). The next part was harder, picking the 5 images. I didn’t think it was going to be as hard as it was. You create an image, display it on the intranet, some people might like and comment on it and you move on to the next image. Reviewing your own images with a critical eye is something I decided I need to do more often. I learned a lot about my photography during this process. It isn’t easy but something I recommend every photographer do from time to time.

Anyway, back to the main purpose of this post… the Fine Art Photography Show. Here is the ad Scott created for the show. We have already hung the images at the Hospice offices but the formal reception is scheduled for December 4th.

Our Beautiful Parks Fine Arts Photography Show

Our Beautiful Parks
Fine Arts Photography Show

After about a week of internal debates I was able to select the five images I thought would be good for this show. I emailed Scott my choices and he responded the next day that I could get them printed and framed. We met at the Hospice offices this past Wednesday to hang our pictures. I don’t even remember the drive out to Syracuse. I was on cloud nine! It was great to meet the other photographers in the show and view their beautiful images. I always love seeing what other people capture. It gets my head thinking of new ways see and fills me with ideas for images to create. I’m looking forward to December 4th!

Just for those who don’t live near Syracuse, here are the images I picked…

Pools Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 3s, 24mm, f/20, ISO 100

Pools
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 3s, 24mm, f/20, ISO 100

Chittenango Falls Chittenango Falls State Park Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/10, 0.4, 1.6s bracket), 32mm, f22, ISO 200

Chittenango Falls
Chittenango Falls State Park
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/10, 0.4, 1.6s bracket), 32mm, f22, ISO 200

Smooth Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 4s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Smooth
Chittenango Falls State Park
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 4s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Water Carving Watkins Glen State Park Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 13s, 38mm, f/18, ISO 100

Water Carving
Watkins Glen State Park
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 13s, 38mm, f/18, ISO 100

Summer Awaits Delta Lake State Park Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/160s, f/20, ISO 200

Summer Awaits
Delta Lake State Park
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/160s, f/20, ISO 200

If you are local to central NY then I encourage you to visit the Hospice offices during the show. The images are incredible and will remind you how beautiful this country we live in really is. If you can make it on December 4th then please look me up and say hi!

Autumn at Pratt’s Falls

Posted by Mike on
Autumn at Pratt's Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.8s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Autumn at Pratt’s Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.8s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Water Colors Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 70mm, f/16, ISO 100

Water Colors
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 70mm, f/16, ISO 100

Autumn Falls

Posted by Mike on

I believe the car has a mind of its own. It seems like every time I am driving north on route 81 from Binghamton, the darn car ends up exiting at LaFayette and finding its way to Chittenango Falls State Park. It must know when the weather is favorable that I need to stop and stretch my legs.

Sunday turned out to be a nice day to do some exploring so I really didn’t complain when the car ventured off on its detour. The colors were at their peak this past weekend and added a nice change from my normal images at this state park. I was hoping there had been enough rain to provide water in the side alcove I had found early this year but it was not to be. I guess this view isn’t a bad second place… 😉

Autumn Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/3, 1/6, 1/13 & 1/25s bracket), 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Autumn Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/3, 1/6, 1/13 & 1/25s bracket), 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Taughannock Falls

Posted by Mike on

On Saturday I wandered off on another early morning adventure. I made my way to Taughannock Falls State Park on the lower west side of Cayuga Lake. This park has been on my list of must see state parks and I was happy to finally make my way there. I parked the car at the lake end of the park which nestled between route 96 and Cayuga lake along the Taughannock Creek. The 3/4 mile gorge trail takes you right to the signature waterfall. It was a happy coincidence that I didn’t make it to this park until autumn. The colors in the gorge are incredible and only enhanced my images.

The Lower Falls are visible from route 89 along the lake and were a great way to start my exploration. There were numerous locations for different views of the small cascade and true to my water fascination I used them all. There was a way to get down onto the creek bed but I wasn’t positive how frowned upon that would be so I stayed on the path.

The Lower Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 22mm, f/16, ISO 100

The Lower Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 22mm, f/16, ISO 100

Crisscross Cascade Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 35mm, f/22, ISO 100

Crisscross Cascade
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 35mm, f/22, ISO 100

Many Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 62mm, f/22, ISO 100

Many Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 62mm, f/22, ISO 100

The end of the gorge trail did not disappoint. The 215′ Taughannock Falls was impressive, especially since you can get so close to it. The difficulty in capturing this waterfall, at least in the early morning, was the angle of the sunlight and the amount of shadows. I ended up using a two exposure blend to balance the light.

Taughannock Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1 & 1/4s blend), 21mm, f/18, ISO 100

Taughannock Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1 & 1/4s blend), 21mm, f/18, ISO 100

Not to distract from the beauty of the waterfalls but I truly enjoyed to creek which created the gorge. It took me about 1.5 hours to walk the 3/4 mile trail because there were so many opportunities for me to capture my beloved water images. I’ll have more on those later…