Category Archives: landscapes

The Path to Riches

Posted by Mike on

Well, maybe not the path to riches exactly, but at least it was a path to fishes…

It was another beautiful day here in Central NY and I ventured out in the late afternoon to track down some more eagles. The young one was once again perched on the tree by the Black River but after I scared him away I found my way up to Delta Lake State Park for a little sunset action.

It was a little disappointing in the sky, the colors were more muted than I had hoped for but this view along the snowmobile path out into the frozen lake was cool.  I was hoping for a more contrast between the warm sky colors and the cool ice/snow. I’m not complaining though, I had a great time exploring and just being outside was good. I’m sure I’ll be back before the winter is over…

The Path to RichesNikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/15, 1/4, 1s bracket), 42mm, f/18, ISO 100

The Path to Riches
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/15, 1/4, 1s bracket), 42mm, f/18, ISO 100

Weekly Photo Challenge: Home

Posted by Mike on

This week’s photo challenge from The Daily Post is Home. Check out the original post here Weekly Photo Challenge. There were numerous approaches to this challenge but I settled on capturing images around my home.

When I started this photographic journey in 2011 I spent quite a lot of my time wandering around the house, the yard and the fields surrounding the house playing with my old point & shoot camera. I learned about light, shadows, perspective, composition, depth of field, exposure and everything I use today when I am out exploring with my camera.

I still find I can walk the fields or even my yard and discover images to capture. I love landscape photography and dream of taking the big trips to capture those iconic images I see everyday on my screen, but home is where I learned and these simple images within walking distance of my house will always evoke the sense of home in me.

Lil' Mountain Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/2000s, 165mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Lil’ Mountain
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/2000s, 165mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Remnant Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 90mm, f/11, ISO 200

Remnant
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 90mm, f/11, ISO 200

Cattail Light Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 200mm, f/11, ISO 200

Cattail Light
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 200mm, f/11, ISO 200

Leftovers Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/1600s, 200mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Leftovers
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/1600s, 200mm, f/5.6, 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

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

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

River Ice

Posted by Mike on

While my daughter was getting ready for the FTC Robotics competition at Pace University I went exploring around Sleepy Hollow, NY. I did some pre-visit research but apparently not enough. As I was waiting for the gates to the Kingsland Point County Park to open I parked at the Philipse Manor Railroad Station and captured a few pictures of the partially frozen Hudson River. I really liked the ice and the view of the Tappan Zee bridge.

If I had just done a 180 from where these two pictures were taken I could have captured the historic railroad station which is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. I had such a list of places to see in a short period of time but now I feel I really missed out on some great images. I managed to capture the views on my list (still to be processed) but now I want to make the 4 hour drive again to finish my exploring.

As Cold As Ice Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 26mm, f/8, ISO 200

As Cold As Ice
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 26mm, f/8, ISO 200

Philipse Manor Marina Breakwall Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 200

Philipse Manor Marina Breakwall
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 200

A Word a Week Challenge: Weather

Posted by Mike on

Snow!

Snow! Nion D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1.125s, 150mm, f/5.6, ISO 1600

Snow!
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1.125s, 150mm, f/5.6, ISO 1600