Category Archives: photography

Wake-up Clayton

Posted by Mike on

Drone Photography
Clayton, NY

I’m still learning about the drone. I haven’t ventured out much with this summer and that really annoys me. I should be flying that thing all over central NY, hell, anywhere I go it should be in the air. I’m hesitant to use it. Part of me is worried I’m going to crash, part of me is worried someone is going to tell me I’m not supposed to be flying it, and there is a part of me that doesn’t like the thought someone might negatively comment on my results. That part, the last part, that is the thinking I need to overcome.

I did have a blast flying it this past weekend. Rather brave of me to let it free over the water. And look, it survived! The video(s) I took still needs to be processed. They are nothing great. I’m still learning what constitutes an interesting video. I need to find that YouTube channel I was watching and learn again. And I need to practice. As soon as the rain stops… lol!

So, back to the image today. Stay on point! Say good morning to Clayton, NY. The sun was beginning to break free of the horizon, the colors were sliding from blue to orange and the sounds of the town waking up were starting to mix with the water lapping at the shore. It was a good morning to be on the St. Lawrence river…

Wake-up Clayton
DJI Air 2S, 22mm f/2.8, 1/30s, f/2.8, ISO 100

Learning to Open

Posted by Mike on

Floral, Midday, Macro
Haiku

Open

Learning to open
Be not hindered by others
Shine on your own time
Learning to Open
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/2000s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Sunrise Cruise Ready

Posted by Mike on

Clayton, NY
Haiku

I have been wanting to get up North for awhile this year. And by North, I mean to the 1000 Island region of NY. Specifically, to Clayton. I had visited the area for a friend’s wedding in 2018 and have continually told myself I needed to go back. Sunday was the day for my adventure.

Sunrise was going to be around 6am. I wanted to capture the morning blue hour which put my arrival time at 5am(ish). Two hour drive backs me up to leaving the apartment at 3am and getting the boys (cats) situated put my wake-up call at 2:30am.

Clayton is on the St. Lawrence River and it was a little windy when I arrived. I wasn’t sure if my piloting skills would hold up to flying the drone over water in the wind so I started by running around with the camera. What a beautiful morning. The sounds of water lapping against the shoreline, the intensifying colors in the sky and the overall peacefulness made the drive totally worth it.

I even managed to sit in an Adirondack chair and simply enjoy the view. Highly recommended!

Morning Light

Water and wind flow
Light arises, greet the day
Your journey begins
Sunrise Cruise Ready
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 4s, 18mm, f/11, ISO 400

I did collect enough courage to fly the drone. I haven’t processed the images yet. I’ll save those for another day. I also expanded on the adventure and explored the coast from Clayton down to Oswego. Sticking mainly to the smaller routes and slowly making my way back home. More on that too…

Light Within

Posted by Mike on

Floral, Macro
Haiku

I went for a walk after dinner. No, it wasn’t because I ate too much… OK, maybe a little.

I decided to walk the canal trail. Not usually as many photo opportunities but I can hear the sounds of the Mohawk River. Added bonus today was the sound of the rustling leaves in the trees. The wind was an issue trying to grab my images, but I was OK with that. The concerto Mother Nature conducted was exactly what I needed.

I did find a few images…

Light Within

Self recognition
The path to embrace yourself
Be the light within
Light Within
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/60s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Cloud Peek

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park

Thursday evening at Delta Lake yielded a trove of images. I was running up and down the beach area setting up the camera for every view I liked. It wasn’t as crowded as I thought it would have been for such a beautiful ending to the day. I’m OK with that. There are days you want company and others you revel in the solitude. I’m good with that too.

Cloud Peek
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/320s, 17mm f/11, ISO 200

Lost in Reflection

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park
Haiku

I am me. I know who I am. I didn’t always. Why does it take so long to find out? Does it for everybody? Surfing the waves of my memory I can point to events that forged the earlier version of me. Would changing those events make me different now. Probably. Would I want to… no. I am me.

Lost in Reflection

At the water's edge
True self revealed deep within
Lost in reflection
Lost in Reflection
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/400s, 16mm, f/11, ISO 200

Royal Purple

Posted by Mike on

Floral, Macro

I processed this one the other day. I really liked the combination of the colors. I think there is more to this image, but it is still rumbling around in my head. I stayed up late last night attempting to capture the Perseid meteors which did not go as well as planned. More on that adventure later…

Royal Purple
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/125s, f/2.8, ISO 200