Year in Review

What can I say about the past year? Our current situation with COVID-19 did not impact me as much as it probably did others due to my solitary nature. I think for once being an introvert has served me well. I didn’t get to travel to my usual destinations, i.e., Florida and Walt Disney World, and travel for work was non-existent. The time at home did allow me to explore a little more with my camera. I found myself taking more walks through the trails around the city. Not only was I getting a little exercise but I learned to “see” a little better by walking the same paths every week.

I mentioned in my review post a year ago that I was working to sell the house. It ended up being a bit of an ordeal but eventually it was sold and I was free. This added freedom allowed for more me time, which you would think I was already getting plenty of this year. I guess I’m greedy. I will say, I enjoyed not having to mow the lawn and I can guarantee I will not miss shoveling snow this winter. For now, my apartment serves me well until I’m ready for the next big adventure.

I did find myself using the macro lens a lot more toward the end of the year. Generally, I would consider myself a landscape photographer, although, I dabble in a lot of different styles, but the macro lens was allowing me to express more feelings. I don’t always write up an explanation or attach words to every image post but I feel the title and the image convey my mood well. I know I’ve mentioned this before, the title of an image can enhance what is being presented. For some images I know the title I’ll use as I’m pressing the shutter release. To highlight some of these macro images I created a new series called The Little Things, hopefully you have enjoyed what I have been able to see.

I managed to be a little more prolific this year. I created 262 post on my blog which is 40 more than the previous few years. I leave it to you to decide if the extra content was worth it… 🙂

I switched back to my normal format this year, highlighting my favorite image for each month. As before, it might not be the most popular image but it is my favorite. Shall we dive into the special twelve…

January – The beginning of the year started off a little slow. I didn’t get outside much but this allowed me to rejuvenate my Oil Can Project. I had collected quite few items the previous year but did not feel the mood to photograph them. Apparently the mood struck in January as I posted the four newest images throughout the month. My favorite by far is the can for Major Cutting Oil. I remember finding this one in one of the consignment shops I haunt and not having a doubt or hesitation about acquiring it. Original post: Major

Major
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 20s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 200

February – I found a good groove this month. I ventured out into the cold quite a lot. I was able to do my annual pilgrimage to the Syracuse Rosamond-Gifford Zoo, although not in time for the photo contest. I even experimented with some abstract images created with oil, water and soap. My favorite though is an interior image of the Utica train station. I had seen a post from this same location online and I had to get down to the station to capture my own version. I forget how incredible the interior looks. Original post: Daybreak

Daybreak
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1.3, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

March – Another good month for me. Plenty of excursions and an early melting of the snow helped increase my landscape work. There was also a trip or two up to the West Canada Creek for the water flow images that fascinate me. My favorite this month is also my most successful image online. I’m definitely not out to “collect” likes but when an image takes off it does make me feel good. This simple sunset from Delta Lake has a lot going for it; interesting foreground, leading lines, great color and wonderful reflections. You can’t always plan for an image like this one, luck plays a big part, but you do have to be able to “see” it. Original post: Come Back to Me

Come Back to Me
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/60s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

April – I was off to a slow start this month. There was a lot going on as I was closing on the sale of the house. I did manage to redeem myself after that was finalized and I had my free time back to myself. I did a nice series of monochrome images of the Delta Lake Dam but none of those ended up being my favorite. I captured a wonder sunrise at Bellamy Harbor Park one morning. Readers of this blog know this is one of my go-to places right in the city of Rome. I love the cloud formation in the sky, the colors and the amount of reflection in the water I was able to capture. Original post: Awake!

Awake!
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 4s, 26mm, f/16, ISO 100

May – My most prolific month this year. I posted thirty days in a row, missing only May 1st. I was everywhere this month. Trips to a few state parks, a lot of walks along the local trails, plenty of floral images including my favorite daisies and of course I managed to grab a lot of dandelion images. None of that compared to a morning excursion to Delta Lake and the Flower Moon. I’ll freely admit it was totally unplanned but Lady Luck was on my side that morning. Original post: Flower Moon

Flower Moon VI
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 40-150mm f/4.5-5.6 R, 1/30s, 150mm, f/11, ISO 200

June – More landscapes, a few state parks, a lot of Delta Lake and plenty of flowers. Delta Lake is an easy stop for me, it is only 5 minutes from my apartment and generally very photogenic (for a park). I love seeing how the park changes with the seasons but even my penchant for landscapes couldn’t prevent my love of a good daisy image. I love the amount of detail you find within the different areas of the daisy. I well lit monochrome image has to be my favorite. Original post: Her Crown

Her Crown
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/1000s, f/2.8, ISO 200

July – By now I was in full floral mode. Between the walks along the trails in Rome and my lunch time walks around the building I was putting my macro lens to good use. From finding different angles for favorite subjects to exploring up-close details, I was having a good time. And then the event of the summer caught my attention, the comet NEOWISE. I couldn’t let this celestial event pass me by but I was worried my abilities would not do it justice. I spent the beginning of the month learning as much as I could. My first attempt rewarded me with the comet with Ursa Major. I attempted a few more times but success was not in the cards. Original post: NEOWISE and Ursa Major

NEOWISE and Ursa Major
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 20s, 12mm, f/2.8, ISO 3200

August – After the previous month with the comet I tried again for some night images with the Perseid meteor shower. A couple attempts yielded a few results but nothing I consider image of the month worthy. I did manage to finally stop at Wagner Farms for the sunflowers. I have been driving by this place on my way home from work for quite a few years. It was definitely worth the visit. Plenty of stops at Delta Lake, and another trip to Ithaca for the gorges and some waterfall images. My favorite is of an out-of-the way location called Wells Falls. I attempted a visit earlier in the summer but the parking area was full. Although the sky was overcast, the water level was perfect for capturing the image I had in my head. The building on the left is an old pumping station. Original post: Remnant

Remnant
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.8s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 100

September – The autumn season started a little early this year. The leaves were beginning to change up North this month. I drove to Old Forge for a sunrise, my luck hadn’t change from my last attempt. I was rewarded with a few sprinkles and dark, overcast skies. I tried a few images around town but in the end decided to leave and return another weekend. On my drive back home I stopped at a location on the Moose River I have always wanted to explore. The low water levels worked in my favor. This image is a favorite for multiple reasons, mostly because I kept looking for the next image and explored until I found the one I truly wanted. Original post: Evolution of an Image

McKeever Pulp Mill
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/15s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

October – Autumn was in full swing this month and I was on another crusade to capture it all. A trip to Letchworth State Park in the beginning of the month produced quite a handful of images for me. There is a reason this park is one of the top state parks in the country. It never disappoints. I was able to squeeze in a few more trips to parks closer to home and I ended the month jumping back to the macro lens and my exploration of the little things most people don’t see. As much as those macros fascinate me, nothing could beat the view from Inspiration Point in Letchworth. A telephoto image of Middle and Upper Falls. Original post: Autumn Inspiration

Autumn Inspiration
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II, 1/3s, 85mm, f/18, ISO 64

November – Mostly a month of macros and the little things. If I wasn’t walking around the building at work I was exploring the trails within walking distance from my apartment. I also spent quite a few days on the trails in the Griffiss Sculpture Garden and a detour along one of the paths yielded my favorite image this month. There is a water tower on the old base and I must have walked past it a couple dozen times this year. One day early this month I walked down to it and was intrigued by the ladder going up the side. I only had my 60mm macro lens with me but it added to the feeling one must get as they start to climb up the tower. Original post: Nowhere but up…

Nowhere but up…
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/1600s, f/2.8, ISO 200

December – Not a very photo filled month. Not sure if it was the rush toward the end of the year, the weather or a lack of ambition on my part (most likely), but I ventured out very little. I did brave a zero degree morning at Bellamy Harbor and made another trip to the Delta Lake Dam during a particularly snowy morning. My favorite though was on a warm afternoon at work when I needed to stretch my legs. Again, it is a wonderful macro image enhanced by amazing light and tones. Original post: Embrace Me

Embrace Me
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/2500s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Another year has been put to bed. It has been interesting to say the least. A lot has been happening in our country and hopefully we will turn the corner soon to see the light is shining as we move ahead. I would like to be able to travel again, I’m in desperate need of some Florida coast photography. I would love to make another trip to Kennedy Space Center and explore the coast all the way down to Juno Beach. This year is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World (10/01/1971). As much as I have not been happy with the direction the current management is taking the parks, I can’t let a milestone like this pass without a visit. I would love to explore a few of our National Parks as well, wishful thinking, maybe, but it needs to be on my list.

I do know photography will be with me this year. It is my escape, my medicine and my therapy. I need to expand my The Little Things project as I find those images the most interesting. Landscapes are my go to image and state parks with waterfalls fill that need nicely. I hope you will find something interesting in the year to come…

I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Your comments and encouragement are always welcomed and appreciated. I value the friendships I have developed with a lot of my regular readers. Although we have not met in person, your presence in my life brings me a lot of joy. Thanks!

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2021!

2019 Year in Review

Once again I sit at my computer on December 31st frantically composing my annual year in review blog post. Even up to a few minutes ago I wasn’t positive I would be writing a post this year. It has been a bit of a weird year for me and even photographically I have seen some challenging times using my camera. The first three months of the year were incredibly slow. I didn’t capture a hundred images. It wasn’t until April when the snow had melted and the fields began to turn green that I got into gear.

This isn’t to say I was not generating blog posts. I managed to push out 223 posts this year, which, unbelievably is the exact same as I did in 2018. I will admit that by not making my annual fall trip to Walt Disney World this year I fully embraced the Autumn and was on a crusade to capture the colors of the season. This dramatically allowed me to get my average up after a slow start. You will see quite a few of my favorites centered around this time of the year.

Another year with a big change for me. I moved into a townhouse in Rome in order to get the house spruced up and ready to sell. I didn’t think it would be easy to work on the house with my three little helper cats always under foot. I’m happy to say all four of us are enjoying the new digs. And no, I’m apparently not very ambitious, as the house is not quite on the market. Very soon though…

After looking through my images for the year I decided to change up the format for this review. In the past I would find the best image for each month but with a low supply in the first half and an abundance in the second I thought I would switch to my thirteen favorites (I couldn’t trim any more to get to a true dozen, hence, the baker’s dozen)…

The Inner Sanctum – How could a year in review post highlighting my favorite images not include one of my favorite subjects. As readers of this blog know, I am a sucker for dandelions. I found this one during lunch one afternoon in May at the Old Erie Canal Park in DeWitt. I had needed a break from work and the park provided the perfect atmosphere. Typically I go for a silhouetted image of the seeded dandelion head but for this one I wanted to show of the incredible detail a the center. Original post: The Inner Sanctum

The Inner Sanctum

Wave Riders – My favorite image format, square, was used to highlight wonderful wave action at Delta Lake State Park. When the sunset light is right and there are waves rolling into the beach I love to capture the buoy line used to designate the swimming areas at the park. It usually requires a few different exposures to get the right feel to the image. Original post: Wave Riders

Wave Riders

Bellamy Harbor East – One of my go to places is even closer now that I live in Rome. Bellamy Harbor Park can provide me with a photographic view at almost any point in the day. I have a habit of always capturing images of the barge canal, the Mill St. bridge, etc., but on one particular colorful morning in July I explored the park addition across Mill St. and ended up with a favorite of the new pavilion. This is also the image that caught the eye of a local Oneida County website and they started re-posting quite a few of my local images. Original post: Bellamy Harbor at Sunrise

Bellamy Harbor East

Mornin’ Delight – I did mention that Bellamy Harbor Park is a favorite spot for me… this one is from a quick stop on my way to work one August morning. I could not deny the colors forming in the sky and the car would not let me drive past the turn off for the park. What can I say, beautiful color and calm waters provide excellent material for a favorite image. Original post: Mornin’ Delight

Mornin’ Delight

Miss Sunshine – It isn’t only dandelions. I love to photograph black-eyed susans as well. You can imagine my surprise when I realized the flower of choice along the road through the Griffiss Business and Technology Park is the one I have been waiting to photograph. I made a couple of trips over to the park but this one with the isolated flower against a sea of yellow is the one. Original post: Miss Sunshine

Miss Sunshine

Inconguity – Sometime in september I felt I couldn’t sit at my desk through lunch every day. I started walking the periphery of the parking lot. If you make a couple of laps it is easily a mile, but then I started carrying my camera because of all the opportunities I was spotting during my walks. This reduced my lap to barely one most days but it brought me a plethora of midday images. These two little snail shells in monochrome is definitely at the top of the list. Original post: Incongruity

Inconguity

Forsaken – Plethora was the word I used because a second image from my walks is in my baker’s dozen. A tiny leaf, a drying up puddle of rain water and a macro lens can produce magic. I love the contrasting color of the autumn leaf with the reflected sky in the water. Narrow the focus the a razor thin line and the ordinary can be special. Original post: Forsaken

Forsaken

Delta Autumn – This is the first of those autumn images I mentioned at the beginning of this post. I hit this season hard. I’m typically in Florida and miss my opportunity but this year, once I started I could not put the camera down. With delta Lake State Park so close to me, the second I notice the right sunset conditions I’m hopping into the car. This isn’t even the lake. It is a small body of water at the entrance to the park. I didn’t have to drive far to capture my autumn colors. Original post: Delta Autumn

Delta Autumn

Autumn Reflected – A few days later I stopped at Big Brook Creek on my way to Pixley Falls. A few small pools of water next to the creek allowed my to play with the Lensball. Multiple reflections of all that color brings this one to the top of my favorites list. Original post: Autumn Reflected

Autumn Reflected

Buttermilk in Autumn – The very next weekend was my trip down to Ithaca to revisit my favorite parks for some waterfall action. I came home with another great set of images. This particular image from Buttermilk Falls State Park was by far my best. This single image would have been worth the drive down to Ithaca. The autumn colors, the sunrise light and a waterfall. Not much more I could have asked for in this one. Original post: Autumn’s Last Call

Buttermilk in Autumn

True Backside of Water – On my way back from Ithaca I decided to try Tinker Falls. I had tried this location years ago but the conditions in the creek and low water levels didn’t allow for any good images. Considering the luck I had in Ithaca it was worth a stop. As I stood in the creek at the bottom of the falls not being very happy with my results I noticed some hikers walk past me and venture up a trail that leads behind the falls. The rest, is as they say, history… Original post: Autumn’s Last Call

True Backside of Water

Alabama Sunset – In November I made a couple of business trips to Mobile, Alabama. This is when I fell in love with the USS Alabama battleship and the memorial park. I managed to bring my camera for my last trip down and found time to be at the park during sunset. This is the I had in my head after first seeing this ship. Original post: Alabama Sunset

Alabama Sunset

Night Into Day – I’ll end this special dozen with another from Bellamy Harbor Park. I managed to time the sunrise perfectly for the panoramic view of the harbor. I love that I was able to capture the remaining bits of night to the start of the new day in one image. Original post: Night Into Day

Night Into Day

This year I’m going to stick with my baker’s dozen. I’m having a little love/hate relationship with Disney right now so I will not be including any images from my single trip in August. I will also stick with my going trend and not offer any predictions for the coming year.

I do like the ending from last year though…

I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Your comments and encouragement are always welcomed and appreciated. I value the friendships I have developed with a lot of my regular readers. Although we have not met in person, your presence in my life brings me a lot of joy. Thanks!

Happy New Year and best wishes for a fun and entertaining 2020!

My Year in Review

As usual for 2018, I have procrastinated to the very last minute. Sitting here writing this post I realize I should have started before now, i.e., 7:15pm on December 31st. I have never been one for the New Year’s Eve party scene so maybe this is for the best. A quiet time to reflect on the past year and look toward the next.

There were some changes in 2018. My daughter was accepted at West Virginia University as a Graduate Research Assistant in Environmental Engineering. It happened in a matter of weeks and by the second week of January she was off to school. A great new adventure for her and a house to myself with our three cats for me. Happy to report that all of us have adjusted well.

In the Spring I made a drastic decision to switch jobs. Although I had a lot of friends at work, the work itself did not satisfy me (or so I thought). I had let a few incidents/situations fester and I thought a change is what I needed. The new opportunity did not work out and four months after leaving I rejoined my friends at the job I left. I now realize that who I work with is as important as the work I do. I returned with a better attitude/outlook and the last quarter of the year has been great.

Looking over the images I captured throughout the year I realize I explored with the camera more than I originally thought. Yes, there were a few slow times when other parts of my life took precedent, but for the most part I got my butt off the couch and viewed my corner of the world through the lens of my camera.

It is time to review what I saw each month…

January – As always this month was all about exploring the new winter coat of snow. I made quite a few excursions at both ends of the day. I have a fascination with the light around sunrise and sunset. I found that I like the colors before sunrise and right after sunset. Both times of day offer fantastic opportunities when the conditions are right. I stopped into my favorite, neighborhood state park for this sunset image. Original Post: Winter View

Winter View

February – Although this month was another one full of outdoor excursions, my favorite image is a Black & White still life. As I had mentioned in my 2017 year in review post I had planned to return to my Game Pieces project but my kids had surprised me with a couple of cool gas lanterns for Christmas. It took me until February to figure out a setup for the one my son found because it was almost too large for my space. Original Post: Dietz #80

Dietz #80

March – Winter returned and trips out into the cold did not diminish. Plenty of opportunities and a bounty of beautiful images. This one sticks out for me not because it is any better than the others but due to how it came to be. When I started this photographic journey I saw more images because I did not have a developed “eye”. Some days I truly miss the forest while I concentrate on a tree. The day I captured this image I was focusing on the sunset and concentrating my attention toward the West. When I stopped and turned around I realized I was missing the better show Mother Nature was putting on in the East. Original Post: Twilight

Twilight

April – I attempted to work on a few of my photography projects in the first part of April. I was photographing some toys for the Game Pieces project and working on more images for the Oil Can project. But when I finally ventured back outside I found this image at Delta Lake. A little sand bar near the shore as the sun was dropping toward the horizon. Original Post: The Bar

The Bar

May – I probably should name this flower month. I generally capture the most images of flowers during May, but once again my favorite image is not of a flower. As it happened, this was the month I ventured down to Ithaca to trek through the gorges. I had a very busy Saturday near the end of the month, stopping at four different parks. This image was captured at Taughannock Falls State Park and although I never posted this until November, I did capture it in May. Original Post: The End at the Beginning

The End at the Beginning

June – Another month of flowers and state parks. Another month full of great images. It was hard for me to decide which image was my favorite this month. I had some great ones from Letchworth State Park. The reason I selected this image was the light. The sunset light was almost magical in the way it illuminated the trees. Also, it reminds me that you can visit a place a hundred times but there are always opportunities for great images. Original Post: When Water is Low

When Water is Low

July – Landscapes, flowers, a trip to Nashville and a new toy for my photography. This was one of my busiest months photographically. I managed to capture a lot of images and a lot of variety. What truly caught my eye was a new toy/tool. I purchased a Lensball, a solid glass sphere that adds a new layer to an image. And boy did I play with this toy in July. Once I figured out how to utilize it best in my images I captured this pre-sunrise image at Hinckley Reservoir. Original Post: Sunrise Through the Glass

Sunrise Through the Glass

August – Water. Moving water. Flowing water. Long exposure photography of water. The rains in August brought the water flow in the West Canada Creek to a fun level. Readers know I have a thing for water, especially capturing the turbulence with long exposures. Original Post: Optimistic

Optimistic

September – This image was another of opportunity. I went over to Delta Lake State Park for the sunset. When I got to the edge of the water I found a pair of swimming goggles left on the beach. I couldn’t pass up an image that summed up how I was feeling. The title drives home the story in the image. Original Post: Summer Lost

Summer Lost

October – A month with very little photography. I can’t recall why. I do remember going to Delta Lake for a sunset and finding the water level in the lake had risen. It presented some unique images. This one was of a stack of rocks that was now in the water. I was intrigued by the ability of the reflection to allow a look into the lake bottom. The colors in the sky didn’t hurt either. Original Post: Short Stack

Short Stack

November – This was the worse month for local images. It didn’t help that I had a trip to California for work and my annual fall pilgrimage to Walt Disney World crammed into this month. I thought about including one of my Disney pics for this month but I always add those at the end, so I went with the only image posted that was actually captured in November. Original Post: Full Yard

Full Yard

December – What can I say? I went to Florida to enjoy the holidays and had amazing weather and near perfect photography conditions. I was lucky to capture amazing images at both ends of the days. My favorite was at Cocoa Beach. I drove up to the pier to experience the sunrise and Mother Nature did not let me down. A part of the appeal of this image is the effort required to time the exposure with the waves. I wanted to capture the water receding from the shore so there would be a reflection of the pier in the wet sand. Not ashamed to admit it took quite a few exposures to get the image I wanted. Original Post: Cocoa Beach Morning

Cocoa Beach Morning

Walt Disney World – I generally make two trips to Walt Disney World. I enjoy the flowers in the Spring when Epcot has the Flower & Garden Festival and then return in the Fall for Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. I decided to change things up a little this year. I pushed my Fall trip to after Thanksgiving in order to visit during the Christmas holiday season. I had a desire to see the decorations in the Magic Kingdom and experience the storytellers in Epcot. So in keeping with the theme of one picture each month, I’ll share one picture from each trip.

During my Spring trip I arrived at the Animal Kingdom very early. I always enjoy exploring the park in the morning. This is the time when most guests are racing to all the attractions and I can casually walk the trails photographing the views unblocked. There are also a lot of areas available without any other guests and on this particular morning I was capturing images in the food area of the Africa section. Light and shadows everywhere but this view through an arch really caught my eye. Original Post: Guest House

Guest House

There are a lot of images still to process from my late Fall trip and a different favorite might emerge, but seeing how I went for the holiday decorations, I’ll end with a festive image. I waited for the tree lighting at Hollywood Studios and it did not disappoint. This image is one that has me longing for a lens with a wider field of view. It is the one lens I am lacking in my current setup. Original Post: Hollywood Holidays

Hollywood Holidays

Another year has passed us by and I am excited for the new one. As I stated last year in my review, I will refrain from making any predictions for the coming year but I will be working on my wish list… 😉

Once again I will plagiarize from myself…

I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Your comments and encouragement are always welcomed and appreciated. I value the friendships I have developed with a lot of my regular readers. Although we have not met in person, your presence in my life has meant a lot to me. Thanks!

Happy New Year and best wishes for a fun and entertaining 2019!

My Year in Review

We’ve reached the end, or maybe it is the start of a new beginning. I suppose your interpretation for this time of year depends on if you are a the glass is half empty, or half full type of person. I try to be a half full person but it isn’t always easy. As I sit here at my desk, composing this post for the start of a new year, it is definitely half full.

How could it not be half full? Sure, there have been a few ups and downs throughout the year, but if the ride wasn’t a little like a roller coaster would it even be worth riding? I think not! I’m healthy. My job is interesting and keeps me challenged. I travel, for work, and personally. I’m having fun with my photography. And basically, I’m enjoying everything!

Although I’m tempted to make some bold statements about what the coming year will be like I have learned they do me no good. Every time I read my previous year’s post, I am reminded of the things I stated I was going to do and then feel bad about how I did not accomplish them all. I might do things differently, I might try to explore more, read more, photograph more, but right now all I will commit to is I will live more in the moment. I will enjoy each experience as it happens.

Let’s see what I liked about each month in 2017…

January – This was a month of exploring winter. The weather was very cooperative allowing me to get outside often and walk the trails. After I purchased some snowshoes my opportunities for seeing new areas expanded. There are numerous x-country skiing trails near me which allow snowshoe hiking as long as you preserve the ski trails. I’ll be looking forward to more hiking this year. My favorite image though is from the beginning of the month. I captured this pre-dawn image along Oriskany Creek where it empties into the Mohawk River. Original Post: Morning Rivers

The Turn

February – This month was one of those roller coaster rides for me. My favorite image was born during a lose, but it was not a sad time, it was a celebration of life. Original Post: The Ferry

The Ferry and Bemus Point

March – A couple trips for work and melting snow gave me a few good opportunities for images. At home I spent most days at Delta Lake State Park. During a work trip to a supplier North of Detroit I had a chance to visit Port Huron. Before dinner I photographed the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse but after dinner I searched out the US Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock. It was a bit of a balancing act on the rocks near the water but I was able to get the image and include the Blue Water bridge to Canada in the background. Original Post: Hollyhock

Hollyhock

April – The snow melt hit its peak in April providing great rushing water in the local creeks. This allowed me to get my long exposure/flowing water itch scratched. I love water in my images. I especially enjoy finding those little sections in the turbulence where my long exposures create a moving, abstract snap shot. Best I can come up with to describe it… Original Post: Steady

Steady

May – April showers bring May flowers. At least that is what I remember from childhood. Not a bad reference to what I mostly photographed in May… flowers. Of course, that is not the image I chose for this month. This image is about seizing an opportunity. Or more appropriately, finally, after a year, seizing the opportunity. I had been driving past this scene on my way to work for a year. On this particular morning I stopped (along the Thruway) to grab this view. Not the absolute best image, but the memory and reason for it make it my favorite in May. Original post: I Stand Alone

I Stand Alone

June – This was another month equal parts flowers and water. If I wasn’t grabbing an image of a flower it was an image somewhere in the canal system. After one of those canal excursions I passed this scene on my way home. I immediately turned around, found a place to park and setup the camera. I loved the reflection. I loved the industrial feel. Of course, me being me, it had to be in B&W… Original Post: AMS & S

AMS & S

July – State Park month! I visited many of New York’s state parks. My goal was to visit more but some things don’t always work out as they should. It was also a month of a first for me but you can read more about that one further done in this post. State Parks. I made a trek down to Ithaca, NY to walk the trails of a couple of my favorite parks, Taughannock Falls and Buttermilk Falls. As always, I came away with great images. On my way home I stopped at Chittenango Falls and the heavy rains created a rare opportunity, the alcove area downstream from the falls had water! Original Post: Born of the Rains

Born of the Rains

August – Daisy what a hold you have over me. My favorite this month is special for a few of reasons. One, it is an image of daisies, which have to be my favorite floral subject. Two, I took the processing to a different level. Something I would not normally try, and it really worked for me. Three, people seem to like this one. I have made about half a dozen pictures with this image, some I have given to friends, some to charities and a few that people asked to buy (Daisies). Original Post: Daisy’s Last

Daisy’s Last

September – Another month of me trying something different. One of the photographers I follow posted a video of how she converts her images to look like watercolor paintings. I was mesmerized. The effort seemed too easy (it is not!). The results are beautiful. If you are interested you can read more about it at Pat Saizan Photography. Original Post: Pixley Falls

Pixley Falls Watercolor

October – Not a lot of photography local to my house this month. Between trips for work and my fall pilgrimage to Walt Disney World I only managed a handful of excursions. I spent time at Delta Lake exploring sunsets (there were a lot of beauties). I also chose a more abstract image in the square format as my favorite. I had not worked with the square format that much this year and the minimalist style was also one I ignored. I played with both this month. Original Post: Setting

Setting

November – Another trip to Florida, this time to drive my Mom back North. Of course, I didn’t let this opportunity escape me. I spent a few days down on the coast near Juno Beach and a few days at Disney. Even though the weather was not cooperating during my time on the coast I managed to come home with a few great images of the Juno Beach Pier. I checked out some additional locations from the dry inside of the car so when I make it back down to Florida I’ll have more places to explore. Original Post: Juno Beach Pier

Juno Beach Pier

December – As the thought of winter approached I decided I needed an indoor project for my photography. The seeds were planted in October but they really started to bloom in December. My original, and still on the list, plan was to expand my Game Pieces Project. While exploring a few of the consignment shops around me for old games, I was handed an idea for a different project… Oil Cans. It has exploded for me. I think half the fun is searching the shops for unique cans to photograph. I am starting to run out of space on my book shelf but I suppose that is a good thing. This image is the latest in my series as I believe it represents the best I have created so far. Original Post: Oil Can Project

Empire

Walt Disney World

I know I’m spoiled. Especially when Disney is involved. I go quite often. This year was no exception with a trip in the Spring for the International Flower & Garden Festival and another in the Fall for the International Food & Wine Festival. I see a pattern… LOL. I even managed a couple of days in November while the parks were decorated for Christmas. Once again I could not settle on one image.

The first image is a composite of the Generation Gap bridge between the Pop Century and Art of Animation resorts. This image was an accident. I had spent the morning photographing the Cars area of the Art of Animation resort. On my way back to my room at Pop Century I stopped to grab an image of the sunrise over the bridge. As I balanced my camera against the fence to capture the left image I realized I had an opportunity for a symmetric image on the right side of the bridge. I managed to capture two fairly consistent views and after a little Photoshop work I was able to create the image in my head.

Generation Gap Bridge

The second image is from my trip in the Fall. I had debated about attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom but in the end I had to go one more time. I still think it is a little over-priced and the crowds seem to be greater every year, but it did allow me to finally capture an image I had been attempting to capture for a few years. During the party there are numerous opportunities for unique images. The one I wanted was of the characters in front of the Haunted Mansion. As I exited the attraction I noticed the crowds in the viewing area were very low. I made my way in and worked my way to the front. It was totally worth the effort. Not only did I get the image I wanted, the show the cast member put on is fantastic. Part scripted, part improv and totally enjoyable.

Lady Carlotta

Disneyland

At the end of May I was in California for work, Los Angeles actually, and I did not let this opportunity slip away. One night after work I went to Disneyland. It was my first trip, it was the worst possible night to go (Grad Night!) but it was awesome! I didn’t get a chance to ride any attractions but I explored the park for five hours. I was able to capture quite a few images and it ended up stoking that fire for a true vacation trip to the original! My favorite take-away of the night is this view of it’s a small world.

it’s a small world

The ending of my 2016 post could not sum it up any better so who better to plagiarize from than myself…

I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Your comments and encouragement are always welcomed and appreciated. I also value the friendships I have developed with a lot of my regulars. Although we have not met in person, your presence in my life has meant a lot to me. Thanks!

Happy New Year and best wishes for a fun and entertaining 2018!

My Year in Review

Wow! Another year has been put to bed. I cannot believe how fast the days slip past. I remember as a kid thinking how long it was until my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Each day of school seemed to last forever and those big events never arrived quick enough. I never seem to have enough time in a day to get all the work done. Now, I find myself wishing everything would slow down so I can enjoy it better.

This past year has been another year of great exploration and travel. I was fortunate enough to make quite a few trips to Florida and those trips allowed me to explore a good chuck of the east coast. There is a lot still to see and you can bet I have more trips planned. Florida has become more than Walt Disney World for me. It has become the place I enjoy photographing and exploring.

I also made a few trips (although not as many as I would have liked) to the state parks near me. I definitely want to increase my trips to see more of what my home state has to offer. I know I have made this promise to myself in years past, hopefully this coming year will be the one in which I keep the promise. All I know is that every park I visit has unique vistas for me to explore and finding the images I want to capture brings me joy.

I’m not sure if I have grown as a photographer this year. I do know I have captured fewer images but the ones I do bring home have more meaning to me. I have moved beyond the spray and pray methodology, and have put more thought into the process. It doesn’t always work out for me, maybe I over think it some times, but it does create a better experience for me overall.

Well, I don’t think everyone is up to too much soul searching in this post so I should move on to the images. As I have been fond of doing in the past, I selected my favorite image from each month.  Some months that was way more difficult than in others.

 

January – Once again the first month of the year started out very sparse photographically. The majority of my images were from a trip to the Rosemond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. Every year the zoo has a photo contest which allows free entry into the zoo with a camera.  Although I managed to find a lot more images in 2016, my favorite image was not from that trip.  This image was captured on January 2nd. I was out for a walk on a beautiful morning and spotted this deer path through the field. I really like how the path leads the eye to the tree and colorful sunrise sky.

 

Lonely Path
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 27mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

February – Last winter was very mild (I’ll bet we have almost had more snow this winter then all of last year) and I was able to venture out with the camera more than usual. This image was captured at the Utica train station at the start of a very busy Saturday. Reading the post associated with this image I am amazed how I was able to accomplish so much yet still make a couple of trips out for pictures. This image is classic leading line material. No subtlety involved here. But hey, it works!

 

Waiting on the Arrival
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

March – The first month involving one of those numerous trips to Florida I mentioned. This trip was to drive my Mom and Grandpa down to my Mom’s place in Lake Alfred. I spent a few days with Mom helping get her place opened up and then ventured over to the East Coast to visit my Mother-in-law. It was during this stay that I captured this beautiful sunset with the Melbourne Beach Pier. It was a cloudy day and most people had given up on the sunset but I waited until the end and was rewarded with this view.

 

Melbourne Beach Pier Sunset
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1.3s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

April – I return to my Grass Poker days for my favorite image this month. I refer to my early photography when I was participating in the various photo themes on Google Plus. I started exploring around the house more, looking for those unique images which can be found all around us. Of course, long time readers also know I have a thing for the dandelions as well. The processing on this image was a departure for me but the results created an image I have hanging on my wall.

 

Dandie
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/320s, f/2.8, ISO 200

 

May – The start of the state park trips! I had promised myself I would explore more of the NY State parks this past year (alas, I did not fulfill that promise very well). I started with a Spring trip to Chittenango Falls. I have learned quite a lot about photography and post-processing since my first visit and I used all my knowledge to capture another portrait view of this wonderful waterfall. When the water flow is right the cascades create a very classic waterfall look.

 

Cascade Falls
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1s, 30mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

June – Part of my continual issue with myself is dragging my butt out of the house. I let myself be very lazy. On the day I captured this image though I planned the night before to get out to Hinckley Reservoir for the sunrise. Luck played an important part in that the clouds were moving fairly fast across the sky. This allowed me to use my neutral density filters to utilize a longer exposure and capture the movement in an otherwise static image. I played with various compositions until I settled on some natural framing with the grass.

 

Hinckley on the Move
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 60s, 12mm, f/13, ISO 200

 

July – Another image as a result of wandering around the yard looking for the over-looked details. I used this day as an opportunity to focus on the tiny and intimate. I fitted the camera with my macro lens and poked it into every little space I could find. This little flower was nestled within one of the lilac bushes that ring the property. I was fascinated with the contrast between the detailed stamen and the soft petals. I didn’t complain about the nice contrasting colors either… 🙂

 

Tangled
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/200s, f/2.8, ISO 200

 

August – There was much internal debate over my favorite this month. The other image contending for the title (Sunset Ring) was unique due to how I happened upon it but in the end the colors of this image won out.

 

Lock 20 Rising
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 6s, 25mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

September – I have an app on my phone called The Photographer’s Ephemeris which allows me to see the location of the sun & moon rising and setting. I can pick a location and date to plan where I want to be to capture that perfect image. For this image I consulted the app to find the moon would rise inline with the barge canal during the full phase. The best location close to me was Bellamy Harbor Park in Rome. The full moon is difficult to capture with surrounding landscape due to the overpowering brightness but your best bet is when it is closest to the horizon.

 

Moon Rise
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R, 3.2s, 108mm, f/16, ISO 400

 

October – When I started a new job in April I discovered the Old Erie Canal Park a few minutes away. It has become my escape during those hectic days at work. I leave a pair of hiking boots and the tripod in the car so I will be ready when the mood strikes me. I have capture various images at the aqueduct over Butternut Creek but this one is my favorite so far. I love that I was able to capture the swirl of the water. The processing was also a departure for me and I am happy I strayed outside of my comfort zone.

 

Round ‘n Round
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 5s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

November – Ah, the super moon. That is all everyone was talking about in November. I got caught up in the excitement as well. Turning to my app again I realized the day of the great rising that I could catch the moon over the B-52 memorial on the old airbase in Rome. It was definitely more difficult than I anticipated. I tried to get multiple exposures so I would have more detail in the moon but this low on the horizon it is moving surprisingly fast through the sky. After struggling to combine two images I settled on this one with the great detail in the plane.

 

B-52 Rising
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R, 4s, 92mm, f/8, ISO 200

 

December – This year’s Christmas trip to Florida once again produced a great many images from which to choose a favorite. The heron watching the sunrise won due to being “out of my normal” type of image. Viewing this image brings me back to that morning and how impressed I was at being able to get as close as I did for this view. I find I am liking more of my images that have another element beside the landscape, be that people or animals. Something to look forward to in 2017.

 

Enjoying the Sunrise too
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 8s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

Disney – It wouldn’t be a year in review post if I didn’t include a Disney image. I did not have my usual two Disney trips this year but I did manage to visit almost every time I made it to Florida. I feel like a local, popping in for a quick visit, see a few shows, ride a few attractions and grab my images. It works for me!

I could not settle on one image this year. There were two that stand out for me. Both are from my trip in October. The first is a night image of Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. A few years ago I was able to stay in the park after sundown and I have been waiting for another opportunity. It didn’t disappoint. The second is a happy coincident as extra magic hours in the morning at the Magic Kingdom were about an hour before sunrise. Fog and limited access spoiled the image I had planned but the Cinderella Castle image with a hazy sky is no consolation prize. It is definitely my favorite castle image so far.

 

Everest of Light
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 20s, 23mm, f/5.6, ISO 400

 

Pre-Dawn Cindy
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 6s, 12mm, f/8, ISO 200

 

I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Your comments and encouragement are always welcomed and appreciated. I also value the friendships I have developed with a lot of my regulars. Although we have not met in person, your presence in my life has meant a lot to me. Thanks!

Happy New Year and best wishes for a fun and entertaining 2017!

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