Around Central NY

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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… :)