Taos Adobe - Taos, New Mexico


When you see a photo like this one, there is no mistaking where you are. One look at the iconic adobe houses with a wooden ladder tells you that you are somewhere in the American Southwest. This architectural style is known as Pueblo Revival and is inspired by the Spanish Missions and Indian pueblos. It is most prevalent in New Mexico. 

These structures seem to take on a great color when illuminated in soft light and become very photogenic. Often, there are great shadows that are cast by the beams, ladders, and windows, like this one I found walking around Taos. As many of these ladders that I have seen, I have yet to find anyone climbing them. I suspect that they are more for decoration than actual use.

Overhanging - Charleston, South Carolina

Boone Hall Plantation, Mt Pleasant, South Carolina

I am sure that many of you have seen photos of places that you immediately put on your bucket list to visit. Charleston, South Carolina, has been on my list for a very long time. We have planned to visit there quite a number of times, but it seemed like something always came up at the last minute and we were unable to go. Like most things worth doing, we were persistent and finally got to visit there last year.

One thing that attracted me to the Charleston area was seeing various photos of the area, many composed of rows of oak trees with great Spanish moss hanging from the branches. The best ones are early morning shots, when the mist and fog give the trees a great look. The first morning of the trip, I headed to Boone Hall Plantation in the hopes that the look would be there. The weather was looking awesome, but as I made the turn into the plantation, the gates were closed and I couldn't get the shot I wanted. We ended up visiting there later in the day, but the weather had gone south on me. White skies and no early morning light. I decided to take this composition instead, using the fence as a leading line instead of the road (the normal shot). This came out pretty decent, but now I have to revisit Charleston and figure out how I get that morning shot.

The Stone Quarry - Barcelona, Spain

La Pedrera, Barcelona, Spain

It is no secret that the cities in Europe have a long architectural history that you won't find in the United States. Nowhere is this more true than in Barcelona, Spain. The city was founded as a Roman settlement  over 2,000 years ago, and there are still remnants of the architecture that remain. Over the years, Barcelona has been known for producing architecture that was decidedly different. This is especially true of the Modernista (aka Art Nouveau) architecture that sprung up in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

The name that is mentioned most when talking about Barcelona and the Modernista architecture is Antoni Gaudí.  Almost everywhere you look around the city, there seems to be a building that was designed by Gaudí or was influenced by him.  It is no surprise that when we took a bus tour of the city, we drove past numerous works of Gaudí. Pictured in this photo is Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera (translation: The Stone Quarry).  Constructed between 1906 and 1912, it was built as a multi-family living structure. Today it serves as a museum and tourist attraction. The building is massive, but, due to the fact that I took this shot on a moving bus, I could only get a clear shot of the top of the building. I think the roof's design gives a good feel on how the rest of the building looked.

Passing Storm - Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument, Fruita, Colorado

Some of the most memorable photographs are the ones that have what some would call bad weather. Early in my photographic journey, I always hoped that I would be blessed with blue skies and would be glad when they came. After studying other photographers' images, I realized that I had it all wrong. Plain blue skies are boring! I found that the images I liked the most were the ones that had clouds that contrasted with the sky. Even dark and stormy clouds add to the drama of a photo. Now when I head out, I hope for some not so good weather.

This image is a perfect example. When I headed out toward Colorado National Monument, the weather was actually pretty bad. It was stormy and raining a bit, and, if it continued, my planned sunset shoot would be a bust. As I drove up the road leading to the park, the sun began to break to the west, and I was rewarded with some terrific golden hour light on the sandstone rock formations. Even better, the dark and stormy clouds were still visible to the east. My kind of photographic contrast, and it reinforced the notion of heading out to a location no matter what the weather looks like.  

Grazing

Sorrel River Ranch, Colorado River Scenic Byway, Moab, Utah

On my way to Moab in March, I drove from Grand Junction, Colorado, and took the scenic route on the Colorado River Scenic Byway (aka River Road). Along this road are some spectacular sights not to be missed. As I traveled the road, I passed the Sorrel River Ranch, which brought back some great memories. The first time I visited Moab, I stayed at the ranch with my son. It is a beautiful ranch located on the Colorado River. We splurged a bit (it isn't a cheap place to stay) and spent three nights there. 

Our first night there, I was awoken with the sound of scurrying. I got out of bed and noticed a large mouse walking across the room. The next morning, I stopped at the front desk to report our little visitor. The clerk looked at me like I had two heads and deadpanned, "You do know this is a working ranch, don't you?" With that I stuck my tail between my legs and headed out.

 

No Backbone

New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts

Every aquarium worth their salt has at least one tank of jellyfish. To be honest, growing up near the Jersey shore, the last thing I wanted to see or feel was a jellyfish. That dislike is still true, unless I can stand behind a glass enclosure and watch them. To be honest, they now fascinate me with their looks and movements. They are almost hypnotic to me as they move about the tank. This photo was taken at the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts. I really loved the way it was backlit by the blue background. 

New Haven Harbor Light

Five Mile Point Light, New Haven, Connecticut

The New Haven Harbor Light (aka the Five Mile Point Light) is a lighthouse located in the aptly named Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, Connecticut. The lighthouse and the park are right next to the beach and mark the harbor entrance to Long Island Sound. While it is not the original light on the site, it is still pretty old, having been built in 1847 for $10,000. The light is only 65 feet tall and is no longer operational, as it was retired in 1877. It has served since then as an attraction in the New Haven park.

 

Santorini Gem

The Catholic Cathedral of Santorini, Fira, Santorini, Greece

The Greek Island of Santorini is perhaps the most photographed island in the Mediterranean. Most of these photographs feature the beautiful blue domed churches that can be found in the small town of Oia. They indeed stand out to make a beautiful scene to wonder at and to photograph. In fact, it was my main reason for visiting the island. After spending the morning there, we headed to the capital city of the island, Fira. The city is inspiring, as it lies on the edge of the island, towering about 1,300 feet above the sea. The panoramic view is something to see. As we were walking through the city, I spotted the Catholic Church of Santorini, whose dome was not blue like those in Oia. I am glad, as the beautiful architecture of this building would have been lost against the blue sky.

Three Falls of the Niagara

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Niagara Falls is a destination for many people on vacation. What many don't realize until they get there is that there are more than one falls that make up Niagara Falls. Only a handful of visitors realize that there are actually three falls at the location, although, at first glance, they believe it to consist of two.

It is hard to see all of the three falls from the American side, so, to get the right vantage point, you must head to the Canadian side. This view shows the Horseshoe Falls in the distance on the right, which is created as the Niagara River rushes in between Goat Island, New York, and Canada. To the extreme right are the American Falls that flow through the city of Niagara Falls, NY. The last falls, Bridal Veil Falls, are hard to spot, as many think they are part of the American Falls. Looking at the extreme right of the American Falls, there is a small piece of land between Goat Island and the city. This is actually a very small island named Luna Island.

Regardless of the number of falls, combined they have the highest flow rate of any water fall in the world. They certainly make it one of nature's most wondrous locations.

 

Goodbye Nikon, We Had Some Great Times Together

The post that I never thought I would write is here. After being a loyal customer of Nikon since 2002 when I purchased the D100 (their initial foray into digital SLRs), I am saying goodbye. I have bought almost every one of their DSLRs since then, including the D200, D300, D300s and D700 and, through it all, these cameras traveled the world with me. I have also loved and enjoyed the great Nikon lenses that went along with them.

You might ask why, after all of these years, have I decided to move away from Nikon? There are several reasons that led into this decision, but one of the most important ones is that I believe that Nikon has moved away from me. I am not a professional photographer. I consider myself a serious and passionate enthusiast. I bought the D700 back in 2008, and it is my favorite camera ever. Over the past several years, I have waited patiently for Nikon's introduction of it's replacement in vain. Sure, they have introduced cameras that didn't meet the specs of the D700 (the D600 and D610), and ones that exceeded the specs but were a different camera altogether (D800), but, in my opinion, I am still waiting. I have the distinct impression that a replacement is not in their plans - it has been 6 years and counting. 

I am not one to come this decision lightly, as I have invested tons of money into Nikon's spectacular glass, but once I make a decision, I don't look back. One of the reasons I am posting this today is that I have just sold all of my Nikon glass except for the 28-300mm that I plan to keep along with my D700. Some of the best lenses that I had owned are gone, including the 20-70mm 2.8, the 80-200mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 16-35mm 4.0. I think that at the peak, I owned 12 Nikon lenses, and now I am down to one. Even if a D700 replacement comes out tomorrow, I am done. I may someday sell the D700 and my last lens, but right now there is too much sentimentality attached to it. The great news about selling the lenses is that they really held their value, proving how great their glass is.

So where am I going? A couple of years ago, I sold my D300s (which was my backup camera,) and bought the Sony NEX-7 and a couple of lenses. I liked what Sony was doing, and, more importantly, I loved how small and light it was. It became my everyday carry-around lens. Since I travel a great deal, it also helped packing for trips, as airplane storage is getting smaller and smaller, and lugging around a boatload of equipment was getting too heavy and tedious. Earlier this year, I bought the Sony A7 when it was introduced, and have shot a lot with it. I am extremely happy with it, but the downside is their lack of full frame lenses. They are slowly introducing their full frame lineup, so I am sure that I will get comfortable with the new lenses when they come out.

In the meantime, I wanted to try out another camera system in case the Sony doesn't work out. After doing a lot of reading and research, I came to the conclusion that the Fuji XT-1 system was worth a try. So, with the proceeds from my lens sales, I have turned around and bought it. The XT-1 has a pretty good lens portfolio, and I know that many photographers that I know rave about it. I haven't shot with it yet, but plan to do so shortly. In short, I am covering my bases here. I have two systems that I believe are and will be winners, and if one of them turns out to fall short for my type of photography, I can always sell it.

In summary, Nikon and I had a great run. I do think they have lost their way with the enthusiast market, but I can only come to that conclusion based on my own needs. Other enthusiasts may be totally happy with Nikon and have a long relationship with them going forward. For me, I can't wait to go on my next trip and not have my shoulder feel like it is ready to fall off. My next task is to inventory all of the accessories, my numerous Think Tank bags and start to list them for sale.

 

 

 

Phantom Ship Island

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Visitors to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon are taken with the lake's beautiful blue water,  so blue because there is hardly anything else in it. The water is some of the purest that you will find anywhere in the world. The next thing that you notice in the lake is the massive Wizard Island that lies on the western side of the lake. One of the things that gets a little lost in this broad landscape is this smaller island on the eastern side of the lake. Known as Phantom Ship Island (aka Pirate Ship Island), it rises 170 feet above the water level and is 500 feet long and 200 feet wide. It got it's name because it resembles a ghost ship, particularly in foggy conditions. 

I decided to zoom in to take a photo of the island to isolate it from its massive surroundings, and also to accentuate the blue of the water.

Ice Cream Bus

Rio Grand Gorge Bridge, Taos, New Mexico

I love wandering around new places, as you never know what you will find. On our trip to New Mexico, I was really excited to spend some time in this state that I had never visited. We stayed in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. One day, we decided to check out the Rio Grande Bridge outside of Taos. I had always heard of the Rio Grand River and thought it might be interesting to see it. The landscape in the area is extremely flat, so the bridge is hard to see in the distance. Once there, there are dirt parking lots at either end where you can get out and walk along the gorge. 

One of the things that I wasn't expecting was this vivid ice cream bus sitting in the lot. It was so unexpected that I had to take a couple of shots of it. It wasn't open when we were there, but a quick Google search found it. Its official name is Rachel's Ice Cream Bus, and it is a mobile food "bus" that can be found in many locations around Taos. To find out more about it, visit Rachel's website.

Mesmerized

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

The road that traverses Badlands National Park in South Dakota runs 31 miles from the town of Wall and terminates at Interstate 90 to the east. Along the way, the landscape takes you from one spectacular view to the next. It is hard to pick one favorite location along the road as they all quickly become favorites.

I had planned a few sunrise and sunset locations to shoot from, and each one offered me some terrific photo opportunities. Sometimes, the unplanned stops end up being the ones that you remember most. We had driven to the town of Wall for dinner (Badlands is quite remote with very little access to food). Rather than pick a place to shoot the sunset on our long drive back to our hotel, I decided to wing it. Boy, am I ever glad we did. As can be seen in this photo, the light and clouds were killer, and, though not in this composition, there was a storm in the distance. Every few miles, I stopped and took a few shots. Believe it or not, we almost had the whole park to ourselves. As I set up for this shot of the sun hitting the horizon, these two bikers showed up and walked into the scene. I could tell that they were mesmerized (as I was) with the view and knew they would add interest to the final image.

Friendship

Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Salem, Massachusetts

Massachusetts is steeped in American history and is a great place to visit. Its history is not confined to Boston and can be found up and down the coast. One of the terrific places to learn about American history is Salem. Located about 15 miles north of Boston, Salem is most noted for its infamous witch trials.

Salem was established in 1626 by a group of fisherman who landed there from Cape Ann. It survived and thrived as a center for shipping and fishing. The Salem Witch Trial, conducted in 1692, put the city on the historic map. Today, Salem is noted for its many historic houses and museums, some of which celebrate the trials, ghosts and maritime history. 

This photo was taken on an extremely windy day, and is of a replica of a 171-foot three-masted Salem East Indiaman, built in 1797. This tall ship is named Friendship, and it is part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Despite the fact that it is a replica, it is a fully functioning Coast Guard certified vessel.

Beach Reflections

Myers Creek, Gold Beach, Oregon

Friend and fellow blogger Andy Hooker has a thought provoking photography website iSighting that I highly recommend visiting. In his most recent post entitled Revisiting, he muses on the advantages of revisiting locations to photograph them. This image from Gold Beach, Oregon is a testament to what can result from patience and determination.

I fell in love with this location back in 2005 when visiting the Oregon Coast for the first time. I came across it early in my stay and visited it every morning and evening for three days. I got some really good shots, but I knew there was a better one to come. Fast forward to last summer, when we spent another ten days on the coast. The weather was quite fickle most of the trip, with fog constantly foiling some planned photography. The first night we stayed in Gold Beach, we had a fabulous dinner at the Tu Tu Tin Lodge on the Rogue River where we were staying (highly recommended). No photography that night, as the beach couldn't even be seen due to the fog. I was determined that the next night was going to be photography-focused, fog or no fog.

I guess the photography gods determined that I had suffered enough and gave me a magical night with great clouds and light. Every shot that I took that night has become a favorite, as it brings back the memories of how beautiful Mother Nature can be. It makes all of the times when the light wasn't good or the fog was too thick worth it.

Belvedere of Tragara

Isle of Capri, Italy

Last week, I posted a photo of a lunette of a church from Bologna, Italy. When I wrote that post, I had never heard of a lunette, and I learned that it was the small semi-circle above a door. It is interesting how much I don't know. Just for kicks, I thought I would continue my education. This image is also from Italy, but, instead of the city, it is taken of the rocky mountain side of the Isle of Capri. When I took this shot, I was mesmerized by how these houses/villas were built into the side of the rocks on this rocky island. When I wanted to find out if there was a name for these types of buildings, I found it on Wikipedia. You guessed it. They are called Belvedere of Tragara, meaning a high panoramic promenade lined with villas. 

For Rent

Rockport, Massachusetts

Did you ever have an image that, for some reason, keeps calling to you to be edited? This photo from Rockport, Massachusetts, has been haunting me for years. Why? I haven't a clue. It just seems to resonate with me. I took this in 2009, and every time I look through the archives, I think I ought to process it. Even now, I am not sure why that is. It is just a old fishing house that sits at the end of the pier. I finally decided to take this on and get it out of my head. Maybe one of you can tell me what is so special about it because damned if I know.

Butte-i-ful

Sorrel River Ranch, Colorado River Scenic Byway, Moab, Utah

Well, I managed to go cold turkey from posting any Moab photos for almost a week and a half, but I couldn't hold out any longer. This image of a butte on the Colorado River Scenic Byway has special meaning to me. Back in 2005, my son and I headed to Utah for a two-week trip to do some hiking and photography. The first place we stayed in was Sorrel River Ranch, and this was the scene that I saw when I walked out of our room there. This trip was great for two reasons. First and foremost, it was a great time to bond with him, as he had just graduated from college. Secondly, this is the trip that rejuvenated my passion for photography, which has only grown since then.

I wanted to reshoot this butte as the photo was edited poorly by me and the original JPEG has long left my computer's hard drive. I knew when I drove this gorgeous road and saw the golden light that the setting sun was casting, that this butte was my destination.

A Walk in the Park

Boston, Massachusetts

Since moving to New England, I have grown to love the city of Boston. Growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, I had gotten used to it's historic places that spawned the birth of the US. It was quite fortunate that I was able to move near a city that is equally steeped in history. These two cities are the major places that drove our revolution.

Walking through Boston is an interesting contrast in architecture. You can be walking past a building that was built near the city's early days, and right next to it are modern glass-sided monoliths. Boston is also famous for the small parks that seem to be everywhere, and are often located between two sides of the same street. This photo shows one of those parks near the Boston waterfront that is still empty, as the morning commute has not yet started. It is my favorite time to photograph the city.

Yosemite Morning

Cathedral Rocks, Yosemite National Park, California

Nestled next to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California is my favorite national park in the US, Yosemite National Park. In the summer months, visitors swarm to the seven square miles of Yosemite Valley to take in the wonders of the nation's second oldest park. Granite rock formations with familiar names, beautiful waterfalls, clear streams, and towering cliffs are all on display everywhere one looks. In order to avoid the crowds, I will always awake before dawn, head out to take in the peace and quiet, and hopefully get some decent photos as the early morning light begins to light the valley. 

On this June morning, it seemed like I was in the park by myself. Since the valley is relatively compact, I was able to drive around from spot to spot, easily get a parking spot, and shoot to my heart's content. This particular composition was taken just off the road of Cathedral Rocks. The sun had peaked over the granite cliffs and lit the formations. The bonus was a pool of water that remained on the valley floor that enabled a super reflection.