Abstract Images

I enjoy creating abstract images. Just the simple process of converting a color image to a Black & White makes the image abstract. I like to record movement in some of my images to extend the abstract quality of the scene a little further. This picture is of an old vineyard barn located on one of the hills surrounding Canandaigua Lake in central N.Y.  I stood and watched the directions of the clouds for a few moments and could see they were moving away form me. I made a three minute exposure and as I had hoped, the clouds fanned out over the barn roof giving a surreal look to the overall image.

http://www.canandaiguawinetrail.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canandaigua_Lake

Thunderhead Cloud

I was out photographing a few days ago on Bully Hill overlooking Keuka Lake. I could see storms were in the area and decided to choose a location for a big sky view of the landscape. I find that the best time for dramatic landscape photographs is when there is a weather event going on such as a thunder storm. It is important not to become too involved with your photography to disregard your personal safety. The storm in the picture was brief and passed quickly, but it did produce some hail and a few lightning bolts. I packed up my gear and waited in my car for the storm to clear.  A few minutes later I was able to make this image of the thunderhead cloud after the storm passed by my location.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_Hill_Vineyards

A Broken Bridge

We live in a world of constant motion and noise. We are surrounded by movement and photography is a medium that can capture it. This image was taken on Big Pine Key Florida in Bahai Honda State Park. The bridge is part of the old Flagler railroad that has been closed for a number of years. In making this image I decided to make a long exposure of several minutes to show the motion of the clouds over top of the R.R. bridge.  In determining my composition I considered the direction of the cloud movement to best enhance my picture.  I could see the clouds were moving fast in the path of the bridge and knew this was the location I wanted to setup my equipment. The movement of the streaking clouds gives the image a sense of mystery as if a ghost train was traveling over the bridge.  The broken bridge can have a disturbing element to it. A bridge is suppose carry us safely over a divide. The missing span could invoke a feeling that we are either blocked from reconnecting to our past or the bridge to our future is broken.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Railroad

Home

Home for me has always been in upstate NY in the Finger Lakes region. I lived there for 62 years working, raising a family and enjoying summers on the lakes. It is an area that has seen very little change over the years when compared to other locations in the country. To me, that is the special charm of the area. It has a rich history of wine making, and vineyards cover the hillsides to supply grapes to the numerous wineries located around all of the lakes. Many of the farms are owned by the Amish who can be seen working the fields with their team of horses. It is a place that is surround by quiet countrysides, friendly hard working people, and quaint small towns, Even though I moved away two years ago, it is still my home.

http://www.fingerlakes.org/
http://www.keukalake.com/index.html

Shenandoah Skyline Parkway

We decided to take a trip back home to upstate N.Y. this week. In our travels north we took a drive on the Shenandoah Skyline Parkway in the state of Virginia. It is a National park that travels a 105 mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We parked our RV at a Walmart in Waynesboro Va. and took our car along the twisting mountain road. The day started out warm but as we drove to the high elevation of the mountain a cold front blew in with 50mph winds and the temperature dropped to 40*. Dressed in only shorts and tees shirts we didn't venture out too far from the car. It was a fun drive and I was able to make one photograph despite the cold temperatures and strong gusty winds.

http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/driving-skyline-drive.htm

Mammatus Clouds

I was fortunate to have photographed some Mammatus clouds over Death Valley during an approaching storm. Mammatus clouds are a distinct cloud formations hanging down from the cloud base appearing as either smooth or bumpy pouches. Mammatus clouds develop when moist air sinks into dry air due to a powerful downdraft.

First Light

One thing that always amazed me about photographing the dunes in Death Valley, is how quickly they change visually in the matter of moments. This image was taken just a short time before the sun came up.  A few moments later this scene appeared completely different looking with the first traces of sun striking the dunes. You learn to think and move quickly with the fast changing light you will encounter at sunrise while photographing the dunes.