Second Chances
This picture is from a series of photos I took on what turned out to be a stellar photography morning. It started out horribly, gunning down the highway and arriving at my pre-selected spot with just seconds to spare before the most spectacular sunrise began …. only to discover that I was in the wrong location to capture it. After some frantic driving about I was lucky to find a spot that offered a slightly better view, but by then most of the “wow” in the sky had passed. Or so I thought.
The thing about shooting landscapes (I guess) is that if you wait around long enough, sometimes you get a second chance. I say “I guess” because I’m really not sure about anything I’m doing with this new hobby of mine. But on more than one occasion I’ve thought the sky had given me all she had, when lo and behold, twenty minutes or even an hour later I got something even better! On this morning I thought the sunrise was the main event and I was sorely disappointed that I’d screwed the pooch and missed it. The leaves had started to turn, making even the dullest scenery picturesque, so I decided to keep driving to see what else I could find. I had nothing to lose, but little did I know the sky would give me a second chance to get some very nice pictures. This was one of them.
This picture seems fitting for another reason. I awoke to the sound of gun blasts. Today deer season for hunters with permits on state land begins, and a large state forest surrounds my property. For weeks I’ve been watching several small herds of whitetail deer navigate the woods in this area and while I’m not against hunting, as I’ve aged I like to think less and less about the reality of it. Still, it’s warranted. In spite of the small number of deer that are taken every season we are increasingly overrun by them, to the point where they’ve become a property nuisance and driving hazard. I know that absence some method of culling the growing population many would die a miserable death from other means, but I still cringe the first few times I hear a gun blast.
Solitude
I tend to be a loner. Perhaps that’s why certain settings have such an appeal to me. Like this, an early sunrise on a seasonal lake that has “closed” for the winter.
Yesterday
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was at the beach. It was hot, the sky was blue and the fall seemed like a long way off.
Curious Minds
I’m really curious what other people think because to put it frankly, I just don’t get it. These running shoes have been dangling from the power lines for several years. Five, if I remember correctly. And every single time I pass under them the same handful of questions run through my mind. Why would anyone discard their personal belongings in such an irresponsible way? Was this meant to commemorate or memorialize an event, a personal accomplishment? Or was this done on a dare, like some childish prank? How many throws did it take for the shoes to wrap around the wires, leaving them suspended in midair? Why hasn’t the power company cut them down? How long will it take for the shoes to decompose? Has the person who owned them ever come back to reminisce or admire their work? Is it art? Should this bug me as much as it does?
That last question might strike some readers strange. Why should two pairs of dangling running shoes bother me? Well you see, it’s because of where they are. The location. They’re not hanging in someone’s neighborhood development or somewhere in a crowded city. They’re not suspended from a school goal post or from a fence along a deserted track field. No. They’re hanging from a power line that crosses a road that bisects a NATURE trail. There’s something that feels sort of …. well, sacrilegious about that to me.
What bothers me most, is the possibility that whoever left the shoes behind was someone who drove out here to ENJOY the remoteness of this trail. The trail is used by many hikers, bikers and equestrians of all ages, many who are attracted to it precisely because of it’s pristine vistas and isolation. So why would anyone who enjoys using this trail turn around and desecrate it with their personal litter? Of course it’s quite possible they didn’t use the trail after all, but simply found this was a nice remote spot to leave their litter. But I have a hunch it’s the former scenario.
Well, that’s kind of a stupid question I guess. There are signs posted at every access point, but few pay the least bit of attention to those either.
Back to the shoes. So you’re walking down this lovely trail when you come upon a road.
There’s a small parking area and a placard that tells you where you are (You are HERE) and some of the “attractions” along the trail. Oh, and there’s two pairs of running shoes dangling from a power line. Nice!
Let’s cover this from another view:
So I’m curious. What do others think about this? Is it art or angst? Lightheartedness or litter? Free spirit or foolish selfishness?
Launch
This was taken early one morning at a quiet boat launch nearby. The interesting thing about taking pictures is that it’s forced me to explore things that I’ve never had any reason to explore before. For years I’ve driven past the little side road that leads to this boat launch, but I’ve never actually driven down it. On this day I not only drove down the launch road, but parked my car and got out and walked around. It was nice to slow things down a bit and savor the view of this reservoir from a different perspective instead of just catching a glimpse of the water as I passed by. Once again, I’m reminded that although I have the gift of time due to unfortunate circumstances, it truly is a gift if I use it wisely.
Hay Fields
Across the street and down the road from the cemetery was a big hay lot. I probably should have used the 10-24mm lens with a polarizing filter, but I didn’t have either with me that day. But I’m OK with how this came out. The leaves were just starting to turn and we’d had several days of rain, which made some nice dark color contrasts in the landscape.
Quiet Repose
Well, once again we didn’t get any trick or treaters and so a small bag of goodies went to work with my husband. I don’t need the temptation laying around here! In keeping with the season, here is a photo I took a few weeks back when the leaves were starting to peak. I was waiting for the clouds to pass so I could drive down the road and shoot another scene that needed better light. Eventually the sky cleared and I got my chance, but I made use of the wait in this nearby cemetery.
Mr. Moon
One of my favorite pictures, taken when I was actually set up to shoot a sunrise. The moon going down behind me was so large and pretty that I had to take a few pictures of it. The day before, the setting moon had been perfect …. and I missed the opportunity to shoot it. (If it was any consolation, I got some great shots of another setting that morning, but it was frustrating to realize I might have been better off setting up to shoot the moon.) On this morning the setting moon was nice, but not nearly as large or the sky as interesting as the day before. Still, I did my best to try to capture something, which is better than nothing!
Had To Be There
This was the kind of sunset that you had to experience for yourself to believe how stunning it was.
The Sweet Spot
Sometimes, thanks to friends, you get a chance to be at the right place at the right time.
Farm Envy
I “found” this little farm when I was driving down one of the back roads of a nearby town. I was actually looking for a good place to shoot a sunset when I came over a small rise and happened upon this farm. I immediately hit the brakes. In case I haven’t mentioned, I LOVE farms. I’ve been looking for the “perfect” farm for over 30 years and I think I just found it. Not that it’s for sale, but I can dream. The old ramshackle barn has so much character. They built a newer barn nearby, but I’m glad they had the good sense to leave the old barn standing. It’s gorgeous!
Here are the two front barns as viewed from the road. The farm even has the classic New England roadside and perimeter stone wall. Not that that’s unusual for here, but it really makes the overall look of the farm.
And here is the house, from two different views. I love the simplicity and size of the house. It’s not ostentatious. There were two Adirondack chairs on the front porch, which is so fitting. It’s like it’s got my name written all over it!
And seen from down the road a spell:
Anyone who knows me knows what I like about this farm: It’s set back off the road, it’s secluded and there are no visible neighbors. I know it’s not right to covet things, but I would give my eye teeth to own this farm … it’s breathtaking! However, a picture will have to do!
Valley View
I’ve been waiting to shoot this landscape since I got my new camera. It’s always pretty, but I knew it would be extra nice once the foliage hit it’s peak. The best spot for shooting had some tricky issues. An electric and barbed wire fence ran along the road and several large trees with huge, dangling limbs encroached on the best view. The road itself is very narrow and curved sharply right in area where I needed to stand. I didn’t have a lot of room to maneuver or I would risk getting hit by a car. To further complicate things, the sky was heavily dotted with clouds that forced me to stand with my camera ready and wait for the sun to peek out. When the sun did come out it would light up the valley for only a few brief seconds. It was a little after 8 AM. The morning shadows were still pretty deep, but the colors were bright from the heavy dew. I was very pleased with the group of pictures I shot here. I got several pictures that have just a touch of light shining on the fence posts and trees, but the shots that don’t seem less impressive. I could probably tweak them in lightroom or Photoshop, but I’m perfectly happy to blog a good one just the way it is!
Another Lesson (or two) Learned
The learning curve for photography is sometimes a bit daunting. It’s not just learning about the camera and the software, but it’s also the realization that good pictures don’t always just “happen.” Sometimes you’re in the right place at the right time with the right equipment, but more often than not, you’re in the wrong place with the wrong stuff when you see something really fantastic happening …. over …. there!
This happened to me a few days ago. I’d somehow managed to get myself out the door about thirty minutes before the sun was due to appear. I was barreling up a deserted highway toward a spot that I thought would prove to be perfect for a pretty sunrise, when someone pulled out in front of me and proceeded to drive fifteen miles an hour under the speed limit. Note to self: Add twenty minutes to your travel time to account for old farts and morons. Needless to say, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize I wasn’t going to have a minute to spare!
I tried to stay off the old man’s bumper as we chugged up a long winding incline. I slurped my coffee and tried to catch a glimpse of the sky through the trees. To my relief, pokyman turned into a gas station at the top of the hill. I hit the gas, shot through the empty intersection and careened down the highway, hoping a deer wouldn’t pick this as their moment to cross the road. When I finally reached my destination I slid into the gravel parking lot sideways on two wheels. Well, not really, but almost.
I grabbed my bag, tripod, coffee and keys and lit out across the parking lot at a jog. The preserve was deserted so I had my choice of places to pick. Or so I thought. Problem was, there really wasn’t a choice. Drat! Another note to self: Scout your actual shooting site BEFORE you arrive to shoot! It’s not enough to drive by and think you’ll have the right vantage point, you have to get out there and really check things out. Case point, above you can see one of the first pictures I took when I arrived at the place where I planned to shoot. Nice, but not great. I thought there was a path around the pond where I could get a better shot of the sunrise, but I was wrong. As I turned and glanced over my left shoulder, this is what I saw:
ARGHHHHH! I was trapped and had no way to reach any sort of a clearing that would give me a clean shot at the beautiful sunrise! I wanted to kick myself, but I grabbed my gear and made a mad dash for my car. I knew I didn’t have a prayer in hell of finding a place where I could catch what was happening in the sky … if you’re seeing it now, it’s too late to get it on film unless you’re already set up and waiting for it to unfold. Ug. As luck would have it there was a small clearing almost directly across the street. It wasn’t visible from the road and I didn’t even know it was there, but I took a gamble and it worked out. Unfortunately, by the time I parked my car and regrouped, the sky wasn’t nearly as pretty, but I did get some nice shots. Alas, the morning wasn’t a total waste. And I did learn some vital lessons, the most important being: always scout your sites and give yourself more time than you think you’ll need to get there!
Reminders
I’ll probably post several pictures of small lakes, streams, reservoirs and ponds. I’m particularly interested in shooting bodies of water that are minimally inhabited by people. I think it’s because they remind me of the Adirondacks of New York, which I miss very much. I keep wishing I could go visit the Adirondacks and shoot the fall colors and scenery, but I can’t. So this will have to scratch that itch …. for now.
Above: The Moodus Reservoir boat launch at daybreak.
Confessions
I’m feeling a bit anxious and guilty that I’m not out shooting this morning. Last night was cold, windy and rainy. I honestly thought this morning was going to be a continuation of the same. Every time I try to second guess the weather I mess it up. So here I sit as the sun is breaking through the trees and I’m feeling miserable because I think I should be out there taking pictures. But it’s getting pretty chilly to be out there before the sun comes up. I’ve had a very hard time fighting the damp and cold. My fingers, knees and back are pretty achy. Earlier this week I was out shooting at the break of dawn and I could hardly get my fingers to operate my camera and tripod, which makes me wonder what will happen when winter actually arrives? I try not to think about that very much because I’d sure like to try shooting in the winter!
I have a confession to make: I’ve become a light chaser. This is a curse and a blessing combined. I’m starting to feel a special kind of kindred with storm chasers only I’m constantly looking at the sky and planning my day around the “magic hour.” If I’m not out shooting when the light is great, I’m anxious and I struggle to focus on what I’m doing instead. But when I’m out there shooting I get so lost in the moment that nothing else matters. The forecast looks pretty good for tomorrow morning …. maybe a touch warmer and a lot less wind? But right now tomorrow seems so far away!
These are two of my favorite small barns. I pass them every week on my way to herding. The red barn got repainted this summer, which really makes it stand out as the surroundings begin to change. I actually prefer barns that are in their natural state and not painted, but something about the scene below grabbed my eye. Perhaps it was the tall wheat-colored grass against the green and red that pulled me in?
Reflections
The leaves are starting to peak and we finally got some nice weather to go with the pretty scenery!
Salmon River Fog
This picture of the Salmon River was taken just before dusk on a very drizzly, foggy afternoon. The pinkish tinge was from the sunset that was hidden from view by the fog and clouds. You can see just a hint of blue sky peeking through the clouds in the upper left corner. I wanted to take more pictures, but I had to be elsewhere just when the light was starting to get interesting. I pulled my car over and walked to the middle of a bridge to take this picture, then took a few shots of the opposite side.
Then I was on my way.
Quick Sunrise
An early sunrise on the Airline Trail. Taken during an Ed Heaton seminar.
Behind me, the sun was just starting to break over the horizon.
The sun stayed out for about fifteen minutes, then the sky clouded over and it got ugly. I moved on from this spot because I didn’t think it offered anything interesting to shoot once the sun was up. The colors hadn’t really started to pop and it had been so dry that the landscape was mostly hues of brown and yellow. Sadly, I don’t think it’s going to be the spectacular fall I’d hoped.
Daybreak
Morning sunrise!
Over the back fareway
A hint of blue sky behind the gray
More promising!
Trying hard to clear up
Just a hint of the earlier glow left
Come on, blue sky!
Finally, the gray moves off!
Moonlight
Last month I discovered shooting the moon isn’t as easy as I thought. In all fairness, I’d only had my camera a week or two and I was pushing my luck even thinking I might capture something worthwhile. But driving home from somewhere I was mesmerized by the gigantic red moon. I nearly careened off the road while trying to keep the moon in sight as my car wound down the woodsy New England road. Right then I knew I would have to try to shoot that moon, even if I didn’t know what the heck I was doing.
When I got home I mentioned to Aldo that I wanted to try to get a picture of the moon while it was full. There was one glitch: I needed a tripod, which I hadn’t bought yet. He thought a minute, then said he might have one at work. My eyes lit up when he promised he would try to find it and bring it home the next day. I was thrilled! I’m not sure what I expected, but when Aldo arrived home tripod in tow, that wasn’t it. The tripod seemed a bit …. inadequate. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I didn’t complain. I got a crash course on how to set it up, though I was worried it wouldn’t be sturdy enough to support my heavy camera. We tested it several times and I practiced attaching the camera until I was confident that I could manage on my own. I tossed a flashlight, bug spray and a few other essentials into a tote and loaded everything into my car. Shortly after dinner I headed out in search of what I thought would be the perfect spot to shoot a few good pictures.
My first “ideal location” didn’t turn out to be as good as I thought. With one eye monitoring the sky and the other the road, I sped off to the second prospect on my list. That too, didn’t pan out to my liking. With the sun rapidly sinking I turned my car around and headed for the only place I knew would afford the vista I wanted: the viaduct on the Airline Trail. When I arrived it was full-blown dusk, but I had just enough time to hike ten minutes to the clearing and get all my gear set up. It was going to be another sultry, hot night and the sound of kids swimming and partying beneath the old trestle echoed off the ravine wall. A little voice in the back of my head wondered if they would hang around after sunset. Hm. I hadn’t thought about that.
When the moon finally did crest the horizon I was ready. I shot several pictures, but struggled to get the right settings. Ever the perfectionist, I kept tweaking things until I got one or two decent shots. Unfortunately, when you’re shooting nature you only get so much time before conditions change; the clock doesn’t stop and wait for you to get that “perfect shot.” So I quickly made a few more adjustments and tried again. When I thought I had at least a half dozen decent pictures I decided to pack it up and head home. By then it was pitch black. As I disassembled my gear I was really glad I’d had the foresight to bring a flashlight. However, as soon as I began hiking back to my car I realized I hadn’t thought about the major “creep factor” of walking through the woods alone. In the dark.
I’ve never outgrown my fear of the dark. Yes, you can point to all the nuances of hiking in the woods under the light of the bright full moon, but it’s all lost on me. I’m half a heartbeat from screaming like a little girl and bolting. Yes me, the Butterfly Slayer. Pretty embarrassing.
The photo above was from my second evening excursion. I wasn’t happy with the photos I shot the first night, so I returned. But I took my trusty guard dog with me. No more hauling my butt out of the woods solo, in the dark!
CurTales 
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