Category Archives: Maine

Gulls

I have heard them referred to as the rodents of the sky.  I have probably reused the phrase a handful of times myself, but for the photographer just starting out, they can be the perfect subject.

For one, if you live or take trips near the water, they are always available for their close up. Blog750_37b_20101001-0130-2

And if you can get to a fish pier, the numbers of seagulls are overwhelming when the boats come in with their catch of the day. Blog750_37c_CapeCod_055-Edit

Sometimes they add a different perspective to a common scene. Blog750_37d_20101001-0148-2-Edit

And they are always around to practice portrait work.Blog750_37e_20101001-0175-2-Edit

 

Gulls – Hubbard Park, Meriden, CT

This is a rare event for me and not one you should get used to, but I’m posting an image from a photo I took today.  I needed to leave work early in order to be at an award ceremony for my oldest daughter.  She is a very talented piano player and one of only two students from her school to receive this special award for the arts (OK, proud daddy moment done).

So traffic ended up being much better than I expected and I had a few extra minutes to head over to Hubbard park for an image to finish this post.  I was actually looking for an image to be up above, but when I saw this one, I decided to make it the feature image.  The light from the setting sun was perfect and it took less than 5 minutes to get some nice photos including this one.  Happy with what I captured; I was off to the ceremony. I’m really happy with this image but it doesn’t come close to how happy and proud my big girl makes me as a dad.  Congrats Cailin!

Gulls

Nubble in Black and White

Black and White Photography

I’m not sure exactly why, but my favorite images tend to be black and white. It’s probably because I shot mostly without color when I was just starting out. Well, I really started with those throw away cameras with the film preloaded, then quickly onto a point-n-shoot where I learned I needed more control of what I was doing. So I purchased my first SLR and signed up for an intro photography course that was all about developing black and white film and making prints from the negative.

I really got into the course and loved using the various developing techniques we were being taught. I read everything I could find on photography and developing and I loved thumbing through old photo books trying to figure out what the photographers did to produce those images (see note below). Since I was already working in black and white, I gravitated to the same when I was looking at images from others. I read most, if not all, of Ansel Adams books and like most people, fell in love with his images. I also liked learning the history of photography to see how we got to where we are. There weren’t too many color images in any of those books either so, I guess you can say I was brainwashed into liking black and white photography, but I embraced it and am not complaining at all.

 

Nubble in Black and White

After my friends and I left the lighthouse, we went to eat at a great seafood restaurant down the road. When we were ready to burst from all the fantastic food, we left and headed to my buddy’s place to relax for the night . We all sat around drinking adult beverages and chatting until someone suggested we play the board game Risk. I had never played or don’t remember playing as a kid, but it didn’t take long to learn and the competition in it made for some fun moments. As competitive as all four of us were however, meant that nobody was willing to give in and the game went late into the night as did the consuming of beverages.

Luckily, because of those late drinks, the fact that I never set my alarm didn’t cost me an early morning trip back to Nubble. Nature’s alarm clock woke me right around sunrise and after screwing my head back on, I jumped in the car and rushed over to the lighthouse. There were still lingering effects from the previous days’s storm, but the sun did come out a little. I took photos for about an hour before my headache brought me back to the house instead of my planned trip north to Kennebunkport. That would have to wait for another time.

I went back and napped for a few hours before I had to head home. After saying my goodbyes, I decided, even though it was noontime and probably not the best light, to stop at Nubble one last time. Because of the increased light and therefore contrast, I thought a black and white image would look best. I bracketed to make sure I captured the full range of light giving many options in edit later on. A few more clicks of the shutter and I was on my way home.

Nubble in Black and White

 

Tomorrow, providing the cold I’m fighting doesn’t take me down for the count, I’ll be posting a wild scene of ducks.

 

Note: Studying Images: Studying various images is a great way to learn. Look all around the images you like. See where the light is coming from. See what they let go all black or blown out white. How much detail was left in the shadows or how much grain there is. After that, ask yourself what you would have done different if you were the photographer (Just don’t tell them unless they ask! Most people don’t take that very well).

 

Nubble Lighthouse – York, ME

Before I get into any photography related information, I wanted to share a new site related to the Newtown tragedy.  It’s the Sandy Hook Promise website and I am proud to have taken their pledge earlier today. You can too by clicking the link above.  I also updated the Newtown the Beautiful page that you can always get to by clicking the ribbon that’s at the bottom of the right hand column. I added some new links as well.

 

Who To Follow – Zach Frailey aka…The Uprooted Photographer

I first found out who Zack was back when I was learning about HDR photography. I had been following a few photographers already on the subject and one of them, Trey Ratcliff, had just launched a new, member based website, HDR Spotting.  I really wanted to become one of those members, but team Trey had an ingenious caveat to joining.  You needed a unique code to get in, and that code was only given to current members in good standing.  I’m not sure how many codes were given to Zack, but when I googled around, looking for a way to get my own code, I came across an offer he had.  It basically said, like his Facebook page, The Uprooted Photographer, and he would give you the code.  So I did, but unfortunately, I was too late.  Someone else received his last code before me.  Oh well, search continued on, but I didn’t drop his page and still haven’t today.

Zack Frailey might not be the biggest name right now, but if he’s not in the Major Leagues of photography, he’s certainly in the minors about to be called up.  I’m envious of Zack in many ways because, at least from what I can tell, he lives photography most of the time.  I always enjoy seeing his images and reading what he has to write.  Both his blog and the Facebook page are updated frequently with insightful information.  I think I would be more that way myself if I didn’t have my 9to5 every day, but that’s the price to pay for having two work loves. So yes, I am envious, but not jealous. I’ll just have to keep following Zack to  satisfy that need for knowledge.

You can get his info and links to all his social media outlets at The Uprooted Photographer.  Definately worth the follow.

 

Nubble Lighthouse – York, ME

After I left Gloucester(see previous post here), I continued up the eastern coastline till I reached York, Me.  I was about an hour early for meeting my friends, so I headed right for the place I was looking forward to the most; Nubble Lighthouse.

It’s really a remarkable view right from the parking lot, but of course I didn’t stay there.  No, I climbed down onto the lower rocks so I could capture a dramatic view of the lighthouse as the waves came crashing in.  They weren’t very large waves, but they would splash wildly as they careened onto the rocks.  I studied them for a short time to see where I could set up without getting soaked and then moved in when I felt comfortable.

It was starting to get dark out, and the cool fall air was starting to really howl as I snapped a few sets of photos.  I remember feeling very excited to be there, but also tired from the long trip I’d been on so far that day.  A few seconds after I took the set for the image below, a larger wave came in and soaked me and my equipment when it crashed. I quickly moved to a higher spot, but getting wet on a cold windy night like that was enough for me to pack it in.  My friends would be showing up a few minutes later anyway.  I did managed to get some personal shots of all of us when they showed up, but I don’t look to happy in any of them. That couldn’t be further from the truth however.  I had a great day of photography and was about to hang out with some friends I don’t get to see very often.  I just needed to warm up!

Nubble Light - York, ME

 

Come back tomorrow as I wrap up my trip with another of the lighthouse and find out why playing the game Risk almost cost me my morning photos!