Category Archives: Nature
Squirrel
They usually are bothersome; they usually ruin any bird feeder in the yard; they have no idea how to react to an oncoming car; and yet they are pretty cute when you can zoom in and get up close to them. I had the luxury of our storm door between us on this day, so the outside reflections let me get close without surprising him. After I got a few decent shots I wanted to get one of him looking back at me, so I lightly tapped on the glass with the front of my lens. As soon as he looked up, I captured this shot of the little guy!
Moss Glen Falls
On just about every vacation to Vermont, I have photographed Moss Glen Falls in Granville. It is probably the most photographed waterfall in the state, so I try and get there early in the morning to beat the rush of people. It also makes getting long exposures easier due to the lack of light reaching down into the valley that early.
Closer to the parking area is Little Moss Glen Falls. As the name suggests, it is smaller than the main falls, but it has a special beauty all its own. Other than quick stops with the family on our way home, I like to really take my time finding new and unique ways to shoot both.
Moss Glen Falls – Granville, VT
While on one of our trips back in 2009, I wanted to photograph the falls in a way I hadn’t seen before. Not an easy task considering how many images you’ll find if you simply do a Google image search for it.
So early in the morning, I headed to the falls and looked all over for something different to capture. I took some traditional shots like so many others before me, but then decided to cut off the falls close to the bottom. I tried a few different angles and vantage points before finding this one. I knew right away I had something unique to anything I’ve seen, and more important than that, a beautiful version of my favorite waterfall.
Incoming Pigeon
Since the birds won the big superbowl game tonight, I thought it fitting to post one of favorite bird shots. This was the first assignment for the only photography class I took in college. It was a simple, go to a park and shoot what you see. Well, I saw a boy and his mother throwing popcorn for all the pigeons and then running away from them to do it again from another spot.
There were hundreds of birds flying around and I finally got into a good position for capturing them with my camera when the boy tossed up the popcorn for the last time. I focused on one pigeon as he flew near and snapped off three quick shots. Unlike today, I had no idea whether I captured anything worth keeping, but when I processed the film, I was very pleased with this image.
I was learning to use the darkroom at the same time and I remember focusing a lot of my first few days on this image. I tried many different techniques, but in the end, a straight forward, normal exosure was all that was needed.
Rays From Above
Days pass and we move on
Pain fades but never goes away
Legacies remain yet changed forever
Love carries on and so shall we
Walls protect yet they also hide
We care for others but at our own expense
It is OK to hurt and it’s OK to cry
I miss my friend and will never forget
Sunset On The Bay
Every once in a while, someone will ask me why I don’t go into photography full time. My answer is usually something short about how I like where I work and what I do. That is true, but it leaves out how much I love the people I work with. Sure, we have a few knuckleheads in the mix as my friend and coworker Adam would call them, but what family doesn’t? And yes, we are a family; which makes today an especially difficult one for us. We lost a brother; a father; and a friend, and we are left to be there for each other and try to make sense of the senseless.
Sunset On The Bay – Cape Cod
How can anyone give up the chance to see another one of these?
RIP BD
Buttermilk Falls
Images For Sale
Back when I created the about page on January 1st, I mentioned that my plan was to have the images for sale by the end of the month. Well, with very little time to spare, I have accomplished that goal. As of now, you can click here to purchase any of the featured images from every post (minus the Newtown images. You can download the full sized versions of those here)
25% Off For Fans of After The 9 To 5 on Facebook
Stay up to date with the latest posts, see before and after shots, and more! Like After The 9 To 5 here, then click on the coupon tab that appears to get 25% off on all prints.
Get Into The Woods To Get Out Of The Light
If you listen to most nature photographers, the best times to shoot are the “golden hours” (The first and last hours of sunlight each day). I completely agree with that philosophy, but that doesn’t mean the opportunities to shoot are gone if you can’t be out during those early or late in the day events.
Sunrise and sunset times are less important when it’s cloudy out, and depending on the type of cloud; the light can be spectacular even in the middle of the day. There is also night photography where you can shoot a moonlit landscape with a long exposure. it’s always interesting to see how the camera picks up the colors that our eyes can’t under the low light. On a clear night, bring the stars into the frame and let their streaks create arcing patterns, or zoom in see what details you can capture on the moon itself.
But when I’m itching to get out and photograph even when I know the bright midday sun could cause problems, I head into the woods. The trees offer a nice canopy, providing the shade needed to get decent results and sometimes the sun shines through the branches, creating different and interesting lighting effects.
Buttermilk Falls – Terryville, CT
It was one of those days when I wanted to be shooting and the “golden hours” weren’t going to fit my schedule. I always like photographing waterfalls, so I Googled around for a while and came to a website with a description and photos of Buttermilk Falls. One of the notes was about the wooded trail to access the falls, so i figured it was a good midday location. With it being pretty close to my house, perfect for that day.
Because there was snow on the ground, the hike down the trail was a little dicey at times, but I took away more than a handful of keepers plus this little gem from the trip, so I say it was worth it. I’ve been back a couple of times and it always is. No matter what time of day. Photo
Corporation Beach Sunset
39 years ago today I entered this world and for that, I am taking a day off from writing.
Hope you enjoy this photo from Corporation Beach in Dennis, MA. Always a great spot for sunsets!
Snow Covered Farm
Snow
It snowed here in the northeast today and that gave me the idea to post one my favorite snow images. I kind of have a love/hate relationship with the winter and it’s accompanying precipitation. My work commute, is bad enough on dry days, but throw a little of the slick stuff on the ground and my ride ends up like leaving Gillette Stadium on AFC Championship Sunday (bumper to bumper and a lot of disgruntled drivers!). I also have many fond memories of the snow though: Sledding as a kid, or even as an adult with my daughter; snowboarding trips to Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire; watching my dog run wildly and chomp at the pile I tossed her way while shoveling; and many others that brought an equal amount of joy even on the coldest of days.
Snow Covered Farm – Washington, CT
On those snowboarding trips up north, I remember looking at all the snow covered farm land and admiring it’s beauty. All the trips came during a long stretch where I wasn’t taking any photographs at all. That’s a story for another day, but those trips were the one time I wished I was still shooting.
So, a few years after digital imaging took off, and I let go of my grudge with photography, I took a drive out to the northwest area of Connecticut. It came after a winter storm had come through the days before. When I turned onto Painter Ridge Road in Washington, I knew I found a great spot to shoot. I loved the way the red barn contrasted with the snow and how all three main elements created a nice triangular composition. I took away a few favorites that day including a close-up I really like of the barn, but this one wins out for me.
The Four Paths
Perception
Place 5 people in a location and give each the same kind of camera. I’m willing to bet none of them produce the same image. The main reason being that we all see beauty differently. Past experiences send us down different paths that skew our perceptions. A sandy beach can mean relaxation to one person, while it can bring another to thoughts of a recent rainy vacation. Both would be looking at the same exact thing but only one would really want to highlight its beauty. A level of passion impacts all photos. Without it; I’m not sure how anyone would ever produce a great image.
The Four Paths – Project River, Seymour, CT
I’ve mentioned an image as being a top 5 or top 3 in the past, but I’m always careful not to say it’s my favorite. Unless I am talking about this one that is. This image is my all time favorite and the reasons go way beyond just how it looks.
I do love how it looks, but there is much more to it than that for me. I always think of the four separate falls as the end result for each drop of water. Starting out as a rain drop somewhere up the river with the journey taking them together at times and abruptly separating them at others. All of those misdirections eventually leading them to their ultimate fate; a wild forceful ride quickly to the bottom; a smooth gentle fall that takes some time; or a mixture of the two; smooth and quick or rough and slower.
There is one other aspect to this photo that really makes me smile when I look at it. The location. You might be asking where is this place and why isn’t it a big tourist spot, but the reality of this image is much different than the reality of the scene it sits in.
Just above the falls lay two giant cement pillars and they are holding up a highway that spans across the entire view. I almost didn’t stop when I saw it because I didn’t want to have to do all the editing work to remove the unattractive objects. The falls were just amazing to look at though so I pulled into the parking lot across the street and headed over.
I took a few wide angle shots before I decided that it wasn’t worth the editing effort. That’s when I took the camera all the way to the ground and got as close to the water as possible without getting soaked. I tried a few different angles but this was easily my favorite. Editing was relatively simple with minor exposure and color adjustments.
You can see the wide angle photo over on the Facebook page.
Sunrise from Common Road
I mentioned in the Blueberry Lake Before Sunrise post how much I love a particular drive and the lake was near the beginning of that drive. There is a fork in the road a few miles up the road that always forces me to make a choice. I can stay on East Warren Rd. or bear right onto Common Rd. Both offer amazing views and there really is no wrong choice. It usually comes down to which one I haven’t photographed in a while.
Sunrise from Common Road – Waitsfield, VT
Common Road won out on this late summer day in 2011 and as soon as I made the turn I knew I made the right choice. I had passed this spot many times prior to this day and always thought it had the potential for nice early morning image, but on this day I wouldn’t continue driving by. I pulled over quickly, hopped out of the car and was snapping off sets of photos in no time.
