Welcome to my personal blog page where I casually journal about my various photography adventures from time to time.
This blog includes a little behind the scenes thoughts from some of my memorable and not so memorable photos.
Things may be a little rough around the edges since I am learning as I go. I hope you may find some interest in my stories or some inspiration for your own personal photography adventures.
Cheers to all and carry on!
Pink Petals (2006)
I wanted to take a moment to share with you my first blog of my first outdoor nature digital photo, taken with my first DSLR, the Olympus EVOLT E-500 with a Zuiko Digital 14-45 mm f3.5-f5.6 kit lens,. This photo was taken on August 6, 2006 at 6:06 pm. I liked the pink color and bokeh of the grey fence in the background of this one and discovered plants and flower photography had some interesting potential.
I put away my Minolta Maxxum 5xi SLR 35mm film camera for the last time on July 28, 2006 and have never looked back. I have to admit that it took me a few years to catch up with the crowd and do away with the trusty old 35mm film rolls. Once Kodak decided to stop making film for my little SLR, I knew it was time to move on.
I have really have enjoyed my DSLR experiences over the years, especially since upgrading from the DX format to the full frame FX sensor format in December 2013. One day I may find myself checking out the possibilities of the new Nikon Z-series mirrorless technology, but not today.
Action In The Pits (2006)
Here is my first DSLR photo I took with my friend's Canon EOS 20D using a Canon EF 28-200mm f3.5-f5.6 lens on May 28, 2006 at 12:44 pm. My good friend Al invited me to my first Indy 500 race. We sat across from the pit area in the Paddock Press Penthouse. It was a great location to experience your first "Start Your Engines" call. The rumble of those engines shaking the historic grandstand steel structure overhanging the iconic race track will never be forgotten. I realized after viewing this photo that next time I need to make sure I have the subject matter framed correctly, rather than "just clicking off a bunch of random pictures."
While watching the race we had a long conversation about digital cameras. Al is a hard core semi-pro videographer and photographer. He convinced me the digital world is here to stay and film camera was a thing of the past. Up until this moment, I thought my Canon Powershot A70 was more than enough. Well, I discovered it was far short from enough, especially after using his camera. By the way, Sam Hornish Jr. won the 500 mile race over Rookie Marco Andretti by 0.0635 seconds. More about that and other special Indy 500 experiences another day.
Classic 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible (2006)
I ventured to a classic car show on September 10, 2006 at 3:58 pm to take in some nice views with my new DSLR camera in tow. Spent an hour or so walking around checking out all the classic cars and taking random photos. I found this new experience very interesting. I learned a lot about some of my favorite classic cars during my first "official" photo shoot. Also began to discover the unique features of my DSLR camera and that there is so much more to taking photos than just pushing a button with the full-auto feature selected.
I made many mental notes the next day while reviewing the shots I took. I need to spend more time laying out my shots. Too many with odd backgrounds or photo bombs of others walking the site with strange looks on their faces or eating hot dogs or cotton candy. I also need to learn how to avoid washouts of the bright sky during the photo shoots. It was a bright sunny day with awesome clear blue skies, although you would never see that in any photo I took during the day's adventure.
I also need to spend more time focused on the photo layouts and less on just looking at the cars while eating a hot dog. It would also have been nice to take different angled close up shots of unique features and details on each car. I should also make a point to see if the owners would be willing to put the lids and bonnets down for a few additional exterior shots. I did like the rich dark blue surface of this car and how the paint reflected the surrounding images and colors. Need to play with this more in the future.
Predatory Butterfly (2007)
This would classify as my first wildlife photo in the DSLR world. I cheated a bit since this photo excursion was done while visiting the Mackinac Island Butterly House on May 19, 2007 at 2:02 pm. I found this specimen very intriguing, not only the size but the colors, as well as, the pattern on its wings that appears to be a predatory bird, so I took a few photo shots. Unfortunately I left this beautiful facility not knowing any interesting facts about what I just discovered.
After looking at this photo the next day, I decided there needs to be more to photography than just shooting interesting subject matter. I must also discover the stories behind these photos I take and know more about the subject matter I am photographing. and the places where this subject matter is located and the people behind these places. It must be a 360 degree experience. Search for the photo behind every story and use this as the foundation to build a passion for a memorable photography journey.
I did take multiple shots of this particular specimen. While most were taken straight on, this was the only one I took from a side view looking up, which I found most interesting of the bunch. I also liked the little mix of purple from the flowers in the background.
Root Beer Falls (2007)
I took this shot of the Upper Tahquamenon Falls, near Paradise, Michigan on May 20, 2007 at 4:41 pm. I have visited these falls numerous time as a child without ever having a camera and I never considered making an efforts to try and capture the beauty of these upper and lower falls on film.
The landscape and scenery is incredible sight to view and hear and will always remain memorable in my mind. On this day, I tried my best to take numerous photos in an attempt to capture the awesome beauty with no success. This is the closest I got but felt is still did not do any justice to the falls.
This day gave me an incredible appreciation for how difficult it is to capture natures scenic beauty we experience with all our senses. I also clearly realized how skilled professional photographers are that have the gift & skill to capture the beauty of our natural surroundings with their photographs.
Over the years I will remind myself that these skills take time and, knowledge thorough experience to successfully develop. It obviously won't be something that will magically happen overnight. Over time, I will be committed to continue to learn and hone my photography skills. One day I will return to this beautiful spot, spend a few days taking it all in, and then try my best to get it right.
Evening Sunset (2008)
My first real attempt at a sunset shot without using my iPhone, taken on July 8, 2008 at 9:05 pm. Nothing about it is really right. Out of focus, dark sky not exposed well, settings all wrong and not level with the horizon. Did not capture the view that I admired through the eye piece. More work to be done to capture the beauty of sunset. I did like the unique cloud formation that evening, the position of the sun with respect to the clouds, light reflections off the water, light wave actions, and the motor boat framed in the distance. Definitely believe camera settings will play a key part of getting this one correct.
Korean War Memorial (2008)
I was very moved by the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC. This shot was taken on a visit in July 28, 2008 at 11:59 am. The tribute of this memorial is so heartfelt for me, even though photo itself is not well taken. My heart tells me the story of the memorial touches the heart and the photos I take should do their best to do the same. It is my responsibility in future photo shoots to understand the story, understand the people behind the story and capture the true meaning of the subject matter I photograph.
Nothing Gold Can Stay (2008)
Up until now, I typically kept the camera level with the horizon when I took general photos. As I walk, I look up and see some wonderful things. This one I decided to take a photo looking up and wanted to capture the beautiful fall colors I saw above. I now make a point to always take some upward shots during my nature hikes., as well as downward, horizontal, vertical, off angle, etc. This one I captured on October 28, 2008 at 11:49 am.
I felt I was able to accurately capture the view I saw, as well as, capture the lighting accurately, with a mix of the sun light and shading. I can view this photo anytime in the future and still and recall the gentle breeze, sounds of the leaves softly moving with the breeze, leaves slowly falling from the branches around me, and cool temperature during this memorable fall day.
Spiderman Wins Number Three (2009)
My first Indy 500 race was in 2006. I returned on May 24, 2009 at 4:26 pm to see a very unusual spectacle at the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500. At the time I had no idea what was going on, who the race car drivers were, who the owners of the cars were, or racing teams ,or sponsors, or race day traditions., or why this guy was climbing the chain link fence .
After this race I did a little research I learned so more about Indy, Helio Castroneves, Roger Penske, what is was like to be "Back Home Again in Indiana," kissing the bricks, hanging out in The Snake Pit , the action in Gasoline Alley and Pit Row necessary to make it through 200 laps around a brutal 2-1/2 mile oval track, and became a fan for life. I have attended many Indycar races since then and have thousands of favorite race car photos.
This one I feel started all the excitement for the sport and glad I was able to take this shot even though I had no idea what I was photographing. I was fortunate enough to attend the race in 2021 to see Helio finally lock up his fourth victory at the old brickyard to join a very exclusive club. I just wish I had my D610 with my 200mm zoom lens in 2009. This photo is blurry, washed out by the bright sky, not well centered and poorly framed, but he memory of this race will live sharp in my mind forever.
Little Pebbles On The Shore (2009)
August 16, 2009 at 1:18 pm, I found myself starting to take random photos of stuff I saw and wondering why? Prior to this moment, probably 98.9% of my photos were of the family doing family stuff together, while the rest of he photos were some building, a car or a statue. I had this habit of thinking I had only 24 chances in one day to catch some smiling faces during a 2 to 4 hour family birthday party or vacation.
The digital camera gave me a chance to break free from that thought process and venture out of the box to take many more shots of anything that moved or did not move. and find the right niche that made me look and say "wow, that's nice." Now, my only limit is the capacity of the two 32 GB high speed SD cards stashed away in my camera. Of course the raw images setting cuts down this total count a bit.
It would not be until the unusual summer of 2020 that I would discover the definition of "Contemplative Photography," while escaping the madness of the world pandemic and associated events unfolding, while I was hunkered down in my pop-up camper in the remote areas of northern Michigan, isolated from other human beings, wondering if the lockdown would end sooner than later.
Green Monster (2010)
I had the opportunity to visit one of the most iconic walls in the world. on July 8, 2010. at 10:26 am. I had watched Red Socks games on TV 100's of times in the past and always wished for the chance to visit it in person.
Now I am on a personal tour with my young son, an avid Red Socks fan as well, learning so much about the history of this amazing facility and the players that honorably stepped foot on the hallowed grounds.
We're heading on our way to actually stand on top of the Big Green Monster. and look out from the view behind that famous left field foul pole. Figured I should take a shot of this incredible one of a kind feature of this historic baseball stadium.
No Wake (2010)
On August 14, 2010 at 7:53 pm, while off on an evening sunset boat ride, I discovered something new and interesting about taking evening photos along a very calm shoreline. With the right light, one could wonder what is up and what is down?
I'll have to look into this technique further and look for future opportunities to build upon this new discovery. Even more interesting could be the addition of other subjects into the photos, such as trees, clouds in the sky. sunsets, other boats or wildlife.
Timing and conditions have to be right and difficult to come across at any given time, especially wildlife. So unpredictable, eh? This could lend itself to be very difficult and take a long time to capture the right shot. We'll see....
Campfire (2010)
The first of many digital photos of an evening campfire on August 14, 2010 art 9:38 pm. No campfire is ever the same. Lights and flame flickers are mesmerizing and hypnotic emanating from the stacked hardwood , billowing smoke, and glowing charcoal.
Always waiting for the one of a kind shot that will capture the essence of the perfect evening campfire with close friends and family while sharing our experiences during a long day of photography hiking adventures, while sharing fine wine, tasty cheese, crisp crackers and well prepared smoked trout.
Common Loons (2011)
My first of many attempts to capture the perfect loon shot , taken on July 4, 2011 at 5:21 pm, I have discovered that it will not be an easy task to accomplish capturing the allusive Common Loon. I suspect time and patience will be needed until the right photo is taken. Over time, I will come to gain a fond appreciation fo this unique creature that has been around for least 20 million years.
Grass River Natural Area (2011)
Very, very hard to believe, but sadly yes, it is true, on July 7, 2011 at 11:30 am, this is the first trip down Grass River where I actually took nature and wildlife photos with my DSLR, even thought I had taken around 25,000 photos since purchasing the camera in 2006. There will be many more trips with many more Grass River nature and wildlife photo trips in store for this camera in the years to come.
Cut River Bridge (2011)
My first photo stop at the Cut River Bridge rest area on July 18, 2011 at 8:24 am off US-2 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
I have passed over this bridge many time over the years, not realizing the beauty of this steel cantilever bride spanning over the Cut River. Cars parked on the side of the road made me curious enough to stop this time, plus I was in no hurry to get to my destination on this trip, so I pulled over to check it out. So glad I did!
The New Colossus (2011)
While visiting NYC on August 19, 2011 at 3:07 pm, we visited Liberty island to view the Statue of Liberty. While hanging out, at the park, thought I would get a bit adventurous, so I walked to the back to check out the feet of the statue. From the front, I saw the statue was not flat footed, so I was curious to see if Lady Liberty was wearing shoes or bare foot. Looks like she was wearing sandals, and the walk around proved this to be true.
This was probably one of my first digital photos where I focused on a specific close up feature of a statue or other work of art, rather than the entire feature. Attention to the details is very intriguing to me in my profession as an engineer, and my photos should follow suit and be taken to capture these details that are so critically part of any artists work.
Tribute Wall (2011)
If you are a baseball fan, and you visit Yankee Stadium, take the tour. It is well worth the cost. Barely a bit better than the Fenway park tour, just barely. Best ever MLB stadium tour, even if you're not a Yankee fan. The history of this franchise and how it interweaves with our countries history of professional baseball, stands alone. Many photos taken and stories learned on August 21, 2011 at 8:43 pm.
If Looks Could Kill (2012)
I took my DSLR with me on a business trip for the first time. Usually I just rely on my phone camera to capture scenes while exploring during some time off from the grind of the trip. On this day, I ventured around taking random photos at a nature park while on business trip in the Azores. Captured this one on November 12, 2012 at 10:12 am.
I saw a bird in a nearby shrub and took about 10 photos while the bird hid from me within the bush. On the last photo, the bird popped out and looked straight at me as if to say, "Haven't you taken enough already, time to move on!"
I found the intense stare of the black bird most interesting, along with how the purples of the background seems to cast an eerie glow on the vegetation in the photo. Also glad the camera focused on the right spot to provide a sharp view of the bird's body. Now, I try not to leave it to change and always set my focus spot to make sure what I am looking at has the best change to result in successful photo.
Frigid Paddle (2012)
Kayaking the Manistee River is always one of my favorite locations to photograph. Typically the fall is when I get the bast shots. This winter trip was extra special and memorable. We decided to pull the kayaks out on New Years Eve, December 31, 2012 at 11:24 am. It was an overcast day after a heavy snow storm. Temperatures were frigid and hovered well below freezing all day. A nice cup of hot chocolate after the trip helped bring the body temps back to normal.
Cherry Picking (2013)
One of my favorite summertime activities is venturing out for some cherry picking. It is a special time to relax and capture casual photo opportunities with the family. Picked this one on Jul 13, 2013 at 4:19 pm. We were at Shooks Farms in Central Lake, Michigan. What a beautiful day for picking cherries and looking forward to freshly baked warm cherry pies.
I have been blessed to have the opportunity to take many family photos over the years. I treasure every one and always enjoy revisiting them from time to time to relive the fond memories behind each one. Generally I prefer to take candid shots that capture the essence and simplicity of the days activities.
Mackinac Bridge (2013)
This is one of my most favorite bridges to photograph. The Mackinac Bridge is an iconic structure to photograph, either spring, summer, fall or winter. So many shots at many different angles. It is a special bridge with so many heart felt memories.
This shot was taken on July 18, 2013 at 2:36 pm. We were heading on on Shepler's ferry boat on our way over to Mackinac Island to spend a special weekend getaway with the family. The Straights of Mackinac is a great place for an exceptional photographic excursion.
Morning Arrivals (2013)
Love visiting Mackinac Island. So much history to photograph. spending time on the Island, is like going back in time and escaping the hustle and bustle of city life. No cars tor other motor vehicles to deal with. Only means of transport is boat, bike, horse or legs.
This one I tried to capture the business side of the island. Deliveries by horse drawn wagons dropping visitors off at their hotels. and delivering the daily supplies to local businesses. Photo was taken on July 19, 2013 at 9:50 am.
Under The Lights (2013)
My DSLR camera has come in handy while taking photos of the many family sporting events. This one was taken at night soccer game under the lights on October, 2013 at 8:43 pm. I would only have 1/1000th of the shots, if I was still using film. Digital allows almost unlimited number of shots. Sporting events probably cover a significant portion of all the photos I have taken, even though I see myself more as a nature and outdoor photographer.
Soccer was the toughest since the location of the shot could be right next to you or all the way across the field. Actions occurring continuously, unexpectedly and all around the pitch. I think it would have been best to have two cameras to capture all the action on the pitch. one with a wide angle lens, maybe 24-85 mm, and the other with a 200-400 mm telephoto lens. Getting a monopod was a game changer.
Another challenge to soccer was they played, day or night, rain or shine, sun or snow, so pre-game preparation and protecting the camera lens was critical to avoiding messed up shots. I took full advantage of the preset camera settings and a wider frame of autofocus as well, to cover ever changing speed of play and changing lighting conditions to avoid missing the action.
Coach Brad (2013)
My favorite sports photo shoots were baseball, soccer, basketball and cross county. Usually there was plenty of action and perfect lighting conditions. Baseball was the most predicable and easiest to get the right angle.
Basketball was the most challenging, with indoor lighting issues and fast pace play up and down the court, pls angles of the plays made it difficult to capture the play-by-play. In the end, it took a camera and lens upgrade to capture those shots since the Olympus DX was just not enough camera for the challenge of indoor sporting events. Shot this one on December 21, 2013 at 3:25 pm.
Generally, my favorite shots were the players and coaches on the bench during the game and during time outs from the action. Great time to capture the intimate conversations between players and coaches, players facial expressions during the game, trying to capture the overall perspectives of human emotions. during the games.
Sweet Memories (2013)
"Memories"
"Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thoughts come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories
Sweet memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Memories, memories, sweet memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Memories, memories, sweet memories
Memories"
"Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thoughts come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories
Sweet memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Memories, memories, sweet memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Memories, memories, sweet memories
Memories"
This photo was taken on December 26, 2013 at 1:37 pm.
Full Moon At Night (2014)
My first attempt at a nighttime moon shot on February 16, 2014 at 10:07 pm. Experimented with multiple manual settings. in an attempt to get it right. This night was still and cold. with a family clear sky. I'm pretty sure I'll need to purchase a remote trigger for the camera. Too much movement when pressing the camera shutter button, even on the shutter delay setting.
Astronomy night shots will prove to be more challenging than I had anticipated. I suspect plenty of practice and reading up on the pros who have been able to master this process. Maybe a filter may be necessary to darken moon and still allow good capture of the night stars.
Lincoln Memorial (2014)
I really appreciate the romantic mood of night shots, especially with sharp and colorful reflections on the ground during a light rain shower. This photo was taken on May 5, 2014 at 7:29 pm.
This trip provided quite a few exciting day and night shots of the DC memorials. The purposeful presentation of the exterior architectural lighting design for each memorial was well done. The lighting at night provided an added bonus to the final photo results. I'm sure taking advantage of the manual camera settings and using a tripod could have raised the bar of each photo. No time on this sight seeing trip though, maybe next time.
So Close (2014)
With all the sports photos I have taken over the years, I learned that getting the right position at the right time to capture the unexpected can make the difference between sweet shot and a dud, whether it is sports or nature photo shots. This one would have been sweet if I was just 18 inches to the left or right. I chose the wrong spot at the right time and it resulted in a dud. I hold a lot fo respect for the sports photographers that work hoard to be in the right place at the right time to get those sweet memorable shots.
This one has stuck with me for a long time and I always wonder what it would have looked like to capture the facial expression of the runner reaching with all his might to touch the base without getting tagged out by the first first basemen. The memory of this photo would be in my mind at the start of all future sporting events in planning on where I would set up to capture the action on the field. This missed opportunity happened on May 14, 2014 at 11:31 am.
Rooster Tail (2014)
There are those times when you find yourself in the right place, at the right time, getting just about everything right; the lighting, the angle, the timing, the focus, and the shutter speed, and then capturing the unexpected. It keeps you coming back for more and looking for that next, "Wow, I kinda like that one!" This one was taken on June 29, 2014 at 7:08 pm.
Canyon Falls Gorge (2015)
Driving home early morning from Houghton, I stopped at a rest area along US-41 near L'Anse, Michigan, to take a quick break before heading to the Mackinac Bridge. The rest area had an interesting sign that briefly described a scenic view of Canyon Falls along the Sturgeon River. Then thought to myself; "Haven't seen that yet, might be pretty neat to see." So I grabbed my camera backpack and tracked down about a mile or so down the rustic trails and boardwalk through sensitive vegetation, until I came across the sound of the falls.
The outlet of the falls opened up to a unique shear rock formation cut through by the river over 1,000's of years. I was pretty blown away any what I saw and was so glad that I decided to stop for a "quick" visit. Of course the quick stop turned into a few hours of venturing around this unique roadside nature park. As I was walking back To my car, I passed someone who asked me if it was worth the walk to view, and I said, "Oh yea, most definitely!"
I should know by now you can never take a quick break in the UP while sightseeing such wonderful landscapes. The gorge is known as the "Grand Canyon of the UP," and the name truly is so fitting. This photo was taken on September 30, 2015 at 10:59 am.
Am I Not Here (2015)
We took a tour of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família while visited Barcelona, Spain in 2015. I really enjoyed our visit to Barcelona. Such a wonderful international city. The basilica is truly amazing with the overall planning that was required and detailed sculptures inside the facility and outside on the facade.
While inspecting the exterior, I came across a tiny little lady bug hidden in the vines. Gaudi's attention to the finest details is mind blowing. Construction started in 1882 and is still on-going. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked: "My client is not in a hurry."
The stories of the New Testament are well presented in the architecture of the basilica. We spent quite a few hours investigating and photographing. I will have to return when the facility is completed in 2032, or so. This photo was taken on October 18, 2015 at 11:12 am.
Cup of Espresso (2015)
Espresso does not refer to a particular type of bean, but rather a process of extracting the flavor from ground coffee beans by a combination of not-quite-boiling-hot water and pressure. The word can also refer to the product resulting from this process -- as in "I'll have a cup of espresso, please."
Pronounced ess-press-o, not eX-press-o, espresso is an Italian word, shortened from caffè espresso. Although many people believe the word espresso is an adaptation or translation of Italian for "express"(as in "fast") because espresso is made and served immediately, that's not the case. It's actually the past participle of the word esprimere, which means, "to express" or "to press out." So caffè espresso literally means "pressed-out coffee."
Espresso is generally attributed to originating in Italy around the 1900s, when Luigi Bezzera filed a patent for a machine that forced boiling water and steam through coffee grind into a cup. This photo was taken while savoring the fresh espresso on October 27, 2015 at 3:16 pm while visiting the Gulf of Kotor in Montenegro
Final Preparations (2016)
Enjoyed getting up close to some my favorite Indy cars as they prepared for race day at the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle. Always find some superb racer photos at any Indycar series race, especially trekking of them all, The Indianapolis 500. This photo was taken on July 4, 2016 at 9:50 am.
Geocashing 101 (2016)
My first geocaching excursion on August 27, 2016 at 5;26 pm with my sister and my brother-in-law. Had a wonderful time wondering the forest looking forbidden treasure. Loved reading about some of the interesting leaves by others before me while emerged in the natural surroundings of the forest along the banks of the Manistee River near Grayling, Michigan. Will definitely do this again.
Railroad Tracks (2017)
Generally I look for opportunities to take a few monochrome and black & white photographs during all my photo shoot adventures. I find them classical, mysterious and intriguing. They require some additional thought to draw out the special character of the subject without relying on color bias to tell the story.
Lighting tend to play a key part in the success of the photo. I have always been drawn to railroad tracks. They make you contemplate the many stories of the trains and the passengers that have traveled along their shiny steel rails over the many years of service. This photo was taken in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on July 27, 2017 at 7:46 pm.
Snowshoeing Grass River (2017)
Snowshoeing Grass River Natural Area in Atrim County, Michigan, provided some interesting photo opportunities, especially the day after a heavy lake effect snow. The snow was so fluffy and hanging deep from each branch provided a cave like feeling while walking the board walk.
Some amazing photos that day. The clouds were providing a light blanket covering of the sun, but allowed enough light through to provide a pure white glow to the new fallen snow. Wonderful day. This photo was taken on December 28, 2017 at 3:06 pm.
Vintage Snowmobiles (2018)
Visited the Top of the Lake Antique Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway, Michigan. I found this a fascinating place to visit with some incredible memorabilia. It is filled with beautifully restored vintage sleds, vintage snow wear and gear, and quirky 'custom' sleds that are really fascinating.
Make a point to stop by and visit in you are passing through town. They do a great job displaying the history of the snow sled. This photo was taken March 11, 2018 at 7:55 pm.
Burano Colors (2018)
I very much enjoyed our little adventure through Burano while visiting Venice, Italy. The town was uniquely beautiful as well as incredibly colorful. I played little bit with the color palette, not too much though. Captured this photo on June 17, 2018 at 12:43 pm.
This marked the start of a beautiful two week vacation through Italy. Many photo opportunities collected along the way as well as some incredible memories. Ps, When you travel overseas, make sure to change the time setting on your camera so the time stamps matches the local time.
Selfie (2018)
On the road to another photo shoot. Couldn't resist taking a selfie the old fashioned way. A beautiful day for photography. Photo taken July 6, 2018 at 1:06 pm. Ps, When returning from an overseas trip, make sure to change the time setting on your camera so the time stamps matches the local time.
Niagara Fall, Canada (2018)
I find it very difficult to capture the shear size and beauty of Niagara Falls with my camera. I am unable to feel the power of the falls when looking at the photos. Over time, I have actually found it more meaningful to me to capture close ups of the powerful beauty and character of the waterfalls I visit, rather than wide angle views. What do you think? This photo was taken on July 28, 2018 at 6:25 pm.
Hallowed Ground (2018)
Oh, the stories this old worn out wooded planks could tell. So much talent has graced these halls over the years. Never tired of visiting The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, and all the history connected to they beautiful city. I alway, learn a little more to the stories on each visit. This photo was taken on October 14, 2018 at 8:44 pm.
Helio (2019)
I enjoy being back at Indy for some exciting racing action. Today I decided to get up close for some personal shots of Helio in action at the 2019 Indy Grand Prix. This one was taken on May 11, 2019 at 10:32 am. Next time, I'll use a wider angle to capture the other racers trying to catch up to him on this hairpin turn number 13. Also need to try and capture more close ups of the racers as well. Some great action shots can be found here with no obstructions to block your views. I may need to invest in two cameras since some great potential shots are missed trying to change lenses.
Golden Sunset Reflections (2019)
Occasionally we will take an evening summer pontoon cruise to watch the evening sun set in the North bay of the lake. This is our typical family event when we are all vacationing at the cottage during the summer & fall to celebrate the conclusion of a beautiful fun filled day. We pack up the kids, dogs, blankets, hoodies, crackers, cheese, wine and fine meats to hold us over, as we venture the waterways watching the sunset below the distant horizon.
I am always mesmerized by the patterns and reflections in the water as we cruise to the north bay. The elevation of the sun, evening lighting filtered by the overhead clouds, wave patterns, passing watercraft, subtle breezes and the evening clouds overhead, create unique reflections on the surface of the water that are always so very different and very unpredictable.
During this particular trip, I was able to capture the beautiful reflection of the golden sunset on the water with no edits. I found this particular photo captures the true soul of our frequent sunset cruises, and expresses so many fond memories of those trips. My heart can recall these precious times, each and every time I revisit this photo. The perfectly prepared charcuterie tray may always be the same, but each sunset cruise will contain new heartfelt memories that will last a lifetime. This photo was taken on June 30, 2019 at 8:02 pm.
The Great Divide (2019)
Sunrises.... how many folks out there will get up super early in the morning after spending a very long night by the campfire while enjoying bottles of fine wine and sharing good times with family & friends?
Me? I will generally push myself to gently get up out from under the warm covers just before the crack of dawn, put on a hoodie over my pajamas to keep warm from the cool brisk morning air, quietly unpack the camera out of the bag as not to awaken the rest of the early morning sleeper.
From here I start to, mentally preparing myself to watch the sunrise off the dock while laying back in a bright red Adirondack chair and listening to the gentle waves lap against the dock posts. My attention is now drawn to listen to the morning birds come to life calling out their pleasure for the imminent rising of the sun.
Generally, I will photograph a few hundred shots of the sun as it rises up from the horizon and then head back to the morning fire for a cup of fresh brewed coffee. This morning was particularly unusual though, observing an unusual cloud cover blocking the rising fire ball with the brisk cool air surrounding me and a light foggy haze rising off the cool calm lake surface, I began to look around me for other photographic opportunities before heading back, and then noticed this unique color spectrum in the sky and the hypnotic reflections of pastel colors blending off the water surface. For me, on this particular moment of time became even more special and memorable, and my heart soared. This photo was taken on July 2, 2019 at 6:06 am.
Will You Remember Me (2019)
It was a surreal day visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center site in New York City.
The 9/11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance, honoring the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing on February 26, 1993.
The 9/11 Memorial is located at the site of the former World Trade Center complex and occupies approximately half of the 16-acre site. The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America.
This photo was taken on October 27, 2019 at 1:07 pm.
My Furry Buddy (2020)
My beer of choice during the Covid lockdown was Shorts Brewery Furry Buddy. Enough said on that. This photo was taken on July 5, 2020 at 8:39 pm.
Cantharellus Cinnabarinus (2020)
I had purchased a Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 prime lens in 2014 and found it very enjoyable to take macro photos. One subject matter I always enjoyed taking and found very rewarding were mushrooms. They can vary in so many different shapes, colors and sizes. Surrounding lighting levels and unique ground cover will only add to their drama. The 50mm prime lens offers great opportunities for intimate photos with very little need for follow up editing. I have taken significant number of mushroom photos since purchasing the lens and always look forward to new discoveries during long hikes in the woods. This photo is one of my favorites and was taken on August 1, 2020 at 1:29 pm.
The Long And Winding Road (2021)
Another subject matter that has grown to be a passion for me is photographs of flowers. Similar to mushrooms, there an unlimited variety of opportunities to capture the unique features and colors of flowers. In addition, the background of the ground cover, ambient lighting and shadows adds additional complimentary color and character to the photographs.
This particular photo reminded me of John, Paul, George and Ringo of the Beetles. When arriving home I looked for a story behind this photo and discovered that the song, "The Long and Winding Road" was written by Paul McCartney based on the growing tensions of the band members, and released a month after the Beatles broke up, and for me, the distant flower of the four represented John Lennon leaving the band.
Generally I find it intriguing to look for stories that fit the overall feel of the photos I take. This one seemed fitting for the story I found. The photo was taken while visiting a winery garden in Napa Valley, California on April 24, 2021 at 1:16pm.
Yuengling Traditions (2021)
My beer of choice while visiting Indianapolis, Indiana on Memorial Day weekends while attending the Indianapolis 500 race. While at Indy, I always have to make a stop at the race track museum where you can find hundreds of opportunities to take photos of some of the most famous race races in the world.
Like flowers and mushrooms, race cars, and cars in general, provide an incredible opportunity to take photos. Automobiles can provide a variety of shapes, styles, colors where no two are alike. They also stand still, most of the time, and make it pretty easy to set up the shot. I still have to work on my action photos during race day.
I admire other very talented photographers who can capture some incredible shots of the fast moving race cars. I will keep practicing and one day capture a winner. This photo was taken on May 29, 2021 at 8:11 pm dining at local pub the night before the big race.
Morning Moonrise (2021)
I received a very noice gift from the family this year, a quality Celestron NexStar 6SE computerized telescope to view the beauty of deep space. For fun, I purchased an adapter for my Nikon camera to capture the far away celestial bodies. This was my first attempt at it. Over a hundred followed and the overall quality and clarity did not improve much. After a few hours, I came to the realization that this is not going to be as easy as I had thought. I have seen other quality phots from some talented astrophotographers so I know it can be done. I will keep trying and one day I will capture a keeper. This photo was taken on July 30, 2021 at 8:01 am.
Overflowing Tree Stump (2021)
Tree stumps are a favorite of mine to admire and photograph. Whether they are cut down by human tools or naturally fall from the element, they end up creating an exciting background to capture, especially growth that forms over time. Each stump has it own character. Mushroom and moss tend to add to the excitement of the photograph. This one was taken on July 30, 2021 at 9:54 am on a lovely light overcast morning.
A Walk In The Park (2022)
Today was a special day sharing our Dodge Park Clinton River Walk with my sister and her son's dog Margo. Quincy could not wait to show Margo all his favorite spots along the trail. There were so many sights to see and smells to smell that day.
We were able to visit the trails and rapids, take a refreshing dip, meet other wonderful dog friends, share the sights and sounds and smells. Memories shared that day between these best buds will last forever. This photo was taken on July 16, 2022 at 9:09 am.
Dan Wheldon #98 - Before Editing (2023)
While visiting the Indy 500 Museum prior to race day, I ventured into a display that highlighted the work of a renowned photographer named Bill Pack that used light painting to capture unique features and presentations of the Indy race cars. His work is showcased in a book called "Epic Drama: The Winning Collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum" that was available for sale at the museum. A book that I purchased and enjoyed reviewing and reading the notes and stories connected to each photo.
He had set up a temporary studio in the basemen and was able to isolate each vehicle in the dark light to use the light paint technique that resulted in some fantastic photos. I did not have the luxury to move the vehicles to an isolated studio and had to accept the other folks that were admiring the vehicles with me. This photo was taken on May 27, 2023 at 3:16pm.
Dan Wheldon #98 - After Editing (2023)
Fortunately I was able to access Lightroom and complete some editing to adjust the environmental conditions in an attempt to recreate the light painting technique. Overall, I had quite a bit of fun with this and felt very pleased with the results. Since then I have applied these edit to other vehicle shoots. I continue to experiment with Adobe Lightroom on other photos and have been improving my technique over time. Generally, I prefer to keep raw and original, but sometimes my attempts at artistic adjustments add some added flair to otherwise generic photos. The above raw photo was edited on June 3, 2023 with the results shown on the photo to the left.
Translucent Dreams (2023)
I continue to make attempts to capture the best loon photo. This one was not the best ever, but the best I could do for this year, so more work to be done. What I did like about it was the evening haze in the background, and slightly overcast skies, added some unique drama to the end result. Something to build on for the future attempts. One day, I will get it right. This photo was taken on July 18, 2023 at 7:59 pm.
Soul Searching (2023)
I drove the new RV over the mighty Mackinac Bridge for the first time this year and camped out over various beautiful sights in the UP. We did not stop there. We continued on over the Portage Lift Bridge in Houghton, while on our way to camp in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
While there, I finally was able to make a stop at the Bishop Baraga Shrine in L'Anse, Michigan after all these years of visiting the UP. Unfortunately it was closed that day, so I was not able to stop in the museum. I did get a chance to walk the grounds, complete the stations of the cross path and then took at look around the memorial statue path.
The path encircled his statue and I took various photos along the walk. This one I found most interesting as Bishop Baraga looked down on me through the openings in the tree and in the stillness of the air. Even today, he continues his mission in the Spirit saving souls. This photo was take on August 21, 2023 at 3:19 pm.
By The Stream (2023)
Not sure who enjoys the walks in Dodge Park more, me or Quincy. How can anyone not love the daily treks through a beautiful park, the smells in the cool brisk misty afternoon air, the feel of the wet leaves along the paved trails, occasionally wondering off on to dirt paths along the shore, investigating matted down grasses where deer slept the night before, taking sips of fresh water while wading along the swollen river banks after fresh snow melts, scattering of squirrels and chipmunks as you walk by them, in addition to a plethora of our winged feathered friends scavenging for precious seeds and berries from a wide variety of natural plants and grasses.
Along the way, I always to try and keep an eye out for any photo opportunity to capture the moment. The walks have a focused purpose, mostly a quick paced trot or a committed head and nose down sniffing the expanse of the smells surrounding the trails and under the brush or the beach for a branch to pick up. Carrying the heavy DSLR, even with my 50mm prime lens, can be challenge during these fast paced walks, so I find it valuable to carry my Apple iPhone XS Max for spontaneous on the fly wide angle shots hoping one is not blurry or cut off.
This day was an extra special walk, and the photo I was fortunate to capture on December 26, 2023 at 1:25pm was a special one. This was the last walk of the year in the park and last photo posted to my Flickr account for 2023. It was a beautiful and memorable day. I finally felt like I was able to capture a photo after many previous attempts that wrap up all the emotions and events that have taken place during all of our memorable walks.
After getting home from our days walk, I decided to submit this one for my first "Your Best Shot 2023" photo contest, instead of submitting other photos taken in 2023 that have obtained reasonable views and likes over the years. This one surprised me by becoming my most viewed, liked and commented photo in only a few days since I joined the Flickr community in 2021. Then the photo became my first to be selected to the Flickr Explore page and was thrilled to have this photo selected.
Raw Photo (Unedited)
There have been quite. few upgrades to the Adobe Lightroom program I use to edit my photos. One update I found interesting this year was the generative AI object removal tool. Here is one example where I was easily able to edit out undesirable objects, such as the rope barrier & post, signs and people quickly from the background in three easy steps. It has allowed me to revisit old photos and re-edit with much better results. Here is the photo before using the generative AI removal tool.
Updated Generative AI Removal Tool
And here is the photo after removing undesired background objects and does a pretty good job of blending the background to match the surrounding areas. Over time, I suspect I will learn more on how to use this tool and become more effective at editing my photos. This new tool has opened up entirely new opportunities to edit my new & old photos to my liking where in the past I was unable to achieve desired results.
Final Edits & Tweaks
Few further adjustments made using Adobe Lightroom masking tool (linear, radiant, brush), light (exposure, contrast, highlight, shadow, white & black) & color tool (vibrance, saturation, color mixer), effects tool (texture, clarity & dehazing, vignette) adjustments. This photo was taken on May 30, 2021 at 9:29 am.