Memento Mori

This is a quick tour through a graveyard in Essex, Massachusetts. We have had wonderful weather this fall, that is during the work week but not on the weekends. Therefore I haven't had many opportunities to photograph the graves this year.

Last weekend after the rain stopped, I stopped in the Essex graveyard to look at the maples. I had my video camera in my pocket decided to take you for a walk.

This maple tree was just swaying in the breeze.


Be sure to see the wonderful headstones from the 1600s through the 1800s that I posted last year.

Memento Mori

This is a little on the macabre side for SMU. I found this pair of wings on a dock here in town. This is exactly as I found them. On this Halloween, Memento Mori.



I'm uploading a video I put together featuring a graveyard in Essex, Massachusetts. Be sure to check back later today. Until then, you can see some of the wonderful headstones from the 1600s through the 1800s that I posted last year.

Forgotten Photo Friday, Fisherman Walking on Dogbar Breakwater

Tenpound Island

Rowell Covered Bridge

Just a short while ago, I took you to Contoocook, NH and showed you the railroad covered bridge. This bridge is just a little ways up the Contoocook River.

October Darner

One would think it is getting to be too late in the season for dragonflies yet I shot this darner on Sunday Morning here in Gloucester. Every time I see one of these, I’m taken in by how big they are.

Burnham Ship Yard

Yesterday after the rain stopped, I took a drive out to Essex to look for some colors and found some beautiful scenery. I stopped off and took a couple of snaps.

The Lewis H. Story from Essex.


Fall foliage by the Burnham Ship Yard.


Last August I took you on a sunset sail on the pinky schooner Maine with Harold Burnham. I'm pleased to see that Harold has started a blog which I think has lots of potential and will have a great future. Be sure to check out Boatbuilding with Burnham. (I head some hammering and sawing coming from the barn, I wonder what Harold is working on?)

Spotted Spreadwing

This is the last of the Spreadwings in our area. The Spotted Spreadwing will disappear at by the end of October, long after the other species have gone.

Forgotten Photo Friday, California Sea Lion Pups

When we go to Monterey, California, I like to shoot the sea lions. Last July we made a trip and saw these sea lion pups. This isn’t the most glamorous time of the year for them because they are losing their puppy fir. It just goes to show that a wildlife photographer must work on nature's schedule.



Sea lions are characterized by the presence of external ear pinnae (ear-flaps), long front flippers, and the ability to walk on all four flippers on land.


They do seem to enjoy the company of each other.

West Gloucester Sunset.

This was taken tonight as the sun set over West Gloucester, not more than 20 minutes ago.

Salem Eagles

Two eagles found in Salem, MA.

The Customs House eagle.


The eagle at the main entrance at the Hawthorne Hotel.

Scott Bridge, Townshend, VT

Along Rt 30 outside of Brattleboro is the town of Townshend. There you will pass the Scott Bridge, the longest wooden span bridge in Vermont that still remains.


It is interesting to look at how they attempted to construct this span using a laminated arch.

You can walk through the bridge. Since the sun was going down when I arived I wanted to take advantage of the light. When I got to the other side of the bridge, I was in for a little surprise.


A film crew was shooting a documentary. They were happy to have me watch. I did chat with the crew and left them with my card. They were supposed to send me a link to the movie's website. I'll be damned, they never did. If any one knows what this was all about, please let me know! I'd like to see the film some day.

The crew very quietly, frantically signals a car not to pass in the middle of the shot. A man with a rain stick soaks the actor standing outside of the car.

An reflection abstract.


I love this shot. Notice the rope swing on the far side hanging from the bridge.


For those who are new to SMU or are coming in from Watery Wendseday, be sure to take a look at this weeks Nor' Easter storm posts!

Sumac

Three pictures using the brilliant red of Staghorn Sumac with Autumn Meadowhawks.

Storm Photos from Bass Rocks

The ocean not only changes from day to day, hour to hour but from second to second. These pictures will gives one the idea that the ocean changes from instant to instant.

The ocean changes in space and time. I am standing in a safe place, yet not more than twenty feet from where I stand is a place where I could be killed. The sea rolls and thunders. The waves crash, you can hear cobbles crack against each other and the dull thud of moving boulders.

These seascapes have lots of information in them. Each one could stand on its own. As a group, they give a temporal perspective.

The first four shots are of one wave coming in. Look to the right of Thacher Island on the horizon of this picture. The uneven horizon is not do to an aberration but is actually due to the rollers crossing the open ocean.









The next two shots are of the same roller coming in. This really give you an idea of how the waves explode on the rocks.

Two Mid Autumn Dragons

The dragonfly season is winding down. There are still lots of meadowhawks out there, but soon it will be all over until next year. Here are two dragons that you may still see in Essex County. These were shot in Dogtown Commons on Cape Ann.

Autumn Meadowhawk



Autumn Meadowhawk



Whitefaced Meadowhawk



If you didn't see yesterday's Monster Wave pictures from Eastern Point, take a look. You will not be disappointed.

Eastern Point Storm Surge

Today, we had a storm off the coast that has whipped up the waves. These waves are so huge that from my home on the north end of the harbor, I can see them out in the open ocean rolling past the breakwater with my naked eyes.

Last August, I showed you some Presents From [hurricane]Bill. These are the rocks that I was standing on when I took the shots.



At high tide, I was invited to shoot the action from a friend's back yard on Eastern Point. So that you may have a perspective on how monstrous these waves are, here is a photo take of the scene between waves.


A series of three photos of one of the big rollers coming in.

Pumpkins

It's Saturday. It was supposed to be raining all day. It is not. Go out and buy some pumpkins. If you already have a pumpkin or five like B, then go out and by some more!

Forgotten Photo Friday, Cheyenne Wyoming

Taken in July, 2003 when I lived in Colorado, it was a quick trip up to Wyoming. A beautiful state.

The Union Pacific Train Staion


The Capital Building


Wyoming's equivalent to the Man at the Wheel

Green River Covered Bridge Study

This is the Green River Bridge near Gilford, VT shot from various angles. The night before, I crashed at my brother's house near by. The next morning, I shot out down the back roads to catch the morning light.

I don't know what this bug was thinking.

Three Point Tern, the Fram departs.

Jay of Cape Ann Images reported that the FRAM arrived in Gloucester Harbor. Last year we welcomed her on October 11th.

On Thursday night, I was walking down Rogers Street when I heard three honkin' blasts of an air horn. It could only be the Fram warning that she was shoving off. I've never seen one of these cruise ships leave the Inner Harbor and was fascinated to watch her skillfully do a three point turn.

This is the stern as the Fram backs away from the Cruise Port.



And she s-l-o-w-l-y backs toward Smiths Cove.


I'm not sure what he is doing up there. I could imagine that he is making sure that when the bow thruster comes on line, it doesn't suck in a dory.


The backing manuver is stopped and the bow thruster swings the bow around.



And away she goes! See you soon!


As the Fram leaves the Inner Harbor, Paul Frontiero catches her steaming by Fort Square.

Katy Lied

Katy Did?

Katy lies
You could see it in her eyes
But imagine my surprise
When I saw you

Can't help it, I'm a Steely Dan fan.

I've seen a couple other Katydids this year, but they have been in the grasps of wasps being flown back to the nest. I was happy to see this one doing well.



I was shooting this Slaty Skimmer dragonfly. A black ant came trotting down the stick and the dragonfly yielded his perch.




Then much to my delight, I was able to find this bug singing on this flower. He was hanging on, blowing in the breeze, swinging and singing his love song.

Oh yah, looking for luv.

Contoocook Railroad Bridge and Depot, II

The is the second part of yesterday's post. Today Dane Malcolm talks about the history of the railroad in Contoocook, talks about the railroad bridge, the history of the town and the role the bridge played in early air navigation.

This is what the Contoocook Station looked like as you arrived in a Pullman coach.


The original semaphore still stands proudly above the station.


This Pullman coach actually served on this station's lines. I was brought into the park two years ago.


A photo of the side of the railroad bridge.

Contoocook Railroad Bridge and Depot, I

Just a few miles west of Concord, NH off of I89 is the town of Contoocook, NH. There you will find a little gem, the Contoocook Riverway park which is has the railroad depot, the oldest covered railroad bridge and a Pullman coach.

If you are a railroad buff and have never stopped by, you should. Dane Malcolm, a retired airline pilot has set up a wonderful museum in the restored depot. He has a wealth of information of the railroad and town history. There are vintage and modern railroad photographs for sale that are pertinent to the area.

Tomorrow, Dane discusses the history of the railroad in Contoocook.

Forgotten Photo Friday, Anna's Hummingbird

This week’s forgotten photos are from last July’s visit to California. It is an Anna’s hummingbird that claimed my in-law’s back yard as its own. In this case, these photos were not forgotten, but were put off to keep the blog fresh as new events unfolded.

Harvest Moon over Gloucester and Tonight's Sundogs

The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. This is the moon rising over Gloucester last Sunday Night.

Post Script: I went out for a walk after work today and spotted these sundogs. Oh no! As beautiful as these are, they are harbingers of bad weather.

West Dummerston Covered Bridge

As a follow-up to an earlier post, the West Dummerston Covered Bridge consists of two flanking timber lattice trusses. The bridge is built in two spans, meeting on a central pier, of 143 feet long and 124 feet. The bridge is 22 feet wide, with an 18-foot roadway. The West Dummerston Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge still open to traffic.

Portland Head Light

Mockingbird

Juvenile Northern Mockingbird on Rosa Rugosa.

Northern Mockingbird over wild grape.

Early Autumn Bugs

I took a short walk in Dogtown yesterday to see if there were any dragons, birds, shrooms or foliage to be shot. It was more of a reconnaissance since I had a half hour to burn during lunch. This is what I have to show for efforts.

Judging by the brown legs, I'm calling this an Autumn Meadowhawk.


Spotted Spreadwing





Eastern Tailed-blue


Female Autumn Meadowhawk

This little lady was a real flirt. I’ve notice that the Autumn Meadowhawks are a little more skittish than the other meadowhawks I’ve shot. I had to chase her a bit and then she settled down on a bush and flew up and grabbed the hair on my forehead. After that she went to this spot and let me move the branch around all I wanted.

Ein klein nachtmusik

A little bit of night music.

One of the engineering departments that I support had reached a milestone and decided to have a little gathering over on Rocky Neck (an area in East Gloucester) to celebrate. I never travel in Gloucester without my camera, so I threw it in the car with the tripod and drove over to the east side of town. By the time the party broke up at 7:30, the sun was down and it was dark. I have not experimented with night photography much and was over by the ship yards, so what the heck? It’s not like the old days when an experiment like this would cost me good chunk of change.

Forgotten Photo Friday, Butterflies left behind.

These are some photos of butterflies that I never got around to posting.

Juvenal's Duskywing

Common Wood-nymph

American Lady

American Lady