Shooting my Universe

Test Shots

2009-11-07T08:27:00.005-05:00

I've learned in outdoor photography that sometimes it is good to take test shots of subjects when you have the opportunity. That way, you can get new ideas, find out what works, and what doesn't.

Last September I took a drive up to my home town and spent the night at my brother's house in Vermont. The next morning I took photos of a remote covered bridge on the Green River. On the way home I crossed the French King Bridge that spans the Connecticut River along Rt. 2 in Massachusetts. This is pretty cool bridge in The Pagan Sphinx's territory.

The colors had not developed yet and it was my intention to return later and shoot them again. Alas, weekend after weekend of bad weather prevented me from returning to get better shots before the fall colors wained.

Looking East across the 782 foot span.

Two pictures of the Connecticut River looking north as the morning clouds burn off.

140 feet above the Connecticut River, a spider decide to try to catch dinner. The morning fog gathered in droplets in the prevailing southerly breeze.

Forgotten Photo Friday, White-breasted Nuthatch

2009-11-06T06:16:00.000-05:00

I was really excited to get these White-breasted Nuthatch photos. I know a lot of my birding and blogging friends have lots of nuthatches. I used to have three species of nuthatches at my feeders in Colorado. Now I have gulls, gulls and more gulls. So for me, these were a treat.

These photos got upstaged by the American Goldfinch bathing on the banks of the Ipswich River.

The Terminator

2009-11-05T06:28:00.000-05:00

The astronomy definition of terminator the boundary between the part of a moon or planet that is illuminated and the part that is dark. This shot represents the terminator crossing Gloucester Harbor.

The end of the season

2009-11-04T06:05:00.000-05:00

This is the end of the season. This houseboat is being brought in from the Annisquam River to the inner harbor for the winter.

For the future.

2009-11-03T06:17:00.000-05:00

Here's looking forward to having a good crop of milkweed for next year's Monarch Butterflies.

Autumn Swamp

2009-11-02T06:50:00.003-05:00

Memento Mori

2009-10-31T11:15:00.004-04:00

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

2009-10-31T09:49:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-30T06:01:00.000-04:00

Tenpound Island

2009-10-29T07:32:00.002-04:00

Rowell Covered Bridge

2009-10-28T01:10:00.000-04:00

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

2009-10-26T21:02:00.006-04:00

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

2009-10-25T08:23:00.005-04:00

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

2009-10-24T09:31:00.004-04:00

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

2009-10-23T07:43:00.003-04:00

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.

2009-10-22T18:20:00.002-04:00

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

Salem Eagles

2009-10-22T06:34:00.000-04:00

Two eagles found in Salem, MA.

The Customs House eagle.

The eagle at the main entrance at the Hawthorne Hotel.

Scott Bridge, Townshend, VT

2009-10-20T20:02:00.007-04:00

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

2009-10-20T05:48:00.001-04:00

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

Storm Photos from Bass Rocks

2009-10-19T06:04:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-18T11:20:00.004-04:00

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

2009-10-17T13:30:00.009-04:00

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

2009-10-17T09:01:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-16T06:02:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-15T06:48:00.000-04:00

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.