Weathered Trees

I know these trees have taken a beating over the years. Luckily they're in a tree friendly neighborhood. I looked at these, and others around, and most had good full limbs of leaves. They were my original target, but I kept turning around and thinking of the ugly flower shot. I then decided to go to work here. They look skeletal, naked, and cold. If I were a bird, I'd be happy to live in the hole in the upper right, until the tree falls over of course.

Ribbon Stop

I was headed into the Stop and Shop when I noticed this. I'll admit, I didn't stop, but I did decided to make an image after I did my business in the store. The wreaths by chance were in a good spot for a little snow from the night before, but not to much. The red repeating itself is good, but I like the cool blue in the upper left corner also. Purchasing a wreath would have ruined the composition.

Waiting

This is one of my favorite places to shoot because of the mountains and light, or fog, whatever seems to drift in here. Western Mass is quite an area for photography as it has the mountains, rushing streams, and farm land. There's also good places to eat, and warm up. I have a series I've been doing of John Deere tractors and although this one wasn't at work, it was ready to go as usual. Sometimes I wish I could hop on and chop some corn. I love stuff like that.

Baby Ferns

This was a bright sunny chilly morning with hard direct sun. I almost didn't know what to do with it. The only thing I saw (or couldn't get out of my mind) was this little patch of baby ferns at the top of my driveway. A regular shot wasn't doing it for me. So I played.

Snow Trees

This was the first snow of the season, way late. We didn't get much, so I decided to try to make something of what was where, if that makes any sense. I liked how the light was sweeping across this tree line and also the contrast of the snow with the darker background. /...

White Barn

I've been past this barn many times and always hoped for some kind of image but it's never seemed right until this day. The timing was perfect for the cross lighting and a little shadow. There is depth from front to rear and right to left on this long range shot. If I had the ultimate lens, maybe a 400 mm or better I could have zeroed in on the barn and not had to include the 2/3's of the photo being grass. That's OK and better. The barn is small, the grass is BIG. I think the story here is how the farmer decided to put the barn as far away from anything as possible. I wonder why?

Sunny Fern

This image has a flashed look to it and this isn't something I want, unless it wasn't flashed. The sun was creating the effect, and trees and leaves were helping by casting shadows into the background. I moved just enough to include the color in the background, and this repetition of color strengthens the overall composition. The final touch was the focus effect. Shallow depth of field throws the background out of focus, but not the left half of the fern. This I made by slightly removing the lens, and crossing my fingers. Works every time, ...sometimes.

Autumn Afternoon

I was watching the wind in the tree tops thinking not enough wind and not enough leaves. I'd missed it by hours I think. The digital phenomenon allows me to play, and try things where I normally would have been more reserved with film. No cost to trying something. My first thoughts where I wanted to just look through the camera and see if I could find a shot up there. I liked how the upper leaves shoot across from right to left to break up the dominant vertical lines. The soft back lighting with the bare upper limbs seem to look more distant. I decided to make the image. The imperfect foliage worked out after all.

Pole

For a few days now I've been around these buildings with no windows, a scattered layout, and a manicured military neatness. I wanted to make an image and knew there was something here but couldn't see it, or figure it out. It was going to be forced, so I never pulled the trigger. I saw the pole, liked the pegs, the orange, and finally, photographically, the chipped paint. I didn't think masterpiece by any means and forgot the image as quick as I shot it. It wasn't until I brought it up on the computer that the image struck me. I'm glad I didn't trash it from my camera in an edit! Lesson learned again, photograph what you like. Viewers I think, will use more time trying to figure out what they're missing than what their actually looking at.

Bow-Saw and Sickle

I was with a small party of people just pondering/talking about things. I didn't want to make it a "Kodak" moment, but I kept noticing things. Things that I liked I guess. But I also know from experience that some things don't happen again, don't take it for granted. I had my camera, so it was natural to have the urge. Yes no yes, no. Finally I knew, but when? Who cares about good conversation. I decided on a beer drinker technique. Sorta smooth and natural where you raise your camera, do your shot or two and then go back to the talk world. Like nothing ever happened. I didn't fool anyone here either.