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.

Long Road

Everything is a little out of perspective in this one. This a bike path, but with the lines on the new hot top you'd think it was a two lane road. The fog helped here by giving the illusion the road goes on forever. There's a person walking down the path a ways. I never knew if he was coming or going, but I wondered. I'm never at these spots for long.

Foggy Morning

I've made many images of this place and not all (very few) end up as something I want to look at later. I think I like the place better than it photographs, the two can sometimes be confused. It's a matter of being there at the right time, with the right stuff. This is an intersection of a few roads, I didn't pull off to far, just hopped out and started shooting for a while. The road and barn were as quiet as the air looked, and felt.

Young Tree

Again, I was thinking of something different as I approached the Park, hoping to find it and try to get to work on time. I was using a camera that most people wouldn't because it wasn't current and didn't have enough pixels to be trusted. I'm glad I like to try things like older cameras and lenses. That in itself makes you different and you'll definitely get a different look, much like we did with the old film cameras. Different films/lenses, different results. In the old days (10 years ago or so) people worried about film and optics for the job. Not that way today. Why did that go away? Most people only think they understand pixels (the more the better), but they don't. I don't know what grade your in when you know 2 is more than 1 but in the adult world with photography it goes much deeper than that. This is why some people do better than others with what they have whether they're loaded up with pixels or not. In this image, the low pixel count is hidden in the fog. Have I mentioned how much I like fog? I do.

Autumn Morning

I was telling a friend and photographer the day before how I hadn't taken my Unity Park route to work, therefore no new images. This morning I wondered if I had a chance at a location shortly before this. That spot didn't look good, and I was thinking how the light wasn't happening anyway. As I approached the final turn, this is what I saw. Straight ahead it was and parking made it even better. I couldn't figure out what to do with the little black tree in front and have the sun in a good spot at the same time. I decided to try to hide it as you see it. The subtlety of it makes the shot (and I was trying to hide it?). I wasn't late for work, but wished I could have stayed longer. Who knows.

Ragged Tree

Who knows how much longer this tree will be making leaves. I think it took quite a beating in this past winter with the ice and snow. I liked how ragged and haggard it was but still tried to put on a good fall show. I think it did, and as usual, having the fog didn't hurt. I like the word ragged too.

Green Field

This is an image of a lot of nothing. Except layers I guess. The green is what I noticed first and then it was just a matter of composing with what was left over to make something of it. I probably like this more than anyone because sometimes when I shoot, I can feel a sense of accomplishment. Just knowing what I started with, what I found, and then doing something with it, does it for me. I think the fog helped again by hiding the treeline. It wouldn't have ruined the image, but if I had, you'd be looking at something else right now.

Gray Barn

If it weren't for the bank of weeds and grass, this would be a black and white image. The barn is aged gray in reality but this with the fog make me think of a distant BIG BARN. I could have crawled up the bank and lost the bank but I thought this would be the only thing to add foreground and depth. It's not just an image of a barn, but a barn in it's environment.

Seasoned Depot

This is another place I photograph a lot but things have to be just right. I'm intrigued by the building and would love to go in but this is in an area people would notice and a big deal would ensue. To the left, behind it, and to the right, it's a populated area. Without getting any closer, this is the shot. I've done ok when there's some sort of weather. I like the pastel color.

Sinking Tree

This tree was acting somewhat like my latest horses but still I figured to do something with it. I thought I'd try the double shot pick. I've been doing more of these lately for some reason. All I can think of is the tree is sinking and not just behind the hill. The illusion from the lower ground. I'm happy with this one.

Foggy Forest

Usually when I see from this spot I feel like you do when you notice distances in the desert. Seems like the trees go on forever. The fog stops the forever feel today, but that's OK. I like how there's one row of trees separated out by the fog. The point of focus is now the these trees. It helps add depth and interest to an otherwise nothing image.

Morning Fog

This image again made just to the left of my previous posts. I saw the light as I headed for work and thought I might have some luck again at Unity Park. No luck there. I've left the airport alone because of the construction (their building a longer runway), but not this morning. I found a place to park and started running thru the grass to get my shot and then race back to get to work on time. I wanted to get the fog and mist in the hills but realized the mounded up dirt would be a good element in the shot. I don't know how long the dirt will be there so my soaked feet seemed worth it.

Foggy Stop

I feel like the first tree on the left and the extra sign under the "Stop" sign (which you can't see well) make this more real. The tree throws the symmetry off of the nature and the extra sign makes the "Stop" sign less perfect. This was all on my left as I headed to work (it was a three way stop), so I turned to the right, started to turn a "U'ie", stopped, and shot this through my side window. If I were a tree I'd like having this sign as a neighbor.

Field by the Ocean

Opposite the sea wall, I've never seen a tractor or person working these fields. The "star" of the area has to be the ocean. Hi tide, low tide, beach, sun, etc. all on the other side of the road. What's the field for, the fence posts? Is it to keep the lobster herds contained? I don't think anyone knows but the fence post people. I like the shot, regardless.

Dead Tree

I've passed this field and tree for many years and always wondered why the farmer never took this tree down. This is a big hayfield and there's no reason to see why the tree should stay and have people working around it. I figured sooner or later nature would take it's course so I'd better figure out the shot. Some things look easy, maybe sound easy, especially when there finished. Maybe this as all the images I take are there and waiting but I don't see it that way. If the subject is there, and I'm there, it's not enough. I think there has to be a mental connection also. It could be like cooking where you need all the right ingredients, timing, temps, and attitude to make the taste go above and beyond. When I made this, I knew before I shot it was going to happen this day. After years of driveby's, and the one time I connected, the tree came down. People now look through the field towards the tree line for dear. There's no stopping at the tree like I did wondering why. It's just a field now.

Quiet Field

This image is parallel by one block and aimed as little to the right of my previous post. Early morning at the ball field all is quiet. I wonder how many cars passed by and didn't notice a thing. I wouldn't expect anyone to be thinking images like me, they probably have thoughts of softball, baseball, and getting to work on time. Sometimes nothingness or the lack of a main subject works. It gives your mind time to play. With ball players, the image will take on a different meaning. I don't think softball or baseball would cross your mind with this (at first). That's good.

Green

Green is my least favorite color to photograph, but I'm glad I tried this image. I knew there was something here, and normally on a day like this there is, but I didn't have a dog walker, fall colors, a complete silhouette, the usual bump up. I almost tried this in B/W but it seemed usual. I had green and a lot of it, "lets give it a try". I didn't see the real beauty here until I looked through lens. I like the clean, quiet, this is summer look to it.

Birds and Barn

This barn/shed has been second fiddle to another subject I photograph from nearly the same spot but a different direction. I've noticed it for years but never thought I had an image I could feel good about. The fog helped me here in that it hides a tree line in the background and adds a bit of mystery. The birds were what inspired me to break a sweat and give it a try. They were in the tree just hanging out. Just before I did my thing, they went airborne (of course). Pan 2: Shoot Now! I see the birds as the part of the image that gives it life. Way more than I envisioned. Sometimes I just get lucky.

Sea Wall

This image happened very soon after I left the car. My thoughts were more like I wonder how high the tide is and how much beach do we have. I saw this before the road was crossed. The Sea Wall looked like the beach on this overcast wet day. I love stuff like this.

Ducks

The day was foggy, wet, and quiet, it was a Ducks world. I couldn't believe they were co-operating by sticking around. They saw me and were cautious, but I still moved quickly. To show their size I thought it was important to show as much water as possible. They little guy on the right made the shot. I couldn't figure out if they just didn't want him in the group or he was just a slow duck. Works for me.