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.

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.

Pasture and Cloud

I like this because it is so simple to look at. I had to wait for the cloud to hurry up and get into position before the image was complete. This image says cows to me even though there are non, but they've definitely been here. It turned out a bit like a painting.

Granny Tree

I thought this tree was worn. I knew I had to make an image but not to make it pretty. The key was to keep it ragged. I used my foggy window, the car, a mildew lens, and the sky, all of this yucked it up just enough. It has the classic Holga look and in a way, makes me think of a little old granny.

NEX Rainbows

I think rainbows are something you sit, watch, and enjoy. I'm usually trying to find a better angle, whether speeding around in the car, running through the woods, or frantically trying to find the right lens while time is running out. They just don't last long enough. These were spotted at the end of the work day and for a few moments I watched but finally broke down and ran to get my camera. My angle couldn't have been better and the light on the NEX building was just what it should have been. I captured a few and the rainbows disappeared, almost like they were waiting for me to finish.

Frigid Balloons

This was a cold day and we were about to go into a shop when I decided to stop and try to get something. I include this in my movement series and I think it has this look from a combination of a breeze and a little zoom. My fingers don't move well when they get real cold, I was having a hard time getting a grip (to stay smooth with the lens), the sun was doing nothing for warmth, but working as a fine backlight (and the angle of the shot gave me neck pain). I had to stick it out, there was an image here and I had to find it. I've found that when my fingers stop moving during shooting, they always seem to work again after warming them up. And that's good.

Tree and Fence

I wanted to do something with the sky, I found the cloud pattern so interesting. I'd rather not make an image of "just" clouds, and sometimes I do, but they have to be special. When I saw the fence and knew I could include it, I figured the image would work. It helps add dimension and gives a good base to the shot. With the lack of light on the fence, it went dark, more icing on the cake.

Conduit

I got out of the car to make another image and saw this. The conduit seemed odd to me being on the road side of the guard rail, but this is Western Mass. Seems like this composition is full of angles separated buy color and contrast. I forgot what image I made on the other side of the road, but it was probably a usual. Sometimes I enjoy looking at an image more than when it happened. Something tells me to shoot it, so I do.

Cloud Cover

I guess I don't know a lot about clouds. The clouds are covered by a thin layer of cloud? I'll take the phenomenon, and the picture (of course). I don't fly enough, and have to envy pilots of the big heavy's. Imagine the view and all the neat cloud formations they get to enjoy. I wonder if they appreciate it. They should.

Bird

It was windy and sunny and dark and fast! I looked out the window and saw the dark sky relative to the light toned NEX building. All I could think of was, "another NEX image!" It wasn't to be though. I recorded what was there but I was missing something. I started aiming left and playing with the light on the trees and the lack of light in the clouds. I knew at any moment the light could change so I was kinda frantic. I wasn't thrilled with this until I saw the lone bird playing in the wind. Up and down it went, I could barely see when the wings were spread but could tell they were flappen. This was a good day to be a bird.

NEX Sunrise

Seems to be a wonderland across the road from where I work (at least before seven anyway). I'm not big into sunsets but don't have a problem with sunrises. There's a different look I think. Soon, the seasons will change enough and it will be to dark to do much before work. Timing is everything in most spots but I'll always look and wonder if there's something I can pull off in the NEX direction. Just another challenge and I'm good with that.

NEX Early

There are four layers to this image (Stumps, Grasses, building, and Sky). The conditions were right for another try and I have to think the haze is what provokes me. I know I've shot on a "regular" day, but haven't found any of the images moving. Maybe that's my NEXt project, but I doubt it as I have too many things going on right now. I still think it's neat that the same place can have so many looks, if you "see" at the right time.

Cloud with Moon

I was heading to my car after work last night and noticed the blue sky. Sometimes I have to spend all day inside so when I go out, a pleasant evening looks even better. When I saw the moon, I figured, why not, I photograph everything else, and it isn't the first time I've shot the moon and it won't be the last. I have to say, my first few--> "bah-hored" me. So I start "shooting for the moon" and end up with a cloud shot and the moon in the background. I had other shots with the whole cloud but I like the this where the main subject could still be the moon. It doesn't really matter, I feel like I accomplished something. I needed a photographic fix and got it, in Turners Falls.

Un-titled #036

Sometimes I wonder what draws me to an image. When you mow the lawn you do it because you have to. Do you have to take a picture, make an image? This image could look like a field, void of any excitement, but not to me. The power lines weren't part of the draw, but when I noticed them it was like icing on the cake. Power lines bothered me until I decided to except them like air. Just let them do their thing. The birds helped but I not sure they needed to be there. I liked the warm field against the otherwise dreary day. I couldn't wait to shoot this and put a sliver of the field at the bottom of the frame. If I'd kept driving this would have been one of those images in my mind that I should have created. They never go away, the moment is gone, it'll never be the same, the feeling is lost. I've proven this to be true.

Contrail Shadow

I don't know if this is a contrail shadow or not, but I've never seen anything like it before. I don't think it is, but what else and what to name this? The BJ's parking lot has proven to be a good place to find images oddly enough. Seems like I've noticed these anomalies there and I'm not there for photography, only a deal. I'm glad I have this image. I don't know what this is, but it is what it is. Case closed.

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.

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.

Horses

Had I not been at the end of a roll of film this image would not have happened. I was down to one or two shots in my camera and was getting nervous I might not be ready if something really happened. I almost finished the last of the film on my feet in the car but decided to get out, and run up to the top of the sea wall to see if there was anything there. To the left nothing, to the right,...horses. If they'd seen me they probably would have stampeded. I was far away and quick. People ask me about the snow and probably think PhotoShop when I tell them there is none. Thank god for back lighting, wet sand, and the angle of incidence!

Maine Barns

There's the side everyone is going to see, and then there's the side I'm going to photograph. I don't know if it's tradition or the lack of paint but you see this a lot if you work your way around some barns. The north side gets the left overs if there is any. It was a nice cool late spring day, and I think I captured it.

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.