chapter 547

1/12/2020

Photographic style

long time exposure

Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve This government link uses a picture of the the wetlands from almost the exact same spot, but done in a typically boring government way. In fact that photographer was probably bored with the the wetlands and bored taking the picture. I'm not a great fan of this particular wetlands either but it is a short mile away so I go often just to get some exercise.

As I think about it, my picture has been a long time exposure going back 60 years to when I first had a camera and was taking pictures of familiar places. The stream and pond behind our house was a favorite spot for me. Have to quote John Burroughs again,  "Do not despise your own place and hour, every place is under the stars, every place is the center of the world."  When I hear others going on and on about how wonderful it is elsewhere, I'm not so envious. Beekman Boys Goat observation #7, the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Goats will go to all extremes to get through that fence for the grass that is just out of their reach, but it's the same grass as what they are already on.

This group of photos are more examples from teaching myself of the cell phone capabilities. Yet they are subjects that I've been shooting forever.

Continuing on that theme, I'm always inspired for the short ride down to the Catskills waterfalls.

We had a late start, had to park at the top, then proceeded down the iced over path with microspikes safely chasing the setting sun. The climb down into the creek valley over the ice and snow covered boulders down to streambed was a little awkward but that is where the light was still filtering into the stream channel hitting the ice flows.

We attended the 12 th day of Christmas the Night of Epiphany last year at the Schuyler Mansion and I wanted to capture the scene at this Fort Crailo historic site from the early 1700's. The Dutch Patroon Van Rensselaerswyck   had owned this house and vast amounts of land including all the way up past where I live in Saratoga County. We stayed just briefly as the fire smoke filled the room on this abnormally warm winters night. It's not a scene you see everyday.

On the way to the more luxurious Schuyler Mansion in Albany this sight appeared in the mist. Had to stop on the Interstate next to John Fitch's safety barrels protecting the "gore" that splits two ramps. It was a quiet night and was able to succeed without being ticketed.

A barred owl comes by once in a while, usually I'll only hear them after sunset but on this occasion he came early looking for a chipmunk dinner. Had to rely on my pocket cam with telephoto for this. Cell phone - no way.

Colleen likes to invite her German Club friends over for a dinner party. A burst mode of several shots and recomposition edit allowed for a capture of each persons best likeness. 

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