February 28, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Wow! February sure has gone by fast. March is almost upon us and we are just 19 days away from Spring. Kim and I did our usual shopping today and everywhere we went had displays of Summer goods. I love this time of year. Though it is still cold outside it's not as cold. And warmer weather really is finally on the way. We are expecting some freezing rain tomorrow but I don't think it will last too long. It's clear as can be right now and the Moon is shining bright. And that is what I am sharing with you today.

I have to say that I am very pleased with this shot. I am surprised too. You see the Moon was so high up in the sky that I had a hard time setting the camera up. It had to point almost straight up on the tripod. This made it difficult for me to look through the viewfinder and get a good focus. Then the remote shutter release gave me problems and I had to use the self timer instead. If everything is not perfectly steady the photo will be blurry. But somehow it all came out good and I got a pretty decent shot with good detail. Hey, if it too was easy it wouldn't be fun. Right?

As always I thank you for stopping by to read my little blog. I hope you come back often to see what I have to share. And if you like what you see please share it. The more the merrier!

Until next time...

February 27, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

It's Friday again and that means another "Retro" photo of the day. Today we only go back about four and a half years to the city of Phoenix, Arizona. July 11, 2011 to be precise. And boy was it hot. Very hot. But hey, it's a dry heat. This photo shows a view from our hotel window and a perfectly positioned Sun just to the left of Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Phoenix is a wonderful city with some of the friendliest people I have met. I really would like to get back there one day. And for being such a large city it sure didn't feel congested. And the downtown area has city ambassadors that are available to help visitors find their way around to restaurants and various sites of interest. There is even a free trolly that you can ride on the weekends around downtown. Very nice. Phoenix is on my list of places I recommend if you have the chance to visit.

And as an extra I would like to share a photo I shot on my way to work this morning. We had a light dusting of snow but it didn't amount to anything. It just looked nice on the trees.

The white specks you see is the snow falling.

As an aside I would like to encourage you to check out some of the links I have included in this and actually a lot of my posts. Just look for the highlighted text. They often lead to websites that can tell you a lot more than I can about the subjects I write about.

And that's it for today folks. Stay warm and please stop back soon.

Until next time...

February 26, 2015 - Photo of The Day

When I was outside shooting photos of our Rhododendron yesterday I turned around and saw this.

It's like I often say. Sometimes the best shots are the one's you find if you simply turn around. I am so glad that I did.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...

February 25, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Spring is just around the corner. It really is. And to remind us of the promise of Spring I shot a couple photos of our Rhododendron in the front yard. These buds made it through a very cold Winter and will bloom before we know it.

Thanks for stopping by and please make sure to come back again. Pretty soon I'll be able to show you flowers instead of buds.

Until next time...

February 24, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

I know that I share a lot of sunrise photos but I just never get tired of it. Every day is unique and though they may look alike each sunrise is also unique. And today's is no exception. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I also managed to grab a quick video too. This is shot in 4K Ultra HD and is best viewed at the highest resolution your device and internet connection will allow.

February 24, 2015 Sunrise

And I am calling it a day folks. thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...

February 23, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Continuing with yesterday's theme I would like to share another photo from Valley Forge. This was shot with my camera phone while it was mounted on the dashboard of our car. I was recording a video at the time and I will be sharing it soon but for now here is one of the still frames.

And though this video is not ready yet I do have another one to share with you right now. A time lapse video. But wait! There's more! I am sharing it at four different speeds. Yep, go ahead and choose one. or choose them all. It's up to you. Just click on the links below.


Sunday Drive At Valley Forge

Sunday Drive At Valley Forge (Faster)

Sunday Drive At Valley Forge (Much Faster)

Sunday Drive At Valley Forge (Way Too fast)


And I'm going for now. But I'll be back real soon. I hope you will be too.

Until next time...

February 22, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

What a warm up today! It made it all the way up to the mid 40's and it sure felt like Spring around here. Of course the downside is that it is going to get cold again tonight and all of the melted snow will turn to ice. But I do think most of the really cold temps are on the way out for the season.

In our journeys today Kim and I took a drive through Valley Forge and I grabbed this quick photo with my phone.

Just a small patch of snow where there was a few inches just hours earlier. Come on Spring!

Thanks for stopping by and as usual I hope you return soon to see what ever it might be that I have to share with you. Also, there may be a video at the Facebook Group later on tonight. I'm still working on it though so please check it out later.

Until next time...

February 21, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Well once again mother nature has been kind enough to present us with a little more snow. I don't know how much we are going to get but there has been at least 3 or 4 inches so far. But it could be worse. New England is being absolutely inundated with the white stuff. Anyway, for today's photo I am sharing yet another shot of the beginning of our current storm. Because I'm sure you haven't seen enough already.

You can't really see the snow falling in this photo so I am also including a short video. Check out the link below.

Saturday Snow

And I'll be back real soon. Please stay safe out there.

Until next time...

February 20, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Tonight Kim and I drove to the city to attend a show at The Penn's Landing Playhouse. Of course I can't go anywhere without grabbing a few shots. I didn't have my regular camera with me and and it was very cold so these are not my best work but here goes anyway. Maybe I'll get back there when he weather turns and spend some more time photographing.

Ben Franklin Bridge Crossing over he Delaware River.

Entrance to The Seaport Museum that houses The Penn's Landing Playhouse.

And that's all for now folks. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to came back soon.

Until next time...

February 19, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Have you ever noticed that the clearest Winter days also seem to be the coldest? Well today was one of those days and when I got up and looked out the window I knew that there would be a beautiful sunrise. And though it was only 10° out there I managed to grab a few shots so I could share it with you. And here is what I got.

And in addition to this I also shot a time lapse video. You can check it out at the following link.

February 19, 2015 Sunrise

And that's it for now folks. Thanks for reading and please stay safe and stay warm.

Until next time...

February 18, 2015 - Photo of The Day

It's been a busy day folks and this is going to be a quick one. So let's get right to it. okay? Great!

To continue with yesterday's theme of warmer weather I am sharing an Autumn I shot at Valley Forge a few months ago. This is one of my favorite views of The Memorial Arch.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...

February 17, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

With all of the cold wintery weather we have been having I thought it would be nice to have a little reminder of warmer times. So today I share with you a couple of photos I snapped while Kim and I were playing a round of miniature golf in Ocean City, New Jersey last June.

Stay warm my friends. And remember we are getting near the end of the real cold weather. In just a few weeks it should be nearing at least the high 40's. I'll take it!

And that's it for today. Be sure to check back soon.

Until next time...

February 16, 2015 - Photo of The Day

About a week ago I was out shooting in the snow and something caught my eye. It was a lone leaf laying in the snow. It was pretty far away from any of the surrounding trees and just kind of stuck out in the sea of white. Sometimes something so simplistic can be the most photogenic. And today I would like to share it with you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...

February 15, 2015 - Photo of The Day

Well I guess we are officially once again in Winter's grip. It is COLD! But hey, at least we finally made it into double digit temperatures. It's a balmy 14° out there right now.

I had intentions to go out today to shoot. I had some reservations too. The reservations won. So for today's photo of the day I revisited the orchid that my sister Elaine gave us for Christmas. We received it at Thanksgiving and it still has flowers. In fact there are buds on it too so I guess we're doing something right. Here is what I shot.

Now believe it or not this photo is a little out of my comfort zone. I approached it differently than I normally would. Let me explain a little. As I have said before I always shoot in RAW format. Like many people I used to always shoot JPEGs. They looked decent and I could fit a boatload of them on a memory card. They also saved faster so I could shoot more in a shorter period of time. Then I upgraded to a DSLR and had the ability to shoot and save in both RAW and JPEG. That way I had the RAW image to give me more editing options in Photoshop and I also had the safety net of a near "perfect" JPEG. You know, just in case I couldn't get the results I was looking for in the editing process. Then finally as I practiced and learned more (I'm always learning and always will be) I gained the confidence to shoot solely in RAW and I have not nor do I plan to go back. When you shoot a photo the camera sees much more than you realize and RAW saves it all. But before I get too far away from today's photo you can check out this link and this link to learn more about the two different formats. And also let me say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with shooting in JPEG. It is all a matter of preference and how much post processing you want to do.

When I shoot I generally tend to underexpose the image and bring it to the levels I want in Photoshop. It is the safer way to work as a rule. Today however I took the other route. I overexpose just a little and toned the levels down instead of up. I did this really just to experiment. To change things up a little. I kind of like the results. What do you think?

Here are a few background details about today's shoot. The orchid is on our kitchen window sill. The white you see is caused by the snow that is on my car in the driveway. between that snow is of course a window and also a screen. Because of the way I set up the exposure all you see besides the orchid is a plain white background. And for those interested here is the technical data from the image's EXIF file.

Filename - IMG_5323.CR2
ImageWidth - 4272
ImageLength - 2848
BitsPerSample - 8 8 8
Compression - 6 (JPG)
Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS REBEL T3
StripOffset - 65552
Orientation - Top left
StripByteCount - 629156
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2015:02:15 10:46:51
Artist - Larry Miller
Copyright - Copyright Larry Miller - All Rights Reserved
ExifOffset - 434
ExposureTime - 3 seconds
FNumber - 40
ExposureProgram - Manual control
ISOSpeedRatings - 100
ExifVersion - 0230
DateTimeOriginal - 2015:02:15 10:46:51
DateTimeDigitized - 2015:02:15 10:46:51
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
ShutterSpeedValue - 1 seconds
ApertureValue - F 39.74
ExposureBiasValue - 0
MeteringMode - Center weighted average
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 250 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 38
SubsecTimeOriginal - 38
SubsecTimeDigitized - 38
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 4272
ExifImageHeight - 2848
InteroperabilityOffset - 46314
FocalPlaneXResolution - 4720.44
FocalPlaneYResolution - 4786.55
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit - Inch
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Manual
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard
Owner Name -
Serial Number - 322074054683

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - RAW
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Continous
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Low , -32769
ISO Value - 32767
Metering mode - Center weighted
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected - 0
Exposure mode - Manual
Focal length - 75 - 300 mm (1 mm)
Flash activity - Not fired
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - 65535
Auto ISO - 100
Base ISO - 100
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Camera Temperature - 30 C
Flash bias - 0 EV
Subject Distance - 0.00
Image Type - Canon EOS REBEL T3
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.0.5
Owner Name -
Sharpness (EOS 1D) - 0
Directory index (EOS 450D) - 720
File index (EOS 450D) - 1
AF point selected - Multi-point AF or AI AF
Num AF Points - 9
Valid AF Points - 9
AF Image Width - 4272
AF Image Height - 2848
File number - 000 - 0000
Sharpness (A0) - 3

That sure is a lot to take in isn't it. Basically I shot the image at F40 using an ISO of 100 and a Shutter Speed of 3 seconds. And if you would like to see the image before processing you can check it out at the Facebook Group here.

And that folks is my Wintery day post. I'm going for now but will be back real soon. I hope you visit again. Also If you enjoy my blog please feel free to share it with your friends and family. The more the merrier as they say.

Until next time...

February 14, 2015 - Photo of The Day

Happy Valentines Day everyone! As most of you know it is very cold here in the northeast. We even had a little bit of snow today. Nothing really to speak of though. It has also been a bit cloudy. This morning when I got up I had hopes of a really nice sunrise. The sky looked awesome. But it was just too cloudy. Obviously I didn't get a full sunrise photo but I did capture the sky right before the sun tucked up behind those clouds. And that is what I share with you today.

 

I also shot a video. In it you can watch the sky as it changed colors. I made this with a new toy I purchased last weekend. We were in a Radio Shack store in Quakertown that happened to be one of the almost 2,000 that are closing and they had some really good discounts. So I bought an action cam. It is similar to a Go Pro but cost a LOT less. Not that it is very difficult but I am still learning to use it. Since it does not have a screen I need to learn how to judge what it is recording. I'll get the hang of it though. So anyhow here is what I shot this morning.


Saturday February 14, 2015 Sunrise 
 

And I am calling it a day folks. I hope you come back again to see whatever it may be that I have to share. Thanks for reading.


Until next time...

February 13, 2015 - Photo of The Day

Hi and welcome to another "retro" Friday. I know that Thursday is the customary "throwback" day but hey, I am different. Just ask anyone who knows me.

This week we are only going back a few years to Ocean City, Maryland in September 2010. Today's photo was shot with my cell phone (Can't remember which one) the night before Hurricane Earl.

This is Trimper's Rides. An amusement park at the beginning of the boardwalk near the inlet. You can click on any of the links I have included to read more.

Thank you as always for stopping by and reading my little blog. I truly appreciate it. And please be sure to stop back. You never know what you may see.

Until next time...

February 12, 2015 - Photo of The Day

Today to wrap up our trip to The Joseph Ambler Inn I would like to share a few random photos from inside of a couple of the buildings. So without further delay let's get right into it.

And that's about it folks. I hope you have enjoyed the photos from our recent trip. I often say this about the places I visit but I can truly recommend The Joseph Ambler Inn for a nice mini vacation or even just for lunch or dinner. The people who work there really do a great job to make sure your visit is exceptional. It's a little higher on the price scale but worth splurging for every now and then.

Thanks for visiting and as always I invite you to come back to see whatever I might share.

Until next time...

February 11, 2015 - Photo of The Day

For the past few days I have been showing you outside views from our stay at The Joseph Ambler Inn. today I would like show you a few indoor views. In particular the room we stayed in. This is Room 104 in the Farmhouse and is 281 years old.

The Living Room that greets us as we walk through the door

Doorway from Living Room to The Bedroom

Door out to the Balcony

The Bed of course

Hi Everyone!

The Big Whirlpool Tub

The Walk In Shower

As you can see there is a huge contrast of old and modern. When I was in the bath with the door shut I couldn't even tell I was in a nearly three century old building.

These were all shot with my cell phone. I would like to note that this last image is the one I was shooting when my phone's battery mysteriously went dead with more than 50% power left. You can read about it in a previous post here.

And that is it for today. Please be sure to come back soon. I will be sharing some more indoor photos.

Until next time...

February 10, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Today we continue our trip to The Joseph Ambler Inn. This is another shot from my Sunday morning walk and shows a wider view of some of the buildings. Here you can see the Farmhouse and The Barn.

In my upcoming posts I will share some views from inside some of the buildings. Be sure to check back soon.

Until next time...

February 9, 2015 - Photo of The Day

For today's photo of the day I would like to share another picture from The Joseph Ambler Inn. This is the barn that was constructed in 1820. Originally housing feeding troughs, milking areas, and animal stalls it is now a restaurant and bar. There are also guest rooms on the second floor.

You may also notice the outdoor seating. It's a little too cold right now but come this Summer I wouldn't mind having lunch or dinner there. 

I would also like to share a video I shot on Sunday morning. I made it while strolling around the grounds and some of the buildings. I will warn you that it is about 17 minutes long.

Click here for video

 
And that will do it for today folks. Please be sure to check back soon to see more.

Until next time...

February 8, 2015 - Photo of The Day

Hi there! Well this weekend sure did go fast. Of course they all seem to. As many of you know Kim and I celebrated our Anniversary by spending Saturday night at The Joseph Ambler Inn located in North Wales Pennsylvania. I have lots of photos that I will be posting here soon but for today I would like to share this with you.

This is the Farmhouse. Built in 1734 it is the oldest building on the premises. It also happens go be where we stayed. That is our balcony toward the right. The only balcony at the Inn. You can read some of the history of the Farmhouse and the other buildings here.

The Inn is reputedly haunted. I of course cannot say for sure if this is true but I can tell you that a couple of weird hings happened while we were there. At one point my cell phone that had a 52% charge suddenly displayed a message to plug in the charger and then before I could it promptly turned off. As soon as I did plug the charger in though it showed a 50% charge. Could this be a fluke? Absolutely. But it has never happened before and my phone, a Motorola Droid Turbo, has a reputation for extremely long battery life. I often don't need to charge it every day. The other thing that occurred was a scratching noise on the bed sheets that Kim heard while I was sleeping. What was it? We may never know. The building is 281 years old and has a lot of history. I would have no problem staying there again.

And that's it for today folks. I'll be back real soon with more. Thanks for stopping by.


Until next time...

February 7, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Hi everyone! Today is going to be a quick one. I am posting this from a quaint little getaway called The Joseph Ambler Inn. My and Kim's anniversary is this weekend and we thought it would be nice to take a short trip. So for today's photo I am sharing the view from our room.

This isn't my best work but you get the idea. I have much more to share in another post to come. I thank you for stopping by. Please come back soon.

Until next time...

February 6, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Hi and welcome to my blog! Today like most Fridays I am sharing one of my "retro" photos. For those who don't know, these photos may be a couple years old or maybe a decade or more old. Today we go back to March 3, 2003 to the world famous San Diego Zoo. San Diego may not have the oldest zoo (Philadelphia has that) but it does have the largest zoo in the nation. And I consider it a "must visit" if you are in the area. And here is today's photo.

This is of course a group of pink flamingos. Also known as a "stand" or "Flamboyance". I shot this with my Fuji S602Z.

I would also like to share yet another shot I made of the moon last week. This was on Saturday after we returned home from Longwood and I just got around to processing it.

And that's it for today. I am glad you stopped by and hope you visit again soon.

Until next time...

February 5, 2015 - Photo of The Day

Well it has taken six days but here we are with the last of the photos from Longwood Gardens on Saturday. I hope you have enjoyed looking at them as much as I've enjoyed sharing them with you. Longwood is one of my very favorite places to visit and photograph. There is just so much to see. If you are in the area I truly recommend you check it out.

And there you have it folks. A six day trip through Longwood Gardens. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...

February 4, 2015 - Photo of The Day

Hi all! How about this weather? I don't know about where you are but for early February today was pretty nice around here. 

For today's photo(s) I am sharing yet more from our trip to Longwood on Saturday. I know this may me getting a little long in the tooth but please bare with me as we are approaching the finish line. And without further delay let's get to it.

Enjoy the rest of your day and please be sure to stop back soon.

Until next time...