November 30, 2014 - Photo of The Day

Welcome to the last day of November. Has the year gone by fast or what? It's cold outside now but before we know it the summer heat will be upon us again. And as the days get shorter and shorter just remember that in less than a month they will start to get longer again.

Today was quite nice. The temperatures here were in the 40's and the wind was calm. Kim and I drove home from Princeton, New Jersey and stopped in New Hope, Pennsylvania along the way. We really like it there but don't seem to get there much. Today was a great opportunity though and we took advantage. Of course I shot a lot of photos. And today I am sharing one with you.

Located at 10 W Ferry Street this is the Logan Inn.

The Logan Inn was built in 1722 and opened in 1727 as the Ferry Tavern. The name was changed to the Logan Inn in 1828 in honor of Chief Logan of the Lenni-Lenape tribe. 

Over the course of almost 300 years there have been many paranormal claims at the Inn. I am including links here, here and here if you would like to read up on them. And if you search Google you can find all kinds of stories about this famous Inn. One day Kim and I will have to stay there for a night. Just not in room 6. Read up on it and you'll see why :)

I have many more photos to share and will over the next couple of days. But I am wrapping this up for today. It's been a very busy and very enjoyable weekend.

Thanks for stopping by and please be sure the come back soon.

Until next time...

November 29, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Kim and I are in Princeton, New Jersey to see a comedy show tonight and the day consisted of mostly travel and a few errands. Therefore I didn't really get a chance to go out and shoot today. I do of course have my camera with me and hope to get out and shoot tomorrow. I did however snap a couple of shots in the hotel. They are in the process of decorating for Christmas and it looks like it will be very nice when they are done. So for today I am sharing two of those photos.

The first one shows the main dining area viewed from the fourth floor.

And this is the pool. Kim's favorite amenity!

Please note that these have not been touched up in any way and are right out of my camera phone.

I must say that so far the service here has been excellent. The staff has been nothing but helpful and very polite.

I must get off of here for now and get ready to see the show. I am glad it's here in the hotel so we can just take the elevator right down.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

November 28, 2014 - Photo of The Day (And A Few Extra)

Over the last few Friday's I have been posting "retro" pictures. I started doing this because Fridays are usually busy and also to share some of my earlier work. And it also let's me see and share with you how I have changed in technique over the years. Today however I had off from work and had time to go out and shoot a little. That is after some quick shopping.

Today I am doing another "pick your own" photo of the day. That means I am posting a few shots and I'll let you pick your favorite. How's that sound?

I shot these on my way home when I drove through Valley Forge. I wanted to get some pictures while there was still some snow on the ground.

So there you have it folks. Which one do you like best? Let me know in the comments and thanks for visiting. Be sure to come back soon.

Until next time...

November 27, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Happy Thanksgiving! This one is getting to you a little late in the day but I didn't get home until late. I spent the day with family and friends at my Sister's house and had a wonderful dinner with lot's of good conversation and good times. Thank You so much Elaine! 

For today's photo I would like to share this with you.

This is an orchid in Elaine's kitchen. I have always loved Orchids and this is a very pretty one.

And one more thing before I wrap this up for tonight. This is a time lapse video of our trip from home to north Jersey. A two hour trip condensed down to just over one minute.

And that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by and I hope everyone had a great holiday.

Until next time...

November 26, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Well the snow has arrived and it is almost gone. It really didn't add up to much. At least not around here. There is enough to look nice on the grass but the roads are clear. I'm sure it will be a little slippery in the morning but it is going to be in the 40's so even that won't last long. So I guess we slipped by this one.

I did manage to get a picture on the way home from work. I shot this out the side window of my car with my camera phone. And yes I was stopped.

Just enough snow to look nice but not hinder traffic.

Thanks for stopping by. And before I go I would like to wish all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. be safe and don't eat too much :)

Until next time...

November 25, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Here we are exactly one month before Christmas. Is everyone ready? Not me. Almost but not quite. 

Thanksgiving is in two days and tomorrow is the busiest travel day of the year. And what do we have heading our way? Snow. Possibly a lot of snow. Lucky for me I'm not traveling tomorrow. And maybe I'll get some snow pics. Today however I'm sharing one more photo from Valley Forge on Sunday.

This is Washington's Headquarters.

This was created with three exposures. I combined them in Photomatix. I then adjusted and sharpened it in Photoshop. Everyone knows what Photoshop is but many may not have heard of Photomatix. Photomatix is HDR software. And HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a method of evening out a photo by combining two or more different exposures. I usually use three. One underexposed, one evenly exposed and one overexposed. This way I can get all of the highlights but not blow out the photo with too much bright light. HDR can also be used to get some very interesting effects. 

Here are the three original images used to make today's photo.

Underexposed.

Even exposure.

Overexposed.

And that is my quick explanation of HDR.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back soon. For those of you in the Northeast U.S. enjoy the snow.

Until next time...

November 24, 2014 - Photo of The Day

It was another unseasonably warm day here again but boy did it come in roaring. We had tropical storm force winds last night along with plenty of rain. But the day turned out really nice and in the 70's. Well above normal. But enough of the weather and on with today's photo.

Today I am sharing another shot from yesterday afternoon at Valley Forge. It's rare that I am there to photograph in the afternoon. I'm usually there early in the morning. I might try to get some evening shots too and maybe some sunsets. But for today here is a shot of the train station near Washington's Headquarters.

The lighting was a lot easier easier to work with in the afternoon. Much less harsh. I like the subtle clouds here too.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Until next time...

November 23, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Wow! Another beautiful Fall day here in the Eastern U.S. Temperatures here neared 60° and I am not complaining one bit. I know it won't last though so today we took a quick trip to Valley Forge with the dog. He loved it too! All kinds of different smells. And for today's photo I would like to share a picture of him. This is Schnitzel our Miniature Schnauzer.

This is by Washington's Headquarters. I think he was checking out another dog.

On our way back to the car a freight train wen by and I caught about 10 seconds on video. Check it out.

And that will do it for today. Thanks for dropping in and please stop back soon.

Until next time...

November 22, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

What could be better than a nice balmy 45° November day at the shore? Nothing you say? That's what I thought so it was off to Atlantic City for Kim and Me today. Okay we didn't spend any real time on beach but we did at least see it. We walked along the boardwalk for a bit and did a little shopping but to tell the truth we were really there for dinner at Harrah's. Yep I was there for the crab legs!

For today's photo I would like to share a picture I made on the boardwalk. It's just a random shot.

 

I would also like to share a time lapse video of our trip. The is from home to Atlantic City with a pit stop for hot chocolate at a Dunkin Donuts in Deptford, New Jersey. Boy what a mess that was. Unbelievable traffic. And you may also notice two parking garages. The first one was open but the casino has shut down so we drove to the next one up the road and parked there.

Oh, and the crab legs...

Boy were they good!

Thanks for checking in and please come back soon.

Until next time...

November 21, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

It's "retro Friday" again and today I would like to share a photo I shot in March of 2000 in Tijuana, Mexico. For those who have never been to Mexico or even if you have been and it was a place like Cancun I would like to tell you that Tijuana is a bit different. And nowadays with the rise in crime and drugs I don't know that I would go back there again. In 2000 however I felt fairly safe. As long as I didn't travel off of Revolution Blvd. The tourist area.

The most I ever encountered in Tijuana was persistent, VERY persistent street vendors and shop workers. I learned quickly that you don't pay the asking price for anything. Dickering is part of the experience. And I would also like to tell you that at the local bus station I found the absolute cleanest public restroom I have ever seen. Anywhere. It cost a Quarter but is was worth it. 

As a whole I must say that most of the people I met were very nice and I had no problems whatsoever. I find that as long as I am pleasant and courteous I usually receive the same in return. And I always kept in mind that though I was literally within a mile and a half of San Diego that I was indeed in Mexico and should respect their laws and customs and most of all the people. And one more thing before I present today's photo I would like to say that I feel very fortunate to live where I do. I know that we are not a perfect nation and we have our problems but  when you see children on the streets begging for money it sets you back a little. It felt really good to see that seal on the floor of the U.S. Customs building that says "Welcome To The United States Of America".

And here is today's photo.

Now I like tacos. I like them a lot and I am a fan of Taco Bell but something tells me that this is not quite the same. I did not try one. I will say however that it smelled good as I walked by. I just couldn't bring myself to do it though.

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. I hope you enjoyed your visit and come back soon.

Until next time...

November 20, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

My work generally keeps me in an office environment but on occasion I do have to go out on the road for short trips. Nothing too far away just out for an couple of hours or so. Today was one of those days.

Today I had to ride out to Oley, Pennsylvania to visit a customer. I have made this trip before and I knew it was going t be a scenic drive so I figured I'd shoot a few pictures along the way. For today's photo of the day I'd like to share this with you.

This is The Yellow House Hotel. A restaurant at Routes 662 and 552 in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. I don't know a lot about it except that it was built in 1801 and served as an inn for travelers and a general store. I would like to check it out some day though. This is the restaurant's website and you might like to take a look here to read about some of the claims of paranormal activity at The Yellow House.

Thanks for visiting and please stop back again soon.

Until next time...

November 19, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Today I am sharing one last photo from Longwood on Saturday. This time it is another outdoor view of the Conservatory. Like I had said previously it is very rare to get a shot with few or no people in  it. Especially near the tree in this one.

It was a beautiful day but I guess the cold air kept people away.

And this is going to be a short one. Thanks for stopping by and please be sure to check back soon.

Until next time...

November 18, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Wow! What a cold day we had today. And the wind just made it worse. I guess Old Man Winter is really here. So to remind you of warmer weather I am sharing one more photo from our trip to Longwood Gardens on Saturday. I love that I can go there any time of the year and enjoy fresh vibrant flowers.

I shared this on Sunday along with several other pictures but that was in color.

Flowers just like landscapes are not always good in black and white but I love the way this one came out. The variation of colors converted nicely. And to compare here is the color version from Sunday.

Thanks for visiting.

Until next time...

November 17, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

As we go about our days there are many things that make up the scenery around us. Some things stand out and some things are "just there". But just because they are "just there" doesn't make them uninteresting or less important. Look at any landscape photograph and you will notice the sky and clouds, the sun and trees or perhaps a building in the background. But do you notice the grass? Maybe you do or maybe you don't but I bet the photo would look strange without it.

When I was photographing at Longwood on Saturday I made a point to focus on individual things, mostly flowers, instead of wide open scenes. And I saw this.

Dwarf Lilyturf

This ground cover is used as a complement for many of the flowers. After all the flowers would look strange just sticking out of the ground alone. Yet we don't give it much thought and just think to ourselves "what pretty flowers". But look at the beautiful detail. The lines and the color.

What else do we see but not notice?

Until next time...

November 16, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Today's photo of the day is a continuation of sorts of my earlier post. It's also a continuation of a trend I have kind of started here of recent.

Today I share an Orchid that I shot at Longwood yesterday and shared earlier except this time in black and white. 

 
I like the way this came out. I chose this image particularly for it's background. This was shot in the Orchid room (naturally) in the Conservatory. I love the frosted window with the shadows of the next room coming through and the general rustic look of the vintage equipment in the Conservatory that is still in use today.

If you haven't seen my earlier post yet check it out here.

Thanks as always for stopping by and please come back soon.

Until next time...

Chrysanthemums and More - Saturday At Longwood

As I  mentioned my previous post Kim and I spent most of the day yesterday at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. They are having their annual Chrysanthemum exhibit and since we have never seen it I thought it would be a nice day out. As usual the folks at Longwood did not disappoint. In this post I am going to share quite a few photos I made yesterday. A lot of them are from the exhibit but there are others as well.

I am quite pleased with these photos and I hope you like them too. I have been wanting to get out and do a good shoot for a while and I think this did the trick. Sure, I do go out and photograph often but yesterday I felt like I was really on my game. It felt more organized and consistent. Please take a look and enjoy.

I told you there would be a lot! There are more too and I will be sharing some of them over the next few days. Some are different versions of the images here and some will be new. I still have a few to go over in my "work" files. The RAW images that I still need to evaluate and process through Photoshop. It takes time but the results can be very rewarding.

If you live in or are going to be in the area I recommend a trip to Longwood Gardens. You will not be sorry. Here is a link to their website.

Also if you get a chance please take a look at some more of my images at 500px.com. And please be sure to check out the blog's Facebook page here. I will be posting some "before and after" pictures from today's post there. I also share a lot of photography based links as I find them.

Thanks so much for reading (and looking!). I hope you enjoy your visit. Please be sure to stop back soon.

Until next time...

November 15, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Kim and I finally made it to Longwood Gardens today to see their Chrysanthemum exhibit and I must say it is wonderful and very much worth the trip. I got a lot of good shots and am working on them now so it's going to be a quick one today.

When we were making our way from the Conservatory to the main entrance top make our way home I saw this and had to grab a picture.

The wildlife at Longwood are used to people so they are not as easily scared away. It's a good thing too because I didn't have a long lens on my camera and had to get pretty close to get this.

Thanks for visiting and be sure to check back in soon. I have a lot more from today's trip to share.

Until next time...

November 14, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Well we have had our first snow of the season so I figured I would use it as a theme for today's "retro" blog post. It wasn't a lot of snow mind you but it was snow none the less.

Today's photo takes us back to the winter of 1998 at Valley Forge. It was shot with my Nikon Pronea S APS SLR camera. The APS format was relatively short lived spanning from 1996 to 2011. It was a good idea in it's day being easy to load and yielding fairly nice images. I always thought it was cool that you could roll a partially exposed roll of film back into it's canister and load a different roll into the camera and then go back and load the original roll again. This was handy say if you needed to use a different film speed or perhaps change from color to black and white. You also received your negatives back in the film's original canister. You can read more about this unique film format here.

And here is today's photo.

There were many different APS cameras out there ranging from point and shoot all the way to SLR's with interchangeable lenses. I had or should I say have a Nikon Pronea S model. It uses Nikon IX APS lenses but could also use standard Nikon lenses that were designed for auto focus. I would love to take it out and shoot but even if I could find film for it there is no place to get it developed anymore. It is now part of my collection. You can read more about it here.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a trip back in time with me. After all isn't that what photography is all about? Being able to go back in time a get glimpses of days gone by? That's the way I like to see it.

Until next time...

November 13, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Yesterday when I photographed our Rhododendron I also shot a few pictures of our Hydrangea. It is still very full. There are no flowers but the leaves are almost out of control. Last Winter I pruned it way down and it came back with a vengeance. I'm not sure what to do this year.

The funny thing about this Hydrangea is that Kim and I cannot remember if we planted it or if it spread from our neighbor's plant. I know for certain that it was not originally there. There was another bush and we removed it. I just cant remember how the Hydrangea got there. Either way it sure took off.

For today's photo I would actually like to share two photos with you. The first one is a black and white version of our Hydrangea and the second is in color. here is the black and white.

And here of course is the color photo.

I personally like the black and white better.

And before I go I would also like to share another sunrise time lapse. I shot this one this morning. And it sure was a nice cool and clear morning.

Thanks for stopping by and please check back soon.

Until next time...