Towering over us

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Again with the radio towers and wind mills? Yes. Always yes. I can’t help it that I’m drawn to these simple, giant structures. Water towers, radio towers, powerlines, windmills… I like them. There’s just too much visual appeal for me to resist. I love making photos with a lot of negative space and simple subjects. It’s unintentionally become my personal style of photography, and that feels good. This is not to say that I’m the only one who shoots this way. Its more of a self revelation. Like, “hey… I’m taking these specific style of shots, intentionally, and with some regularity these days”… I think I’ve developed a visual preference; and that’s cool to me!

1/4000 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 100, 35mm, Sony A7C II

1/1600 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 100, 14mm, Sony A7C II

1/125 sec @ f/16, ISO 100, 35mm, Sony A7C II

Elmira Junk Yard

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During today’s travel to Hornell, NY, I pointed the jeep up a random dirt road. Steep, brush-covered and winding, I was eager to see where it led. I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the top. I spent about an hour making the below photographs before getting back on the road.

1/1000 sec @ f/4, ISO 100, 35mm, Sony A7C II

1/1600 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 100, 14mm, Sony A7C II

1/160 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 100, 14mm, Sony A7C II

1/30 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 125, 14mm, Sony A7C II

1/30 sec @ f/8.0, 250, 14mm, Sony A7C II

1/30 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 160, 14mm, Sony A7C II

1/30 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 320, 14mm, Sony A7C II

Abandoned Farm School

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It was bitter cold today, so I decided to spend it inside. Ha! It has been ages since I’ve been able to get out with my camera and create some images. Fatherhood is wonderful and takes up nearly all of my time (And I love it), but I really enjoyed myself this morning, stomping around these ruins wearing an N-95 mask.

You can view the full gallery of this morning’s images here.

HDR, 5 exposures, f/4.0, ISO 160, 14mm, Sony A7CII

1/500 sec, f/4, ISO 100, 14mm, Sony A7CII

1/30 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1000, 14mm, Sony A7CII

Gdansk

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I spent last week in Gdansk, Poland on a work trip. I brought my camera with me of course. I was fortunate enough to spend one morning walking the streets of this beautiful town in peace and quiet, starting my walk at 4:30am and ending around 7:00am. Below are a few of my favorite images from this walk. Though you can see a complete gallery of images here.

Gdansk has quite a bit of visual history from World War II, that I could actually feel while walking around. Many of the buildings in the town remain preserved in various states of disrepair. It was a surreal experience to run my fingers over the bullet holes in the walls of these buildings. It was quite easy to picture soldiers shooting at each other through windows and doorways. I could visualize men fighting in the streets and seeking cover among the municipal features of this town and others like it. My grandfather was one of them. It must have been just awful.

1/60 sec at f/6.8, ISO 100, 24mm, Leica M11P

1/100 sec at f/5.6, ISO 64, 24mm, Leica M11P

1/45 sec at f/11, ISO 6400, 24mm, Leica M11P

Giant's Causeway - Northern Ireland

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I am blessed to have been sent to Northern Ireland this past week. Based out of Belfast, I drove north, up the coast on Route 2A, enjoying all that the coastal road had to offer. Lots of beautiful views of the rocky coastline, well-kept farmland and healthy-looking livestock. I don’t know how else to describe them, but all of the sheep and cattle that I saw, and there were many, were so clean and healthy looking.

The images below were made at a place called Giant’s Causeway. Volcanic activity from long ago make this place a bit of a geological marvel. Several different types of volcanic rocks adorn the shores and surrounding cliffwalls. Its beautiful. 

1/250 sec at f/4.8, ISO 64, 24mm Leica M11P

1/250 sec at f/9.5, ISO 64, 24mm, Leica M11P

1/125 sec at f/9.5, ISO 64, 24mm, Leica M11P

1/180 sec at f/3.8, ISO 64, 24mm, Leica M11P

1/320 sec at f/5.6, ISO 64, 24mm, Leica M11P

1/125 sec at f/6.8, ISO 80, 24mm, Leica M11P

1/90 sec at f/11, ISO 250, 24mm, Leica M11P

1/640 sec at f/3.8, ISO 64, 24mm, Leica M11P

Leica M11 P

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Yesterday I traded my Leica Q2, Leica MP 240 and a little bit of cash for my ultimate dream camera; the Leica M11 P.  This is their latest rangefinder. I also picked up a Leica Elmar 24mm prime to go along with this camera body. While it’s not the fastest lens at f/3.5, it is a great angle for me. I love shooting wide. So far I am absolutely loving this camera. The colors and tones continue to please me. This image was not altered in anyway; this is straight from camera :)

1/350 sec at f/4.8, ISO 64, 24mm, Leica M11P

770

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I found the simple nature of this building, really interesting. Something about it's elevated design, vertical exterior paneling, and the 770 drew me to make this photo. Again, loving the warm rich tones coming from my Leica MP.

1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200, 40mm, Leica MP

More Power

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Transmission towers, power stations, and complex electric poles will forever interest me. I’m particularly fond of orange and white transmission towers against a blue sky. But, in general I appreciate these structures, especially those of the truss style construction. In the below image, the patterns of glass insulator stacks shining in the sunlight caught my attention.

1/320 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Windy City

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A few images from a recent trip to Chicago where I walked around downtown and Navy Peer with a very close friend.

1/500 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/800 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

Cuautitlan, Mexico

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A recent business trip took me to Cuautitlan, Mexico, where I spent a free Saturday walking around with my Leica Q2, capturing whatever I found interesting. I’m finding that a my eye is starting to gravitate towards minimalist scenes and negative space.

1/800 Sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/320 sec at f/4.5, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2