A case of stairs

in

These images were made shooting at 1/80 second and 1/60 second at f/16, ISO 100, 14mm, Sony A7R IV.

Adirondack Landscapes

in , ,

Lakes in the Dax seem to dry right up during the winter months. The dead stump, out of which blueberry bushes and a young tree have sprouted, is usually underwater during the summer months. I was able to walk right out to this stump, Moses-style. Similarly, the sand bar from which I shot the bottom image is usually underwater.

1/250 sec at f/8.0, ISO 100, 14mm Sony A7C

1/60 sec at f/11, ISO 100, 14mm, Sony A7C

Case 220

in ,

I will forever love the combination of orange and blue. I saw this old Case tractor this weekend and just really liked it’s shape and colors. A little web research told me that this Case tractor is actually an old one-cylinder, 10 horse power lawn tractor, produced by Case in their Winneconne, Wisconsin Plant between 1968 and 1988.

HDR urban decay

in ,

One thing I like about HDR photography is that it makes the impossible, possible. It allows your eye to see what you ordinarily wouldn’t be able to see. When you shoot HDR, you use a series of images to reveal details in the shadows and highlights which you just wouldn’t see in a single exposure. Adobe Lightroom makes it easy to stack and merge these images, resulting in images like mine below.

Linfield Industrial Park

in ,

Currently under demolition.

Down low

in

A little more low angle photography tonight on the way home from the grocery store… I walked down the wayside to snap a few shots of these tank cars paralleled by the utility lines during the last few moments of sunset.

Ever wonder how tank cars are made? Check out UTLX’s website. I was impressed with the level of detail they provide in their “build process” overview.

1/30 sec at f/2.8, ISO 250, 14mm, Sony A7R IV

Straight up

in

I really enjoy making images using this perspective. …Straight up y’all.

Low angle and extreme low angle photography, using super wide angle lenses, is one of my favorite styles of shooting. Low angle shots always add a bit of majesty to the subject. They can even add a heroic feel to the image. I’m really happy with this image. I love the perspective, the industrial feel, the leading lines that take your eye right to the top of the tower, and the use of negative space.

1/30 sec at f/1.8, ISO 125, 14mm, Sony A7R IV

The office

in ,

Glad I had my asbestos mask and tripod with me for these images. The first image looking out the window, is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image compiled of five layered exposures. To do this, the scene is first properly exposed and captured. Next, the same scene is captured four more times, under and over exposing from -2 to +2 stops. Lastly, the images are stacked, aligned with each other, and processed. By using this technique I’m able to overexpose the scene to capture details in the shadows that the eye isn’t able detect, as well as underexpose the scene for those details in the highlights that are normally blown out (Tree branches against the sky). When the stacked files are carefully edited, the HDR image produced can have quite a surreal look.

HDR image.

30 seconds, at f/16, ISO 50, 14mm, Sony A7R IV

3.2 sec at f/9, ISO 50, 14mm, Sony A7R IV

Abandoned Camper

in ,

I’ve been driving past this abandoned camper for months. Every time, I say to myself: Self, you should stop and make some images of that. But I never do. However, the other evening, as I was crossing the Burlington-Bristol Bridge entering into New Jersey, I had my friend Mr. Camper in mind and finally pulled over to take a few shots.

1/640 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, 28mm, Leica Q2

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

Morning gloom

in , ,

Determined to get out early with the camera, I had the Subi packed last night and was rolling towards Glendale, PA by 8:15, this dreary morning. I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for quite a while and wasn’t going to let some crumby weather stop me from getting out there and creating some images. I thought I’d try to use this morning gloominess to my advantage to amp up the drama in some of my shots. Following this thought, Sleighton Farm School came to mind. Sleighton Farm School is an abandoned reformatory school for delinquent children in Pennsylvania. Click here for the complete history on this dilapidated campus.

…Poor Mr.Groundhog.

1/160 sec at f/4.5, ISO 100, 16mm, Sony A7R IV

1/100 sec at f/6.3, ISO 100, 21mm, Sony A7R IV

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

in

These birds are awesome. I love seeing and hearing them in the woods. Folks are quick to mistake them for Red-headed Woodpeckers which I, personally, am not a fan of. I find them a bit frightening! As someone who’s probably watched a few too many horror films, the Red-headed Woodpecker just conjures up a gruesome, Quentin Tarantino version of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. So much blood. So Gross. I digress. But, see for yourself, is this a creepy looking bird?

Nevertheless, I love the way these birds are built. Did you know that their tongues retract deep into their heads and actually wrap around their brains to cushion their little brains while they’re hammering away at the side of a tree, in search of delicious insects. Not only are their tongues three times longer than their bills’ length, but they are also highly maneuverable, cylindrical, pointed, and barbed at the tip. It’s true!

1/2000 sec at f/7.1, ISO 2000, 480mm, Sony A7R IV