The Bridge

Posted on September 28, 2010 by admin

The Bridge

Posted in Landscape | Comments Off on The Bridge

Black and white using Lightroom and Topaz Adjust

Posted on September 27, 2010 by admin

In the Woods

During my hike in the woods of the eastern portion of the Normanskill Conservancy trail, I took many photos of the woods. This wonderful old tree trunk caught my attention because of its interesting structure.

The image was taken with the Tamron 17-50mm lens at 46mm. After some basic post-processing in Lightroom 3 in which I adjusted overall exposure, etc.  I edited the image in Topaz Adjust 4. I used the clarify filter to bring out some of the detail.

The image (now a tiff) was converted into black and white. I also brought down the overall brightness of the photo and then used the adjustment brush to bring back some of the lightness of the tree trunk to focus the viewer’s eye on this key part of the image. I also used the clarity slider to heighten the details.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , | Comments Off on Black and white using Lightroom and Topaz Adjust

Autumn Around Town

Posted on September 27, 2010 by admin

Fall Colors on the Normanskill

Well, it is Fall here in the great northeast but I do not have to go far to capture some of the autumn colors. Although we are not yet at peak, there are some areas with great vistas. The first photo is a view of the Normans Kill, a creek (also called the Normaskill) which flows through some 40 miles of Albany and Schenectady counties. Click on the image to see a great panoramic view.

Trees turning color

The Normans Kill (Kill is Dutch for stream) is a tributary of the Hudson River. I hiked the east end of the Normans Kill conservatory preserve trail down to the creek itself. In the early 1900s, ice harvesting was done here and the remains of an ice house is on the Albany side. Although I was unable to see it from my vantage point, I plan to return next week to the Albany side (which is a hamlet called Normansville) and take more pictures.

The Normans Kill and the Old Bridge

Unfortunately, today there are many invasive species of plants here which have changed the nature of the wildlife habitat. On May 16, 2000, a 400-ft stretch of Delaware Avenue slide down into the Normans Kill due to extreme erosion. This was near the spot I took the photo in the first image.

The image to the right is an old concrete bridge that we used as a shortcut from Delaware Avenue and our neighborhood in Delmar. It is called the “Yellow Brick Bridge” because it was paved with yellow bricks – which I fondly remember. The Yellow Brick Road was constructed in 1805 as part of the Delaware Turnpike. The bridge you see in the photo was built in 1928.

Posted in Landscape | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Autumn Around Town

Reflection

Posted on September 24, 2010 by admin

Reflection

While touring Hildene, I came across this mirror and took a photo of me taking the photo (pretty cliche).

However, the cool thing here is the mirror. It is Lincoln’s personal mirror in the White House and it is said that he last looked at his reflection in it the night of his fateful visit to Ford’s Theater!

Hand-held (obvious) in available light. Post-process in LR 3 with the white balance changed to reflect (no pun intended) actual lighting conditions.

Posted in Photography | Tagged | Comments Off on Reflection

Visit to Hildene

Posted on September 21, 2010 by admin

Hildene

We went to Hildene today on a bright and pleasant fall day. Hildene is the home and estate of the son of Abe Lincoln, Robert Todd Lincoln. It was built in 1905 near Manchester, VT.

This is a view of rear of the house from the gardens that overlook the Green Mountains. The house and surrounding 400+ acres were in the hands of Lincoln descendants until 1975 (when the direct Lincoln line ceased to exist).

Garden at Hildene

Robert Todd became quite wealthy as the chairman of the Pullman Company (reputed to be the largest manufacturing company at the turn of the 20th century). There is a 1,000 pipe organ in the entry way which plays periodically (although from electronic versions of the original music rolls).

Hildene (which means hills and valley) has a formal garden which is in the form of a Gothic cathedral stained glass window. Additional photos are in my SmugMug Gallery in the Landscape category.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Visit to Hildene

Neck and Neck

Posted on September 17, 2010 by admin

Neck and Neck

This photo was taken at the Saratoga Race Course during last days of the meet. The two horses in the lead were racing on the outer grass course and were heading to the finish.

Click on the image to see a larger version. I promise it looks great that way!

I post-processed in LightRoom 3 and produced the painterly effect by using the Topaz Simplify filter.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , | Comments Off on Neck and Neck

Ring-Billed Gull

Posted on September 16, 2010 by admin

Ring-billed Gull In Flight

These birds are ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis). Although called seagulls, most never see the sea. Ring-billed gulls are very common in North America.

They have a yellow bill with a black ring near the tip. These are examples of adult non- breeding birds (breeders have red ringed eyes).

Gulls tend to be scavengers but will eat most any insect, fish, and even small rodents. These guys may migrate to the Gulf of Mexico during the winter – but who knows, they may like the Albany winter!

Ring-billed Gull

There are several similar species of gull: the Herring Gull (no black band around the bill), the California Gull (a red spot on the bill) and the Mew Gull (smaller than the others). Click to hear the sounds these gull make.

These birds were scavenging at Saratoga Race Course, who knows why or where they find their normal near-water home.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Ring-Billed Gull

Grasshopper Party

Posted on September 15, 2010 by admin

Grasshopper Couple

This couple were hopping along and landed on some gravel nearby. I believe they are Melanoplus differentialis, the common differential grasshopper.

I think the one at the top of the photo is female and other is male. Click on the photo to see a larger view and look at the end of the abdomen of each – the male has a sort of clasping mechanism while the female does not.

The differential grasshopper can be found over most of the continental US. These insects have 6 nymphal instars and these appear to be adults. In these specimens you can easily make out the typically large eyes and short antennae. They have three sets of legs (foreleg, midleg and hindleg – the big ones for hopping).

Just past the head is the pronotum (part of the thorax) and behind that is the large forewing. Beneath the forewing is the spiricle portion of the abdomen.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , | Comments Off on Grasshopper Party

House on the Lake

Posted on September 14, 2010 by admin

House on the Lake

The photo was taken on the grounds of the Thacher Nature Center. Down a short trail to a lake took us to this view. The house is framed by the tree whose leaves are starting to turn in the early fall.

Enhanced with Topaz Adjust 4.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on House on the Lake

New England Aster

Posted on September 14, 2010 by admin

New England Aster

This is a photograph of the central part of the New England Aster flower. It was “enhanced” using Topaz Adjust 4 and Photoshop CS5.

This species of aster has more than 40 deep purple rays surrounding the central disk. In this “bees-eye” view you can easily see the open disk flowers with their stamen and pistil.

This image is available as greeting cards. Contact me if you would like this as an Artist Trading Card – ACEO.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , | Comments Off on New England Aster