Fall In The Parking Lot

I drove over to Nikon to pick up a repaired camera, and when I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed these bright red trees reflected in some puddles left over from an all-night rain. I parked my car, and got out my Canon SD800 point and shoot, and spent about 10 minutes shooting the reflections. I was sure that I now had my blog photo for the day! Then I went in, got my big camera, and came back out. I approached the puddles from a slightly different angle, and saw a different view. So I spent another ten minutes, and found this composition. This one is much stronger as a photo - it's more abstract than the first one. NOW I have my blog post! Imagine, I had to come to a parking lot to see the most colorful trees so far this fall. You probably need to click on this image to see the more colorful original in a larger size.

The Library

This is the restored library at Oheka Castle, the former home of Otto Kahn, here on Long Island. One of the great Gold Coast mansions, it still is the second largest private residence ever built in America. Before the present owner bought it, in 1984, and set about restoring it, it was in ruin. I was here today to photograph some Christmas candles and got to see how it is coming. It is about 80% restored. Oheka has been turned into an upscale residence and hotel, and it is beautiful beyond belief. I have seen it in former years, as it was slowly transformed from ruin. It was a joy to see how far the restoration has come.

What the...???

Wow! I nearly didn't get this shot. I had just photographed the county executives of Nassau & Suffolk counties at a conference, and was leaving the campus, with a studio flash unit in a backpack on one shoulder, and a lightstand bag and camera bag on the other, when I idly watched this guy walking toward me. Then I turned and looked behind me to watch him walk away, and saw this! Oh man! I quickly shot two frames and then thought, "Wait! What setting is the camera on?" Oh man, I forgot to set the exposure! What a greenhorn! I quickly set the exposure properly, and walked quickly after him, with all the junk hanging off me, shooting, until I got this shot. Whew! Well, that got my heart started!

Fall in the Vinyard

I was on the way to an assignment when I drove by this scene, and couldn't stop. It was the flash of yellow leaves in the afternoon light against the blue of the sky. So I came back when I was done and spent some time photographing this scene. I did about three different versions, and choose this one because of the dramatic dark curve of the vines to the lower right. It was a beautiful day, and this photograph feels like the day did.

Lovely

I had a lovely start to my day today. I drove out to Southold and photographed this wonderful pastor, in her beautiful church. The church was founded in 1835 and I am not sure how old the building is. It has windows that run almost from floor to ceiling, and old wooden pews that remind me of the churches in New England where I grew up. In the process of doing the portrait, I had a wonderful conversation about life with her. One of those special moments that I am lucky to have from time to time. Such a wonderful way to start the day.

Leaving Queens

I am actually doing two posts tonight - two photographs to choose from, for one blog. So the story she told me is that she has lived in this house for 28 years with her husband, and has raised 4 children here. Her friends are in the neighborhood, and she can walk to stores and transporation, and so she can go anywhere she wants. She has spent these 28 years working on the gardens all around her house. The size of the plot is not large, but she has used every available area to plant a lawn and gardens. There are little hidden areas, one with a bench surrounded by taller trees and plantings where she can quietly contemplate the beauties of her garden. Behind the house, she has a storage shed where she keeps gardening equipment. And to brighten this shed, she has painted two scenes of nature on it. I think it was her attempt to make this dull building prettier that touched me. But here is the killer... She said her husband is tired of the cold and of shoveling snow, so he insists on moving to Florida. This woman is really uneasy, having to leave the neighborhood she knows so well, her friends, and the gardens she has worked on all her life. I hope it goes well for her, but it makes me really uneasy to hear of her having to leave this home where she has spent so much of her life.

You Be The Photo Editor

So here is the story... I had an assignment to photograph a woman in Queens who planted a memorial garden in memory of her father and son. This is a photograph of her, and of her garden. In the course of conversation she told me a story, and I was really taken by it, so I wanted to take a photograph for the blog and tell her story. But I couldn't decide which photograph was more interesting, or which told the story better.