The Red Haze

This is a photograph of Scudder's Pond, which was recently restored.  Most of the Phragmites were excavated and removed because they are considered an "invasive species."  And the pond was dredged, and replanted around the edges with native plants.  The pond has been looking pretty bare for the last six months.  But wildlife is starting to return, and these trees have changed color with the coming of Fall.  I love how subtle this scene is, with the leaves only adding a faint red haze to the scene.

Arthur Leipzig 1918 - 2014

Arthur Leipzig, a legendary photographer and revered teacher died here at his home in Sea Cliff on Friday.  I have always known of his work, but if you can believe this, I had never had a chance to meet him, until I had an assignment to photograph him at his home in 2004.  It does seem strange that since we both live in Sea Cliff our paths had never crossed before this day. He greeted me warmly, and he knew about my work as a photographer.  I was so glad to meet him and we spent a fair amount of the afternoon spending time talking shop.  He was very generous and gave me some calendars and other items with reproductions of some of his photographs.  I did try and make him smile, but he said he would rather not be photographed smiling.  After the photo ran, If I recall correctly, I got a call from his wife, and they really enjoyed the portrait and asked for a print.  The original photograph was in color, by the way, but it seems more appropriate to run it in black & white because much of Arthur's work was in B&W.

Stackless

They have finally taken down all the smokestacks from the last building left standing.  The building looks forlorn without them.  I will have to run a photograph of the whole site with all the buildings, and smokestacks and other structures, before demolition began.  You have probably forgotten, as have I, how much has disappeared from the site.

In the Blink of an Eye

I was on my way over to Starbucks to get coffee before driving over to the gas station to get an oil change. But you will say: "I thought you were boycotting Starbucks." I am.  Mostly.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw these beautifully painted shingles on a house that I pass a couple of times a day, and that I had never noticed.  I thought it was really nice that someone cared enough to do such a complicated paint job on the shingles.  Then I thought about how much work it would be to do this paint job myself.  I like to think I would take the time, however,  to go the extra distance and paint the shingles this way if our house had this architectural detail.  Please click on this to see it in more detail. 

Do-Over

I walked by the Hosta again today on the way to the car.  The colors were more brilliant because of the gentle rain falling, and so I grabbed my camera to try the shot again.  I think this is the kind of stronger graphic sense that I was looking for yesterday.  Sorry for boring you silly with my struggles to make a photograph that I am happy with of this garden detail. 

This May Not Be a Picture

This is either a very subtle photograph, or no photograph at all.  I was raking leaves in the driveway today, and noticed all the leaves surrounding this faded Hosta in the garden.  I spent quite a while trying to compose a photograph. I started with this photograph, which is the widest view, and then experimented by moving in tighter.  I was hoping to get something more "graphic" in terms of lines and composition, or shapes that would stand out and be more dramatic in some way.  Perhaps I need to think of this more as if it were a delicate tapestry.  I do love all the subtle, warm colors.

Astronomy in the Classroom

Today I went to a school and worked with a science teacher as part of Project Astro to teach some astronomy related material to two classes of fifth graders.  Great kids to work with - really curious and smart as a whip.  They had all kinds of really good questions.  I talked about how telescopes worked - those with lenses, and those with mirrors.  They got to handle lenses and mirrors, and to look through one of my telescopes at a photograph of Saturn taped to the wall down the hall.  Then they had to write about what they saw.  It was such a rewarding day to be around such bright and interested children.