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Hartford at Night

This is from a series of night photos I shot hand held in downtown Hartford CT. The camera I used is the Sony A7s, which I believe has the highest ISO rating in the world. Basically that means that it's extremely sensitive so that it can see things in the dark. Certainly I could have taken these with another camera, but I would have needed to use a tripod. That's not such a bad thing, but I love the idea of walking around with just a camera at night and doing street photography. I guess you could say it opens up a whole new world in terms of shooting scenes at night. In any case, I'm going to a lot more of this in the months to come.

This is from a series of night photos I shot hand held in downtown Hartford CT. The camera I used is the Sony A7s, which I believe has the highest ISO rating in the world. Basically that means that it's extremely sensitive so that it can see things in the dark. Certainly I could have taken these with another camera, but I would have needed to use a tripod. That's not such a bad thing, but I love the idea of walking around with just a camera at night and doing street photography. I guess you could say it opens up a whole new world in terms of shooting scenes at night. In any case, I'm going to a lot more of this in the months to come.

This is from a series of night photos I shot hand held in downtown Hartford CT. The camera I used is the Sony A7s, which I believe has the highest ISO rating in the world. Basically that means that it's extremely sensitive so that it can see things in the dark. Certainly I could have taken these with another camera, but I would have needed to use a tripod. That's not such a bad thing, but I love the idea of walking around with just a camera at night and doing street photography. I guess you could say it opens up a whole new world in terms of shooting scenes at night. In any case, I'm going to a lot more of this in the months to come.

This is from a series of night photos I shot hand held in downtown Hartford CT. The camera I used is the Sony A7s, which I believe has the highest ISO rating in the world. Basically that means that it’s extremely sensitive so that it can see things in the dark. Certainly I could have taken these with another camera, but I would have needed to use a tripod. That’s not such a bad thing, but I love the idea of walking around with just a camera at night and doing street photography. I guess you could say it opens up a whole new world in terms of shooting scenes at night. In any case, I’m going to a lot more of this in the months to come.

Click on photos to enlarge

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Crowley Boardwalk

This is part of a half-mile long boardwalk through the mangroves of central Florida at the Crowley Natural and Cultural History Preserve. I don't know how they passed through mangroves on foot back in the day, but without this boardwalk it seems to be impassable. The walk is pleasant and shaded with few distractions and at the end a wooden tower overlooking a river and floodplain. Along the way you see native plants, animals and birds and get a small glimpse of what the land was like in years past, back when they had no boardwalk.

This is part of a half-mile long boardwalk through the mangroves of central Florida at the Crowley Natural and Cultural History Preserve. I don’t know how they passed through mangroves on foot back in the day, but without this boardwalk it seems to be impassable. The walk is pleasant and shaded with few distractions and at the end a wooden tower overlooking a river and floodplain. Along the way you see native plants, animals and birds and get a small glimpse of what the land was like in years past, back when they had no boardwalk.

Click on photo to enlarge.

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Holmes Beach Lifeguard Stand

This is Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island here in Florida. Something about coming to the beach helps ease the other things that are less pleasant. I guess that's perspective, and every now and then I like coming here to get a little of that. Perfect way to begin the weekend dontcha think?

This is Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island here in Florida. Something about coming to the beach helps ease the other things that are less pleasant. I guess that’s perspective, and every now and then I like coming here to get a little of that. Perfect way to begin the weekend dontcha think?

Click on photo to enlarge

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Steps and Skateboard

I stepped out for a little street photography today. I’m an introvert so I find it hard. Nonetheless, its outside and I didn't have to wake up before dawn. Good fun.

I stepped out for a little street photography today. I’m an introvert so I find it hard. Nonetheless, its outside and I didn’t have to wake up before dawn. Good fun.

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New Bridge Street Pier

After being closed for about six months for repairs, the Bridge Street pier in Bradenton Beach Florida was recently reopened. And so I turned up before dawn to check it out as any other time this would be full of fishermen and activity, not that that’s bad, but this time I just wanted a shot of the pier by itself. Every now and then I show up here and always go home satisfied having found something new and interesting. In this case it was the pier itself.

After being closed for about six months for repairs, the Bridge Street pier in Bradenton Beach Florida was recently reopened. And so I turned up before dawn to check it out as any other time this would be full of fishermen and activity, not that that’s bad, but this time I just wanted a shot of the pier by itself. Every now and then I show up here and always go home satisfied having found something new and interesting. In this case it was the pier itself.

Click on photo to enlarge.

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Kite Ballet

This is a snapshot of a kite ballet. Yes, you read that right. I never knew of such a thing either. A dozen kites, flying in unison, creating choreographed formations across the sky, synchronized to music. That is a kite ballet. And if you think that sounds crazy, you should see it in action. The skill level of the kite flyers is nothing short of amazing. Hand eye coordination is redefined to new levels; the people flying these are like puppet masters. Puppets, dancing across the sky to music; is that over the top or what?

This is a snapshot of a kite ballet. Yes, you read that right. I never knew of such a thing either. A dozen kites, flying in unison, creating choreographed formations across the sky, synchronized to music. That is a kite ballet. And if you think that sounds crazy, you should see it in action. The skill level of the kite flyers is nothing short of amazing. Hand eye coordination is redefined to new levels; the people flying these are like puppet masters. Puppets, dancing across the sky to music; is that over the top or what?

Click on photo to enlarge

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Emerson Point Quickie

Whenever I need a quick sunset but don’t have the time to drive to the beach or someplace for the “perfect shot”, I head down the street to Emerson Point for a little quickie. It’s a little peninsula that points west into the Gulf of Mexico and no matter how many times I go there, it never disappoints, it’s my secret sunset “go to”. Only it’s kind of an open secret, I almost always run into another photographer and half a dozen others who just come to watch the spectacle.

Whenever I need a quick sunset but don’t have the time to drive to the beach or someplace for the “perfect shot”, I head down the street to Emerson Point for a little quickie. It’s a little peninsula that points west into the Gulf of Mexico and no matter how many times I go there, it never disappoints, it’s my secret sunset “go to”. Only it’s kind of an open secret, I almost always run into another photographer and half a dozen others who just come to watch the spectacle.

Click on photo to enlarge or obtain print

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Bridges of Manatee County

We have a lot of bridges here in Manatee County; here are two I cross over often. These are drawbridges, manned around the clock for sailboats and the local commercial fishing boats. I took this as the sun was about to rise and managed to capture a quiet moment before the morning rush hour when each bridge full of cars going to a fro.

We have a lot of bridges here in Manatee County; here are two I cross over often. These are drawbridges, manned around the clock for sailboats and the local commercial fishing boats. I took this as the sun was about to rise and managed to capture a quiet moment before the morning rush hour when each bridge full of cars going to a fro.

Click on photo to enlarge

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Dakin Dairy

I spent the afternoon at a Dakin dairy, which is a sustainable farm in Manatee County. Next to the dairy they have some farm animals as well as a few calves. This is Luck, she was curious about what I was doing so I managed to hold her attention for a few seconds. Spending the afternoon on a farm with all manner of animals was refreshing food for the soul. I have to get out of the city a little more often.

I spent the afternoon at Dakin dairy, which is a sustainable farm in Manatee County. Next to the dairy they have some farm animals as well as a few calves. This is Luck, she was curious about what I was doing so I managed to hold her attention for a few seconds. Spending the afternoon on a farm with all manner of animals was refreshing food for the soul. I have to get out of the city a little more often.

Click on photo to enlarge

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Mount Creighton

This is the top of Mount Creighton in New Zealand’s southern alps. I used a wide-angle lens, which has the side effect of making the slopes seem less steep. In fact the slopes are more severe and once out of the helicopter, I was careful to watch my step. It is a long way down and I had the feeling it would be a very fast one-way trip. That’s Lake Wakatipu off on the right and Queenstown, our final destination would be left of that. This is one of the last stops as we flew from one mountain to the next checking out the amazing landscape of New Zealand.

This is the top of Mount Creighton in New Zealand’s southern alps. I used a wide-angle lens, which has the side effect of making the slopes seem less steep. In fact the slopes are more severe and once out of the helicopter, I was careful to watch my step. It is a long way down and I had the feeling it would be a very fast one-way trip. That’s Lake Wakatipu off on the right and Queenstown, our final destination would be left of that. This is one of the last stops as we flew from one mountain to the next checking out the amazing landscape of New Zealand.

Click on photo to enlarge or obtain print