Rock in the Natchaug River - Day 31

ISO 100, f/8.0, 0.5 sec

 I am finding myself photographing water in motion more often and I enjoy the process that goes along with creating these types of images. I will take several images of a scene like the one above adjusting the shutter speeds to get a different feel or look in each one. Depending on what I am looking for my shutter speeds can go from 1/1000th of a second up to 30 seconds. It is always interesting to see the different effects it creates in the digital darkroom. This is my 4th aquatic image I want to create out of 100. 

Winter Sky Over Sprague - Day 30

ISO 100, f/11, 1/45th sec

 This landscape shot was taken a few minutes before sunset on a winter day in January. The Shetucket River is just behind those large pine trees. To emphasize the sky and clouds I placed the horizon on the bottom third of the image. This is my 2nd sunset image out of 100 that I want to capture in 2024.

Icy Cattail - Day 29

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/350th sec

 This cattail frozen in the ice was taken at the same location as the image I posted yesterday. I liked the minimal aspect of this shot compared to the one from yesterday. I also processed it to get the cooler tones in the photo. I think it gives that winter feel to the photograph. 

Winter Cattails - Day 28

ISO 100, f/13, 1/90th sec

As I was trying to photograph a rural landscape I noticed this small stand of Cattails (Typha latifolia) along the shores of this frozen pond. I ended up working these Cattails for images than the landscape I started out with. I am drawn to this type of scene more times than not when I am out in the field with my camera. Details create the big picture.

This is my 3rd flora image of the 5000 I want to create.

Winter Day on Packerville Pond - Day 27

ISO 640, f/8.0, 1/90th sec

 I captured this image in the late afternoon of Packerville Pond. It was an overcast day and on the chiily side with temps running around 40 degrees. As I was setting up I notice the Mute Swan floating around the edges of the pond. I waited until it started to cross the pond and grabbed several shots of the scene and settled on this photo. The bright white of the swan makes a good focal point for the image. This is my 3rd of 100 aquatic images I want to create for by bucket list.

Mute Swan - Day 26

ISO 3200, f/8.0, 1/1000th sec

  While shooting a landscape image at Packerville Pond I had the opportunity to photography this lone Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). Most times when I drive by the pond or I am there capturing images there are a pair of swans. However, this time it was just a single one which was strange because they are a bonded pair for life. This is my 2nd fauna image out of the 1000 i want to capture. 

Wild Winter Grass - Day 25

ISO 2000, f/11, 1/90th sec

  I really enjoy working with shadows and textures in B&W. I found these grasses along a road in Plainfield. With all the similar grasses the lone group in the upper right of the images is a great focal point for the scene. This is one of those shots that really don't fall under any of my bucket list items but that I enjoy creating. 

Brown Hill Marsh Reflections III - Day 24

ISO 800, f/8.0, 1/90th sec

  This is the third image of the Brown Hill Marsh on a foggy day. As I have mentioned in the other posts I really do love photographing in the fog. It really adds so much mood and mystery to the scene. I use the rule of thirds as a compositional tool using the rocks as my focal point. This is my third reflection image out of the 100 I want to create.

Brown Hill Marsh Reflections II - Day 23

ISO 250, f/8.0, 1/45th sec

  This is my second image from the morning I was at Brown Hill Marsh. This time you can get a better feel for the mood the fog was creating. I have another image I will be posting tomorrow from another scene at the marsh. Using the rule of thirds I placed the pine tree to the right and the reflection helps balance the image as well. This is my 2nd of 100 reflection images I want to create.

Check out my entire bucket list under The List which I update almost daily.

Brown Hill Marsh Reflections - Day 22

ISO 640, f/8.0, 1/90th sec

  Brown Hill Marsh is in my top 5 places that I enjoy photographing. This morning it was a little foggy and was making for some great conditions to create some images. These plants were about 20 feet from shore and the water was like glass. I under exposed the shot by a half stop to make it a bit more moody.  This is my first out of 100 reflection images I want to create.

North Stonington Christian Academy - Day 21

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/200th sec

  The facade on the North Stonington Christian Academy church was very fun to photography. I like the balance throughout the image. So many frames within frames to the numerous pairs of items like the two doors, the two columns and the two planters. It was one of those days that I was looking for something to capture when I was driving down route 49 and I came across this scene...glad I stopped. This is the 9th church out of 100 I want to photograph in eastern Connecticut. 

Eastern Red Cedar - Day 20

ISO 200, f/8.0, 1/60th sec

 This closeup shot of an Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) was taken in the Pachaug State Forest. One of the reasons I enjoy shooting in B&W is it allows you to be more selective in choosing the texture and patterns in the image. The subtle shadows help create that enhance both of these here. This is my 2nd closeup photo and my 1st out of 5000 flora images I want to create.

Eastern Gray Squirrel - Day 19

Iso 320, f/5.6, 1/1000th sec

  Here is an image of an Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus) feeding from one of our backyard feeders. Gray squirrels are a constant visitor and are with us throughout the year. We have up to 5 or 6 running around the yard and through the trees. One year we even had a mom and several pups nest in a hollow of a tree. This makes the 1st of 1000 fauna and the first of one hundred backyard nature images I want to create. 

Forest Floor Still Life - Day 18

ISO 800, f/8.0, 1/80th sec

  Sometimes when walking through the woods you just have to look down to get inspiration for a photograph. This was the case I was wandering along a trail in Mashamoquet Brook State Park. The brown and tan leaves of Maples, Alders and Birch were mixed in with the dying grass. This is my first B&W closeup/Macro photo out of one hundred that I want to capture. 

North Stonington Steeple - Day 17

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/100th sec

 The steeple on the Congregational Church of North Stonington is quite a photographer's find. There is so many architectural details on the entire church I spent over two hours photographing as much as i could. This image has great leading lines, numerous triangles and repeating patterns that all add to the composition. Plus, I had some good clouds in the sky that enhanced the background. This is the 8th church in my quest for 100.

Foggy Shetucket River - Day 16

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/15th sec

 

 The Shetucket River provides me with a great many opportunities for photography subjects. The morning I took this shot it was foggy all along the river and I found this view in Sprague. The deadwood in the foreground gives a good counterpoint to the rest of the image. I love the moody feeling you get when you shoot in the fog. This is my 2nd of 100 aquatic images I want to capture.

 Check out my complete bucket list under The List.

Waterfalls in Occum - Day 15

ISO 100, f/19, 1/4th sec

  The waterfalls in Occum on the Shetucket River always make a good photograph. I shot this before the rain storms swept through the area which cause the river to raise. Once that happened water was running across the entire spillway blocking the view of the rock wall. The 1/4th sec shutter gives the falls a nice silky look but still gives the river details in the water below the falls. This is my first of one hundred aquatic images I want to capture for my bucket list.

Butts Bridge - Day 14

ISO 100, f/17, 1/200th sec

 

 This is Butts Bridge crossing over the Quinebaug River between Canterbury and Plainfield. Using my DJI Mini Pro 3 drone I created this panoramic image. I have been using the Mini Pro 3 for over a year now and it provides a different view of a scene that you normally never see. For me as a photographer it is another way to show a different perspective or point of view of a landscape or buildings. In this case its both. 

Doorway Symmetry - Day 13

ISO 250, f/4.5, 1/125th sec

 

 The doorway to My Community Bible church in Wauregan is the subject today. This use to be a catholic church but was sold in the recent past by the dioceses. The handrails do a nice job of leading your eyes to the doorway and also act as a good framing tool as well. The brickwork adds a textures and patterns to the photo too. This is my 7th church I have photographed on my quest for 100 in eastern Connecticut.

Brown Hill Marsh - Day 12

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/90th sec

 

 This image is of Brown Hill Marsh in Hampton, Connecticut. It was taken in the later part of the afternoon about 2 hours before sunset. There was a very light layer of ice that didn't allow for nice reflections of the sky. However, the sky itself made up for that in general. I still managed to get some reflections of the trees on the right. This is the 4th landscape shot I have taken so far of the 36 I want to photograph.  

Two Trees - Day 11

ISO 100, f/6.7, 1/60th sec

 

 These two trees were found in Preston City in the back of the local cemetery. I have photographed there before and of these same trees. However today I found the clouds much more dramatic for this scene. I also like the tire tracks in the field that lead your eyes to the trees as well. This is the third landscape image of thirty six that I want to capture here in eastern Connecticut.

Swamp Maples with Snow - Day 10

ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/250th sec

 

 This winter scene was captured on Sterling Pond in Sterling, Connecticut. The recent snow still coated the trees along the shoreline adding a cool feel to the image. I further enhanced that feeling when I processed the image in Silver Efex Pro 3...my program of choice when I process B&W images. This is my 2nd intimate landscape photo of the 36 I want to capture. That's one image per town in Windham and New London counties. 

Two Crosses - Day 9

ISO 100, f/6.3, 1/200th sec

 

 These two crosses were on the old St. Joseph church in Sterling, Connecticut. I was walking along Sterling Pond in search of an intimate landscape image. After taking a few shots I was noy happy with I turned my attention to the church. I have photographed this church before but the sky was drawing on eye to it. When I saw the two crosses, one on the steeple and the other on the roof peal I knew I had the shot. This is the 6th church in my quest for 100.

Check out my complete bucket list under the page "The List".  

Steeple with a Cross - Day 8

ISO 100, f/11, 1/250th sec

 

This steeple with a cross is on top of the Cavalry Chapel in Canterbury, Connecticut. There wasn't a cloud in the sky but the contrails from a high flying jet added a perfect tough to the image. I also liked the weathered and worn look of this steeple too.  This is the fifth church I have photographed in my pursuit of 100 here in eastern, Connecticut. 

Foggy Morning - Day 7

ISO 1000, f/8, 1/180th sec

 This moody scene was taken on a foggy morning at Glasgo Pond in Griswold, Connecticut. I didn't have my tripod with that morning so I pushed the ISO to 1000 which allowed me to grab a handheld shot. I used the Denoise tool in Lightroom to remove some of the excessive noise. This is the first of 36 intimate landscape photos from each of the eastern Connecticut towns. These towns will be in Windham and New London counties. 

Two Doors - Day 6

ISO 400, f/11, 1/250th sec

 

 These two doors were photographed on the First Congregational church in Griswold, Connecticut. There are so many things I like about this photo. The framing of the two doors in between the three faux columns while the doors frame the wreathes. All the existing lines throughout the image helps bring out the textures too. There is great balance in the shot as well right down to the handles on opposite side of the doors. This church is number 4 in my quest for 100 photographed churches in eastern Connecticut.

 Check out my bucket list under the page titled The List.

Entranceway - Day 5

ISO 800, f/11, 1/125th sec

 This is the main entrance to the Oneco United Methodist Church in Oneco, Connecticut. This a different entrance style than most churches I have photographed in the past. It is located to the far right side of the church front. The church was built in 1889 and is located on route 14A. This is church number 3 of the 100 I want to photograph in eastern Connecticut

Classic Steeple - Day 4

ISO 800, f/11, 1/350th sec

 This steeple shot is taken of the Hampton Congregational Church in Hampton, Connecticut. It was built in the 1700s and its the classic white New England style church. It sits right along route 97 and it has a majestic look to it in this small town setting. I love the leading lines and repeating patterns in this composition. This is my 2nd church of the 100 I want to capture digitally for my bucket list.

Check out my complete bucket list under "The List".

Lone Window - Day 3

ISO 800, f/11, 1/350 sec

This lone window I captured was on the Abington Congregational Church in Abington, Connecticut. Built in 1751 it is the oldest meeting house in Connecticut. It is located on route 97 just south of the junction with route 44. I have a love of photographing churches and the details found within the architecture. This window with a curtain drew in my eye right away. This is my first church I have photographed of the 100 in eastern Connecticut I want to capture. 

Check out my complete bucket list under The List. It is updated as I add post to this blog.

Sunrise at Eastern Point Beach - Day 2

ISO 100, f/11, 1/6 sec

 The first sunrise of the year I took was at Eastern Point Beach in Groton. The clouds broke just enough to give some great light to the scene. The Great Blue Heron in the foreground landed on the rock a few minutes before I took the shot. It adds a nice touch to the overall scene too. This is my first sunrise/sunset photo in my goal of 100 for 2024. Check out my complete photography bucket list under The List page. 

New London Harbor Lighthouse - Day 1

New London Harbor Lighthouse

 This is the first post of my 365 photo a day project. It also a way to display my big photography bucket list of 70 items to reach by the time I turn 70. The complete list can be found on the tab list if you want to check it out. This is the first out of 500 lighthouses that I want to capture. I took this image this morning from Eastern Point Beach which is on the other side of the harbor.