Sterling Hill by Drone - Day 152

ISO 100, f/1.7, 1/2000th sec

 I haven't been getting up the drone as much as I would like to, but I did get this dramatic image from Sterling Hill the other day. Route 14a is on the right and Sterling Hill Road goes off to the left. You can see the First Baptist Church of Sterling as well as several homes. A rain shower was moving away in the top right of the photo as well.

Old Doorknob - Day 151

ISO 800, f/11, 1/45th sec

 I just love looking for and finding unique details in architecture. What usually occurs with that are textures and patterns that present in the scene as well. This old brass doorknob on a wooden door checks off all the boxes for me when I captured this image. This is my 26th architecture image out of 100 I want to create.

A Dozen Windows - Day 150

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

 This set of windows is from a church in Hampton I have photographed in the past. However, this time I noticed that one of the window shutters was missing causing a little tension in the scene. It's always good, at least for me, to revisit locations because you never know what you might have missed. This set of windows make the 25th architecture shot I have posted to date. 

Gooseneck Lamp - Day 149

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

 I enjoyed finding this lamp on the back of a building. It's the type of images that I am drawn to create. Its part minimalistic with just the lone lamp but it's also the old rustic feel the scene convenes as well. Again, in my images it's also about patterns and textures and this scene has that as well. This image is my 24th architecture image I have created to date.

Unique Steeple Topper - Day 148

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/180th sec

 This steeple on the Bozrah Centre Congregational church had such a unique topper on I had to photograph it. Plus, the wind vane on top of that and the wonderful sky in the background really drew me into the scene. This image makes the 32nd church I have photographed and post to this blog from eastern Connecticut to date. 

Common Grape Vine - Day 147

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

 I know I am on a flora/nature posting trend the last few days but tend to get locked in on a particular theme every so often. It's been good to get out in nature on walks and let my eye wander a bit. I like the soft leaves against the hard surface of the stone wall - textures and patterns. The grape vine makes my 16th flora image I have posted on the blog. 

Poison Ivy - Day 146

ISO 2500, f/8.0, 1/90th sec

 This plant is easy to identify with its shiny three leaves and is avoided by most people in the outdoors. However, today it made a good subject on a walk I took with my camera in hand. Several vines were climbing this tree, and I selected this classic group of leaves against the rough bark as my subject. This photo is the 15th flora I have captured to date.

Reeds In Abstract - Day 145

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/125th sec

 The image above was taken at a local reservoir on a morning walk. As you might know from previous photos, I enjoy creating images the have an element of chaos and confusion to it. However, if you look more closely there are consistent patterns throughout it as well. This is my 14th flora image to date for the blog.

Knotweed With Dew - Day 144

ISO 500, f/8.0, 1/90th sec

 I do prefer shooting in the morning vice the later part of the day. I am an early riser and part of that comes from my 20 years in the service. Mornings provides you on days with wonderful sunrises but also offers chances to capture images like the closeup photo of the dew on a Knotweed leaf. This image makes my 13th of different flora I have captured. 

Pano Reflections - Day 143

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/125th sec

 I enjoy trying different techniques both in the field and the digital darkroom and that applies to this photograph. In the field I shot three different images of the scene and merge them together in the darkroom. In the darkroom I also applied a high key antique style finish to the photograph to get these results. This is my 6th reflection image I have created for the blog.

Looking Up - Day 142

ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/60th sec

 When I am out walking, I am always looking for a different point of view of a scene that I have visited many times before. The reservoir in Sprague is one of those places I have walked and photographed in the past. As I was hiking through a stand of White Pine trees I happen to look up and saw this composition. I actually laid down on my back to get this shot. This is my 12th flora image I have posted to date.

Top Down Steeple View - Day 141

ISO 120, f/1.7, 1/2500th sec

 Well over a year and a half ago Peter Wenk, a friend and fellow photographer, suggested that getting a drone to expand my vision of church photography. As you can see from this image, I am glad I took his advice to heart. Drone photography offers such a different point of view not just in my church photography but also in my architecture and landscape work as well. This is my 31st church photo of 100 I want to share.

Thanks, Peter!

Common Cinquefoil _ Day 140

ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/350th sec

 I photographed this Common Cinquefoil in the Talbot Wildlife Management Area in Scotland. I used an aperture setting of f/5.6 to help soften the background and place more emphasis on the Cinquefoil. I also use the Rule of Thirds, placing the bloom in the upper right, to create a more visual appealing image. This is my 11th flora image I have posted to date.  

American Gold Finch - Day 139

SO100, f/4.0, 1/500th sec

 I captured this female American Gold Finch at one of our backyard bird feeders. We tend to get 25 to 30 different species of birds throughout the year. At times we have had numerous finches at the feeders usually in the late afternoon. Besides birds we also get squirrels, chipmunks and raccoons visiting the feeders too. This is my 3rd fauna species I have capture and 2nd backyard image as well.

Puffball Dandelion - Day 138

ISO 400, f/8.0, 1/180th sec

  It's hard not photograph a dandelion when it's at this stage so I didn't let the chance slip by me. The patterns, textures and details you find in nature are truly a blessing for everyone to see but a real treasure for photographers. I don't consider myself a nature photographer but when I get a chance like this I go with the flow. This is my 10th closeup image I have created.

St. Joseph by Drone - Day 137

ISO 110, f/1.7, 1/350th sec

 Though normally I am more inclined to get in close to photography churches I couldn't resist using the drone for something a little different. I was a little lower with the drone to make the church seem to be hiding in the trees though this is not actually how it is. This makes the 30th church I have captured from eastern Connecticut.

Shetucket River in Occum - Day136

ISO 100, f/1.7, 1/500th sec

 This panoramic photo of the Shetucket River was taken just above the waterfalls in Occum. I had the drone up about 200 feet and it was looking up the river towards Sprague. I have been working on getting more flight time with the drone lately, but the weather has been limiting that. The weekend weather report is looking promising though.

Round Stain Glass Window - Day 135

ISO 400, f/8.0, 1/500th sec

 In the recent months with actively work on my church photography I have seen numerous round, also called rose windows. However, this one was quite unique with the stain glass that was used in the design. It was also very large as well and stood out against the brickwork. This the 23rd architecture image I have created for my blog.

Worn and Rusty Lamp - Day 134

ISO 400, f/8.0, 1/180th sec

 The Putnam Congregational Church is where I found this worn lamp. It looked rusty and almost like it would fall off the church if the wind blew too hard. The tilt of the lamp, the textures and patterns of the brickwork made for and interesting photo. This is the 29th church from eastern Connecticut I have photographed so far. 

Facade Details - Day 133

ISO 4000, f/8.0, 1/1000th sec

 This scene has so much for the eyes to look at and see. It seems there is something different in every windowpane but overall, the images seem very balanced as well. This is the type of street architecture that image I am constantly looking for when I find myself in a downtown area. today's image is the 22nd of 100 architecture images I will be creating. 

Mirror Image - Day 132

ISO 400, f/8.0, 1/1500th sec

 Though not quite the mirror image I was hoping for due to the items in the left side window I still enjoyed creating this image. The view from the street immediately caught my eye and getting closer I knew I wanted to photograph the scene. The centerline of the building between the two windows helps emphasize the mirror like quality too. This is the 21st architecture image to date.

Built In 1886 - Day 131

ISO 400, f/8.0, 1/750th sec

 Many of the older buildings in eastern Connecticut have wonderful details to them. This particular building in downtown Putnam had some interesting brickwork and combined with the stone craving of the date the structure was built I knew it would make for a unique image. This is my 20th architecture image out of 100 I want to create. 

Pink Lady Slipper - Day 130

ISO 100, f/11, .7 sec

 When I was growing up here in Connecticut, I remember Pink Lady Slippers were one of my mother's favorite wildflowers. Though they were difficult to find we would always try to bring her home one when we were out in the woods behind our house. This brought back some nice memories as I photographed this one. This is my 10th flora image I have created so far.

Sun Breaking Through - Day 129

ISO 100, f/11, 1.0 sec

 Walking along a trail in the Brown Hill Marsh area I notice the fog starting to lift and the sun starting to break through to light up the scene. Though I don't do a lot of hiking this morning was one of the days I just wanted to get out. I was rewarded with this nice landscape image.  

Interrupted Fern - Day 128

ISO 100, f/11, 0.7 sec

 The early morning dew was still clinging to this Interrupted Fern when I took this photo. I love the repeating patterns of the fern leaves and the dew drops are such an added bonus to the image. This was another case where I was walking a trail but looking down not up. This is the 9th flora image I have created to date for the blog.

Lamp on Brick - Day 127

ISO 800, f/8.0, 1/125th sec

 Details and textures are what I love to display in my B&W images and this scene definitely has those elements. I chose a low and off centered view of this lamp to create a different point of view while adding some slight diagonal lines to the image as well. This is the 19th architecture image I have posted to date.

A Set of Windows - Day 126

ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/125th sec

 If you take the time to look there are always images to be found. You just have to take your time and develop you photographer's eye - your style so to speak. This set of windows was found on a no longer used church though you couldn't guess from the image. With this image it is the 18th out of 100 architecture photos I have created.

Iron Ring - Day 125

ISO 2000, f/16, 1/125th sec

 I am always looking for unique details when I am out and about. This iron ring was imbedded in a stone wall at a local cemetery. It was most likely used to tie horses up when needed at the location. This cemetery is quite old and would make perfect sense for the time period. This is the 9th closeup image I have created.  

Boarded Door - Day 124

ISO 400, f/8.0, 1/125th sec

 Though once numerous, finding old factories in eastern Connecticut is becoming increasing more difficult. This boarded doorway is part of an old factory that was burned down a few years ago and only parts of the original structure remain.  This is the 17th out of 100 architecture images I want to create for the blog.

Crossing The River - Day 123

ISO 200, f/1.7, 1/2000th sec

 This drone image was taken in Windham of a train bridge crossing the Willimantic River. Though I was a little higher than I would like to have been, 225feet, I still like the overall view of this landscape. I was hoping for some clouds in the sky, but you have to work with what you have. This photo makes 123 days in a row I have posted to the blog which puts me at about a third of the way to my goal of posting daily for a year.

Faux Column & Update #2 - Day 122

ISO 400, f/8.0, 1/750th sec

 This brickwork is of a faux column on a building in Danielson. I particularly like the detail work on the top of the column. You can find details like this on most buildings if you take the time to look for them. This is the 16th architecture image I have created so far for the blog. 

Though I did not check off any items from my "Bucket List" this past month I have been making good progress on several of them. In particular I have been focusing on church and architecture images as of late. I hope to start a YouTube channel this coming month and open an online storefront as well. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit my blog.