Fergy

Christmas with the nieces

Morgan playing with her new computer game.

Madison with desert.

On their best behavior. 

Lab mode and Channels

started editing using lab mode and channels , here is an older photo that I have been testing with.

Close Encounter beach , Cape Cod . 

Up

October 2013

Yesterday and Today

Winter's Work

I just downloaded the software DXO . for those who have never used it , it is a RAW file processing software. so far I like it and while it adds another step to my processing workflow it also gives me a wider range . 

Since I plan on spending the winter fine tuning my processing skills so that hopefully within a few months I will have develop an integrated flow that is easy and consistent using all the software within my computing arsenal.

There is a lot of work ahead for me before next summer and if we have anything this winter like Buffalo had yesterday I'll be grounded anyway's. 

I promise this is the last edit. finished up using luminous mask .

Welcome to New York

This has potential. 

Winter Comes Early

Cherry Plain State Park

three from this morning.

Kaaterskill Falls

cold and wet today I took a hike up to Kaaterskill Falls . while a short hike , it can be a dangerous hike in good weather as a matter of fact people are hurt and killed here all the time. 

on the way up I noticed these sneakers hanging from a tree. I sure hope they had another pair , it's a long walk without any foot wear.

as it turns out this is the only photo I came away with that I like . Well I guess at least I got out and shot. 

out playing

Between Coats

for the last two months I have been busier then I can remember for years and years, trying to finishing remodeling and painting before the first of the year. at present I'm between coats taking a little rest. 

hopefully I'll be able to actually get out and photograph before the winter sets in. until then here is a photo from awhile back .

Happy Halloween everyone!

5 day challenge

recently I was nominated to take a 5 day B/W challenge . so now that it is finished here are the 5 photos I uploaded for that little thingy.

Enjoy.

Give Peace a Chance

This is the part I don’t understand about Islam or any of the other religions for that matter. Muhammad was a prophet with the word of God passed onto him through the Archangel Gabriel. And since his death in 632 they started killing each other over his teachings and control to just killing everyone and any one that doesn’t conform to their beliefs.

It very hard for me to believe any words from God could be understood in such a manner as we are seeing around the globe today. Especially since one of God’s commandments passed on to Moses is , “ You shall not kill” . I would hope Moses message from God, who is an important figure in both Christianity and Muslim religious beliefs  would be a little more powerful than say , Adu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

It seems to me that God has spoken but no one was listening.

Amen

Another from Tuesday Night

Early Morning Beach Walk

Nice Night to Shoot Stars.

This is two photos taken tonight about 20 minutes apart. one was while walking back from the beach and the other was just stars . blended them together . 

Heading home early from the Cape , more photos to follow in a couple of days.

The Power of Words.

during England's darkest and most dangerous moment,alone against Germany,Winston Churchill single handedly pulled the nation together with these words.


Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, 

We shall not flag or fail.

We shall go on to the end, 

We shall fight in France,

We shall fight on the seas and oceans,

We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, 

We shall defend our Island whatever the cost may be,

We shall fight on the beaches,

We shall fight on the landing grounds,

We shall fight in the fields and in the streets,

We shall fight in the hills;

We shall never surrender.

A Quick am Drive

Drove 6 1/2 hours to take a few photos. Glen Creek Rd. 

Friends and the Vineyard

Back from the Vineyard, a trip that was way too short, already missing what has become my second home. I got to see some of the special friends I have met over the last few years, some I haven’t seen in a long time. Hopefully it won’t be another two years to see Ellen again.

I want to give special thanks to Chris and Greg for the dinner party Monday. Chris worked hard all day shopping and cooking , which was nothing short of perfect. And for all the old and new friends that showed up. Steve , Max , Jane , Jen , Alison , Sue and Adrianne.

While the weather may not of been the best the people are. Thank you all.

Baseball's Second Season

A baseball in your hand feels so natural that it seems one was born with it sitting there. It is a timeless art that carries the memories from our childhood to the golden gate. A life filled with mom and dad, my brothers and sisters, cousins and friends.

Having played some form of organized ball into my mid 40’s I can remember playing the game with my dad when I was in my 20’s, he as the DH, in his 60’s. He passed at 93.He was a Red Sox fan and me, well a proud Yankee fan , spending time with him watching the two teams compete was one of my favorite memories. If I live that long the one thing I know is that I’ll still love the game of baseball and the memories we shared.

As we approach the end of another season we are seeing the end of the career of someone truly special, one of the greatest in the history of the game. Derek Jeter, he is a throwback, a player that would have fit in any era and received the same respect. The biggest regret is that I may not ever see another player come along that special , there may never be another one so special. There are a few players today that have the chance if they can manage to play another 15 years at their current level but as we have seen, that is asking a lot from anyone.

Baseball’s second season starts soon and it appears neither the Red Sox’s nor the Yankees will be there. Odd as that may seem there are some interesting possibilities ahead. We could see an all LA World Series. Or even more interesting a World Series featuring Don Mattingly (Finally) and Buck Showalter (Finally), Mattingly retired after a fabulous career and Showalter, manager the only time Mattingly made the play-offs, was fired at the end of the season. Joe Torre replaced him and the rest is as they say , history.

Whatever the baseball Gods have in store for us I’m ready.

Let’s play ball!

Alison Shaw , Susan Dawson 2013-14 Martha Vineyards Mentorship

We just finished the “2013-14 Alison Shaw Mentorship Program.”It was a pleasure and honor to meet and spend time with each person. I had the joy and benefit of seeing their work and hearing all the stories first hand so I can promise you there is much here to appreciate .

http://alisonshaw.com/student.php/1/Karla--Bernstein

As much as I love photography it has been a long hard bitter/sweet road for me. There was family, work and everything else under the sun that seemed to impede my progress. It was like starting over every time I finally got a chance to shoot. Over the last 3 years there have been 3 workshops and Alison’s Mentorship Program. With time now freeing up I feel that I’m ready, finally, to move forward with all my photographic dreams.

I want to thank all the people that have helped me along this crazy wacky trail the last few years.

Alison Shaw

Susan Dawson

Donna Foster

Eli Dagostino

Claire Cain

All my fellow students for their inspiration , help and most of all their friendship.

And of course everyone else that Alison and Susan brought in for the mentorship program.

It has been a great learning experience and lots of laughs. Hugs and kisses everyone.

Until the next time, best of light and life.

Photography as a career

Having worked for railroads the last 35+ years I have had a job that I was good at and made very good money. No one will ever mistake me for Bill Gates but I want for nothing and have enough to move on from this career and chase down my dreams. 

To be a good photographer.

While there are a lot of photographers that have made great money ,a lot more then I have over the years , I realize that there is a hell of a lot more that don't make much at all. I could of never been a professional photographer , its a lot of handwork and money was never a motivating factor for me when it comes to photography . I would of starved. 

Now that I'm at the end of my career and can dedicate my full attention to my love of photography , looking back , the gamble and choices were worth it. 

below is a link to what photographers averagely make a year . Yikes !!!


http://work.chron.com/much-money-professional-wedding-photographer-make-3280.html

Somerset Dam

I haven't been to Somerset dam  in the Green forest of Vermont since Irene wiped out most of the roads , hopefully this year , real soon , I'll be able to make the trip there and photograph the fall colors.

Rain , thunder and reminiscing

Sitting here listening to the rain , thunder and Van Morrison I think back to when I was 17 and serving aboard the USS Intrepid in the Mediterranean .There was this chief petty officer busting my ass talking about how I work. So he climbs up and lays across the desk , then says , "  This is Skelton on the night shift.".

At the same time the captain of the carrier walks in , sees him laying there and starts to rip him a new ass for being such a clown. It was all I could do to keep from peeing my pants. Sometimes there is justice ;O) 

I love the rain , thunder and reminiscing. 

Family and Friends

over the last month and a half there has been a medical issue that I have been forced to deal with. the waiting is the worst. no matter how much you try to keep a positive spin on things you can't help but think of the worst but you try to prepare and ready yourself the best one can.

the cutting was the easy part and to tell you the truth I was wishing it would come as fast as possible. hopefully Tuesday , when I go back to the doctors I'll find this will all be behind me.

what made it bearable was the help and support of my family and friends. I'm forever indebted to them for their care and efforts.

Thank you and here is a little something for you all.

\

Sunset Reflection

Cape May , New Jersey

Last Season of Labor

retirement: You get up in the morning with nothing to do, and go to bed at night having only done half of it.

my original post for , " Last Season of Labor " was about the road traveled and my dreams and hopes for the future but all week long my friends have been busting my chops and passing on jokes about retirement. 

So I decided on the lighter side instead. besides who wants to listen to my craziness anyway's. 

enjoy ! 

Three elderly men, Eddie, Jenkin and Martin go to the doctor's for their memory test.  It's a miracle they remembered the appointment!  Anyway, the doctor begins by asking Eddie, "What is five times five?"
"191," is his reply.

The doctor rolls his eyes and looks up at the ceiling, and says to Jenkin, "It's your turn. What is five times five?"
"Wednesday," replies Jenkin's.

The doctor shakes his head sadly, then asks the third man, "Okay Martin it's your turn. What's five times five?"
"Twenty five," says Martin.

"That's great!" says the doctor. "How did you get your answer?"
"Easy," says Martin, "just subtract 191 from Wednesday."

                         

                                                                               

... my way, life and death .

whether it’s thirty years from now or tomorrow I plan on enjoying my death as I do my life. they are after all, one of the same. I’m going to leave as I arrived, kicking and screaming.

                                                 as the screaming spring

                                       and everything in between

                                       winter says hello

there is an old saying, “Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die “ I have wondered if this was born from a lack of faith, something I never lacked. and what if I’m wrong? well hell, in the words of Sinatra, “I did it my way”, life and death. 

Peas and Carrots

one of the things I love to do is take photos that I plan on using later to combine with something else.they are stored away in a folder called, " Peas and Carrots".

here are a few of those stored away.

Wishing upon a star

June 1 , one year from today I'll be arriving in Rockport, Maine for 4-5 months to start a whole new life.

time flies when wishing upon a star.

twinkle twinkle .