I’ve pulled together some of what I think are images that I tried something different or really spend some time working the location to really capture the feeling of the location.
This was taken just north of Pittsford Vermont on a quiet summer morning. To me the three silos reminded me of giants standing quietly in the distance.
Shot just west of Leicester Vermont. I had stumbled across this location a few years back and felt it would make an interesting photograph as you don't see many windmills dotting the Vermont landscape. I've traveled back on a few different occasions but could never get the right weather condition to get the windmill to stand out from the mountains behind it. On this day the sky was clear, but a layer of fog had settled in between the mountains and windmill really helping to create a good amount of contrast between the foreground and the background.
These two images were taken at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah Georgia. A must see for anyone visiting the area. The few hours that I walked around grounds was candy for my lens. I was really drawn to how the years of weathering added to the emotional feeling of some of the statues. Shooting in black in white I think added to the feeling of sorrow.
Both of these images were taken while visiting Tybee Island off the coast of Georgia this past fall. The light was amazing and as you can see the whole area was bathed in the beautiful early dawn light. Coupled with high winds and waves I was able to come away with two amazing images. The first image came after the second image as I really forced myself to stay and look around for different shots despite the 25 mile per hour winds and 40-degree temperatures trying to force me off the beach. The second image was what I had set out to capture which was the brilliant color and moodiness of the sky.
I do want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has supported my work over the years! I hope you enjoy these images and please feel free to share this post with others.
Cover image by Roger Irwin
]]>I'm very grateful to Vermont Life for their support!
Cover image: Jeb Wallace-Bodeur
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I had gone up to Tinmouth to photograph an old barn that I thought would look pretty nice set against the autumn foliage. Taking a minute to look behind me, I was presented with a much more interesting scene. My eyes were captured by the lines in the field and how they lead my eyes straight to the explosion of color on the ridgeline beyond.
“The camera has always been a guide, and it’s allowed me to see things and focus on things that maybe an average person wouldn’t even notice.”– Don Chadwick
Thank you for taking a peak a please feel free to share!
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Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
Albert Camus
Thanks for taking a peek and please feel free to share.
For me photography is not about being published or selling my work, it is more of a creative release. It’s what helps me to escape the real world and immerse myself into a world of my own creativity. That being said, it is an extremely wonderful feeling to see one of my images published or when someone purchases one for their collection. My thanks to Vermont Life for choosing my image and using it in their recent issue!
Thanks for taking a peek and please feel free to share.
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Looking from the outside in, being the captain of a small lobster boat could be seen as a very romantic life. Just you, one other person, and the sea. But I think the reality is far from the romantic image. On this particular morning the fog had set in overnight and at best clear visibility was down to about 20 yards (think the red zone in football). Now I know that most of these boats have GPS, but still heading out at 5 in the morning in this type of weather has got to add some anxiety to the day. I look at lobstering in Maine much in the same way as I look at farming in Vermont, in that it is extremely hard work and very dependent on mother nature for success. I had the opportunity to chat with some of the captains as they were getting ready to row out to their boats. They all looked bone-tired and the day hadn’t even begun.
As a landscape photographer, I also wanted to explore Florida’s coastal landscape. Since we were driving, I thought it would be nice to stop on the way home and do a little work. After a few hours of keyword searching on Google, I came across a photo titled “Boneyard Beach”. How could I resist clicking on the link? I was pleased to find some amazing images of a beach north of Jacksonville that was littered with dead wood. Since we were planning on stopping outside of Jacksonville for a night this worked out perfectly.
This was an incredible find! The beach is part of Big Talbot Island State Park just northeast of Jacksonville. There was such an amazing contrast between the deadwood and the sand and surf. The island is part of Florida’s barrier islands and this particular stretch of beach is constantly being eroded by the surf, causing the trees to break free and fall onto the beach. Stepping on the beach all you could see was deadwood from one end to the other. Having just a short time before the sunset and the time the park was set to close, I quickly got to work exploring the beach. I can say for certain that I was just like a kid in a candy store as I worked the scene looking for creative compositions.
Photographic opportunities are only limited by one’s own imagination. Some of the best photographers of our time, people like Ansel Adams, Clyde Butcher and Minor White all have one thing in common; imagination. The ability for them to look at a scene and use only light and a camera to create an image that makes you stop and think. I’m by no means in the same league, but I do experience the joy they must have felt when it all came together. The tricky part with photography is how to photograph something in such a way that it lets the viewer into your mind’s eye, so they see what you see. I’m not sure if I accomplished that with this photo.
As I walked back to my truck, on a recent outing, I stopped for a second to re-adjust my backpack. Looking off to my left I saw a scene that reminded me of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. All I could imagine was the Ents moving across the wasted landscape on their way to battle Saruman. Imagination is a very powerful tool –a tool that is fun to play with.
]]>Being a photographer in Vermont certainly has its challenges; snow, and a -14° wind chill are just to name a few. But one of the best things about Vermont is its seasons and their vast diversity. Winter is by far the toughest, the cold temperatures, short daylight hours, and the overall lack of color can be downright depressing. But it’s those qualities that I think make winters in Vermont magical.
Things look different in the winter; you can see more of the tones and texture of the landscape. With the leaves off the trees you can see farther into the forest. Things that were once obscured are now visible and old tired barns no longer blend into the landscape. There is toughness about this barn; one that I feel many Vermonters share. But it is this toughness that many of us embrace so that we can fully enjoy winter and still be standing when spring arrives.
]]>For winter I chose Frozen as it shows the harshness of Vermont winters. For me is a great season for black and white images. The colors of autumn have passed, leaving the dramatic contrast between the bright snow and the dark greens and grays of the mountain landscape. Shooting in black and white really brings out the tones and textures of the landscape that can be hidden by color during other times of the year.
Spring is a time of rebirth. The days are growing longer and the sun feels warmer. It is these longer and warmer days that allow the landscape to awaken from its long winter nap. For spring I chose Sunbust Morning. Again a black and white image that strongly displays the sun’s rays helping to awaken the landscape.
For me, I see summer as the season of work. The days are long and the farmers are busy from sunrise to sunset tending to their crops and livestock. Summer Morning is one of those iconic Vermont scenes. I took this as the full moon was setting behind a classic Vermont barn. Vermont is still largely an agrarian state, with many families working the land to make a living during the short growing season. The barn to me is the hub of the farm. It is used for everything from caring for livestock to storage of feed and equipment.
Autumn signals the change to winter. It is by far the most colorful time of the year. To me, it seems ironic that the most colorful time of the year falls just before the time of year that has the least amount of color. Autumn Lane displays beautifully the abundance of color that fills the Vermont landscape. The air is cooler, the days are shorter and it’s a great time to get outside and explore. This was one of those mornings where I was just out exploring the back roads of Vermont and enjoying the abundance of color that filled the landscape around me.
I want to thank everyone who has helped to make 2014 a wonderful and successful year for me.
Thanks for taking a peek!
]]>Moonlight Madness
Tomorrow is Moonlight Madness in downtown Rutland. All the stores will be open till 9:00 pm. I’ve been busy adding new prints to my gallery and I would encourage everyone to stop by the Vintage Depot and take a peek. I have a lot of great prints that would make fabulous gifts for the holidays!!
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One part of me is sad to see the color fade from the mountains, as the days grow shorter. At the same time, I’m filled with excitement as winter starts to descend on Vermont. With any luck in just a few short weeks, our state will be transformed into a wonderland of pure white. This is a great time to get out and explore with my camera in hand. Winter is well suited for black and white photography allowing me to capture the dramatic contrast of the tones and texture of the Vermont landscape without the distraction of color. I’m looking forward to what winter will bring this year.
I’m always amazed how quickly the seasons change in Vermont. Just a few short months ago the mountains were filled with the lush green color that our state is named for. Now we are awaiting the first winter storm that will blanket the area in a soft but cold layer of snow. Winters in Vermont can be long and cold and for many photographers, they are a time to hibernate.
For me winter is a magical season that allows me to capture another side of Vermont that many Vermonters take for granted (and many others despise).I’m looking forward to another winter in Vermont, another winter outside, camera in hand capturing the ever-changing landscape, that many people don’t have the opportunity to experience.
As we move from fall to winter I’d like to share one last photo from this summer to help those who hibernate get through the cold winter months. This was taken on a beautiful July morning just after sunrise in the heart of the Green Mountains.
]]>I set out early Sunday morning to capture the setting of the “super moon”, but as usual Mother Nature had other plans. On my way out of town, I was able to get a quick glimpse of the moon, but it was never to be seen again. Over the past two months, Vermont has seen it’s fair share of rain and thunderstorms. This morning was no different. My plan was to travel up into Tinmouth and set up so I could shoot the “super moon” as it set behind the mountain ridge that runs behind the town. Once I got to my spot I could tell as the storm clouds began to move in I needed to go to plan “B”.
Plan “B” consisted of moving on to an old two-story barn that was just down the road. With the skies darkening I knew I would at least have a very interesting sky to compliment this majestic old barn. One of my goals has been to reshoot this barn and turn the photo into a black and white image. My timing couldn’t have been better. The stormy skies overhead, dark trees surrounding the barn on both sides and just a hint of the sun lighting the barn made for a wonderful shot. Mother Nature wrecked my initial plans but made up for it in the end. This is one of the great joys of photography in Vermont.
Thanks for looking in!!
]]>I set out with the goal to photograph Okemo just as the sun was beginning to rise. In hopes of capturing the morning sun reflecting off the trails and turning the mountain into a fiery glow. I had been watching the weather for a few days and felt this was going to be the day. Up and out the door before sunrise, I could just imagine the warm reflection of the morning sun off the mountain. Much to my dismay Mother Nature was not cooperating this morning. With the mountain surrounded by a breaking storm; I was not going to get the shot I had imagined. Instead what I came away with was a great monochrome shot showcasing the wonderful texture of the mountains and the valleys as they transition from winter to summer.
]]>This was taken just after sunrise in Pawlet. I stumbled a cross this vintage Vermont barn with the remains of an old wooden silo. The sun had just begun to rise over the ridge to my right. Casting a wonderful glow on the snowy cliffs above the farm. Sunrise on Haystack
]]>I’m happy to announce that one of my favorite prints will be auctioned off this weekend to help raise money for Scott Raymond and his family. Scott was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The silent auction and fundraiser will take place Saturday, March 8th. All money raised will help the family with medical bills and expenses.
The print that will be auctioned off is the Brown Bridge in Shrewsbury Vermont before it was damaged by Hurricane Irene. I shot this photo just a year before it was damaged by the storm. This was just one of many covered bridges that were either damaged or destroyed by the hurricane.
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