Walking around the city of Monte Carlo, Monaco is quite the experience. It is known as a playground for the rich, it's famous casino and Grand Prix race. The amount of visible wealth is on display wherever you go. The old saying, "If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it" certainly applies there. All I could think of when walking around was the Pink Floyd song, "Money". This image was taken from the grounds of the Prince's Palace which started life as a Genoese fortress and is one of the city's most famous landmarks. The yachts, buildings and even small "parks" on the rooftops say it all.
Early Morning With the Gods
How many of you look back at your older photos and say to yourself, "What was I thinking?" when I processed this? I do this occasionally and I realize how far my editing skills have advanced over the past several years (some may argue not much at all). I have decided to go back to some of my favorite images and re-edit them. I have found out a number of things as I have done this. 1. My skills are definitely better. While I used some of the same processing software, I know them better now and can use them more effectively. By following other photography blogs, listening to photography podcasts and shooting with other photographers, I learn something new every day.
2. The processing software has advanced tremendously over the past few years. Things that were cumbersome (and maybe even not possible) are getting easier and easier to do. Many will bemoan that use of this software is "cheating" and wish for the days when only Photoshop was used to enhance photos. Of course, there are others that say using Photoshop is "cheating". I believe that photography is art and that non-photographers don't really care what was used to edit a photo, they just know if they like it or not. I am also not against the advancement of the software. Anything that increases the speed of editing gives me more time to shoot.
3. My tastes have definitely changed. My older images seem to have a more warm feel to them and I realize that I didn't understand light as well as I do now. My photography has moved from a strict landscape photographer to more of a travel photographer. Maybe some day I will actually shoot people.
I plan to post a number of re-edited images over the next couple of months. This image is from the Garden of the Gods. Located in Colorado Springs, it is one of the best public parks around with wonderful sandstone and limestone rock formations.
Vanishing Point
I grew up in the Philadelphia area and spent my early career there. I thought I knew most places in the area, so when I heard about it's Graffiti Underground, I was perplexed that I never heard of it. Turns out that it is an abandoned pier jutting out into the Delaware River just a few minutes north of downtown. You have to know where it is in order to find it as there are no signs. My first impression of it was that it was pretty big and colorful (it is also used by paintballers). It seemed that every direction I looked, there were great leading lines creating very cool vanishing points like the one in this image. The light was overcast and from the north on this shot. I am sure on a sunny day, there would be some more interesting plays of light and shadows. I will have to head back to see if I am right.
Time for a Dentist Visit
A quick post for today. We recently visited Disney World this past February for the first time in over 15 years. The last time we were there, Animal Kingdom did not exist, so I was very interested to see the park. I had no preconceived notions and was suitably impressed with the park. This photo was taken as I walked through the Asia section of the park and spotted this Bengal Tiger yawning, obviously bored with the visitors. My first thought was how big those teeth were. My second thought was wondering when it had last visited the dentist.
Lake Ontario Reflection
Last year, I headed out to Niagara Falls to photograph this wonder of nature. I had been to the falls in the early 90s on a family vacation but was not taking photos at the time. I spent a couple of nights at the falls (travel tip - go in April on the Canadian side - I was able to book a hotel at the edge of the falls for $120 including a breakfast buffet). The best time to photograph the falls is early morning or late evening, so what is there to do during the day? I headed out to the town of St. Catharines located on Lake Ontario. I had remembered seeing images of the two lighthouses in the Port Dalhousie section of town. When I got there, I spotted two piers that extended into Lake Ontario. For some unknown reason, both of the lighthouses are on the same pier rather at the end of each pier. This image is of the lighthouse at the very end of the pier. It was very windy and the water was splashing over the side of the pier. In between splashes, I was able to catch this shot of the lighthouse its reflection in the pier.
A Different View of Antelope Canyon
When most photographers think of Antelope Canyon, they think of it's famous upper and lower slot canyons. Slot canyons are very narrow and are formed by water rushing through rock. A slot canyon is significantly deeper than it is wide. Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona and the entrance is just a few miles from the center of town. There is another view of the canyon that did not exist before the building of Glen Canyon Dam in 1966. When the dam was finished construction, it created Lake Powell by flooding Glen Canyon. With the creation of Lake Powell, it is now possible to visit Antelope Canyon from the water. It is a short 45 minute boat trip from the Wahweap Marina to reach the terminus of the canyon. As you can see in this image, the walls of the canyon are quite narrow and high. As you reach the small "beach" at the end, you can almost reach out and touch the walls. The trip is well worth it for a different view of Antelope Canyon.
Saturday Hustle and Bustle
This is an image of the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal looking east. The terminal's official name is "Grand Central Terminal", although many people continue to refer to it as "Grand Central Station", the name of the previous rail station located on the same site. The Main Concourse (shown in this image) is the star of the Terminal. The space is quite large (275 feet long, 120 feet wide and 125 feet high). During the weekdays it is filled with crowds on their way to work or home. I was expecting the Terminal to be relatively empty on this June Saturday but as can be seen in the image, I was mistaken. I am glad as the hustle and bustle of the commuters is what makes Grand Central quite the attraction.
Blue Fog
I often love to capture an image that I hadn't planned for or wasn't expecting. We were on our first Mediterranean cruise and were entering the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. I was pretty excited as I had seen images of the location beforehand showing these large mountains that almost fully surround the bay. We were scheduled to dock early in the morning and I woke up just as we were leaving the Aegean Sea and entering into the long winding entrance to the bay. When I looked out of the cabin window wall I saw was thick fog. Fortunately, as we traversed the fiord-like entrance (15 miles long), the fog began to lift and took on this really cool blue hue from the brilliant sky. I took a few photos and wasn't sure if they would properly convey the beauty of the scene. This is one of those photos and I am pleased to say that it came out pretty well.
Beacon
Quick post and run. Lot's going on today as my niece is getting married and the house I am staying in will be crazy. Arguably the signature lighthouse of Maine, the Portland Head Light is actually located outside of Portland on Cape Elizabeth. The lighthouse is surrounded by a huge park. This image was actually taken on my scouting trip for the following morning pre-dawn shoot. The day was beautiful and, although it didn't have the soft early morning light, I was pretty pleased with the result.
Dammed Up
The Glen Canyon Dam is a dam located just north of Page, Arizona. The dam was built to provide hydroelectricity and control water flow from the upper Colorado River Basin to the lower. It is actually situated on Federal land (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) and is run by the Federal Government. When it was built in 1966, it created Lake Powell which is the second largest artificial lake in the country. It took 17 years for Lake Powell to completely fill for the first time. The city of Page was created in 1957 to house workers and their families during the construction of the dam and now thrives as a tourist destination. Tours of the dam are conducted daily and I highly recommend taking the tour if you are in the area. Security measures are high at the dam for obvious reasons. This vantage point is from south of the dam looking north toward Lake Powell.
Disney's Fort
Earlier this year, we visited Disney World for the first time in 10 years. Our friends, who own a timeshare in Disney, invited us to stay a week with them at Disney's Fort Wilderness Lodge. It was our first stay at the lodge and I was quite amazed on how big the lobby (pictured in this image) was. Even though it is one of the original resorts (opening in November 1971 -- a month after Disney World officially opened), the lodge was meticulous and so well maintained. I was determined to get a photograph of the lobby without the crowds of people that seem to be there night and day. I knew the only way to get a shot of a vacant lobby was to get up before dawn, set up my tripod and shoot away. As you can see in the image, I was the only guest up except for one other person. I left him in for readers of my blog to see if they could "Find Waldo".
Golden Hour Reflection
The Icefields Parkway connecting Banff National Park and Jaspar National Park in Alberta, Canada is probably my favorite road to take photos. That's saying a lot as it beats out California Highway 1, the Alaskan Highway, Montana's Going to the Sun Road and Arizona's Apache Trail. It is probably the combination of pristine mountain lakes, beautiful glaciers and towering mountains that makes it my favorite. I am often asked how far I had to hike to reach some of these lakes and my answer sometimes surprises them -- very little. Of course, there are some lakes that hiking boots and a long hike are required, but many are just a short distance from the highway. The lake in this image, Herbert Lake, is a prime example. I literally had to walk about 20 feet to set up my tripod, wait for the golden hour glow (in this case just past dawn) and shoot the shot. The biggest variable for photographers is the light which can never be predicted. I was lucky this morning to get some great light.
So what are your favorite roads to photograph? If I don't have them on my "to visit" list, I will be sure to add them.
Commuting Ramp
Living in Connecticut, I have often visited New York City for various reasons such as work related trips; meeting friends and family; going to concerts; or just spending the day. Driving into the city is not only challenging but can also be quite expensive. As a result, I take the train from New Haven to Grand Central Terminal. All of the the many times I have been through the terminal, I have never stopped to take photos. That all changed a couple of weeks ago when I had the opportunity to join Denise Ippolito's workshop where we had the full run of the terminal for four hours with our tripods and gear. This image is of one of the commuter ramps from the main level of the terminal to the gates below. Shown prominently are the beautiful chandeliers that illuminate the terminal.
Pueblo Glass
The Taos Pueblo is an ancient pueblo belonging to the Taos Pueblo Native American tribe. Most archeologists believe that the Taos Pueblo Indians settled along the Rio Grande and were descendants of the Anasazi. The Pueblo is approximately 1,000 years old and is located on a reservation of 95,000 acres with about 150 people actually living at the Pueblo. Taos Pueblo's most prominent architectural feature is a multi-storied residential complex of reddish-brown adobe. It was designated a National Historic Landmark and became a World Heritage Site in 1992. As of 2006, about 150 people live in it full-time. One of the first structures you encounter when entering the Pueblo is the San Geronimo Mission that was built in 1850. What struck me most about the Pueblo was that the only color in most of the Pueblo's structures was reddish-brown except for the light blue windows of the Mission.
Backlit Exit
Whenever I visit Europe, I am amazed at the history and architecture that has survived many centuries. Here in the United States we think of 250 years as being old as opposed to the 1,000 years of many of the structures across the pond. This particular church. Basilica Santo Stefano in Bologna, Italy was built by Saint Petronius, who was bishop of the city during the 5th century, making it 1,500 years old. The Basilica originally consisted of seven buildings. There are only four remaining after renovations made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This image was taken near the end of our tour throughout the complex. It caught my eye as the combination of the light coming through the back exit illuminated the decaying walls showing the age of the Basilica.
Ten to Twenty
This image is from the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. It is an eerie yet compelling location. It seems to be a mecca for Urbex photography although it isn't an abandoned building but rather an old prison that is now a historical site and museum. Tours are conducted daily and visitors are invited to wander throughout most of the prison. The prison was built in 1829 and was the largest and most expensive public structure in the country. The penitentiary resembles a hub-and-spoke consisting of an octagonal center connected by corridors to seven cell blocks. Each block contains cells that were 8 x 12 feet. As I walked through the penitentiary, I thought about the convicts that were sentenced for 10-20 years and how terrifying it was. I'd probably go bonkers after 10-20 minutes.
This particular image was a cell block of the non-public part of the penitentiary. We were able to get a tour of this section as part of Denise Ippolito's excellent Philadelphia workshop.
Emerald Tranquility
Many people travel to the Canadian Rockies in western Alberta to experience the wonderful national parks, namely Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. Traveling north on the Icefields Parkway (which connects the two national parks), there is a fabulous side trip (or even overnight stay) that many do not know about or visit, namely Yoho National Park in British Columbia. To reach Yoho, take Route 1 west just north of Lake Louise from Alberta into British Columbia. Not knowing what to expect, we came upon Emerald Lake and were blown away by Yoho’s largest lake. We spent the afternoon there having lunch and strolling around the lake. As you can see, the beautiful emerald water is to die for. Definitely a place to spend more time on on our next visit.
Mirror, Mirror
Just a quick post and run today. This is the mirror that sits outside the famous Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco. I thought I would just give a quick set of random facts (courtesy of Wikipedia) about the casino. - The citizens of Monaco are forbidden to enter the gaming rooms of the casino. - Aristotle Onassis had a controlling stake in the Monte Carlo Casino until he was forced out by Rainier III - The Monte Carlo methods, a class of random sampling algorithms, were named for the casino. - The route of the Monaco Grand Prix (the Circuit de Monaco) goes past the casino. - Monte Carlo and its casino were the location for a number of James Bond movies - A beer in the casino costs the equivalent of $29
Have a great weekend everyone!
Spider Woman's Home
On our recent southwestern trip, we headed out of Monument Valley for a full day of driving to Albuquerque, New Mexico. We had planned to stop at Canyon de Chelly National Monument in northeastern Arizona but there were really high winds and visibility was almost nonexistent. As we reached the town of Chinle, we decided to stop at the canyon anyway. Amazingly, the wind seemed to stop and we were able to drive the full length of the south rim. For those who have never visited this National Monument, it is a majestic canyon lined with towering red sandstone. It is unique in that it is owned by the Navajo Tribal Trust Land and is administered by the National Park Service. The highlight of the canyon is Spider Rock which can be seen at the very last lookout on South Rim Drive. Spider Rock is actually twin 800-foot towers isolated from the canyon walls. Navajos believe this is the home of the Spider Woman, who taught Navajos how to weave and also devoured disobedient children. It is said that the white caps of the towers are children's bones.
The Other Side of Half Dome
Yosemite National Park is one of nature's most beautiful places. Yosemite Valley, where most visitors head, offers more natural wonders than just about anywhere else. From most spots in the valley, one can see El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Sentinel Dome and Half Dome. All of these have been photographed many times over and it is very hard to get an original perspective. One of my favorite "off the beaten path" places in Yosemite is Olmsted Point. This location is about 45 miles from Yosemite Lodge on Tioga Road. Olmsted Point looks southwest into the valley giving a view of the northern side of Half Dome and a view of Tenaya Lake to the east.
On this particular evening, we had eaten dinner in Lee Vining (home to Mono Lake) and we were heading back to the valley. I just had to stop at Olmsted Point when I saw the beautiful glow of the setting sun on Half Dome's sheer face.