Sandy and Lighthouse Reflections

Cape May Light, Cape May, New Jersey

Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast unlike ever before. Particularly hard hit was the Jersey Shore. I grew up in South Jersey and remember spending over 15 years vacationing in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island. I haven't been back to Beach Haven since I was a teenager but still have fond memories. My wife and I still have large families in New Jersey. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law own second houses in Wildwood and Cape May respectively. I was happy to hear that they had minimal damage to their houses. I was actually visiting New Jersey the weekend Hurricane Sandy was headed there. I went down to visit my Mom and catch an Eagles game with my brother-in-law. Needless to say, I never made the game as I hightailed it out of there back to Connecticut after helping him put up a tarp to block some of the rain (the tarp actually survived the wind).

I hope that the Jersey Shore recovers quickly and becomes even better than before. I haven't shot there in a couple of years so I am posting a re-edited image. This image is of the Cape May Light reflecting brightly after a big storm the night before. At least for me, it is symbolic that the Jersey Shore will shine again soon.

The Backside

A little change of pace for today's image. I don't shoot flowers very often but when you visit a sunflower farm, flowers are the main subject. There are so many excellent flower photographers out there that it is hard to get a different perspective. Although I know this composition is not original, I kind of like showing the backside of this particular sunflower with it's carpals (okay, I had to look this up) and receptacle.

Blustering Wind

Fort Pickering Light, also known as Winter Island Light, is pictured in this image on a very windy day near Salem, Massachusetts. The lighthouse is located just offshore Winter Island which is now connected to the mainland. Winter Island was the site of Fort Pickering which is now abandoned. The 28 foot light was built of iron lined with brick in 1871 to serve as a guide into Salem harbor. The original lighthouse keeper was a Civil War veteran who watched the light from 1871 - 1919, only being absent for 5 days during that period. It was later taken over by the Coast Guard who abandoned the light in 1969.

Fort Pickering Light, Salem, Massachusetts

Waterton Overlook

Waterton National Park, Albeta

I have previously posted images of the smallest and least famous national park in Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park. It's location in southern Alberta, makes it a forgotten park when compared to Canada's national parks to north (Banff & Jasper) and the famous U.S. Glacier National Park that abuts Waterton. While Waterton is famous for it's lakes, It would be a mistake not to mention the mountains that are prevalent throughout the park. We stayed at a quaint lodge in Waterton Townsite and really enjoyed it's location on Upper Waterton Lake and the majestic mountains that surround the town. I had to get a shot of the town and this location provided the perfect viewpoint. Also pictured is Emerald Bay just to the foreground to the town.

Strasbourg View

Strasbourg, France

Whenever we embark on a cruise, there are always a number of ports that we probably wouldn't have visited on our own. Oftentimes, we become quite taken with a location and wonder why it wasn't on our "must visit" list. Our recent Rhine River cruise provided such a place, Strasbourg, France. We docked on the Rhine in Kehl, Germany and after a quick bus ride over the bridge, we were in Strasbourg. Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region of France. It's beautiful historical center was named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. From it's historical buildings such as the Strasbourg Cathedral to our new favorite food, tartes flambées (a wafer thin pizza made with onion-cream sauce) to it's beautiful canals (shown in this image), it is easy to understand why Strasbourg is a destination not to be missed.

After the Rain

Some of my favorite times to shoot are right after it rains. That is because the standing water often results in some wonderful reflections. I love shooting reflections and I think that this is true of most photographers. This image was taken after an overnight rain in Newport, Rhode Island. As I drove past this small park, I noticed the standing water leading to the gazebo. I immediately parked the car, hopped out and shot a few frames. This image seemed the best of the lot. I think my wife has gotten whiplash from me slamming the brakes to get a shot.

Newport, Rhode Island

Fallen

Norfolk, Connecticut

Here in New England, the peak foliage has passed and all that is left are dying leaves. This is a quick shot of a bench in Norfolk, Connecticut with some of the fallen.

Alps Overlook

Mount Pilatus, Lucerne, Switzerland

In previous blog posts, I described the trip we took to Mount Pilatus that towers over Lucerne, Switzerland. The mountain got its name from a legend that states that Pontius Pilate was buried there. After taking a cruise on Lake Lucerne and riding the steepest cog railroad in the world, you reach the observation deck just below the summit of the mountain. After spending time at the summit, the trip continued with a 48 person gondola ride (which can be seen just leaving the mountain) down the other side of the mountain. About halfway down, you switch to a 4 person gondola to waiting buses on the ground. The observation deck, pictured in this image, gives a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. To the south, the world famous Alps can be seen in the distance. Almost straight down, a small portion of Lake Lucerne is visible. A little to the west (not shown in the image) is the city of Lucerne. Just to the right (also not in the image) is a Swiss Army base. Male citizens are required to serve in the army annually until the age of 34.

Tranquility

Herbert Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta

Today we return to one of my favorite drives on Earth, the Icefields Parkway in Alberta, Canada. The 140 mile road links two of the most beautiful national parks in Canada: Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. The road runs parallel to the Continental Divide. The natural attractions along the route include glaciers, waterfalls, icefields, canyons and too many lakes and mountains to count. Many of these attractions are a short walk or drive off of the parkway. This image is of Herbert Lake, just north of Lake Louise. It is literally 20 feet from the road. There is no better time to shoot the lake than at sunrise. The lake is usually abandoned that early in the morning and the peace and tranquility lends itself to become one with nature.

Panoramic Sendona

Sedona, Arizona

When booking a trip, a little luck comes into play especially when you are booking a hotel. Often when you go online to check out the place, there are great images of the facilities and the surrounding area. I've stayed in some places that look good and when I get there, I am disappointed that the property is nothing like the pictures and the reviews. There are other times they surprise you in a good way. Such was our stay in Sedona. The Orchards Inn was located in Old Town and the entrance was hard to find as it is tucked behind stores and restaurants. It looked okay from the outside but not what I was hoping for. We checked into the hotel and moved our luggage to the room. The room was nice, maybe a little better than average. And then I opened the sliding doors and walked out onto the balcony. I stopped in my tracks and stared at the wonderful view that I had. I quickly ran back into the room and grabbed my camera and tripod and rushed back onto the balcony. I shot off a few photos and realized that I wasn't getting what I wanted, so I decided to shoot a panorama to see if I could capture what I felt and saw. I don't usually shoot panoramas, not sure why, but after this experience, I need to shoot more of them. Anyway, this is the result. This 21 image panorama captured the scene as I hoped it would with the great evening light giving the famous Red Rocks their great glow.

Erosion

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

To finish this week's posts, we leave Europe and travel across the pond to Arizona and the Grand Canyon. There are many theories of how the Grand Canyon was formed, but the most prevailing one is erosion. The present day canyon is the result of nearly two billion years being exposed to water, ice and wind. Many geologists believe that the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago cut channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. I tried to keep this geological feat in mind when I composed this image of the Colorado River on the eastern end of the park. It is hard to believe that it could have formed such a dramatic landscape but I guess a lot can happen over 17 million years.

Magnificence

Basilica di San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy

The influence of the Catholic Church can be found throughout Europe. It seems that every city had a wonderful cathedral and there was tremendous competition to build one that was considered better that the neighboring towns. While this kind of competition was probably not in line with the tenants of the Catholic religion, it resulted in some amazing structures that are still around today. One such church is the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. The Basilica dates from the mid-6th century and contains what are probably the finest Byzantine mosaics in the western world. Construction of San Vitale Basilica was initiated by Ecclesius, Bishop of Ravenna, shortly after a trip to Byzantium with Pope John in 525. The outside of the Basilica is very understated and contrasts dramatically with the magnificence of the inside. Upon entering the Basilica, you are exposed to some of the most beautiful murals made of Byzantine mosaics that you will ever encounter. The inside was very dark and since tripods were not allowed, I pushed the ISO as high as I could and used pillars to lean on and steady myself. While not as sharp as I would have liked, I think the image came out pretty well, all things considered.

Imposing Entrance

Culzean Castle, Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland

One of the cool things about Europe are the amazing old castles that can be found just about anywhere on the continent or British Isles. One of my favorite castles is Culzean Castle which is located on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. Little did I know when we pulled into the parking lot and walked down a long path, I would see one of the most imposing castle entrances ever. The massive stone gate stands guard to the beautiful castle inside. The castle was built in stages between 1777 and 1792 and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, which has done a magnificent job restoring and maintaining it. The castle now is home to a hotel and offers tours that transport you to a time long ago. Since 1987, an illustration of the castle can be found on the reverse side of five pound notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Chapel on High

Mount Pilatus, Lucerne, Switzerland

In yesterday's post, I described the tour we took from Lucerne to the top of Mount Pilatus, which towers 7,000 feet above the city. After taking the cruise of Lake Lucerne and riding up the steepest cog railroad in the world, you reach the summit of Mount Pilatus. There you have a full 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. To the south, one can see the snow-capped mountain tops of the Alps (from a geological aspect, Mount Pilatus is the northernmost branch of the Alps). Looking toward the north, I was surprised to spot one of the most remote chapels I have ever seen. Perched on a ridge is The Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor. The chapel was built in 1861 and has been renovated a number of times, the most recent renovation being in 2004. I was unable to find out if it is open; whether or not services are performed there; or if there is even a parish associated with it. Suffice to say, one must really be dedicated to attend church there, especially in the winter.

Rolling Hills

Lake Lucerne, SWitzerland

My recent trip to Europe ended with a few nights in Lucerne, Switzerland. Up until then, I hadn't seen the type of landscape and mountains that I envisioned before visiting Switzerland. After spending our first day in the city of Lucerne, we signed up for a tour to travel to Mount Pilatus, which towers 7,000 feet above the city. The tour consisted of a cruise of Lake Lucerne followed by a ride on the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cog railway. During the cruise of Lake Lucerne, we passed some of the most picturesque landscapes I have seen. Along with the mountains that surround the lake were beautiful green rolling hills that were spotted with chalets. This image captured some of the wonderful countyside bordering the lake.

Triple Vision

And now for something completely different. No your eyes aren't out of focus and I wasn't drinking before I captured this image. While I normally shoot images of landscapes, cities and architecture, I occasionally try to shoot images that my good friend Jeff calls, "artsy fartsy". I was helped out with this multiple exposure image of a sunflower field by the very talented photographer and workshop leader Denise Ippolito. For those of you who don't know Denise, she is a very creative and talented photographer and her work can be seen at her site, A Creative Adventure. I have been on a number of workshops with Denise and have always learned something new. In this case, she took me through the basics of capturing multiple exposures. While I had a general understanding of multiple exposures, it is always in the little details and tips that make the real difference. Anyway, take a look at her site and do not hesitate to sign up for one of her workshops. Oh, and let me know what you think of my little venture into "artsy fartsy".

Heidelberg Rooftops

Heidelberg, Germany

When one travels along the Rhine River, it is impossible to go very far without a castle or a church being close by. Many of the tours involve visits to one or the other and sometimes both. On this particular morning, we took a tour of the Heidelberg Castle which towers 300 feet above the wonderful city of the same name. The castle is a complex consisting of several buildings that surround an inner courtyard. The buildings were built and rebuilt over the centuries and, as a result, they each feature different German architecture. My favorite part of the castle is the outdoor terrace that gives this image's vantage point of the rooftops of the city alongside the Rhine River. For anyone that wonders about the influence and importance of the Catholic Church in Europe, they can take a look at this skyline and see how the Church of the Holy Spirit is by far the dominant structure.

Concrete Reflection

Boston, Massachusetts

Sometimes the best time to shoot is after a rainstorm when the sun has come out. Not only is there a great sheen to things but often there are large puddles that offer great opportunities for reflection. This image is a prime example of this. Taken near the waterfront on Boston Harbor, it offers a different point of view of Boston's skyline. I also thought that the concrete offered a natural texture to the image.

Rhine River Protector

Rheinstein Castle, Assmannshausen, Germany

One of the main attractions of a Rhine River cruise are the castles that tower above the river. There is a particular stretch of the Rhine River in Germany from Koblenz to Rüdesheim that is home to twenty-eight castles and fortresses. Some of these structures are in ruins while many of them are in good shape and are tourist attractions. There is at least one that is now a hotel. As with any outdoor photography, we were at the mercy of the weather. When we left Koblenz, the weather was threatening but all in all wasn't too bad. As we approached the prime section, the heavens opened up and we were forced indoors to watch from the ship's lounge. It was still great to see despite my inability to shoot it. As we began the last third of the section, the weather cleared and I was able to run up to the observation deck to grab a few shots.

The first castle I was able to shoot was this one, the Rheinstein Castle. Rheinstein Castle is built on a steep cliff overseeing the town of Assmannshausen on the other side of the river. Built in the 14th Century it is great example of castle reconstruction.

High Cathedral of Saint Peter

Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany

Our first stop on our recent river cruise in Europe was Cologne, Germany. One of the differences that I really liked on the river cruise was that when you come to port, you can walk off of the ship and you are in the city. This is much different than ocean cruises where you are often outside the city because the ships are too large and you have to be bused to see the sights. Disembarking in Cologne was great as we were only a couple of blocks from the Cologne Cathedral also known as the High Cathedral of Saint Peter. We had a wonderful guide and he was extremely informative. One of the things we learned about the cathedral is that it is home to the remains of the three wise men and, as a result, it is a very popular religious destination.

It was pretty dark in the cathedral and since tripods were not allowed, I pushed the ISO to 6400 for the first time and shot a hand-held five bracket burst. I was quite amazed how well the resulting image turned out as the noise was pretty manageable.