Fun at the Beach!Vertical shot of an out of focus beach background with the horizon in the middle.

Deja experiences the beach for the first time!

Birds chirping?  This morning was different!  While I was still sleeping, I was awakened by a persistent "coooing" sound.  The sounds were becoming very annoying if I'm being honest!  After leaving the comfort of dreams and becoming fully awake, I knew that the insistent bird calls were being made by a Mourning Dove.  Sure enough, as I peeked through a crack in the window blinds, I could see him on a tree branch not too far from my bedroom window.  From this vantage point I had a great view of him as there were no branches or other obstructions blocking my line of sight.  I quickly grabbed my camera hoping that he would still be there when I returned and lucky for me, he was!  After I took a photo, he turned his head towards me, blinked his eyes, ruffled his feathers and then took off with the sound of his slapping wings.  How great it was to start the day off and get a great capture right off the bat!  You never know what turn of events will take place that will put you in front of your next photo.  Here is Mr. Mourning Dove below.

Sightseeing Journey

It's been a long hot summer and Deja is getting restless.  She's tired of walking the same path every day, visiting the same park or staring out of the window at home.  Deja wants to see more of the world!  This revelation became a reality when I found a note from Deja that read:  "Hi Daddy, I've gone out to do a bit of exploring.  Will be back soon.  And could you please have my favorite food ready at dinner time?  Love Deja."

Of course I was very concerned after reading this, I don't want any harm to come to my precious pooch!  Fortunately I have a GPS tracking device on Deja's collar and I went out to search for her.  I drove my car and it wasn't long before I picked up her signal!  Deja was on the move but moving very slowly.  I finally reached her exact location and was totally unprepared for what happened next.  I heard a bark from up above and I looked up and there was Deja, safe and sound, effortlessly floating over a vast cornfield.

I held up a treat and yelled, "Come down Deja, it's time for dinner!"  With a sharp bark, she slowly descended and when she touched the ground, she ran to me faster than I had ever seen her run!  We hopped in the car and Deja licked my face and said, "Daddy, I didn't really enjoy myself without you, can we go home so we can look out of my favorite window?"  And I said, "Of course we can, let's go!"

Elizabeth Park

My first shot ever of an osprey!  Its wingspan was incredible to see!

This one grabbed a fish from the water.

Gliding with a fish clutched in its talons.

Heading back to its nest with a nice meal.

You  can see the very sharp hooked bill, ideal for tearing fish apart!

Keen eyesight enables the osprey to see fish in the water from high up in the air.

Four ducks playing follow the leader.

A seagull on the ocean water.

  Kids exploring on the jetty.

So this visit to Hammonasset Beach was totally unplanned and I was really pressed for time so I didn't take a lot of photos.  The great thing is that I saw lots of osprey and I hope to return with all of my photo gear and snap more pics of this majestic bird.  For now, I can check the osprey off of my bucket list.

Every 11 seconds

47 babies are born

825 McDonald's burgers are eaten

114,950 Coca-Cola's are consumed

Bill Gates earns $2,750.00

484 Lightning strikes hit the Earth

A bee flaps its wings 2,970 times

37,303,241 e-mails are sent

33,000,000 Google searches are summoned

and...it took me 11 seconds to take the photo below!

This boat dock is located in Essex, CT and I've wanted to photograph it for a long time.  Many photographers, and myself included, will pre-plan their shoots by selecting subjects or locations and also having a good idea of how the final photo(s) will look like.  I knew how I wanted this photo to look before I even stepped on the platform and took the picture.  In order to achieve this dreamy and moody look requires the photographer to utilize a technique called "long exposure photography."  A normal photo takes a fraction of a second and will freeze the subject, long exposure photography however takes the photo over several seconds or minutes resulting in a photo that is surreal and can twist reality.

Let's use my photo above as an example.  A normal photo taken of this scene would freeze the motion of the water and the clouds.  The irregular shapes of the waves in the water and the details of the clouds would be clearly visible.  This result is what most people see because it is the type of photo that most people take.  In my image above, notice how the water is silky smooth and there is movement of the clouds in the sky.  That is because the camera's shutter was opened for an extended period of time to capture the scene and the constant movement of the water and sky denies the camera the ability to generate a frozen image of them.  And how long do you think it took me to take this photo?  You guessed it...11 seconds!  What can you do in 11 seconds?

Hubbard Park

Hubbard Park

Hubbard Park

Hubbard Park

Hubbard Park

Hubbard Park

Hubbard Park

Hubbard Park

I am fascinated by the beauty of this church!  The symmetry, the gothic era architecture, the gray stonework, the contrasting colors of the red doors and blue windows.  For nine years I have always wondered what the inside of the church was like.  I was very excited when Nancy asked me if I'd like to take a quick tour of the interior!  Within moments I found myself inside the sacred walls of the sanctuary with its glorious stained glass windows, intricate wall art, ornate sculptures and of course a majestic pipe organ.  After nine years of mystery, the beauty of the church's interior did not disappoint!  Nancy mentioned that she is in the process of updating the church's website so I suggested that some fresh new photos of the church would help to reinvigorate it and possibly help to bring in new members.  So after about a month, I returned to the church to take some interior photos.  Scroll down to see a few of them.

Searching the internet for photos of Castle Craig showed many photos that were very similar but I was looking for something that was different from all the rest.  Why not go for a night shot?  For many years I’ve wanted to capture a night time photo of the tower but getting weather, clouds, stars and temperatures to align is easier said than done!  Finally, after checking various weather forecasts and astronomy apps, it seemed that a clear starry night was due to appear in my area.  These shots were taken around 3am and it was really cold but considering my resulting photos, I think it was worth grinning and bearing those uncomfortable temperatures.  Upon returning to my car, I rewarded myself with a cup of Hot Chocolate.  Below are my photos from that night.

I hoped you enjoyed this small glimpse of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and that my photos will inspire you to visit as well.

Sorry Mr. Cardinal, you are going to have to wait a few more minutes before you can eat because as I gazed on the scene before me, I realized I just had to capture the moment in a photo.  You see, this vibrant red bird was perched on the treetop against a rich blue sky and I knew that he would not be there much longer.  I quickly went inside and grabbed my camera and remarkably, he was in the same place when I returned!  I couldn't believe it!  I fired off a few shots and felt relieved that I managed to snap some good ones worth keeping.  Now I felt it was my duty to reward this patient little fellow with a reward so I hastily filled all of the feeders and went back inside.  I watched him from inside of the house as he slowly made his way closer to the feeders.  I snapped a couple more photos as well just for good measure.  Below are the photos I took of this charismatic cardinal on this magical morning.

Birds that are very active in the winter include Black-capped chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Dark eyed Juncos, Downy woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Cardinals to name a few.  These are hardy birds that have adapted to the harsh conditions of winter.  If you enjoy birdwatching, you can easily attract these birds to your home by setting out bird feeders filled with seed, peanuts or suet around your house.  This added food source will help to provide extra protein for them for those cold winter nights.

As warmer weather approaches, Dark-eyed Juncos begin to move northward, preferring to stay in the colder climates.  Newer species of birds begin to appear that are surely tell-tale signs of Spring.  Be on the lookout for Red-wing Blackbirds, Grackles, Mockingbirds, Phoebes, Hummingbirds and Warblers.  Below are some photos of birds that are very common during the winter season.

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-capped Chickadee

Male Cardinal

Tufted Titmouse

Female Cardinal

White-throated Sparrow

White-breasted Nuthatch

This website and blog's primary purpose is an outlet to share my photography, and for years I have pretty much stayed true to that goal.  Today's post is very unusual because I would like to share another passion of mine which is music.  My tastes in music are extremely diverse, I have a 5,000+ CD collection, I also compose my own music and play many different instruments.  Photography and music are two things I love to do so much and I feel so good inside when I am doing them....which leads me to the reason for this posting.

I have composed a new instrumental song and it has just been released as a single worldwide!  The song is called "Hymn for a New World" and its inspiration is quite powerful.  I wrote it as a song of hope for our broken planet to spread positive vibes of peace, joy and love and help us to heal from the anger, violence, bitterness and racism that is so prevalent in these times.  My feelings and emotions of how I felt (and feel) about our world shaped the resulting music and it flowed from me quickly and naturally.  I recorded and played all of the instruments in my studio and it was truly a labor of love.  The music starts simply with classically inspired solo piano, then blossoms with a dizzying array of unique instruments that join in one after the other and energetically closes with a triumphant and uplifting climax.
 

Click the link below to be taken to my page where you can purchase "Hymn for a New World."  Please share this post and my music with friends, family and followers.

https://oscardean.hearnow.com/
 

I have released an official video for "Hymn for a New World."  The first half of the video features stunning visuals that has shaped our world both past and present.  In the second half, darkness becomes light as we are shown a world that is filled with harmony, kindness, diversity and love.  You can view the video below.

You can also watch my video on YouTube by clicking HERE

More music composed and performed by me is listed below!

To hear "Cloudwatching" click HERE.

To hear "Sarah's Eyes" click HERE.

Early sunrise over my house

Watch Dog

Watch Dog

Pensive Mood Deja in a rare "quiet and pensive" mood!

As the day's golden light began to fade into evening, I found myself at the kitchen sink washing the dinner dishes while looking out the window when I thought I spotted a movement that was so minute that I figured I must have imagined it.  I continued my gaze in earnest and was so surprised to see a baby sparrow in the grass in my yard!  Several thoughts immediately surged into my head.  1. I hope it's not injured.  2. Will it be found by a natural predator?  3. Oscar, go get your camera pronto!!!  Getting a photo would be impractical since the little guy was mostly obscured by the blades of grass and my hands were wet from doing the dishes.  Suddenly, the baby bird upped the ante and made the situation better by flying into the air and landing on the railing of the deck.  Although not ideal, he was in a much better location for a photograph than where had been previously.  But the question remained:  How long would he stay there?

Hockey great Wayne Gretzy once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."  With that great motivational message in mind I quickly dried my hands and ran through the house to get my camera hoping that the bird would still be there upon my return....and it was!  With camera in hand I had an unobstructed view of the bird however there was still a slight problem.  I would have to photograph it through a glass window which is never ideal plus it also has a screen that will further degrade the image.  Regardless, I was all in and I was determined to capture a photo of this cute little bugger.  Cute?  Well, as can be seen in the photos below, the baby bird looks a bit rough around the edges with the crazy feathers growing out of his head!  This was a fun experience but it all came to an end when the bird flew up into a tree and was safely concealed by the leaves.  I hope that he will be one of the lucky ones that will make it to adulthood.

 A great way to beat the "Corona Blues" is to engage yourself in things that you really enjoy immensely and can be done from home.  While you are stuck at home, you now have plenty of time to visit some of your passions that you may have neglected because you were to busy with the hustle & bustle of life before the virus hit.  There are so many things that people are good at such as crafting, cooking, knitting, drawing, painting and far too many other things to mention in this post.  For me, one of my passions is photography so I have been channeling my energy to try to create some new photos from home while under quarantine.  Below are a few photos that I have made.  Would I have created them had there not been a pandemic?  Probably not!

Chicken Dinner

Party Time

Creative Vision

The Three Fates

Vortex of Infinity

You've Got Mail!

Beacon of Hope

Restless Dream

No Turning Back

Three's A Crowd!

Three's a Crowd

What are you doing to combat boredom while you practice social distancing?

Please add your comment

In October 2019 I began to think about what I would be doing for the upcoming Christmas holidays.  I knew what I didn't want.  I didn't want it to be sad like the year before and thus began the initial thoughts of perhaps bringing another dog into the household.  Not as a replacement for Lizzie but as a new, energetic life force that would light a spark and reignite the joy and happiness that should be experienced at Christmas time.  On December 22nd, I welcomed an 8-week old Miniature Schnauzer puppy at home and she is such a blessing!  She is cute as a button, funny and sweet but because she is a puppy, she is also quite challenging!  I am excited to say that Christmas was so wonderful this year and most of the credit goes to that 3.6 pound bundle of fur.  So without further adieu, I'd like to introduce you to Deja!

Deja proudly poses for her official 2019 Christmas portrait photo

Deja is friendly and loves to cuddle!

Puppies can't help it but they sure do sleep a lot!

Deja cops an attitude during her potty training session.

An "outtake" from the Christmas portrait photo session.

To see additional photos of Deja, visit her photo gallery HERE.

A view of the trail looking South

At the northern part of the trail is the route 190 bridge that crosses over the Connecticut river.  Route 190 is a major through way in this area enabling travelers to reach destinations on either side of the river.  If you are rather adventurous, you can catch a pretty cool underside view of the bridge but you'll have to carefully navigate your way down a rather perilous decline of large boulders and slippery rocks.  Be very careful!  I don't recommend that everyone attempt it, only those who are confident in their physical ability and possess a really good sense of balance.

View from beneath the route 190 bridge

There is lots of wildlife along the trail, some very obvious while others, not so much.  You will likely see flocks of water birds as they congregate on some protruding rocks far out in the middle of the river.  Very common birds such as robins, blue jays and sparrows that you are used to seeing make their homes in and around the trail area.  I was lucky enough to spot a mourning dove that perched on a wooden railing about 30 feet away from me.  As I took its picture, I moved suuuper slooow so that I would not scare it away!

Mourning Dove Mourning Dove perched on a wooden railing

Depending on who you are, insects can be an attraction or a distraction on the trail.  For me personally, I do like to look out for insects such as butterflies, dragonflies and others because they are so fascinating and interesting.  But on the other hand, there are plenty of "distraction" insects such as mosquitoes, gnats and bees that will quickly become a nuisance even for the most patient, insect loving person.  I certainly got my fill of both kinds of creatures during my time visiting the trail.  While under the bridge, a butterfly desperately clung to the cement wall of the bridge in an effort not to be carried off in the violent winds.  Meanwhile, I could see a dragonfly quickly darting just above the water's surface happily scooping up those pesky nuisance insects we hate so much...thank you!

10-spotted skimmer A dragonfly at the Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail

A Red-Spotted Purple butterfly at the Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail

If you are looking for a quiet diversion, consider paying a visit to this trail.  Activities can include walking, biking, fishing, cross-country skiing in the winter and the trail is wheelchair accessible.  New England is known for the beauty of its Fall colors.  The autumn season is just around the corner and the trail is waiting to show you all that it has to offer.

In a situation like this, macro photography can be a lifesaver!  Macro photography is a fancy name for close up photography and once you give it a try, it can be a lot of fun.  This type of photography can be challenging as well because it forces you to be very creative in finding interesting subjects to capture that viewers will find captivating.  So with my camera at the ready, I began my exploratory trek around the house looking for something that would grab my attention.  The sky is the limit because almost anything can look really cool or freaky when viewed at a very close distance.  Some common subjects are flowers, insects, leaves, fabrics, food, water drops and textures such as clothing, wood, rust and stone walls.  As you will soon see, I was able to come up with some macro shots without barely breaking a sweat!  (Sorry, couldn't resist!).

Scroll down to see them...

Patterns and textures usually work well in close up photography.
I used a spray bottle to create additional interest by adding water drops to this leaf.

I broke one of my rules with this photo by going outside.  I looked out the window and saw this grasshopper and made a mad dash to try to capture this handsome fellow.  He saw my camera, turned and said, "Be sure to capture my GOOD side!"

This is where things take a bit of a weird turn.  I looked in the kitchen cupboard and saw a jar of rice and wondered if I could do anything interesting with it.  Amazingly the photo was taken with the camera looking through the plastic jar, I never took the rice out of the jar.

As I stated earlier, patterns and textures are often good subjects in macro photography and this photo gets a bonus because it contains both.  The item in question is a multi-purpose mat that is used in the kitchen.

While we are in the kitchen, let's see what we have in the fridge.  No, this is not the surface of some far off alien planet.  It's a big head of broccoli.  Yum!

Heading into a different part of the house, I continued to search for more interesting subjects.  As I entered my music room, I spotted my acoustic guitar and thought that it would make a tough challenge.  I focused on the white fret marker and adjusted the camera setting so that the strings would gradually go out of focus.

These designs are actually etchings in the windows of the front door of my house.  The windows are clear and transparent, the colors you see are the colors of objects outside.

This photo took a bit of work to set up.  I suspended the key in the air with a piece of string and I turned on some tiny lights in the background.  By adjusting settings in the camera, I was able to make the lights appear out of focus and create a dreamy, otherworldly background.

If you have any questions or comments about any of these macro photos, please ask by adding a comment below.  Have you given macro photography a try?  If so, that's great!  Share your photos by including a link so others can see your work.

I purchased a crystal ball yesterday with the hopes that it would be the catalyst to enable me to produce some fresh new photos.  Lens balls, as they are sometimes called, are not new to the photography world.  Just search on Google and you will find tons and tons of articles, tutorials and photos of people using these balls in their photography.  This is the first one I have ever owned and the first time using one to make photographs.  Let me tell you.....they are a LOT of FUN!  I decided to take photos in a completely darkened room with an LED light and create unique patterns and reflections.  The results were mind blowing!  I could not have been more satisfied with the results.  The images had a futuristic "sci-fi" feel to them and the really cool thing is that no two photos will ever be alike no matter how hard you try.  There are so many more creative things that can be done with a lens ball and I look forward to creating more compelling and imaginative images with it.  Scroll down to see the photos I took.

All the World's a Stage All the World's a Stage

Blue Mood Blue Mood

Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect

Edge of Infinity

Edge of Infinity

Fork in the Road Fork in the Road

Network Traffic Network Traffic

Luminous Fibers Luminous Fibers

Orb Weaver Orb Weaver

Suspended in Time Suspended in Time

Semiconductor Semiconductor

Pathways to Reality Pathways to Reality

Spheres of Influence Spheres of Influence

Stream of Consciousness Stream of Consciousness

Symphony of Light Symphony of Light

Buy high quality prints of these images - click HERE

Lizzie
3/18/08 - 4/4/18

Lizzie amongst the tulips

Lizzie Dean sadly passed away without pain surrounded by her devoted parents and doctor.  Lizzie possessed a tender sweet spirit and she touched the lives of many people she met personally or who viewed her stately and often humorous photos online.  In her ten years, Lizzie gave us fun, laughter and most of all her love, and our lives are blessed because she was an integral part of our world.  As we take comfort in knowing that Lizzie is amongst angels, her presence will forever be felt in the memories that we all have of her.  God Bless you Lizzie.  We love you with all of our heart!

Sincerely,

Oscar and Heidi Dean

Thank you to Dr. Lynn Fortin for 10 years of
caring for Lizzie and being there for us!

Yes, it is true and it is with great sadness that I confirm that our beloved cocker spaniel has passed away.  My wife and I noticed lately that Lizzie seemed to continually tilt her head and she was very unbalanced when she walked.  It was confirmed by the vet that she had vestibular disease.  There is fluid deep within the ears that sloshes around when you move and the brain uses this to keep you balanced during any sort of activity.  When there is a disruption between this fluid and the brain, a dog may experience a sea-sickness type feeling, have difficulty going up or down stairs and in severe cases there may be extreme vomiting.  Lizzie had none of the vomiting but we always carried her up and down the stairs to prevent her from getting injured from a fall.  If she would get wet after being in the rain and she shook her body to dry off, she would fall over on her side because she was so dizzy from the shaking.  Vestibular disease has no cure and it is possible that it can disappear after a couple of weeks but it can also return as well.

Our vet had more to tell us.  While most dogs can live a moderately normal life with vestibular disease, she told us that there was cancer in Lizzie's brain.  She assured us that she was not in pain right now but that the cancer would continue to develop and become more aggressive over time.  All sorts of complications could arise such as dementia, blindness, excruciating pain and more.  My wife and I had a tough choice to make and it all revolved around logic and emotion.  The "logic" side says that putting her to sleep peacefully given the circumstances is the best and most humane thing to do.  The "emotion" side doesn't ever want Lizzie to leave our side and for her to continue to be our baby forever.  But alas we knew that "logic" had to win out in this case so Lizzie's final vet appointment was set for 2:00pm on 4/4/18.  My wife and I were with Lizzie during her last moments as she slowly drifted to sleep.  She knew we were there and we took comfort as we watched her acknowledge our voices softly calling her name and giving her kisses.  A few moments later, Lizzie was free....and at peace.

Lizzie was well known locally and globally.  Many of her photos are displayed at her vet's office, her groomer and also local TV stations. My blog post "Tips for Better Pet Photos" features images of Lizzie and has been viewed over 10,000 times!  Thousands of visitors from all over the world have viewed Lizzie's photo gallery and have left some very nice comments over the years and I appreciate them very much.  It warms my heart to know that she touched so many people from all over with her gentle spirit.  As we take time to let Lizzie's passing truly sink in, I'd like to pull back the curtain a bit and share with you some photos of her, most of which have never been posted online or seen by anyone.  These photos are not the glammed-up picture perfect portraits that are displayed in Lizzie's gallery.  Instead, the photos below are everyday casual photos...Lizzie being Lizzie around the house, in the yard or at the park.  She made my job of photographing her very easy because it was difficult to take a bad photo of her.  Thank you all for the kind words of support and following along Lizzie's journey through her photos for the 10 years she was with us.  Sincerely, Oscar Dean

Scroll Down to See the Photos!

"I'm your new puppy!"

My wife and I adopted Lizzie from a breeder in Pennsylvania.  It was a 6 hour drive one way but needless to say it was totally worth it!  Lizzie's long ride home proved to be a blessing because she became so accustomed to riding in a car that she loved to go for car rides and she never got sick!  The above photo was taken at a rest area in New York State on the way home from picking her up at the breeder.

"Oscar...proud papa!"

Another photo from the rest area in New York.  That's me proudly holding my new furry bundle of joy!

"First moments in her new home"

Introducing Lizzie to her new home brought feelings of anticipation, nervousness and happiness.  We weren't sure how she would react but in the end it turned out to be a funny experience that had us laughing as she proceeded to explore the house.  Lizzie was a bit unsteady on the hardwood floor and she got very excited when she saw another cocker spaniel in the mirror because she thought maybe it was one of her siblings.  After a few paw punches to the mirror, it didn't take her long to realize that those reflected objects are not part of the real world.  Here Lizzie takes a break after her very long and busy day.

"Pooped Puppy!"

Lizzie was exhausted and her rest time turned into deep sleep time.

"Hey, what's for dinner?"

The picture above is one of my earliest "conceptual" photos of Lizzie.  I thought it would be funny to have her doing something that is typically a "human only" task so I attempted the crazy idea of having Lizzie peering into the refrigerator looking for food.  My camera was literally inside of the fridge facing out while I tried to get Lizzie to look in at the camera...this was the challenging part since I couldn't be behind the camera to direct her.  Persistence paid off and I was able to capture the pose that I wanted.

"First day at the park"

There is a park located a short walk from where we lived at the time this photo was taken.  My wife and I took Lizzie there and let her experience all there was to see, sniff and hear.  There was a children's playscape with a Jungle Jim, swings, sea-saw and other stuff so we "very carefully" posed Lizzie on some of them.  The above photo shows Lizzie at the top of a slide.

"Watching from the Sidelines"

Lizzie sits in the grass watching kids playing at the park

"I am still your precious little girl, right Daddy?"

We left Lizzie unattended for a little while and this is the sight that we came back to!  I wasn't mad, in fact, I thought it was hysterically funny especially to see the embarrassed look on her face!  Let me make something very clear.  This incident was the ONLY time she ever did anything destructive....well, except for the "fruit cup" episode!  As the years went by, Lizzie never ever chewed on the furniture, shredded clothing or dug holes in the ground.  The only thing she would ever do is nibble on her stuffed toys or play with her fetch ball but nothing like THIS ever happened again.

"Queen of the Hill!"

At the park, Lizzie has fun posing on top of the cannon monument

"Eagerly awaiting her next adventure!"

The above photo was taken at Walnut Hill Park and Lizzie is perched atop a very large and very tall rock.  Lizzie was fearless and was always willing to participate in whatever creative photo idea I dreamed up.  I picked her up and put her in position and reassured her by talking softly to her so she would feel safe.  Almost immediately she was totally comfortable and she began doing one of the things she does best....hamming it up for the camera!  I just love her playful and inquisitive expression in this photo.

"Are we there yet?"

A short trip or a long one, Lizzie loved to ride in the car!

"Hey, where ARE we?"

Lizzie always had to know what was going on.

"Vicious watch dog?....Yeah right!"

Lizzie liked to sit on the front porch to see what was happening in the neighborhood too!

"No one will EVER know!"

Sneaky Lizzie thinks she can steal some food without us knowing.  Little did she know that this was all a set up that I made with the hope of getting a funny photo.  After putting out the crate of dog food, I set up my camera in the room and then I left and hid where she wouldn't see me.  When she entered and climbed over the crate wall to eat, I used a wireless remote shutter release to take the picture.

"Lonely Lizzie"

Lizzie watches me from inside our house as I walk to my car.  She looks very sad and lonely.  I was not leaving her, I was actually getting something I had left in the car and after retrieving it, I went back inside of the house.  I entered this photo into an online contest where the theme was "Lonely" and Lizzie's photo won!

"The cat did it!"

I completely staged this photo, Lizzie never went near the laundry!
But her facial expression and the look in her eyes makes me wonder...

"Sweet Dreams"

On a hot summer day, Lizzie lays on our cool leather couch and falls asleep.

"Fruit Cup"

One day I was working at the desk in our home office and I heard this strange crunching sound.  I had no idea what it was or what was making that sound.  I called Lizzie's name and the sound stopped.  I called her again more sternly and when she came around the corner, this is what I saw!  Looks like she forgot to leave the "incriminating evidence" back in the other room!

"Best Friends Forever"

Lizzie hanging out with one of her best friends: "Lillian the Leopard."

"Sunning by the Fireplace"

Lizzie catches some rays on a winter's morning

"Lizzie in South Carolina 1 of 3"

My parents retired and moved down to South Carolina to live.  My wife, Lizzie and I visited them for the Christmas holidays.  They had seen photos of Lizzie but they had never seen her in person until this visit in 2008.  Here she is checking out the area from the front porch.

"Lizzie in South Carolina 2 of 3"

Lizzie looks on while our extended family was eating Christmas dinner.

"Lizzie in South Carolina 3 of 3"

Lizzie and I pose in front of the Christmas tree.

"Happy 1st Birthday!"

Yeah, I know.  I admit it.  I've been known to "spoil" Lizzie!

"Playful Pooch #1"

I submitted a photo of Lizzie into a contest and won this toy.
The toy makes a "Mooo" sound whenever she bites down on it.

"Playful Pooch #2"

"White Out!"

This photo was taken a few years ago after a really bad snowstorm had passed through.  Lizzie is always eager to go outside for a walk and this day was no exception.  It was very windy but we had lots of fun nonetheless.  I like this photo for a number of reasons.  It is very minimalistic, meaning that the picture is not cluttered with lots of subjects.  There is only one subject...Lizzie against a clean backdrop of snow.  I also love the contrast of the pure white snow and the color of her fur.  And lastly the vibrant red collar adds a nice pop of color to the image.

"Waiting to play fetch"

One of Lizzie's most treasured toys was this orange ball.

"Laser Focused!"

Photo taken moments before she jumped and caught her orange ball in mid air.

"Garden Headshot"

As Lizzie watched my wife work in the flower garden, I captured her in this introspective pose.

"Ready for Action!"

And not surprisingly, she is keeping close guard of her orange ball!

"High Five!"
While sitting out on the deck one hot summer afternoon, I captured this shot of Lizzie's paw.

"Not a Happy Camper!"

Lizzie has been dressed up in many different outfits and costumes over the years.  With that being said, I never wanted her to wear anything that would look silly or embarrassing.  For some reason (that I can't remember), we took Lizzie to be groomed to a new place that we had never tried before.  When we picked her up, we were very unhappy with her cut and they put these awful feathers in her ears!  I was embarrassed for her and from the look of Lizzie's expression, she didn't like them either!!!  We never returned to that groomer ever again!

"Not Impressed!"

I posed Lizzie together with her new toy but she never liked it and never played with it.  Very strange!

"Life is Good!"

Happy and content to be playing fetch in the yard with her orange ball!

"This is A-Maze-ing!"

After a blizzard I dug out a walkway from our house.  Lizzie came outside to see if I did a good job or not.
It was funny because you could not see her since the snow was 3ft high!

"Lizzie roasting by an open fire"

A peaceful Christmas at home warming herself by the fireplace.

"Waiting for the REAL Santa Claus!"

Lizzie planned to stay up late on Christmas Eve to get gifts from Santa Claus.

"Lizzie with Ally the Alligator"

This is the last toy we ever bought for Lizzie.

"The End!"
Sitting out on the deck, Lizzie faced away from me and I photographed her "rear end."

Valentine's Day 2018

Once again my dog Lizzie returns to wish everyone well on another holiday.  The funny thing about this photo is the story behind it.  As is the usual case, I had all elements of this photo shoot planned from the props, to Lizzie's pose and her clothing.  What I didn't plan for was that on this occaision, Lizzie was very unlike herself and wouldn't hold the pose I put her in.  She was very fidgety and finally she just shifted her entire body and plopped down by her own accord and ended up posing just as you see her in the photo.  At first I was a little frustrated that she wouldn't remain where I placed her but then I looked at how she placed herself and I realized she posed herself way better than I did!!!  I calmly told Lizzie to "stay" and she remained motionless until I got the shot.  Hmmm, I'm not sure who is in charge of our photo shoots anymore...

Happy Valentine's Day from Lizzie and Oscar Dean Photography!

My wife and I and our cocker spaniel Lizzie wish you a Happy New Year 2018!

Happy Holidays to all!
Oscar
 

The photo above was taken at the Saville Dam which contains the water that makes up the Barkhamsted Reservoir.  I've driven by this stone structure a few times and wanted to photograph it but it never worked out for various reasons:  the lighting was bad, it was raining or snowing or I didn't have my camera with me at the time.  I made a few attempts at sunrise and sunset but the skies were always bland and unspectacular...but I never gave up! 

One late afternoon, the weatherman reported that several clusters of unsettled weather from different directions were expected to converge and I figured this might be the perfect time to revisit the dam again.  As I set up my camera equipment, the wind picked up and all sorts of clouds formed in the sky creating a turbulent and surreal backdrop that kept changing by the minute.  I began to hear rumbles of thunder in the distance so that was my cue to get the shot and get out of there...pronto!

I knew literally nothing about the dam or reservoir but after some quick research here are a few fun and interesting facts.  Named after its chief engineer Caleb Mills Saville, construction of the dam began in 1936 and was completed in 1940 at a total cost of $10M.  It wasn't until 1948 that the reservoir was filled to capacity, a whopping 36.8 billion gallons of water!  The dam has a total height of 135ft a length of 1950ft and is the primary water source for Hartford, Connecticut.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

To buy photo, click HERE

Happy Easter from Lizzie!

There are a number of different components that go into a photo shoot like this.  I have to pick out a costume, decide on props to include in the photo, choose a background etc while my wife helps to direct Lizzie's attention during the actual shoot.  But there is another part of the preparation that is extremely important which many people may not think about.  Grooming the subject!  Preparing Lizzie's luxurious coat for her photo sessions is well beyond my skill set so I leave that to the capable hands of Kelly at Petsmart.

Lizzie with her stylist Kelly

Kelly does a great job grooming Lizzie and this of course plays a major part in the final look of the images that I take.  Kelly and Lizzie have truly bonded over time and this is very evident as you can see from these pictures.  So a big "Thank You" to Kelly  for being so good to Lizzie and treating her as if she were her own, and also for making her look so "chic."  Lizzie's fur grows fast so we will see you again soon...

"Grooming is done, how do I look?"

Two divas in the making...

Kelly (stylist) and Lizzie (dog) cuddle together after the grooming session

Lizzie waits with Kelly to be picked up by Mommy and Daddy

It seems like it has been a long winter here in New England since we've endured multiple snow storms including a blizzard that delivered 2 feet of snow!  These photos give me hope that the warmth and colors of Spring is not too far off in the future.

The waterfront park offers a harbor setting, a sandy beach, hiking trails, fishing and birdwatching, a pavillion and a statue of Nathan Hale depicting him moments before he was executed.  Another impressive sight at the park is the long wooden pier that stretches out into New Haven Harbor....impressive that is until the pier met its match a few years ago.

The rickety remains of Fort Hale Pier after being battered by Superstorm Sandy

The Fort Hale Pier was severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy when it hit the Northeast in October 2012.  The massive storm surge from Sandy claimed more than 186 lives and caused $65 billion in damage along the East Coast from Maine to North Carolina.  The good news is that the Connecticut State Bonding Commission has approved $1.8 million to repair the pier.  I don't know when the restoration is scheduled to begin but it will be great to see it resurrected to its former glory.

Just ahead of the plane I saw a flock of black crows flying directly in the jet's path!  This was no joke!  I was literally expecting to see these birds get sucked into the engines and feathers being blasted out of the exhaust.  Faster than you can say "crow soup" I grabbed my camera and made a feeble attempt to capture what was about to happen.  The birds and the plane looked like they were playing a game of chicken, each holding their position and waiting for the other challenger to fold and turn away.  And then with extreme control and precision, the birds quickly sprayed out in different directions as the Delta jet roared through the sky into the path of where the birds had been just seconds before.  It was a very close call but not one bird was harmed during this crazy ordeal and the plane landed safely with the passengers that were most likely unaware of the drama that took place outside their windows.

After this was over I took a few moments to collect my thoughts and process what I had just witnessed.  It was kinda scary to even consider the tragedy that could have taken place had those birds caused an engine failure.  Here's hoping that the next spontaneous event that I photograph will be less intense than this one...

The December holiday season is here again and along with the usual festivities the time has come for me to take my dog's annual Christmas photo.  Trust me, Lizzie is a seasoned pro when it comes to dog portraiture, after all, I've been photographing her since she was 3 months old and she's 8 years old now.  This year I went with a "reindeer" theme and dressed her up with antlers, Christmas socks and a "slightly" gaudy reindeer sweater.  OK, ok, it's a very gaudy sweater but I don't think she minded wearing it too much.  Lizzie seemed more interested in the contents of those wrapped gifts than what she looked like during the photo shoot.  On behalf of Oscar Dean Photography and of course "Lizzie," we wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season!

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is loved by many, well.....maybe not by THIS guy!  Just the mention of the word and he will run for the hills.  I guess I can't blame him.  I photographed Mr. Turkey here when he and a flock of about 6 or 7 of his friends wandered around the houses in my neighborhood.  Pretty daring I would say given the season that we're in!  After I captured a nice profile picture of this handsome fella, he and his buddies disappeared into the nearby woods never to be seen again.

Do you have special plans for Thanksgiving?  Perhaps you are traveling to visit family or they are coming to see you at your house.  Some of you have jobs where you will be working and of course there are those who for various reasons may be in a less fortunate situation.  Whatever plans you have, be safe as you go about your travels and offer a kind holiday wish to strangers you encounter along the way.  And as you gaze into the sad dark eyes of Mr. Turkey pictured above, try not to feel TOO guilty as you sit down to the Thanksgiving dinner with the turkey as the main course.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from Oscar Dean Photography!

The news is abuzz with lots of talk about the "super moon" which can be viewed on the evening of 11/13/16.  We've all seen the moon many times before but what's so special about it this time?  Well, two things actually make this something you won't want to miss.  First, the moon will be closest to the earth in its orbit since 1948.  Second, the moon's phase just happens to be a full moon and according to scientists will appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than a normal full moon.  In this photo, I captured the super moon as it rose above the trees in this residential neighborhood.  If you missed tonight's super moon, no worries, if you've got a lot of patience you can catch the next one in 18 years on November 25, 2034.

Church of the Assumption - Ansonia, CT

This beautiful stone church is located in the town of Ansonia, CT.  The church is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and they contacted me because they need photos to be used in Newsletters, brochures and online to help spread the news about this special occasion.  I love church architecture, especially the traditional gothic cathedral churches that were built centuries ago.  I had previously seen this church from the outside but never inside so I was very excited to see what I would find on the other side of those vivid blue doors...

A banner in front of the church announcing its 125th anniversary

Upon entering, you are treated to an amazing view of the church's majestic sanctuary.
An artist can be seen on the left painting "The Stations of the Cross."

This view looks towards the entrance doors with the golden organ pipes above them.

A statue of Mary at the front of the church

No church is complete without stained glass windows!

Such beautiful and rich colors in this detail photo of the church's stained glass windows

A side view of the altar with a sign announcing the church's 125th anniversary

Looking down at the altar from a higher vantage point

More examples of the phenomenal artwork in the stained glass windows.

Looking down at the pews on the right side of the church from the upper level

A statue of Jesus in the back corner of the church

You will appreciate the painter's talent when you realize that this entire statue was completely white before he started!!!

I am 6'3" but I felt dwarfed by the gigantic pipes of the organ!

Even this unused upper level hallway looks great with its ornate architectural style

This huge church was so quiet while I was there, it was just me and the painter and he left shortly after I arrived so I was truly able to take in the ambiance of this place of worship with no one else around.  This church was a challenge in the sense that it is so big and there are so many beautiful things everywhere you look that I could have spent a couple of days here before I'd feel satisfied that I captured all that I wanted.  So there you have it, a mini tour of this quaint "little" church in Ansonia, CT.  Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the photos.  Is there a church in CT that you know of that is stunningly beautiful?  Share its name and location in the comments, I would love to pay it a visit!  Thanks.

Whether I am driving on country back roads or modern highways, I always have my photographic eye on the lookout for interesting photo opportunities.  I am usually prepared by having my camera ready to go on the passenger seat next to me in case I do see something that catches my fancy.  For quite a few years I have driven by this small barn-like structure whose doors will open for several months of the year and the owners will sell fresh fruits and vegetables from this location.  They were not open for business on this particular drive-by but for some reason I was drawn to the scene and pulled over to explore some possibilities to take a nice photograph.

Although it was late in the afternoon but too early for the proper sunset, there was a pleasing sky and the rich greens of the grass and trees were a nice complement to the blue sky.  The red and white barn added another pop of color while the two boulders served as anchor points and additional items of interest.  Normally this place is bustling with people but without them in the photo I feel the image has an almost pastoral dreamlike quality.  Perhaps one day I will drive by this place again and they will be open and serving their customers and I will stop and capture another photo.....but this time with a completely different mood.

Over the years I have seen and captured photographs of many "backyard birds" but today was a little unusual.  Instead of the typical robins, blue jays and sparrows, there was a Ring-necked Pheasant right on my front lawn.  This species generally lives in wooded areas where it can use the many trees as places to hide from predators so it was quite a surprise to see one in the open in a suburban neighborhood.

A particularly shy bird, the pheasant is easily spooked so I had to be extra quiet and careful in order to grab a photo without scaring him off.  Fortunately I was using my 70-200mm zoom lens at the long end which enabled me to get in for a tighter shot but not taking any chances, he flew away the moment he heard the click of my camera.

 

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/125 sec at f4.0, ISO 400
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy..."    Many of you may recognize this as the opening line to the classic song "Summertime" by Ella Fitzgerald.  The song's slow and languid tempo perfectly depicts the mood of those hot lazy days of summer but living isn't always easy.  Here in Connecticut we've experienced a brutal heatwave that has made living anything BUT easy!  The local new stations are reporting that although it is not mandatory, we should conserve our water usage due to the lack of rain and dry conditions.


So as I keep cool by staying indoors, I have to be extra creative to come up with some new photos.  I decided to dabble with the theme of the heat, water conservation and keeping cool during this heatwave.  After looking around the house for some ideas and coming up empty, I suddenly thought of using a water faucet and a drop of water.  Photographers and other creative artists will often have a fully realized vision in their mind as to what they want their finished project to look like and this was no different.  Once you have your final vision in your mind, the hard part is over, now all you have to do is take the necessary steps to make that vision a reality.


The faucet you see here is in the kitchen and for the blue background  I used a hard plastic lid that fits on top of a storage box.  The cool blue color is a stark contrast to the warm weather we are experiencing but it also makes the stainless steel and the water drop stand out in the photo.  To capture the water drop, I turned on the faucet slightly and had to be perfectly timed to capture the drop at the right moment.  An off-camera flash created a beautiful star highlight on the water drop that helps to add some visual interest.  Water is essential to us, we need it for our survival.  As we are in the midst of conserving our water resources, I hope that this single water drop will remind us of the delicate balance we have with nature and how we must preserve water now and for future generations.

Male House Sparrow

I love nature and I try to do my part to preserve and protect it in any way I can.  To help give the birds a "leg up" In late March, I affixed a wooden birdhouse about 30ft high in a pine tree in my yard.  After a couple of weeks, I saw a male and female House Sparrow inspecting the birdhouse and soon after they were bringing grass, straw, cotton and other materials into the birdhouse in order to build their nest.  They packed the birdhouse so full of stuff that it began to protrude through some small seams under the roof!

Female House Sparrow returning to her birdhouse

Female House Sparrow peeping outside

 

Female House Sparrow with hungry baby!

The fun really begins after the eggs have hatched.  The new baby birds chirped so loudly that their cries could be heard from inside of my own house!  Both parents tirelessly took an active part in bringing back food to their hungry chicks.  "How many baby chicks are in the birdhouse?" was my burning question but with the house hanging 30ft in the air, there was no way to tell.  As the babies grew in size, they now began to appear in the doorway, mouths wide open whenever mom or dad returned with food.  At first one chick was visible, then two and then......four!  To help facilitate the feeding process, Mother Nature painted the baby's mouths bright red and yellow to create a perfect visual target for the parents.

Female House Sparrow feeding young

Female House Sparrow with two of her young chicks

Four hungry House Sparrow chicks cry out to their father

A chick nearly old enough to leave the nest

Everything I could have hoped for with regards to this sparrow family seemed to be going according to plan.  They have a safe dwelling to protect them from predators and the weather.  There was an adequate food supply due to the bird feeders, bird bath and bread that I made available to them.  Despite all of these advantages stacked in the bird's favor, nature's game of "Survival of the Fittest" may have other ideas.  One day, as I went outside to see what was happening at the birdhouse, I noticed some sort of object on the ground near the base of the pine tree.  I walked closer to it and saw that it was one of the baby sparrows...and it was dead.  Whether it tried to fly and failed or it accidentally fell out of the birdhouse I'll never know for sure but the sight of this little guy was truly saddening.

A baby House Sparrow, deceased after a fatal fall from the birdhouse

Rather than dwelling on this tragedy, I remind myself that this type of thing happens in nature all the time whether there is human intervention or not.  Birds fall out of nests, snakes and other predators invade nests to eat eggs or young birds and a myriad of other natural events occur that can take the lives of many young animals.  On a happier note, the remaining sparrow babies have grown up and left the nest and will hopefully continue the cycle of life for their species, perhaps in the house that they were raised or in the nearby woods.  Below is a photo of mom feeding on of the juvenile sparrows.  Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I did.

Adult female House Sparrow feeding juvenile

This morning as I opened the front door to go outside, a dark object suddenly flew right past my face!  I wasn't expecting it and it really startled me to be quite honest.  As I looked around I spotted the mysterious culprit and saw that it was a moth just as he landed on the floorboards of the front porch.  The moth was very small and would have gone unnoticed had I not seen it land where it did with my own two eyes.  How fortunate was I that I had my camera and macro lens with me!  After grabbing this photo, I "shooed" the moth away for fear that he'd get stepped on or worse.....a sloppy wet tongue licking from my dog!  Here's hoping that there will be lots more colorful "creepy crawlies" that will await me for the upcoming warm weather season.

Click HERE to buy this image

Lizzie was very laid back and cooperative today which made the photo shoot go without a hitch except for keeping the rose in place in her mouth.  That took a few tries for her to get used to it.  Don't fret, I did remove the thorns before putting the rose in Lizzie's mouth!  Now that the Valentine photo session is over, I can begin my plans for the next holiday photo shoot with Lizzie!  Lizzie?  Lizzie?  Hey, where did she go?????

Happy Valentine's Day from Lizzie!

2015 Photo Recap

As 2015 comes to an end, so does the "Photo of the Week" series as this photo is #52.  Reviewing all of the previous weekly photos is very revealing because I found it to be sort of a visual diary of my experiences during the past year.  A weekly photo project takes a lot of discipline but it's also fun because even I don't know what the next photo will be!  Photo opportunities can present themselves at any time, even in the most unlikely places.

My little friend the White-throated sparrow paid a visit on my front porch early in the morning.  He was busy searching for food that was possibly hidden beneath a light dusting of freshly fallen snow.  Fortunately for him (and all of his beaked buddies), food is readily available at the bird feeders that I tirelessly try to keep filled.  If you like to feed birds as I do, I am sure you already know how quickly they can deplete a feeder full of seeds!

I shot the photo of this sparrow through the glass of my front door.  He sat there for awhile and didn't fly away.  The perfect moment came when he noticed me and turned his head back and that locked gaze was what I tried to capture.  A few seconds later, he flew off, leaving two tiny footprints in the snow.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/80 sec at f2.8, ISO 640
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

My Cocker Spaniel named Lizzie is in the holiday spirit as you can see from the photo above.  I created this image and used it as the Christmas card my wife and I sent to family and friends.  With the holiday season upon us, it's time to be with family, reflect on the year that has passed but also to look forward to the year ahead.  We can only hope that 2016 will be filled with peace and harmony throughout the world and less of the tragic incidents that dominated the news over the last 12 months.  My wish is that you will have a joyful celebration of this holiday season with your family and loved ones; and that the coming year brings you health and prosperity.  Happy Holidays from Oscar Dean Photography!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/60 sec at f5.0, ISO 800
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 55mm

Back a few months ago in September, I did a "photo hike" through Bigelow Hollow State Park in Union, CT.  Some photographs from that day are posted on my website but not this one.  Why am I posting it now?  Well, I was searching through my images looking for something specific for another project when I came across this one.  It is far from being the type of image I was looking for however, seeing it again took me back to the time when I was capturing this image.  As I was walking along the edge of the pond, this fallen tree looked like two long legs outstretched into the water...to me at least!  I guess it's like looking at the clouds, everyone may see something different.  The shapes and colors here were enough to draw me in to take this photo.

I set my tripod up on rather precarious uneven ground and used an 11 second shutter speed to smooth out the water which had lots of ripples due to the blowing wind.  I chose my wide angle lens because I was very close to the subject and this lens would give me more flexibility in framing up my composition.  To avoid any camera shake, I used a remote shutter release that allowed me to take the picture without touching the camera and creating blur in the resulting photo.  The wonders of Nature are all around us and if we allow ourselves to become more observant, you will be rewarded with an unlimited view of unique and/or unusual things to enjoy or photograph.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
11 sec at f14, ISO 100
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM lens set at 22mm

This photo of a herring gull perched on the pilings of a dock was taken while I was on a nice morning walk on Cuttyhunk Island.  Adult herring gulls are grey, black and white so I immediately knew that this particular bird was a juvenile based on his color.  Perhaps he thought I was going to put out some food or something because he was watching me very closely as I paused to reach for my camera.  I took advantage of the opportunity and captured this photo as he stood there in profile.  As I walked away he squawked loudly as if to say, "Gee, thanks for nothing!"  I resumed my walk and then turned around and my new little friend had vanished.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/1600 sec at f7.1, ISO 400
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 185mm

As I travel through the New England states, I almost always have my trusty camera with me because you never know what potential images lie ahead.  Such was the case on a destination trip to Stonington, Maine.  After driving over the Deer Isle Bridge which crosses over Eggemoggin Reach, the pier was on the right side.  The morning light of the rising sun was magical so I pulled over on the side of the road to snap this image.  It is unfortunate that no one will ever be able to photograph or visit this pier ever again since it has been torn down and removed. 

Sometimes as a photographer, you can forget just how important our role is in creating visual records of the many things that exist in our world or when something will cease to exist.  Although it may not come close to the real thing, photographs allow anyone to visually experience the wonders of Earth that can not be experienced in the physical sense.  Photographers are the record keepers who are out there every day documenting ordinary things that one day may become an important part of history for future generations.  This is one aspect of photography that I find to be very rewarding and it is one of a myriad of reasons why I enjoy this craft.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/320 sec at f10, ISO 100
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 35mm

The 2015 Fall Foliage season in New England was absolutely stunning!  The beautiful red, orange and yellow leaves transformed everyday scenery into wondrous and magical landscapes that this part of the country is known for.  The peak colors lasted a couple of weeks but Mother Nature's dramatic painting fell prey to storms which brought wind and rain that stripped the leaves from the trees.  In just a few days time, sunny blue skies gave way to bare naked trees surrounded by a dreary backdrop of gray overcast clouds.  Temperatures have dropped and things are just looking downright bleak!

While walking my dog Lizzie on a cool afternoon, I was very surprised to see a pop of color further ahead near the sidewalk.  It turned out to be a small patch of flowers that were still in bloom!  The flower's bright pink and yellow colors radiated like a glimmer of hope, as if naively thinking it could hold back the oncoming winter season by continually showing off its exuberant petals.  I'm no expert in naming flowers but I think they are Chrysanthemums?  Leave a comment below if you know for sure what they are.  Fortunately I had my camera with me and was able to get this shot.  I adjusted my camera settings to focus on the flower and blur out the background elements by choosing a wide aperture of 2.8.  I don't know how much longer this flower can hang on but with the weather in New England being notoriously changeable, we could end up with 3 feet of snow tomorrow...

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/160 sec at f2.8, ISO 400
Canon 100mm f2.8 USM macro lens

This photo was taken at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA.  It is a perfect example where chance and luck had everything to do with the final outcome.  The result that you see here was not anything that I had planned or even tried to create.  While taking a photo of this little friendly mutt, the dog suddenly shook himself vigorously like dogs do when they come in from being in the rain.  My press of the camera's shutter button coincided with the dog's movements and made his head blur like a spinning top!  I had no idea what I had captured until I returned home to CT.  Although it is not the best artistic image in the world, it is a curiosity.  It is a photo that makes the viewer pause an extra second or two to really take a closer look at what is happening in the picture.  I am sure that my chances of purposely recreating this in the future would be slim to none.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/60 sec at f8.0, ISO 100
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 55mm

I was thrilled to be able to photograph a Dog Frisbee Competition at Wickham Park in Manchester, CT.  From the tiniest of terriers to the grandest of German Shepherds, these canine creatures all had one thing in common: talent!  It was very evident how much time the owners spent training their dogs for they amazed the spectators with nimble agility and gravity defying leaps.  Some of the dogs seemed to sense that it was "showtime" and proceeded to throw their performance into high gear and entertain the adults and children alike.

There were several different competitions where some involved both dog and owner interacting together but the main event was the long frisbee toss.  The owner would throw a frisbee a long distance and their dog would give chase and try to catch it in its mouth.  In the photo above, this dog goes airborne in his quest to snag the flying disc.  And now the million dollar question:  Did the dog make the catch?  YES!  The dog caught the frisbee in mid air and came down in a perfect landing without dropping it.  A panel of judges observed each dog's performance and rated them.  In the end, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners were given ribbons and prizes.  All of the dogs did so well that to me, they are all winners in my book.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/1000 sec at f5.0, ISO 400
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 120mm

This week's photo continues the Halloween theme to some degree since it was taken in a cemetery.  It is not super scary or creepy since it was not taken in the dark at night...cemeteries are not my favorite place to be after the sun goes down!  I captured this image at the Cedar Hill cemetery in Hartford, CT.  Upon entering, visitors are treated to a scenic pond, sprawling meadows and landscaped woodlands.  Every inch of the property is very well maintained.  The 270 acre cemetery was established in 1867 and many notable public and historic people have been laid to rest here of which two examples are prominent businessman J. P. Morgan and famed actress Katharine Hepburn.

I have always been drawn to statues and I was really thrown for a loop when I saw this one.  It must have been about 25 feet high and it stood so solemn against the blue sky and green pine trees as if looking after all who rest here and silently reciting a mournful prayer.  This statue seemed to radiate a powerful aura of comfort and I doubt I will come across another in this cemetery that will top this one.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/125 sec at f6.7, ISO 100
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 55mm

Halloween is almost here and you know what that means......it's time to dress up Lizzie, my favorite photographic subject!  When it comes to posing, she is a trained professional, after all, she's 7 years old and has been doing this since the age of 3 months.  You may be asking how does Lizzie feel about this?  Well, she loves it....I think.  Really, she doesn't mind.  I'm not kidding when I say that she willingly pushes her head into her costume without any coaxing from me!  Lizzie is great at holding her poses but like any dog, she will eventually reach her limit and begin to lose interest.  Offering her a yummy treat will usually get me an extra 5 minutes of her being attentive and cooperative.

These "dress up" sessions with Lizzie are not easy and I am always trying to challenge myself to do something different.  I do my best not to make her wear anything that is gaudy or embarrassing....except that one time I dressed her as a bumble bee.  (I'm sorry Lizzie).  Rest assured that I will never make her wear the dreaded "Hot Dog" Halloween costume!  Last year Lizzie was a Lion, most likely the least scary and friendliest lion that ever lived.  I had no idea how I would dress her this year and after visiting 4 different stores looking for costumes, I finally settled on "Bat Dog."  Using the photo above, I created a bunch of 5x7 folded holiday cards and mailed them out to friends and family.  The cards were a big hit!  On behalf of Lizzie and Oscar Dean Photography, we wish you a Happy Halloween!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/200 sec at f6.3, ISO 100
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 40mm

I had the opportunity to photograph a corporate convention in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  During one part of the event, everyone participated in a half day of golf and I was there to capture all of the fun.  As I went about documenting the day's activities, I was also looking out for additional photos of interest to help give a broader sense of what happened on the golf course that day.  My wish came true at one point when I was standing near a wooded area next to one of the fairways.  I had just barely caught some movement beneath the trees but when I turned to look, I didn't see anything.  Suddenly, the culprit emerged from behind a tree and let out a sound that I can't even begin to describe.  It was a Grey Fox Squirrel.

I am from Connecticut and we don't have this particular species up north!  As I watched him stealing up acorns and pine cones I thought how fitting it is that he is adorned with a black mask like a burglar!  I was able to get this shot as he sat still for a moment while he munched on his prize.  This little guy was quite a distance from me so I had to use the full capability of my zoom lens to get in close.  I showed the photos of the convention to the participants and everyone laughed when the squirrel came up on the screen.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/160 sec at f6.3, ISO 100
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

Moss covered rocks on the shores of Rocky Neck Beach

A sea gull enjoying the waters of Rocky Neck Beach

Lifeguard stations removed from the beach for the "off season."

Rocky Neck Beach Boardwalk

Great Egret soaring across a brilliant blue sky

Stone Arch Rocky Neck Beach as seen through the Pavilion Arch

This clock tower is located in the business district of downtown Hartford Connecticut.  To be  honest, I really don't know any facts or history about the structure but thought I'd capture a photo of it while I was in the area.  The tower features a numberless clock that is prominently displayed on all 4 sides and benches are at the base for people to sit end enjoy the weather on nice days.  The clock tower has unusual detailing and is heavily textured.  I took the photo below to highlight the detail along the side of the tower.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/320 sec at f9.0, ISO 200
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 17mm

The photo above was taken at Gay City State Park in Hebron, CT.  I've never been to this park before so I really didn't know if I would find anything worthwhile to photograph.  To add to the challenge, the weather on that day was dreary gray overcast skies and CT. had not had any rain for over two weeks!  The lakes at this park were stagnant and accompanied by a green color and the stream had nearly dried up!  I am sure this place is beautiful during more bountiful times but with all of this stacked against me, I was determined to capture at least one good image before I left.

After walking past a wooded picnic area which overlooked the lake, I spotted a narrow wooden bridge allowing visitors to the park to walk over the waterfall.  A photo of the bridge with the water flowing beneath it would have made a wonderful picture but there was absolutely no water at all due to the long absence of rain.  It was completely bone dry where the waterfall should have been, making this area completely unappealing for a nice photo.  Although I was a little disappointed in this current state of affairs, I continued on my quest to craft a "keeper" photo.

My thought process was to minimize or eliminate any bad elements such as the overcast skies and the dried up waterfall as I set out to compose a photo.  After pondering the situation for a little while, I decided to make the bridge be the focal point of the image rather than capture the entire scene with the bridge and its surroundings.  Composing the photo as you see above kept the missing waterfall out of view and the low vantage point minimized the emphasis on the bleak and dreary sky.  The prominent lines from the bridge's railings lead the viewer's eye deep into the distance on the other side of the bridge.  In the end, I am happy with this photo and I look forward to coming back to this location during better conditions with the intention of getting some amazing photos.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/100 sec at f11, ISO 250
Canon 10-20mm f3.5 - f4.5 USM lens set at 10mm

During my many long drives on the highway, I very often come across some strange, funny and amusing things.  One day it could be a clever vanity license plate or a witty bumper sticker or maybe some inappropriate words written in the dirty grime on the back doors of an 18-wheel semi-trailer.  My day seemed fairly ordinary the day this V.W. Golf appeared before me chugging along at a snail's pace, barely able to transport its load up moderate hills.  What was its destination?  Is someone moving or has someone been kicked out and evicted from their home?  These were some of the questions that I pondered as I peered into the car's glass free rear window.

I did not have my DSLR camera with me on this occasion but instead I had my Canon Powershot A620 point and shoot camera.  It is so much smaller and compact than my 40D but it did a great job in capturing the car while I was driving.  They say duct tape has thousands of uses and can secure most anything, let's hope that the tape was able to secure the owner's belongings during this precarious (and hilarious) trip to who knows where...

Equipment and Settings

Canon Powershot A620
1/400 sec at f4.1, ISO 50
Lens set at 29.2mm

Although I am a lifelong resident of the state of Connecticut, I have not visited every state park that is contained within its borders.  As of late, I have been attempting to rectify that by going out to see the various parks and forests with the aim of experiencing the sights and sounds that each park has to offer.  The few that I have been to so far are diverse in their own way yet they are all rich in their beautiful charm and quiet tranquility.  Connecticut's state parks are for everyone to enjoy but for sure they are a photographer's dream.

The photo above was taken at Bigelow Hollow State Park in Union, CT.  It is known for its hiking trails through the forest, lakes for fishing and plenty of picnic areas to eat outside in the splendor of nature.  During this visit to the park, I took a variety of photos including the wide angle "let's take in the whole scene" pictures.  Sure, wide angle shots are great but that's what everyone takes so I spent some time looking for details.  Capturing photos of the park from many different perspectives such as wide angle, zoomed in, vertical or from a higher position in a tree, will allow you to tell your viewers a compelling story about this place.

Looking around as I approached the large pond, I was actually disappointed by what I saw, not necessarily because of the pond itself but rather the quality of light that was harshly washing all over the scene.  The warm golden light of sunrise or sunset would have been ideal but I was there at mid-day, which is usually the worst time to take outdoor photos.  Since I take full responsibility for being here at the wrong time, I was forced to work harder to create an impactful image. 

I decided to turn my attention to the lesser seen details in and around the pond and it was then that I saw the waterlily gently floating amongst some lilypads on a secluded area of the water.  I changed my lens to the 70-200mm and zoomed in to get the flower closer in the frame.  The thick canopy of trees came to my rescue by blocking the sun's harsh light and created an environment more suitable for capturing my subject.  Blue and green are complimentary colors and they go together well in the photo and the white flower's bright contrast makes it pop out to the viewer.  As still as frozen glass, there was not a ripple in sight to detract from the meditative aura of the picture.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/100 sec at f8, ISO 640
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

The weather was beautiful on Labor Day so I went for a drive with no particular destination.  I decided to re-visit Windsor, CT, the town where I grew up and I still have fond memories of those carefree times.  After cruising around a bit, I remembered the old train bridge that stretched across the Farmington River.  Even after all of these years, I know the town like the back of my hand so finding the bridge was no problem at all.  The stone structure looked just like I remembered it and for a few moments I cast my mind back to when my friends and I would go exploring all around this area.

Suddenly, my peaceful reverie was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a horn blasting in the distance.  A train, a train!  How lucky was I to be here at the bridge with my camera when an impending train will be crossing the bridge?  I had already taken one photo of just the bridge but capturing a train would help to add another interesting element to the picture.  The blaring horn became louder and I knew the decisive moment was drawing near so I positioned myself, set the composition and pressed the shutter when the train nearly filled the visible part of the bridge.  The river below enhanced the photo by creating a rippled reflection of the scene above the water.

The bridge was built in 1867 by the Hartford & New Haven Railroad and still looks the same today as it did back then.  Back in those early days, trains exported red sandstone bricks which Connecticut is famous for.  The bridge was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on 8/25/72.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/250 sec at f6.3, ISO 100
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5 - 4.5 USM lens set at 22mm

Cuttyhunk Union Methodist Church was founded in 1881. It opened with a dedication and dinner served under a tent in July of that year. Rev. John S. Bell, a Methodist, was the first minister of the church. His salary was $3.00 per service plus board. The church has been in continuous service since that time. The bass weather vane was created by islander, Steve Baldwin, in 1971. Land was given and the parsonage was built by Millard and Olga Ashley in 1957. It is used by the Cuttyhunk school teacher during the winter months.
 
In the 1960s, in addition to the Sunday evening worship service, an Episcopal service was started. Beginning in 1967 a Catholic priest flew in regularly by sea plane and conducted a Mass in the church, assisted by the United Methodist clergy.

The church is open on a seasonal basis during July and August. It is truly interfaith, with an Episcopal Eucharist at 8 a.m., a Roman Catholic service at 9 a.m., and Sunday School at 10 a.m. A popular hymn sing begins the Sunday evening vespers at 7:45. The pressed tin walls and ceiling add a dimension to the voices of people who love to sing, providing uplifting and inspiring memories. The church bell calls people to gather fifteen minutes before each service and can be heard all over the island.

The church building is used by a variety of religious and community groups for weddings, baptisms, memorial services, AA and Al-Anon, Cuttyhunk Historical Society events, the Cruisers Community Chorus and other island events.

The magnificent quahog mosaics in the front of the sanctuary are by island artist, Manuel Sarmento (1906-1986). They depict the Madonna and St. Francis of Assisi. The brass and driftwood cross on the altar was built by Wally Ketchum.
(Courtesy of http://www.cuttyhunkchurch.org/history.html)

Located not too far from Martha's Vineyard, Cuttyhunk Island has a lot of New England charm even though it is just shy of one square mile in size (0.91 sq. miles to be exact!).  Activity surges during the summer months as tourists flock to the island to enjoy the beaches, fishing, boating or just plain relaxing.  I've been to the island a handful of times and on this particular visit, I walked around and came upon the church.  The simple black and white colors of the church  was framed nicely by the blue sky above and the green grass below.  I admit to being a little addicted to photographing churches.  From the most ornate stone cathedrals to a simple wooden one room church, if the design "speaks to me," then I must photograph it!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/3200 sec at f4, ISO 400
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5 - 4.5 IS USM lens set at 10mm

Comstock Covered Bridge, East Hampton, CT.

The New England region of the United States is known for its picturesque farms, quaint coastal villages, stately white churches and rustic covered bridges.  Connecticut has seven of these bridges by my last count.  Each of them exudes its own unique character and you should make it a point to visit them on a solitary walk or with some family or friends.

Measuring 80ft long and 12ft wide, the Comstock Covered Bridge spans the Salmon River.  The bridge is not open to traffic, it's fate sealed when in the 1930's a truck crashed through the floor requiring a major restoration to the structure.  Visitors to the bridge have easy access by a nearby parking lot and there are good views of the river from the windows located on both sides of the bridge.

This photo was taken late in the afternoon and according to the weatherman, rain was predicted in the next hour or so.  Under the bridge there were two young boys doing their best to try to catch fish but not appearing to have any luck.  I spent about 15 minutes assessing the area trying to scope out locations to give me a good photographic composition and finally arrived at the one you see above.  I chose a low vantage point with the rocks and plants in the foreground which leads your eye to the bridge and ending with the clouds in the background.  A few minutes later, the two boys gave up and left the area and I was free to take my photo.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
12 sec at f11, ISO 100
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5 - 4.5  USM lens set at 16mm

On a visit to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, I stayed at the Hilton Hotel located literally "a stone's throw" from the beach.  After checking in at the front desk and heading to my room, I was greeted by this really cool architectural view once I stepped out of the elevator.  It was a completely open space where you could walk an infinite loop while taking in dramatic views of the floors above and below.  As I took in all of the repeating lines and patterns, I couldn't help but feel that I had been transported into an M.C. Escher drawing!  (See below).  There was no way I was going to leave this hotel without capturing a photo of the interior of this modern structure.

During the day, each floor of the hotel was buzzing with activity whether it was from tourists, business people, cleaning crews etc., so trying to take a nice clean photo proved to be a challenge.  My solution to get this shot was to wait until late at night, 11:00pm to be honest!  No one was around to bother me or cause any distractions so the conditions were perfect.  Although I am happy with the result, hindsight is 20-20 as they say.  I do regret not taking a few photos with some people walking by on some of the other floors, this would have helped to add a bit of human interest to the photo.  Lesson learned!  Take multiple versions of your subject and then you will have several different variations to choose from.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1 sec at f4, ISO 100
Canon EF-S 10-20mm f3.5 - 4.5 USM lens set at 11mm

Maurits Cornelis Escher (M.C. Escher as he is commonly referred) was a Dutch born graphic artist famously known for his often mathematically inspired drawings, woodcuts and lithographs.  His works would feature impossible constructions, explorations of infinity, architecture and tessellations.  Mathematicians and Scientists were particularly fond of the works of Escher.  During his lifetime, he made 448 lithographs, woodcuts and wood engravings and over 2000 drawings and sketches.  He lived from 1898 - 1972.

Waterfall - 1961 Lithograph

One of his famous drawings called "Waterfall," is mind boggling when you pay close attention to the flow of the water.
It looks so natural at first until you realize that it is impossible for water to flow this way.

Relativity - 1953 Lithograph

"Relativity" shown above is an example of Escher's "Impossible Constructions" style.
This drawing takes all logic and reasoning and throws it out the window!

After many years, the revitalization project of Downtown Hartford, CT is complete.  The goal was to beautify the city by making it a destination for everyone from walkers and joggers, to bicyclists and tourists.  There is a Riverwalk where you can get great views of both sides of the Connecticut River or watch as the barges launch fireworks into the night sky during the annual festival for Independence Day.  The walking paths meander through the urban landscape and cross the Connecticut River and the path continues into the city of East Hartford.  Rich artwork, majestic statues and a modern band shell where great music is performed will appeal to the culturally inclined for sure. 

And so it was on this walk that I came "face to face" (bad joke, I know) with this statue.  It is Abraham Lincoln meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe.  She was born in Litchfield, CT in 1811 and was a famous author and abolitionist.  Her book "Uncle Tom's Cabin" depicted the life of slaves in the South and caused quite a stir.  It is certainly well-known that Abraham Lincoln fought to gain equality for slaves and in 1862 had the chance to meet Mrs. Stowe.  Her son said that during the meeting, the President said to his mother, "so you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war."

Photographing this statue while trying to avoid distracting background elements was a bit of a challenge.  There are trees and buildings behind the statue and I wanted to be sure to exclude as much of that clutter as possible so as not to ruin the image.  After walking around the ebony figures countless times, I finally found a vantage point that worked!  I knelt down low so that the two famous icons had the sky as their background, giving me the clean unobtrusive look I was aiming for.  My finishing touch was a tasteful conversion to "black & white" and viola!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/200sec at f6.3, ISO 125
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 43mm

Built in 1865, this one-room schoolhouse is located in Avon, Connecticut.  Originally for students in grades 1 - 8, the school was eventually reduced to grades 1 - 6 and in 1949 closed its doors when it was the last one room school house in town. Lit by kerosene lamps and heated by a wood stove, older children were responsible for gathering wood and coal to heat the school.  An outside pump and an outhouse were used since there was no plumbing at the school.  After closing its doors in 1949, the building was used as a library, nursery school and home for the boy scouts.  The building was restored by the Avon Historical Society and opened to the public in 1976.  It is currently open to visitors on Sundays from 2:00pm - 4:00pm, June through September or by appointment with the Avon Historical Society.

While out on a leisurely Sunday drive, I happened to spot this little white wooden structure tucked back from the road.  I was curious about what this building could be so I found a place to turn around and headed back to get a closer look.  Upon reading the sign in the driveway, I realized that this was an historic one room school house.  It is moments like these that I'm glad I have my camera handy.  The school was closed at the time I took this photo but I hope to return when it reopens to have a look at the inside.

My intent for the composition of this photograph was to create a picture with a lot of depth.  The placement of the sign in sharp focus in the foreground adds visual interest but also leads the viewer's eye to the school in the background which is also in focus.  To achieve sharpness from front to back requires that you set your camera's aperture to a higher value such as 16, 18 or 22.  In this case it was 18.  Had I used a very low number such as 2.8, the sign would have been sharp and the school would have rendered blurry or vice-versa depending on where I placed my focus point.  In addition, I took the photo from a lower position by kneeling down.  Most photos are taken standing up so I shot lower to try to avoid that all too common predictable view.  This lower perspective helps to draw the viewer in more and almost make them feel as if they were at the location.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/200sec at f18, ISO 320
Canon 10-22mm f3.5 - 4.5 USM lens set at 13mm

This photo was taken in Balboa Park in San Diego, California.  The beautiful park is popular to tourists and has gardens, walking paths, museums, theaters and the world famous San Diego Zoo.  There is no shortage of people milling about so it is a great place to try your hand at "Street Photography."  This is where you capture candid images of people just being themselves instead of posing for you.  Candid photos truly show the essence of a person and how they are interacting in their present environment.  Street photography requires that you become very observant of the people around you and how they interact with their surroundings.  You can choose to sit or stand in one place and watch as people come and go or you can continuously walk around and seek out opportunities.  Either method can be successful but in the end it comes down to which one you feel most comfortable doing.

In the photo above, I was walking through a courtyard and I heard a saxophone in the distance.  I made my way toward the sound and spotted an elder jazz man seductively playing a variation on "When the Saints Go Marching In," much to the delight of a small audience.  The street musician was the epitome of "cool" in his suit, fedora and dark sunglasses.  He finished the song and a few people dropped some spare change into his saxophone case sitting on the ground beside him.  Some of the onlookers threw out a request and he happily obliged.

I thought long and hard about how to compose a photo that would document this experience in a way that I would be proud of.  I felt that shooting it straight on would be the type of picture most anyone would take so I wanted to avoid that.  While checking out the ornate cement railing that he was sitting on, I decided to make that an integral part of the photo to add some depth and interest.  I placed myself diagonally from Mr. Sax Man and positioned the railing so that it would enter the photo from the lower right and lead the viewer's eye into the distance.  The play between light and shadow as well as texture and mood are enhanced by the black & white version as opposed to the color rendition.  I wonder what the Sax Man would think of this photo...

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/80 sec at f8.0, ISO 200
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 55mm

A day at the beach should be fun and relaxing, right?  On this particular day, EVERYONE at the beach was having a great time except for this grandmother.  I saw her with her two grandchildren who looked to be in their very early 20's.  The three of them were walking around and taking in the sights while the young man snapped a few photos of themselves and their surroundings.  It wasn't long before the time came when grandma was asked to take a photo of the other two.  Her grandson handed her his Nikon DSLR camera and grandma looked at it like it was a Rubik's cube!  The perplexed look on her face was priceless!  She held the camera up and spun it this way and that, trying to make sense of all of the buttons and dials which to her may as well have been an airplane cockpit.

After awhile, the grandson went over to give her the quick "How to take a photo 101" training session.  Grandma's subjects posed in their positions and she held the camera to her eye and clicked the shutter.  Everyone gathered around to see what kind of result she had achieved.  By the looks of their happy smiles, they seemed very pleased with what grandma had produced.  And with that, they continued their beach adventure by heading to the water's edge and making footprints in the sand.  Now that grandma has mastered a modern camera, I wonder if she is ready to tackle Facebook?  All kidding aside, I think that it was wonderful that they spent the day together and took photos which they will one day treasure as keepsakes.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/800 sec at f7.1, ISO 100
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 125mm

The Great Blue Heron seen above is not your typical backyard bird.  Their habitat is in and around lakes and ponds, often hiding amongst the tall grasses and reeds.  Its long and thin stilt like legs are the perfect waders for standing in the water catching small fish, frogs and small aquatic insects.  Imagine my surprise when a Great Blue Heron landed on the same platform that I was standing on next to the pond at the park!  I stayed very still at first but since I had my camera with me, I wanted to take its photo in the worst way.  He appeared to be more concerned about something in the water than with me so V-E-R-Y slowly I began to move my camera up to my face to prepare to grab a shot.

The bird looked at me and stared me down for a few seconds and I held my breath and waited.  Again his attention was called back to the depths of the pond providing me with the opportunity to finally get the camera up to my eye so I could frame the shot.  The decisive moment came when he looked off into the distance allowing me to capture a nice photo of him in profile.  After the click of the camera's shutter, he abruptly flew to the other side of the pond and hid high up in some densely packed trees.

This situation happened so unexpectedly that I really had no chance to adjust the camera settings to more optimal parameters.  If I could have hypothetically changed my settings without scaring the bird away, I'd probably drop my ISO to 100 since it was a bright sunny day and I'd lower the shutter speed to 1/400 sec.  Doing this would have reduced the noise in the image while still allowing a shutter speed that is fast enough to produce a sharp photo.  All in all, it worked out in the end.  This spontaneous moment yielded a photo of a bird that I would have never imagined I'd see this close other than in a zoo.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/1600 sec at f4, ISO 400
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

In the photo above, Speaker of the House John Boehner speaks to an assemblage of Montfort Point Marines in Washington DC who were being honored for their service for the years 1942 - 1949.  In addition to being addressed by senators and other political leaders, the marines were given a grand military parade and a gold medal.  War is brutal enough as it is but this large troop of African-American marines had to deal with racial segregation under the authority of the military system, unselfishly fighting for a country for which they had few rights or freedoms of their own.  The segregation carried over to the living quarters at Camp Lejeune where the black marines endured living conditions that were deplorable and not comparable to their white counterparts.

Given the fact that security for this event was a high priority, I was a little concerned about my large backpack full of camera gear.  I had all of my lenses with me because I wanted to be ready for any situation that I would face.  In the end, I was never approached the entire time by any member of security possibly because I looked like I belonged with the "press."  I noticed a bunch of press photographers who were taking turns snapping pictures from a raised platform that gave them a better view of the proceedings.  I can't believe I did this but I actually made my way to the platform and took some shots from it!

Although each political speaker delivered a different speech during the ceremony, one theme rang true:  This recognition was long overdue!  Sadly, many of those who fought were killed in battle or had passed away years later so they were honored posthumously.  I attended this ceremony with my sister because our father was one of these marines being honored that day and words can't describe how proud we are of him.  Semper Fidelis!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/400 sec at f2.8, ISO 1250
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 100mm

Independence Day celebrations are in full swing all across the country with dazzling fireworks displays that light up the sky.  To find an event near you, check your local newspaper, TV news station or a local tourism website that covers your area.  This photo was taken at "The Great American Boom" celebration at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, CT.  This particular show takes place every year at this location and it draws very large crowds to the park.

If you plan to photograph fireworks, be sure to arrive very early so you'll have a better chance to pick your viewpoint and so you can avoid having people or obstacles in your way.  I always try to get as many good shots as early in the show as possible because more and more smoke begins to fill the sky as the show goes on and the smoke will create a hazy effect over the fireworks.  Trust me, the smoke will definitely degrade the quality of your images.  Photos of fireworks look best when the sky is dark and free from smoke.  Also, when taking photos in dimly lit or dark situations, having your camera on a tripod will eliminate blurry images (unless you are not properly focused) due to camera shake.  I used a tripod for this photo along with a wireless shutter release so I would not have to touch the camera to take each photo.

Remember to be safe if you plan to photograph a fireworks show.  Obey all boundaries and do not go to areas that have been roped off for everyone's safety.  Be alert to your surroundings and make note of any security booths in the event there is an emergency.  Keep your camera equipment and other belonging close to you at all times.  Don't get so caught up in the photo taking process that you become the victim of theft when it could have been easily prevented.  Following these safety tips will allow you to enjoy the show and come home with some fireworks photos you will be proud of!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
5 sec at f11, ISO 160
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 33mm

When we think of mountains in the United States, the famous Rocky Mountains of Colorado or the Blue Ridge Mountains may be the first ones to come to mind but the state of Maine has an impressive display of mountains too.  Located just off of Route 1 in Presque Isle, Maine is Aroostook State Park.  The park's scenic beauty offers a lake, hiking trails, camping and the impressive Quaggy Jo Mountain, making this place a must see tourist attraction.  For an "out of stater" like me, the nominal $3.00 all day admission was quite the bargain.  I was now very excited to see what experiences lay before me.

I grabbed my camera gear, headed toward the trail entrance and was greeted by a sign directing me to either the North Peak trail or the South Peak trail.  With absolutely zero knowledge about this park and making my decision based on a whim, I chose the North Peak trail.  It didn't take very long before the trail became VERY steep....precariously steep!  Besides the uneven path, you must also contend with rocks, tree roots, slippery moss, wet leaves and of course pesky insects such as flies, mosquitoes and bees.  This trail is not for the faint of heart but you are certainly rewarded with stunning views when you have finally reached the top of the 1100ft mountain.

The photo shown above was one that I took while at the top and it was the layout of the trees standing at attention against the blue sky background that caught my eye.  I was on slanted ground so I had to use extra care in setting up my tripod and then making sure the camera was level.  After a few more minutes of taking in the sweeping views, I headed down on the South Peak trail until I eventually reached the parking lot.  I had a great time and perhaps I can re-visit Aroostook State Park later in the year during the fall foliage season.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/250 sec at f13, ISO 100
Canon 10-22mm f3.5 - 4.5 USM lens set at 10mm

As I headed outside to refill the bird feeder in the yard, I told my dog Lizzie to "stay" on the porch.  After a couple of minutes I looked back and saw that she had her nose poking through the wooden lattice work furiously sniffing the air.  I found it very cute but very comical as well and of course I had to get a picture of this but my camera was in the house.  After taking care of my "avian" friends, I went back inside and when I returned to the porch, Lizzie was now in the SIT position looking up at me with her tongue hanging out probably hoping for a game of fetch.  Now my challenge was to get her to repeat her sniffing action from before and it may not be very easy to replicate.


I decided to try to lure her with a dog treat.  With Lizzie still on the porch, I went to the other side and held a treat a short distance from one of the holes just out of her reach and called her to get her attention.  She poked her nose through and began vigorously sniffing the delicious aroma of the treat.  I told her to "STAY" and after a few seconds, I praised her and gave her the treat to eat.  I tried it again and after telling her to "STAY," I quickly captured this photo.  Hooray, success!  And as an extra reward, I called her down into the yard and we enjoyed a nice game of fetch!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/1250 sec at f2.8, ISO 400
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

In the midst of doing some research online about New England landmarks, I happened upon a small thumbnail image of a stone structure that looked pretty fascinating.  I clicked on it and learned that it was called Bancroft Tower located in Salisbury Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.  Seeing as though the city of Worcester is about 80 miles from where I live, I thought I'd take a nice Sunday drive to see this tower in person and hopefully come back with a nice image or two.  The weather was perfect with blue skies and wispy white clouds and barely a breeze.  Even better was the fact that no one was there at the park except for me.  I had it all to myself!

Here are a few facts that I learned about the tower thanks to Wikipedia:  "Bancroft Tower is a 56-foot-high (17 m) natural stone and granite tower, which looks like a miniature feudal castle. It is located in Salisbury Park, in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts.  It was erected in 1900, in memory of George Bancroft. The tower was designed by Earle and Fisher.^[2] The cost of construction was roughly $15,000.^[3] Bancroft Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places."

The mighty stone monument looks impressive from a straight on front view but it isn't long before you realize that it is all just a facade.  The depth of the structure only goes back about 15ft and the doors that take you inside to the upper level are locked.  I found this place to be really sweet from a photographer's point of view since the subject is relatively free of obstructions except for a row of poles set in place to prevent an out of control car from plowing into the tower.  You hear stories like this in the news when a person hits the gas instead of the brake and crashes into a shop window causing all kinds of damage.  It would be a shame for something like that to happen to Bancroft Tower.

I wanted to travel light so I only brought with me what I felt would be essential to get the types of shots I planned to capture.  Two lenses went into my camera bag:  my 10-22mm wide angle and my 17-55mm moderate zoom lens.  To aid me in the composing of various shots, I used my Manfrotto tripod.  Adding the tripod to the mix gives me a lot more versatility.  It allows me to use aperture and shutter speed settings on the camera that would not be possible while hand holding the camera.

Normally my "Photo of the Week" blog posts only contain one photo but I think that today I will make an exception.  Scroll down a bit and you can see a few more images that I've included from this visit to Bancroft Tower.  I encourage you to check it out with your friends or family if you are ever in the Worcester area.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/160sec at f11, ISO 100
Canon 10-22mm f3.5 - 4.5 USM lens set at 10mm

I am an early riser and wake up at 5:00am whether I have work to do or it's the weekend.   The quiet early morning is my favorite time of the day.  Some of the things I like to do while my neighbors are still sleeping are walking my dog Lizzie, having a leisurely breakfast and perhaps capture a photograph of a dramatic sunrise.  With trees, bushes and an expanse of tall reeds around my house, many species of birds are also awake and their noisy chatter ensures that you won't forget that they are the true masters of the early risers!

While sitting at the table eating breakfast, I heard a particularly loud and impatient bird call and it seemed like it was coming from just outside the window.  After a few more squabbles, my curiosity got the best of me and went to the window and looking back at me from a pine tree branch was a brilliantly colored male cardinal.  The fact that it did not fly away when I appeared in the window really surprised me.  I went to get my camera and with him in the same spot where I had left  him, I managed to capture this image.

The cardinal bobbed his head and chirped again leaving me to wonder what's got his feather's all in a huff.  And then, in the same tree just a few feet away, I saw that the bird feeder that I religiously keep filled was.....EMPTY!  Was Mr. Cardinal trying to tell me something?  I put on some shoes and went outside to fill the feeder, scaring off the cardinal in the process.  Upon returning inside the house and looking out the window, about 5 minutes went by when the cardinal appeared cautiously hopping from branch to branch and after seeing the full bird feeder, chirped loudly and took his place and began feeding.

This photo was taken through the kitchen window, something I would prefer not to do since any additional glass can degrade the quality of your image.  To get closer to the cardinal I used my zoom lens maxed out to 200mm and the ISO setting was raised to 800 because it was actually not very bright outside and this higher value will capture more light in the scene.  Thank you Mr. Cardinal for being so patient and for being so kind as to give me such a great pose!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/200sec at f8, ISO 800
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

As the warm weather of Spring and Summer takes hold, many tell-tale signs of the season begin to emerge:  Birds, flowers, insects and of course kids!  The above photo was taken at a Grand Opening store event at a shopping plaza in New York State. I've known the store owner for many years and she asked if I could take photos at her Grand Opening event to be used for her Blog and a newsletter.  The event was a great success with hundreds of people coming out to have fun and support her business.  The special sale prices and money saving bargains attracted shoppers while the carnival rides, music and edible goodies lured in children of all ages.

This young girl seems to have had no problem finding the cotton candy booth!  She was actually surrounded by a bunch of other cotton candy wielding friends enjoying their sugary treats but I preferred this expressive solo photo over the group shot.  I spoke with the girl's mother and she loved the photo.  She gave me her e-mail address and I sent the pic to her, much to her daughter's delight.  Let's hope the girl gets a chance to wash her sticky fingers before she gets back in the car with her family!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/500 sec at f7.1, ISO 250
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

This photo was taken at a minor league baseball game between the New Britain Rockcats and the Binghamton Mets.  The Rockcats are the "home team" dressed in red and the game took place in their stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.  My seat was on the first base side about 10 rows back so I had a pretty decent vantage point for most of the action.  To cover all the bases, (ooh, bad joke!), I brought 3 lenses with me to enable me to cover different fields of view.  I had my wide angle 10-22mm, my 17-55mm and my workhorse, the 70-200mm.

Sports photography is all about anticipation.  Having a decent knowledge of how the game is played will help you be better prepared to have your lens pointed in the right place a moment or two before the crucial "money shot" takes place.  In the photo above, there was a man on 1st base so I wagered a hunch that a good play might unfold at 2nd base.  Sometimes my guess is right, sometimes it is wrong....this time I was RIGHT!  The batter hit the ball to the 3rd baseman and he in turn threw the ball to 2nd base in hopes of getting the runner "out."  It really was a close play!  The runner just beat the throw so he was "safe" but the New Britain Rockcats managed to win the game.

Since 2nd base was kind of far away, I used my 70-200mm for this shot.  My goal was to zoom in close enough to see the action but I felt that the umpire was a necessary element in the photo so I did not want to leave him out.  The fast shutter of 1/2000 of a second allowed me to freeze the ball in mid air causing viewers to wonder the outcome of this close play.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/2000 sec at f3.2, ISO 200
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 150mm

The big deal is that when it comes to composing a photograph, reflections seem to take a back seat.  Very few people consciously make it a point to include a reflection as they are taking a picture and if they do include one, it is usually by accident.  Reflections are everywhere, if you take the time to look for them.  Given the fact that so few photos contain reflections, make it your mission to have one appear in the next few photos you take.  Have fun with it and take a walk through your nearest city, you'll be amazed at the reflections that can be seen from the buildings and shop windows.  Then you need to ask yourself this one question:  "Have I ever noticed these reflections before?"  Below are a few examples of some reflection photos I did from a city walk in Hartford, CT this past weekend.

The face of this building provides a perfect reflective canvas for the reflections of the buildings that are behind me in the background.  The arresting vertical and horizontal lines create added visual interest.  This image creates an illusion that I am photographing these buildings through a steel gate but in reality you are looking at highly reflective windows.

Most major cities are known for a particular landmark or two and Hartford, CT is no exception.  Right in the heart of downtown is the aqua-green Phoenix insurance building which is affectionately called the "Boat Building."  This impressive architectural marvel celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013.  The building's unusual shape combined with the impressive reflections of other tall structures creates a stunning visual of this city.

I chose a different approach in this photo by zooming in tighter on this building rather than trying to capture it in its entirety.  There's a lot going on in this image.  In addition to the reflections, there is a sense of order that is created by the rhythm of the repeating symmetrical window panes.  Some may view this photo and think it is very busy while others may feel it has an almost abstract quality.  Regardless, when you do come across a "reflection" subject (or any subject for that matter), never forget that you have an almost unlimited range of choices in which to capture it such as changing your viewpoint, zooming in or out, adjusting camera settings, time of day or night and more.  Take a few extra minutes to look for unusual and creative ways to make your final image different than the norm.

Here we have downtown Hartford, CT at dusk viewed from across the Connecticut River and the reflections of course are the buildings and lights in the water.  In the spirit of trying to inject some variety in today's city photo walk, I decided to go for a wide evening shot since all of the others were in the middle of the day.  You may have heard the expression, "An artist suffers for their work."  The suffering I endured in getting this photo was the endless attack of mosquitoes that ate me alive as the sun set beyond the sprawling skyline.  As soon as I got my shot, I was outta there ASAP!

This whimsical photo was taken at a craft fair that my church had put together.  I had my camera with me just so that I could record some casual memories of this event for the church's website.  At one point, Cathy, a good friend of mine was in a conversation with someone and I happened to notice her reflection in a small mirror sitting on a table.  With moments to spare, I was able to capture her face in the mirror as she carried on with her dialogue.  Mirrors are the most common reflective objects that we think of so when using one in a photo, you should try to incorporate it in a unique and creative way.  This was totally unplanned but I am glad that I was lucky enough to spot this scene before it dissolved.  And yes, Cathy has seen this photo and she thought it was very clever!

I hope that this post has given you some new ideas and inspiration to go out and take photos that incorporate reflections in the frame.  Reflections are everywhere if you make time to look for them.  If you have taken some photos with reflections and you'd like to share them with other readers, please submit a link to your photo(s) in the comments section below.  Thanks, Oscar
 

On an extremely long drive through a rural part of the state of Maine, I was practically driving in "autopilot" mode when by chance I happened to see this dump truck just off the side of the road.  You might think that it was the truck's bright orange color that caught my attention but rather it was the sign that I quickly whizzed by that made me do a U-turn and go back to take this picture.  The sign is not only humorous, it is a genius of marketing!  Drivers on this road are routinely doing in excess of 60mph so this sign must get its message across in a matter of seconds!  Two simple words quickly and clearly let passersby know exactly what is for sale...in no uncertain terms.

Humor in a photograph can make it appealing or interesting to the viewer and seeing this sign made me chuckle.  I knew if I continued to drive on without taking a picture of this I would regret it so that's when I turned around and made my way back and parked across the street.  I chose my 70 - 200mm zoom lens since I was quite a distance away from the dump truck and it gave me the luxury of not having to cross the busy road.  Every genre of art is subjective, and that includes photography.  All forms of art speak to different people in completely different ways.  If someone proclaims to be the "end all be all" judge of all things art, then they are truly not worth their weight in cow chips.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/250 sec at f6.3, ISO 100
Canon 70 - 200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 95mm

This photo was taken while walking around the streets of San Diego, California.  It was my first time in this city so I guess you could say I was a "tourist" on that particular visit.  When taking photographs, there are several key attributes you should look for to help you produce a photo that will be appealing and interesting to viewers.  A few of these are: color, shape, lines, texture, pattern and motion.  This list is not meant to be all-inclusive because there are many other elements to look for when composing your photos.  It is important to slow down when taking a photo and really think about the scene before you.  All too often, one sees something they like and quickly snap a picture never taking the time to consider what drew them to the subject or investing some effort to elevate their photo to become more than a simple snapshot.

In the above photo, I was first drawn to the subject because of its texture and then by the humor in the sculpture itself.  What you see in this picture is actually a very small part of a much larger piece of sculpted art.  I made the decision to closely focus in on just an isolated area of the statue rather than try to show off the entire work.  This was my personal choice and in no way does that mean that my way is the best or only way.  That is the beauty of photography.  You can choose how you want to present a subject or a scene to others.  This is what we call your "vision."  As you continue to work on and improve your artistic vision, you will begin to see a photographic style begin to emerge in your body of work.  And if you remain true to your vision, your photographic style will be unique and one that you can call your own.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/500 sec at f5.6, ISO 100
Canon 17- 55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 55mm

Most of the images in my "Photo of the Week" series are unplanned or impromptu photos where I happen to stumble upon an interesting subject, place or event.  These types of pictures can be great because you may possibly capture a once in a lifetime moment simply because you were in the right place at the right time....with a camera of course!  For this week's photo I decided to change things up a bit and take a photo where I could take total control of all of the elements.  Why did I decide to do this you ask?

Well, my wife loves strawberries so I picked up a bunch at the grocery store as a nice surprise for her.  She's very lucky that I don't really like strawberries so she gets to eat all of them without having to worry about me.  The idea of this "Strawberry Splash" photo came to me when I saw a wine glass in our kitchen cupboard.  These types of photos have been done a million times using all kinds of props but I had never tried it before so I thought I'd give it a go.

You don't need professional equipment or a studio to make a photo like this, but it does require some knowledge of achieving good exposures, off camera flash photography and a little luck when it comes to capturing the decisive moment.  The wine glass is sitting on a tempered glass table protector which in turn is resting on top of a wooden stool.  Behind the glass is a large white cloth background which has been illuminated by an off camera flash.  The wine glass is filled with water but the ice cubes are not as they seem.  They are fake!  These are made of glass and can often be purchased at craft stores.  My camera was set up on a tripod on manual focus and I used a wireless shutter release to press the shutter button.

Next comes the fun or frustrating part depending on your viewpoint!  Dropping the strawberry into the glass and tripping the camera's shutter at the precise moment a dramatic splash is sent flying into the air.  Sounds easy right?  Trust me, it's not!  I admit that I did get lucky because the photo above was actually my third attempt but I persisted another 15 times trying to outdo this one but I never did.  Not only was this an exercise in patience, it really wasn't fun cleaning up the watery mess!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/200 sec at f5.6, ISO 320
Canon 17- 55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 38mm
Flash fired

This photo was taken while stopped at a traffic light in downtown Hartford, CT.  The man was sitting on the steps of a church and talking to.....uh......no one that I could see.  Other than him, the steps were empty!  In any case, whoever or whatever he was seeing or hearing, he was in the middle of an engaging conversation.     He was quite animated with hand gestures and facial expressions which I assume was to get his point across to his chat friend who must have been intently hanging on his every word.

Since I simply grabbed my camera from the seat in order to quickly capture this shot, I had no time to adjust the settings but fortunately I am satisfied with where they were set.  The man was across the street at quite a distance so the 200mm focal length helped to bring him closer in the frame.  The fast shutter speed helped to prevent motion blur and camera shake and the aperture setting of 6.3 created enough depth of field to keep the subject in focus.  Noise in the image was kept at a bare minimum with the ISO set at 200.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/1,000 sec at f6.3, ISO 200
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

While driving past Mansfield Hollow State Park in CT, I saw plenty of people enjoying the wonderful Spring weather so I decided to see if I could catch some good photographs.  I saw this husband and wife "team" heading out into the water and I liked the rich colors that were in the scene.  The next thing I noticed was they were in pretty good sync with their paddles, raising the left side at the same time and then alternating to the right side with the same precision.  Maybe it was the unconscious result of the two of them living together for so long?  Who knows but my hope was to try to capture the symmetry and create two diagonal lines of their paddles.  These diagonal lines help to break up the horizontal line of the horizon in the distance.

It was bright and sunny and the subjects were not moving fast so using a low ISO of 100 was an easy choice so as to get the best image quality.  Choosing an aperture of f9 ensured the couple was in focus and the 1/200 sec shutter speed was enough to prevent motion blur.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/200 sec at f9, ISO 100
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 70mm

This photo was taken early on a crisp, cool morning while walking my dog.  The sun had not risen yet but as you can see, it lit the moon and turned the sky into pastel hues of pink and blue.  You have no time to waste during sunrise or sunsets because the colors in the sky are constantly changing.  From the time you run in the house to grab your camera to when you return outside, the stunning colors you saw previously may have changed to a scene where the colors are now dreary and washed out.

Through my viewfinder I could see that the light was dim so I raised the ISO to a value of 800.  This may seem high but it was necessary in order to enable me to get a shutter speed fast enough to prevent camera shake which would result in a blurry image.  The photo has two distinct subjects:  the moon and the trees.  This photo also makes use of a compositional technique called "negative space."  This is where a large portion of an image may appear empty of featureless.  Negative space can place a stronger emphasis on your subject by providing a clean and uncluttered look to the photo.  The image has more clarity and advertisers like these types of images because they can easily add text for marketing campaigns and such.  Because I exposed for the sky, the trees were transformed into a silhouette.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/160 sec at f4.5, ISO 800
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 70mm

It appears that here in New England, Winter is beginning to loosen its grip and finally allowing hints of warmer Spring temperatures.  On Easter Sunday, I happened to spot a Mourning Dove sunning itself on the railing of my back deck.  I found it coincidental yet fitting that this bird who plays a role in the first book of The Bible would appear like this on such a religious holiday.  Capturing a photo of this dove would be tricky since I would be shooting through glass and his view of me would be as good as my view of him.  There was nowhere to hide!  I moved VERY slowly to get my camera and VERY slowly made my return all the while hoping that he would still be there...and he was!

All of my actions had to be carried out in super slow motion so as not to scare him away.  Getting into position and adjusting various camera setting seemed to take forever and I had the feeling that I only had mere seconds left to spare.  With the camera finally in place at my eye, the alert bird cocked his head my way, blinked and then flew off moments after I managed to get off a few shots.  When photographing animals, one of your main goals should be to get their eyes "tack sharp" and I was very pleased that I did manage to do that in this photo despite the fact that shooting through glass can throw off your camera's focusing ability.  To bring more attention to the bird, I intentionally selected a wide aperture to blur the background and used a low ISO setting to reduce noise in the photo.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/250 sec at f5.6, ISO 200
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

Silence in the Forest

This photo was taken in a forest in central Connecticut during what I hope is the end of the constant snowstorms that have bombarded this state.  I was totally enjoying the quiet stillness and solitude when I walked up on this scene.  Seeing all of these trees standing at attention really caught my eye.  Just beyond the trees is a lake but of course it is iced over and covered with snow.  Once in a while, I feel that an image is better conveyed in "Black & White" instead of color and that's how I felt about this particular photo.  It is a matter of taste and whichever version one prefers doesn't make them right or wrong.  Art is after all...subjective.  For me, the image's mood and feeling of isolation was represented best in "Black & White" than color.

In hindsight, I wish I had taken this photo with my ultra wide angle lens in order to capture more of the scene than the 17mm focal length shows here.  I did have that lens in my camera bag but I just didn't take it out at that moment.  Let that be a lesson.  Take many shots from different angles using different lenses because you will come back with some photos with varying perspectives and one or more of them may just blow you away!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/80 sec at f8, ISO 100
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 17mm

The "Celtic Music Concert Series" brings in a wealth of Irish music artists and groups and Dervish is by far the most anticipated and popular with the fans time and time again.  The band's musicianship, energy and stage presence will keep you thoroughly entertained for the duration of the show.  I've been photographing this concert series for 5 years now and have captured photos of Dervish three times in that period and they never cease to amaze me.  Each band member is a master of their instrument and yet they are so humble and approachable and love to talk to their fans during intermission and after the show.  Below are a few photos from the concert which was the last stop of their US tour before flying back to Ireland.  I hope that Dervish will return to play at this venue again next year.  One thing's for sure, the fans in this area will be eagerly waiting!

Dervish in concert 3/21/15

Tom Morrow - Fiddle

Shane Mitchell - Accordion

Michael Holmes - Bouzuki

Cathy Jordan - Bohdran, percussion

Liam Kelly - Flute, Pennywhistle

Brian McDonagh - Mandola

See more of my photos from this concert HERE.  Visit the official Dervish website:  http://www.dervish.ie/

As a life-long resident of Connecticut, I still encounter places throughout the state that I have never seen or visited:  Chatfield Hollow State Park is one of those places.  After many weeks of dealing with one of the toughest winter seasons that I can remember, I managed to break free and get outdoors to take pictures on a rare "semi-warm" day in March.  There was still LOTS of snow everywhere but my goal was to find a location that was picturesque and I randomly chose this State Park.  It was everything I could have asked for.

It was my very first time visiting this park and many other people had the same idea.  Walking through the trails, I eventually came upon this beautiful little stream.  In my attempt to find the perfect sweet spot vantage point, I stepped into snow that was over 3ft deep!  Fortunately for me, I am 6'3" but my height could not help the fact that cold snow had found its way into my boots!  Brrrrr!   I quickly took a photo and made a hasty retreat!  It was such a peaceful day and I think the photo captures that mood.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/250 sec at f6.3, ISO 200
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 17mm

This mesmerizing photo was taken at Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth, CT on a cold March afternoon.  There is so much snow here that it actually was a hindrance because it is so deep it prevents you from gaining access to different vantage points when taking photos.  After spotting this waterfall, I was lucky enough to be able to move to a place where I had a relatively unobstructed view.  My thought process for this image was to slow the shutter speed down a bit to blur the flowing water to create this nice effect.  The water violently flows downward over the rocks as if tumbling down a set of steps.  Fate was also on my side because the waterfall was lit by beautifully diffused soft light.  Shortly after capturing this image the sun came out and the lighting became very contrasty and harsh.  Attempting to photograph the waterfall in that direct sunlight would have resulted in a completely different photo than what I created here.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/5 sec at f22, ISO 100
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

This winter has been brutal with extreme "below zero" temperatures and snow storms that never seem to quit!  Here in Connecticut, we have received over 60 inches of snow during this winter season.  Shoveling, traffic jams, leaky roofs and cabin fever is testing the patience of everyone in New England.  I heard on the news yesterday that we have more snow than Alaska!  That to me is just mind blowing!  I don't want to jump the gun but it appears that we may be getting a reprieve from the cold weather according to weathermen who are saying we will hit the mid 40's for the next 3 days.  When the mercury hits the 40's it will seem downright tropical around here!

Honestly it has been so bitterly cold outside that I haven't gone outside to do much photography.  Today was a rather mild day so I took advantage of it and went out to see if any photo opportunities would present themselves.  Walking through a park I spotted a man with his dog trudging along a snow path.  I was immediately struck by the bold colors before me:  the bright white snow, the green trees and the man's bold red jacket.  All in all it is a simple composition with the path helping to lead the viewer's eye to the main subject.  The rows of trees help to add some visual interest as well.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/800 sec at f3.2, ISO 400
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 55mm

The Bass Harbor Lighthouse is located in Acadia National Park in Tremont, Maine.  Built in 1858, it is certainly one of the  attractions for the many tourists that visit this scenic area.  I was on an assignment in Southwest Harbor, Maine which is just a few miles away so I decided not to let this opportunity slip away to see this lighthouse in person.  This photo was taken around 9:00am and the sky was and incredibly rich blue color with just a few wispy clouds scattered here and there.  The black, white and green colors of the foreground subject contrasted very nicely with the sky.

From the lower vantage point where I took this photo are lots of boulders (see picture below).  Extreme care must be taken when climbing over these large rocks as you could possible drop and severely damage your camera equipment or worse, injure yourself.  In capturing this photo of the lighthouse, I moved around on the rocks until I was able to frame the building with the trees on either side.  I felt that this was a pleasing composition.  I didn't have my tripod but the scene was so bright I was able to use a low ISO together with a fast shutter speed and an aperture that provided good depth of field.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/1,600 sec at f7.1, ISO 100
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 95mm

This photo was taken on the sandy shore of Cuttyhunk Island.  I was taking pictures of the usual things like the waves, trees and creepy crawly things in the sand and suddenly there was a commotion.  Flying about and also running along the sand I saw quite a few brown birds squawking and making quite a racket.  I instantly recognized them as Killdeer.  It is possible that I may have been too close to one of their nests which they make on the ground.  They are very skittish and do not let humans get too close to them.  Killdeer are famous for outsmarting predators that go after their young chicks in the nest.  The adult bird will fake a broken wing and draw the predator away from the nest.  Once the threatening animal has been drawn away from the young birds the adult quickly takes to the air leaving the predator to wonder how he fell for this ingenious trick!  The predator bows its head in shame and walks home with tail between its legs.

The Killdeer's color helps them to blend into their surroundings so well that they will see you before you see them.  Trying to photograph them in flight is an exercise in futility.  They are extremely fast and change directions so quickly you may be tempted to just give up trying...I know I almost did!  I was fortunate to capture this one bird that was moving left to right and I followed him with my camera hoping and praying the entire time.  I used a very fast shutter speed of 1/2000 of a second to freeze the subject and an aperture of f6.3 to give me enough depth of field to have the bird in focus.  Once in a while it's nice to challenge yourself with photography, and for me, these birds delivered that for sure!

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/2,000 sec at f6.3, ISO 200
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

Urban Decay

If you feel that you're suffering from a lack of creativity or inspiration, head for the city.  In most cities there is lots to do and see and it is this very combination that can make for some interesting photos.  First there is the obvious touristy things like famous buildings, bridges, statues or attractions such as sports stadiums or amusement parks.  All of these are great subjects but you can be sure that they have all been photographed a million times.  Why not dig a little deeper and seek out some less often shot areas of the city.

On this particular day, I found myself in the city of New Britain, CT.  It is nicknamed the "Hardware City" because of its history as a manufacturing center and as the headquarters for Stanley Black & Decker, a company widely known for producing high quality power tools.  Immediately adjacent to the spacious Walnut Hill Park is the Museum of Modern Art, but even the most beautiful cities have their dark alley ways and areas that are less visually appealing.  But how can one appreciate beauty if one does not become intimate with things that are less so?

 I came upon a cluster of very old brick factory buildings that must have been out of operation for decades.  There was graffiti, broken windows, trash laying around and "No Trespassing" signs warning people with cameras like me to keep their distance.  I had to do the best I could since getting photos due to the locked security fences supposedly there to thwart off any more vandalism.  I was very intrigued by what I saw in the photo above.  Each of the numerous panes of glass reflected the light differently so many took on various shades of color, and when looked at as a whole, gave the impression of a kind of weird modern mosaic art.  Looks like kids had lots of fun throwing rocks and smashing the small square panes of glass.

So in this instance, I could have played it "safe" and took pretty pictures at the park or the Town Green or challenge myself to seek out lesser known hidden gems.  Either option is valid and one is no better than the other as both will dare you to put your creativity to the test.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/320 sec at f5.6, ISO 200
Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 55mm

Red-tailed Hawk

Many years ago, the population of the Red-tailed Hawk was dangerously low but now, due to it being a protected species their numbers have grown substantially.  Travel along I-91 or I-84 and you are almost guaranteed to spot some perched atop the light poles or standing in the grassy median.  These birds are extremely beneficial to the environment by helping to keep the pesky rodent population in check.  Gracefully soaring high in the sky or dive bombing their prey at impressive speed, the Red-tailed Hawk's agility in the air is a treasure to behold.

This photo was taken on a cold January morning while walking through the woods.  This dead tree appeared at the edge of a clearing and the hawk sat there motionless as if it thought he wouldn't be noticed as long as it kept still.  I wanted to take a picture quickly but I had to move very slowly so as not to scare him away.  Trying to remain quiet was another challenge due to the crunching icy snow beneath my shoes!  I set my 70-200mm lens to its maximum focal length, ISO set to 100 for the cleanest image quality, aperture set at 5.6 for a modest depth of field and a shutter speed of  1/400 of a second to help overcome any camera shake (or my shivering!).

The hawk had a great view from his high vantage point but also a clear path in almost every direction if it decided to swoop down after his next meal.  Then something cool happened.  After I snapped a photo, the hawk looked at me and winked one eye.  I looked at the photo on my camera's viewfinder and returned to gaze up at the hawk and he had vanished!  I had looked away for only a second or two but it was enough time for him to disappear without a trace, leaving me with this photo as the only evidence of our encounter.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/400sec at f5.6, ISO 100
200mm

I spotted these giant wooden spools on the property of some industrial company.  These are often used by cable or phone companies to wrap or unwrap long lengths of wire out in the field.  Driving by and seeing these spools stacked up like they were, I immediately saw an image that I had to capture.  I was a little hesitant at first because I didn't want to venture onto their property and have someone come out and tell me I was trespassing.  After taking about 3 seconds to consider my options (take a photo or leave), I threw caution to the wind and walked over to the large stacks of spools with my camera at the ready!

Several elements drew me to this scene.  First, the shapes.  Unless you work in this industry, these spools are not something you see everyday, especially the way they are piled on top of each other.  Second, the textures.  Looking at the photo, you can see the textures in the wood and also on the cement and you can envision how that would feel by the touch of your hand.  Lastly, the colors.  The spools have a tan "earthy" color that I think is rather pleasing.

In composing the photo, I chose a low vantage point to help emphasize both the size of the spools and the height of the stacks and to take in a wider view I used my wide angle lens set at 10mm.  The close up stack on the right helps to add depth to the scene and a sense of scale.  OK, once I had my photo in the bag, I hightailed it out of the lot without incident!  Hopefully there were no security cameras monitoring the area...

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/60 sec at f8.0, ISO 200
Canon 10-22mm f3.5 - 5.6 USM lens set at 10mm

Kind regards,

Oscar Dean

New England was hit with a snowstorm a few days ago leaving everything coated in white.  The pristine virgin snow collected on the bare branches of trees transforming them into graceful towering statues.  And to add to this mystical event was the complete absence of any sound.  It was so quiet thanks to most people deciding to stay inside and hibernate rather than going to work.  Every now and then the silence was broken by a snow plow cleaning the streets.

I am always on the lookout for birds and it seemed that even they were playing it safe by remaining in their nests.  Normally I can count on them to visit my bird feeders each morning like clockwork but there were none in sight, only the telltale footprints of a squirrel foraging for food.  Suddenly a brilliant flash of red caught my attention to my right.  It was a male cardinal.  He was at quite a fair distance but sure enough he was coming closer.  Although the cardinal was not as close as I would have liked, he sensed my presence and I feared that he would fly away.  My prediction was right and I managed to capture this image just before he took off.

When I first spotted this cardinal on that snowy morning, I immediately knew that there were two things that I wanted to create in the photo.  Contrast and a burst of color.  The scene is predominately white so the bird's majestic red feathers provides that dramatic pop of color and contrasts with the snow.  The plumage of female cardinals are much duller than the male so luck was certainly on my side.  My 70-200mm lens was racked out to its maximum focal length and it still could not get me as close to the bird as I would have liked.  Another snowstorm is predicted for tomorrow so who knows what opportunity that will bring.

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/400sec at f5.6, ISO 400
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens set at 200mm

Obvious Opinion of Obama - Stamford, CT.

City streets are known for being gold mines of opportunity for photographers.  With hundreds or sometimes thousands of people coming and going, you and your camera are presented with an unlimited number of photo possibilities!  It takes all kinds of people to make this world go around and busy cities have no shortage of diversity when it comes to the people that can be seen going about their daily routines.

While driving in my car through the city of Stamford, CT., I spotted a guy on the sidewalk exercising his right to free speech.  He obviously had an opinion of President Obama and he wanted to make it known to anyone walking or driving past him.  I have no doubt that the man on the corner was passionate about his message but I immediately saw a humorous photo opportunity.

I was lucky to have my camera with me on the passenger seat next to me and was able to get this photo while driving my car.  In this situation, the subject of the image is far more important than the composition or the slight haze from my dirty windshield!  My camera had the very heavy 70-200mm lens attached and the photo was taken using only one hand without looking through the viewfinder!  Sometimes you have to "make do" in the heat of the moment.  I don't know how successful he was at changing people's opinions of Obama that day but I didn't see anyone talking with him during the few short moments that he was in my line of sight.  Democracy in America at work and the world continues to go around...

Equipment and Settings

Canon 40D
1/750 sec at f6.7, ISO 400
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens at 200mm