Fairfield Cub Scout Pack 95

The temperature has dropped considerably, today was a beautiful day to move into my new warehouse space. Let's return to the Barnum Festival Street Parade and Fairfield Cub Scout Pack 95. Now I was a Cub Scout and I don't recall ever building something like this, not even as a Boy Scout. These kids must be some cool cats, along with their parents. I shot this image during this parade as well as the Fairfield Memorial Day Parade. It is absolutely my favorite float ever. Hats off to you boys.

Winter Near Ye Old Yacht Yard

It's been so hot the past few days that I thought I'd cool us down with a lovely morning scene. This shot was taken in the early morning after a light snow. It had been a bit windy which blew most of the snow off these berries. As the temperature began to rise, a mist filled the air creating the effect shown in this image. No Photoshop tricks on this one.

Flappin' It Up

We continue with the Barnum Festival Street Parade today. Here's a lady who was really enjoying herself portraying a 1920's flapper. The one thing I learned yesterday on North Avenue was next time I'll put up a sign "Slow for Photos". In the excitement of the moment, some cars and floats speed up to keep pace - very challenging when trying to shoot a tack sharp image.

Barnum Festival Street Parade

Today I had the opportunity to shoot the Barnum Festival Street Parade. As I watched the crowds viewing and the marchers themselves, I realized that Bridgeport is really a great place to live. As with any large city, it has some issues, but the positives far outweigh any negatives. It's a real city with real people - unlike the worlds of white-bread fantasy that you find in some of the towns to our west. I've always loved bagpipers so I created this image for you.

Black Rock Victorian

On Thursday afternoon, after the tornado, I was sitting in the sidewalk cafe of Lady Luck in Black Rock when I noticed this Victorian house next door. The colors, textures, and shapes had attracted my eye along with the clouds behind it. It works for me, I hope you like it.

Vines and Vingettes Courtyard

Somehow, after yesterday's events, I thought we might need to return to a happier place. This image was created during Vines and Vignettes, the subject of previous posts. It was taken in the courtyard area and was designed by Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield.

Waterspout 2006

It is believed that the tremendous damage done here this afternoon in Bridgeport was caused by a tornado. More details tomorrow when they are available. Here is an image I created on September 28, 2006 of a waterspout (tornado over water) just off Bridgeport Harbor. Note the Port Jefferson Ferry passing near to it. My elderly cousin and I were just sitting down to lunch when I noticed it. I grabbed the only available camera (slide film) and got the shot. It's not the kind of quality I like but the local papers seemed to want it.

Ice House

It is hot today, over 92 degrees in the shade. I thought I'd post an image that may cool us down a bit. The building is actually the office at Captain's Cove Seaport in Bridgeport, a fun place to visit.

Solstice Sunset

Last evening was the climax of the longest daylight of the year, the Summer Solstice. To fully experience the end of the day, we set up camp at Seaside Park, had a picnic, then began to shoot the sunset. Here is the resulting image. Enjoy!

Bedford Hills Falls and Pond

It's hot out today. I'd love nothing more than to jump in a nice cool pond and that is the inspiration for today's image. This shot was taken for Heritage Stone to showcase some of their work. Funny thing, a friend of mine owns the company and we both built this pond and the falls in 2003. While I usually create the image, it's not often that I actually construct the scene.

Happy Father's Day

Today's image was not shot by me because the planet had not yet been blessed by my birth. In fact, I don't know who shot it. This was taken in 1947 at Niagara Falls while my parents were on their honeymoon. As a follow up to my June 1 post, I'll tell you a bit more about my parents. During World War II, Dad was on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. They docked in Sydney Harbor (Australia) at some point and Dad went to Holden (GM Australia) to take care of some business and that is where he met my Mom. The rest is history.

Knot Me

Today is going to be a wonderful day, low of 66 - high of 82, perfect sailing weather. This thought inspired my post for today. The image was created at Ye Old Yacht Yard in Southport a few weeks ago. Enjoy the day!

Sunken Boat

As I have said before, always have a camera with you ready to shoot. I came across this composition at Ye Old Yacht Yard in Southport just by chance. The original image has been a favorite of judges in several competitions. Just for fun, I used Photoshop Elements to manipulate the image so that it looks like a painting. I think I like that one the best.

Attitude

It's fun to take a portrait and manipulate using the posterize feature in Photoshop Elements. This portrait was originally shot where I wanted the subject to show some attitude. The original image was pretty cool, but I found that when I manipulated it, the result was more interesting. Notice the catch light in his eyes - too bad he's a Yankees fan. Go Red Sox!

Rainy Day

Here's an oldie that I've always loved. We've got a rainy day up at bat here in Connecticut so I thought I'd post an image that reminds me of the rain. This was taken with a macro lens which allowed me to capture the detail of the raindrops on the leaves.

Seaside Beauty

I love to do head shots, model portfolios, and family portraits. Yesterday we talked about obsession and this is surely someone I'm obsessed with, my dear friend Rachel. She's an actress, a model, and a genuinely lovely person. Truly a radiant beauty.

Fayerweather Light from the East

Obsession is not just the cologne I wear or a song by Animotion. I seem to have developed a fixation or obsession for photographing this lighthouse. To be honest, it's in an area where you can shoot from so many angles, the compositions are endless. I really like the way the jetty leads you out to the lighthouse in this image. Hope you like it as well.

Molly the Picture Hound

This is Molly, my very good friend. She enjoys going for rides and helping me select images to create. Here she is eying a possible composition, note my reflection in the door. Sometimes I let her drive.

Sunset Over Black Rock Harbor

Well folks, I must tell you that from the comments I received yesterday, both on the site and through e-mail, you seem to like sunset images. Keeping that in mind, I am pleased to present you with a new image that was created on the same night as yesterday's post. I hope you enjoy it.

Black Rock Harbor Sunset

Last evening was one of those times where I realize that God is great and all is well. I went to Seaside Park in Bridgeport to get some shots of the Fayerweather light house from a different angle than I've previously shown. It was one of those magical nights where all things converge to allow one to create marvelous images. The cloud formations, the colors, the compositions - they were all there for the taking. I am pleased to present today's image to you, I hope you like it.

Floating Roses

Yesterday someone asked me what a "Vignette" was so I looked up the definition. Originally, it meant "something that could be written on a vine-leaf". Today, the definitions seem to be all over the place. For our purposes, we shall consider it to be a small scene. One part of a Vignette created by Ganim's Garden Center was a small pool filled with roses. A close-up of that is the image I present today.

Mother and Daughter II

Well folks, we're heading back to some more Vines and Vignettes. Last month, we had our first shot in the "Mother and Daughter" theme using roses. Today's version is is a different species. Can anyone tell me what it is?

Moonrise Over Little Monadnock

This morning it is a crisp 56 degrees here in Connecticut with a high of 72 expected. I just love this weather, comfortable sleeping at night, no humidity during the day, it always reminds me of the many great days I've experienced in New Hampshire. This leads me to toady's image. As opposed to the Monadnock shot from last month which was taken spur of the moment, this one was planned. One of the best weekends I've ever had was spent with my cousins in the Jaffrey-Peterborough area of New Hampshire during the annual open studio tour of the Dublin Art Colony. I was able to create some great images and spend some time with wonderful people.

Evening Ferry to Port Jefferson

Good morning all. This is what happens when I go to bed at 9 PM, 6 hours later I'm wide awake! Oh well, a pleasant way to start the day - editing images. We will return to Vines & Vignettes but this morning I thought I'd share an image created last evening. As the sun slowly set in the west, lighting the clouds and the Fayerweather Lighthouse, I was able to catch the Port Jeff Ferry passing by on it's outbound trip from Bridgeport to Long Island. Make it a great day!

Doorways to Beauty

Yesterday I spent a few hours at Vines and Vignettes, a garden fantasy tour. Click on the link to find out more about it. I can tell you one thing, it fulfilled my fantasy, I created a couple of 100 images. It was just breathtaking. And to cap off the day, I ran into a long lost friend there. I'm psyched!

Milkweed

Dave Pressler, a well known world-class photographer, once taught me about the importance of looking around and finding the small details that could become an interesting image. That is how this image evolved. I just happened to notice the milkweed while I was shooting something else. Hope you enjoy it.

The Road Home

Today it is supposed to be quite hot so I thought I'd present something that might cool us down. This shot was taken after an early morning snowfall in Bedford Hills, NY.

Hey Man

I've wanted to take this shot for some time but the light was never quite right. A couple of days ago I was able to create this image on an overcast day. The clouds often act as a filter to prevent "hot spots" in a photograph. This was taken at Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield.

Feather Tattoo

Yes, I know it's early but I can't sleep any longer. As they say, the early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. I've seen a lot of tattoos but this one caught my eye Monday. Something about the detail really makes it elegant so I am pleased to present this image to you today.

Roses Arching

For today's image, I've selected a shot I created yesterday. I was photographing our annual church Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast and noticed these roses on the side of the church. The way they are arching against the texture of the brick seemed like a pleasing composition. Hope you like it.

Dad in East Africa

Well folks the day got away from me yesterday so I am posting this picture of my Dad taken in East Africa during World War II today. He was on his way to the South Pacific where he would eventually meet my Mom in Australia. Sorry that the image is not better, it's an old scan.