Smugglers’ Notch – Photo of the Day Jan 31, 2015
Last week, my friend and I went to Vermont for a long weekend skiing several of the best resorts in the Northeast. Smugglers’ Notch gets high scores from a lot of reviewers, and I it was a lot of fun. Definitely not my favorite resort, as that honor goes to Okemo or Stratton, but you can’t argue with these views. The conditions were pretty great all weekend, and the fresh snow made for some great covered landscapes with the coniferous trees. More to come!
Peek-a-Booth – Photo of the Day Jan 30, 2015
This is an old shot, but one of my favorite candid shots I’ve taken. This kid was playing in the booth next to ours at a restaurant and she was very enthusiastic the whole time. I always want to take more candid shots of people or street photography, but I feel like I don’t have the audacity to shoot photos of people unsuspecting. That is one thing I’d definitely like to work on getting better at, because I love seeing great photos people in everyday life.
Color Detour – Photo of the Day Jan 29, 2015
Even just over a month ago things still had some color to them. In the recent, color-free days of snow and frost, I wanted to add a photo with some color to it, even if it’s mostly leaves that are on their way to death. This little area is always a nice place to get off the main trail and away from the other people at the park for a short time on the trail around South Vineland Park. You might have to hop over the water to get through, but it’s worth it as a scenic detour.
The Island of Manhattan – Photo of the Day Jan 28, 2015
Looking at lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park is kind of exciting. It’s inspiring in a way. To see all of the city bunched up on that island is humbling. The lights start coming on as the sun goes down and the wind off the water stings my hands as I shoot on a cold winter evening. I still don’t want to walk away from the scene. I take in the view for as long as I can since I don’t get the opportunity so often.
Snapshot From Brooklyn – Photo of the Day Jan 27, 2015
There is always so much going on in New York City at any given time that when I shoot a photo of the skyline I like to imagine all of the people that would be encapsulated there. Inside the building, on the boats, on the streets, and in the cars; it’s hard to fathom how many people are living their lives in the city while I stand still taking a photo. There is so much history, diversity, and depth here that I like the way everything I layered in this shot, giving a sense of the endless nature of this place.
Snow on Holly – Photo of the Day Jan 26, 2015
With the impending snowstorm set to hit the northeast US, I was thinking about how we haven’t gotten any big snowstorms yet this year. Strangely enough it seems to me there have been quite a few snowy days that I’ve been out hiking around locally in freshly covered trails. This is another from a trail I rarely take at South Vineland Park. I really like the scene in snow as it’s not usually quite as visually pleasing without it.
Beautiful Death – Photo of the Day Jan 25, 2015
To get away from the snowy pictures for a day, this is from Cheesequake State Park in central New Jersey. It’s not the easiest to find a good hike in the area, but we had never been here so we gave it a shot. There is a well-worn, but still somewhat difficult to navigate, series of trails throughout the forest there. The trails pass through marshes, thick deciduous forest, and along graveled roads at different points. There was a little ice, a lot of mud, and plenty of nice, quiet places to enjoy the views of winter along the way. This particular spot grabbed us as an interesting and beautiful view of winter’s grip. Shedding everything to start anew this spring.
Fresh Path – Photo of the Day Jan 24, 2015
Another image from my snowy walk along the edge of Union Lake the other day. The completely fresh trails were some of the best part. Being the first footprints on a trail is a nice feeling… even if your own footprints get covered in with snow after a short time.
The White Lake – Photo of the Day Jan 23, 2015
There was a snowstorm scheduled the other day that ended up coming later in the day than it was forecast, so I got to enjoy walking the trails in very heavy snowfall. It was great walking through the freshly fallen fluffiness while it came down. When I got to the lake I came across this great scene of white, which I stood at stared at for quite a while as the snow kept pouring down. It’s such a foreign sight and so close to home.
Revisiting – Photo of the Day Jan 22, 2015
In my effort to get outside daily even if it’s only for a long walk, I’ve been taking some of the paths through Millville that I normally only run on. So, while the lighting was nice the other night I headed over the Maurice River walking bridge and really liked the view toward downtown. Aesthetically, it’s probably one of the nicest parts of the city, I’ve used it multiple times as a subject from different vantage points. It rarely disappoints.
Up Ahead – Photo of the Day Jan 21, 2015
Sometimes it feels like you can’t see where the road you’re on is taking you. It looks dark and ominous, but you just have to hold on to the hope that up ahead, around the bend, there will be a clear path, and the clouds will part. In the meantime you can enjoy the view of the foggy, dismal streets. The lighting at sunset after a storm reminded me of Walking Dead promos. Everything just looked a little more interesting.
The Beginning of the End – Photo of the Day Jan 20, 2015
I’m always watching the sunsets or looking for them. Even days when it’s cloudy I find myself wandering outside or gazing up at the clouds when I know the sun is about to be gone for the day. Something about that time of day is just really interesting to me. Thinking about it makes me want to more actively pursue the sunrise. I know every ending is another beginning, such as the beginning of the night, but I’d like to start greeting the start of the day with the same reverence I give the end.
Sunset on the Farm – Photo of the Day Jan 19, 2015
Anytime I visit the farmland areas I think I should be going back all the time. It’s such a stark contrast in landscape to the claustrophobic grid of city streets and houses near where I live. You can actually see the sky and there are beautiful colors playing in the fields. I love the simplicity of this scene and the tranquility. It makes me feel calm even though I feel like I need constant stimulation to keep myself busy. This lets me sit and relax for a moment.
The Texture of Ice – Photo of the Day Jan 18, 2015
It’s been a while since I can remember it being cold enough in New Jersey for the lakes to stay frozen for any length of time. I used to walk out on Parvin Lake pretty regularly in the winter, but it’s been a while since I would even consider setting foot on the ice. I still didn’t do it this year, but it looks like it might be able to hold weight. I’m really enjoying looking up close at the textures and how the water freezes. It’s pretty amazing and really unique. It’s another way that a familiar landscape is transformed into something else completely amazing.
Winter Pond – Photo of the Day Jan 17, 2015
Unless I plan to go somewhere to do outdoor activities, the winter will often keep me inside a lot of the time. It’s nice to get out even for just a little while each day for a walk if nothing else. After a nice day of watching movies inside, we came to Roosevelt Park for a walk around the pond at sunset. It’s a beautiful park and the frozen pond made the colors extend beyond the sky. We also got to watch a group of ducks hanging out and walking on the ice!
Looking West – Photo of the Day Jan 16, 2015
There are a few places in New Jersey where you can see the sun drop into the water at the end of the day. It’s a nice change since we live on the east coast and normally that’s reserved for California or the Gulf Coast. But since the bottom of the state is a peninsula we have the bay to our west. At East Point the sunset is arguably just as beautiful as some over the Pacific. The sun sets over Delaware and depending on the time of year there are horseshoe crabs lining the beach.
Swirl – Photo of the Day Jan 15, 2015
Sometimes the beautiful thing we see are in the places we’d least think to look. While cooking a pumpkin pie for a holiday dinner, this appeared while I was stirring the caramel into other random ingredients. Can’t give away that secret recipe… But I loved the patterns it was making and watching it change made cooking that much more enjoyable.
Main St. – Photo of the Day Jan 14, 2015
This is a shot of my hometown, Millville, New Jersey, during a foggy night after midnight. There wasn’t much traffic, and everything looked a little more soft, so I set up a long exposure to catch the street light with all three lights lit up. I was happy with the result and a little portrait of a place I know very well.
Ice Sculptures – Photo of the Day Jan 13, 2015
Union Lake at sunset is one of the prettiest places I have close to where I sleep. In the winter these icicles form on the trees and bushes along the shore from the water that splashes up throughout the day. It’s pretty amazing to see the kinds of sculptures that form, and with the sunset behind them they look even more magical. The worst part is the biting winds coming off the water while I try to get a good shot. Definitely worth it.
Above & Below – Photo of the Day Jan 12, 2015
New York has so many vantage points, be it a rooftop from Brooklyn, a waterfront, the subway, a random window, or an alley, that a visitor is offered endless perspectives. These are two of my favorite views from within a short period of time when I visited the Top of the Rock observation deck. I like the difference and the similarity; the emptiness of both, but the potential to hold so much. That’s New York.
States of Matter – Photo of the Day Jan 11, 2015
This is another shot from my recent walk on the Maurice River Bluffs trails. This is from the newest section of trail that was added, which is quickly becoming my favorite part. The ice stretched all along the shoreline and some of it was holding on under the remains of this old dock or structure. The sun was starting to go down as we were here and the whole scene was too much to choose one little piece to focus on, so I utilized the iPhone panorama feature. It works amazingly well and has made capturing images like this so much easier. See also: slow motion video. We had some fun with that and breaking ice.
Painting With Crystals – Photo of the Day Jan 10, 2015
Taking a different look at the scenery from my recent snowy images, this is a close up view of ice on the shore along the Maurice River near the Bluffs trails. After a great, long walk we came out to the shore to enjoy the spectacular sunset light on the frozen water and came upon these great little works of art crystallized in the ice. I could have shot thousands of images just inches away from each other and they would all be amazing and unique like this one. They remind us of abstract modern oil paintings, like looking close at a Van Gogh.
Cleveland Colors – Photo of the Day Jan 9, 2015
Cleveland is a city I had no preconceived notions about, but I had a nice time there both times I visited. It’s a compact city with wide streets that are great for biking, which is my favorite way to get around and explore new places. The waterfront is beautiful, and Great Lakes Brewing is not far from downtown. After a day of biking, sampling beers, and watching the sunset over Lake Erie I found this great overlook across the river. While the skyline is small, it really is a pretty sight when the sun goes down.
Winter’s Arrival – Photo of the Day Jan 8, 2015
If this looks familiar it’s because it is the same shot from two days ago under snow. It’s also a little earlier in the day so the color is a little less warm. I had a nice walk around the snow-covered trails of the Maurice River Bluffs yesterday, enjoying the new world created by the snow. I like how similar, yet different, everything seems, which is why I chose to share this photo so soon after the other one. There’s always another way to see something; it can be a place or a situation.
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