Bloggers Community Photo Challenge - Autumn Colors

Let's see if I can even remember how to do this...
:)

The Blogger's Community Photo Challenge is back after summer hiatus and just in time to take advantage of the beautiful fall colors.

Peak fall color has not arrived on Long Island yet, but about two weeks ago, I had the occasion to be driving between The Berkshires in western Massachusetts and Bridgeport, CT. I think I lucked into the height of color in that area.

It was a strange day. The sky was dark, threatening bad weather. Some of the resulting photos have a slightly unrealistic color. It was one of those days when the sky was angry but at times, the sun would appear at an angle to give the entire scene a special glow. Just wanted to clarify that this was nature, not photoshop.






This is a different lake...right on the Connecticut line. The weather had cleared and it had turned into a beautiful day.



You can find links to other challenge participants in the comment section here.

Sometimes Your Coolest Dreams Come True...

I've had a secret in the works for a couple of months now and I think I'm finally ready to share some news. I've been afraid to say it....

I just made an agreement to sell the rights to FIVE images for use in Bruce Hornsby's upcoming album, Levitate.

I would have been thrilled with one....ecstatic over two....Bruce picked five. This is incredible....I'm beyond grateful to have this opportunity.

I have a contract here on my desk. The album is scheduled for release September 15.

He's touring again with his band. I saw three shows at the end of July, and I have four on my radar for the end of September/early October. He's playing dulcimer on one of songs from the new album. This is something I'd never heard him do before, and it was great fun to photograph.

Western Massachusetts

At the end of June, I was up in Amherst, MA for my daughter's college orientation. She was busy, but I had time for some sight seeing. An old friend took me to a few of her favorite hiking spots. In all cases, these scenes were just steps from where we parked the car. I'm looking forward to getting back there and exploring further.

Lake Placid - Dusk and Dawn

6/11/09

Nothing really to say....here's a photo of the day

What Luck!

When I have the urge take some pictures and have limited time or no particular destination in mind, I head to the park near our house. There are so many ducks, geese, swans, and cormorants living down there that I can usually find something worth pointing the camera at. It's where I go to practice capturing birds in flight. I went down the other day thinking my primary subject would be the baby ducks, geese and swans that are now arriving. There were none just out in plain view in the pond, so I took a walk around to the far side to check a backwater area where I've found some in the past.

I found one family of ducks and some turtles but nothing else. I was disappointed because they were all in shadow and I wasn't able to get anything worth keeping. As I started back, I noticed something larger and brighter at the far side of this little backwater pond. I had my hunch as to what it was and if I was right, I was going to have to be very sneaky to get a shot at it.

From most points on the trail, I didn't have a clear view because of dense vegetation. But, I finally found a break in the trees and shrubs and I was RIGHT! It was a black crowned night heron.

I've only seen these at a fairly significant distance and they spook easily. But this was my lucky day. Not only was he relatively close, but he was also fishing intently for quite a long time. I'm embarrassed to reveal how many shots I took of this bird but the resulting images were worth it.

This is a series I was fortunate enough to catch. I know there's a little motion blur, it was not a bright area and I was pushing my camera to the low light limit for hand holding. But in this case, I think it works.

Blogger Community Photo Challenge

This is the last challenge until fall so I didn't want to miss is. I decided to share a new addition to my garden, something I've never seen before. I was completely smitten with it at first sight. I love all the texture in the blooms and I really love the color gradient from pink through cream to green. I believe it's supposed to bloom through most of the summer....I sure hope so



Masterwart

Please be sure to visit all the challenge participants listed in the comment section here.

I hope to see everyone back with the challenge in the fall. Please....bring a friend!