Urban

During a recent semipro baseball game at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy, New York, these wonderful GodBeams split out from behind the overcast clouds. Being able to get these sunsets is not uncommon, but when you add in the baseball game, with a new pitcher warming up, and a Yankee relaxing, it becomes a compelling Image.

The hometown team the Valley Cats went on to win the game against the Lowell Spinners.  The lens used here is the new 16-35mm v2 @22mm f/5.6 and ISO 800.  You can’t have it any better than this, a landscape photo in the middle of the sports action.

Made my way up to the ‘track’ and took in the sites and sounds of the Saratoga.  For the uninitiated Saratoga has been the site of the oldest running major thoroughbred horse in the US. The track has been called the Graveyard of Favorites, due to upsets like Man-o-war, Secretariat, and then there was the 100-1 longshot Jim Dandy in 1930.  Last year I took my 200v2 and tripod and set up at backstretch, this year, I went a little more nimble, with my 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR, and stayed near the finish line to get this Image.

I wanted to get some blur in the hoofs and legs, so my shutter speed of 200, aperture was 5.6.  The lens has VR so I was able to pan and get some pretty clean shots.  The high sun is always bothersome, so my polarizer was the Marumi, which helped a tad….

We have this neat slice of baseball here in the Capital region.  The ValleyCats are a minor league baseball team that have all the promotions, fireworks and kid friendly events that you can think of.  The baseball can be very competitive, the new stadium is first class and ticket prices ($5-$10)  can’t be beat for entertainment value.

For my photography, getting seats close to the visitors side first base is key. Here I’ll set up my 200-400 V2 on a mini-pod on top of the visitor dugout to get the pitchers and plate, and I’ll use my other camera body setup with a 70-200m to get  first base, infield action and inside stadium promotional activity (it can be crazy sometimes!).  It’s just a fun time, and another big plus, they will bring you nice cold beers seatside …Go Cats…..

Being in front of ‘the gate’ was frustrating with all these wonderful vintage Rhinebeck Aerodrome aircraft looking back at me.  One of the pilots and co-owners of this Fleet Finch 16B was gracious enough to take me thru the gate and over to his aircraft.  The pilots here are historians and as he told me about the planes history, I had the same moment of wonderment as a young RCAF pilot would have as he moved from the earth to take his place in the sparse instrumentation.

I imaged his vision was razor sharp and fully focused on these dials and gauges which were his intellectual connection with the aircraft’s hi-tech monitor system.  He learned that the engine was 125 HP, and was very rugged and reliable, boy how fascinating his first flight must have been, as he climbed into this cockpit seventy years ago…

The Hudson Valley Cats constantly have something interactive going on throughout the ball game. The action on the field is always competitive, but once in a while you’ll see something in the stands that takes your eyes off the game and it’ll make you smile.

A simple exposure about five minutes before sunset, as we watch three anglers motor in the golden patch-worked reflections of the lake headed intently to a favorite fishing spot. How did these friends of three plan out this evening ?  No matter their purpose was singular and their poles at the ready as their boat wake crisply glistens in the remaning rays of light.

When I see some of the wide open spaces and great skycast from the midwest, I get a bit envious of seeing such patterns. However, tonight as I was driving around and scouting out areas to shoot, the skies on top of a newly discovered massive farm field opened up as a storm front came thru……the blue sky gave way to the heavy gray skies

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This Arlington Flag flies for the Fritz Family four times a year. Memorial, Veterans, Birthday and Arlington Day.  Rest In Peace, Major.

I had just switched over from my 16mm fisheye to my 14-24mm to go after some ground shots of the tulips and the cityscape, when I spied this really cool looking lime green bike and good looking girl.  I know I muttered to myself something like, ‘I’d love to shoot those subjects for awhile’, what an unusual bike, and there had to be a story about these two.

I guess in any city, you tend to give people their space, but I was just staring at her and that crazy, white walled tired, lime green bike for too long, when she handed me her point and shoot, and said, “can you take a picture for my Mom, I want her to see that I have my bike and I am doing fine”….well….I said sure, glad to, but I’d like some shots with my camera….the deal was set…click, click went the point and shoot, and then I set up a few shots with her…she seemed to pose with a bit more experience that most people….but I enjoyed that chance to work on an unexpected opportunity  and ended up with a spirited, sassy, confident Image of the girl, the bike, and the city … Doing Fine.

While in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, when you head over to Trinity Church, the ‘Pru, dominates the skyline with its numerous floors of mirrored windows. Looking for some perspective Images, I took a trip up a few of the side streets…..Here in the foreground, is the historic Fairmont Copley,  embedded within is the ‘Pru all polished and omniscient, reflecting the morning’s sun-rays into the cityscape around it.

The main feature in the Image is two outer columns of Fairmont windows which align with the outer sides of the Pru, combined with the inner columns creating a string of pillar to the horizontal roof line which just stops… Then the faint sunlight on the right is reflected by the many mirrors into creating a white knife edge that seems to make the ‘Pru appear to be drawn out of the Fairmont.

My time in Boston was split in various locations shooting urban cityscapes and people. It is something that is such a departure from landscapes and rural Images due to the pitch of action and multitude of subjects. It took awhile to settle into the cadence of the city.

Must be similar when Peyton Manning moved up from Tennessee Vols to the Colts and he said that he needed to adapt to the speed of play, when his timing would speed up and he could read the field better, when things became slower, he had the basic skills, techniques and training, but it takes time to adapt.

My little friend here, Kian, must have felt the same way. Back in his house, Kian was in his element. But under the large chocolate brown canopy of the Trinity church, with this 6’4″ guy, scrunched up on the ground in front of him, following his every movement, this was really rattling his repose.

It was only when his mobile comfort zone reached out to stabilize his innocent, that Kian relaxed, then gazed into the lens with a bit of solace and inquirer that we had his Image.

Between some bad weather stirring up the clouds and picking up my long awaited (2 months +) Nikon AF 24mm f/1.4G lens, I headed over to to Albany Air Traffic Control tower. This was going to be the evening to capture an Image of this 21st century lighthouse which guides in its airships from around the world.

My day job is close by the airfield, and I pass close enough to the tower to on some days just want to stop in my tracks and take a Image or two.  I guess with 9/11 and TSA and security still on everyone’s mind, the idea of striking out and pointing a DLSR up at the tower seems to me a great way to invite unwanted attention….Still, this was a good chance to see what this new lens at f/1.4 would do on the low light D3s.

I sort of drove and stalked up to the tower looking for a good position and waited for my cloud pattern.  I shot manual mode, and spot metered the tower, the time is close to 7:30, ISO 200, f4.8 @1/60 sec. …wow !! plenty of lens left…

I had quite the vantage point from the 11th floor. The morning ‘Blue-Light’ was wonderful and with my favorite lens the 85mm f/1/4 ‘cream machine’ I fired away at the wonderfully designed Orange county convention center.

This building is enourmous, 2 million sq ft., ranking it #2 in the US in terms of exhibition space. They had 131 events in 2009 which drew 1.1 million visitors.  Almost a stone throw away from Sea world, Universal and Disney, it is embedded in the heart of one of the businest tourest destinations in the world

The outside and interior is astechticilly pleasing with architectural patterns and unique design elements.

Orange County Convention Center Stats

My stay during PSW was over at the Rosen Center, directly across the street was the enormous confrence center. Then off to the west, was this gigantic building being put up.

I took the shot at 5;30 am, from the 11th floor of the Rosen.  The crane was working thru the night and the pace of work was constant. Perhaps this will be the site for those staying at future Photoshop world’s….

D3s, w 85mm f/1.4  @ F1/4, 1/4sec, 200Iso

I made it into Orlando just in time to witness the premier event of Photoshop World. I will call it the Dream Team competes against your eyes, ears, heart and soul. Eight of the worlds leading photographers presented a slide show for ten minutes each. The list includes, Jim Divale, Vincent Versace, Moose Peterson, John Paul Caponigro, Joe Glyda. JAY MAISEL, Joe McNally and Julienne Kost.

My Impressions:Talent, Artists, Passion, Excellence, Competitiveness, Persistent, Evolving, Self Searching, Technology, Technology Phobia, Early adopters, People, Objects, Compilations, Visionary, Old School, Music, Environmental, Who’s Who, Humble, Compelling, Friendly, Emotional, Thought Provoking, B&W, Color, Abstract, Moving, Tears, ……. it was that superb….

Later that evening I was able to hook up wiht Moose, his wife Sharon and his aid de camp Stephanie and we walked and talked back to the Rosen Centre Hotel.  Always watchful, I saw a set of water fountains and decided that I’d come back later in the night and shot them.  Of course, something simple turned into a bit of a productions when a raging thunderstorm opened up after I had just set up..I stuck with it and finally retreated when the lighting was pounding way to close for comfort….

About a year ago, I took this Image of a local Madeira Beach artist while walking around.

What I like about the photo is the fellow strumming the guitar is very content/centered, his hair is mirrored by the mane of the lion statue on the right..There are a few technical problems with the photo (didn’t know any better) but the overall Image still has a tug on my eyes..

A quick story….This was one of my critique shots that Moose commented on when I was at his workshop in Maine.  I was amazed (and still am) that he looked at this same photo, and in the coarse of three seconds, saw everything that was in the Image, right and wrong, and spoke about his critiques, which were all spot on..it is amazing being in the company of photo professionals..they simply know their craft….

This Image is taken on the pier of the 120 year old Belhurst  Castle, located in the Finger lakes region of New York.  The actual castle has a storied past with owners with crafty ways.

We had one owner who was discovered ‘upon his death, it was learned that William Henry Bucke had been treasurer of the famed Covent Garden Theater in London. He had embezzled theater funds, married his stepmother, fled to the United States and assumed the name Henry Hall in an effort to avoid capture!’. Another owner, a lady married to a famous NYC architect, built the present day castle at the expense of several construction workers with the assistance of her manager a Civil war captain, then later dumped her husband and married the captain. In the ’30s it changed owners again and became a speakeasy and gambling casino with liquor run down from Canada during prohibition.

The present day castle is now an very elegant hotel and restaurant, with each room unique to itself. A second floor landing has a spigot were local NY wine can be sampled and which is forever flowing. The castle is located on prime real estate on the eastern side of  Seneca lake, and has an excellent robust dock, and I found myself here very early working some lake Images.

I recall taking a few lens down to the pier, 12-24, 24 pce, and shooting a number of subjects but they didn’t have the reach I needed for this dock to dock Image. I had my  85mm on board as my standard  D3 lens so that I took several Images. Tonight, in the DD, I overlapped two separate images with separate focal points to blend in the near and far points to create this Image.

D3 w/85f/1.4

Belhurst Castle

Just a quick reminder to wear your Green today..!!

They were respectful, loud, passionate, chanting, moving, with various nationalities working as one group, a union of workers voiced and visually protested at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown San Francisco. I happened to be an unaware guest of their plight at the Hotel Hyatt, but I knew a story was outside, and after check in , immediately headed down to catch the unfolding drama.

What struck me was the worker with the navy blue jacket dead center in the photo.  He could be any one’s middle class father, son, husband …caught up in, and participating in walking a line, the last resort for any unsuccessful barging contract.  With coworkers, but I sensed commitment also to family and work. He would rather not suffer the observations of others but ply his trade behind the hotel walls, earning his living away from all this excitement.

I’m sure you can scan the photo, and imagine and observe something in each of the subjects in the Image.They are the roomcleaners, cooks, dishwashers, bussers, bellpersons, servers, bartenders and other hotel workers that serve us.

However we also all have a few things in common with these people, the freedom to union and the freedom to protest.

You may want to understand the reasons for boycott, (link below) and make arrangements elsewhere if you plan to goto San Francisco any time soon.

USA Today Union Strike @ Hyatt

Local 2

As I mentioned early, the Amtrak Station here in Albany was an Image feast…after taking the shots from the overpass of trains that were whizzing in/out..I headed up to the master station as the sun was beginning to settle into the late afternoon sky. The station is fairly new and has these unique blue stain glass windows.

I found that these blue stain windows were very troublesome to get a correct exposure on and I spent a lot of time with my new LEE .75ND Soft Grad working the ISO and aperture to get an Image that I wanted.  The clouds then started to work their magic with the sun blossoming inside them made for some drama that I was able to wring out in the DD.

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The Amtrack station gets its fair share of use. Beside the legislators over in the capital, there are a number of college students and businessmen that take the train daily.  I find it  great way to get into the city without all the worry and hassels of flying or driving, and the cost is great with advanced ticket purchases.

I was out and about looking for my Albany skyline shot, and headed up to the station because it seemed that it was high enough to get a peek over into the city. What ended up happening was an Image fest… Silver trains streaking in, a new station with church like stain glass, people, motion and color….nope…not this time…I put some time into this Image in post, lots going into it and when I was ready to sharpen it up, then Prez’s voice hit me, ‘What about B&W’…damn I hate it when he’s right…The color is really absent on the top of trains and the silver and silver textures is the subject …

D3s w/16-35mm f/4 @ 35mm, f/19 @ 1/60sec, ISO 200

A wonderfully sunny day here in upstate NY.  I hopped into my car to pick up some wine that was being delivered from my recent California trip, and camera was at hand.  My plan for the day was inside work, cleaning camera, training on Photoshop, you know chores and stuff.  Well that all went to hell, as I spent the rest of the day touring all around the riverside of the Hudson, trying to find the best Riverside Image of the NY state capital, Albany.

My quest is still left unfinished, but this bucolic, pre spring time shot will have to do for now….I did find a few other spots but need my longer lens to get to them at a later day….

While over in the Fisherman’s warf area in San Francisco, and after popping down a few Irish coffees at the Buena Vista cafe, I headed out at 9pm for some low light D3s testing.  I came upon this family having their caracture being done and asked the artist and the family if they could oblige with a few of my camera snaps.

After a polite exchange, my thoughts were focused on the leader here (the Mom), wondering if she had a special motivation for taking time out for this sitting.  So many Mom’s just love their family in print, typically the rest of the brood just doesn’t get it, and squirm or complain, but this Mom has her vision,   ..Was she going to give this as a gift ?, or Was it going to be placed in a place of prominence ?, … It seemed to be more than just a souvenir for her…I crouched low, and with the D3S ISO bumped to 2500 and 85mm f/1.4 set @ f/1.7, 1/250 sec.. snapped a few Images that captured that Mom’s Wish moment.

Buena Vista Irish Coffee

Right outside the Boylston Street side of Prudential center entrance is a small park with this bronze sculpture by Boston born artist Donald DeLue entitled, ‘Quest Eternal’, unveiled in 1967.  The placement of the Bronze feels like it is boxed in on four sides by high-rises, and the front leg kicks up high like superman, and the heroic figure is a over muscular, and it is seems as if it is not an endearing piece of art in the Boston landscape.

I had little chance to really take some shots, my daughter had her sights on some high fashion makeup inside the mall, and in hind site no one seemed to have time for this statue, it sits on a pedestal in an alcove type setting in front of a circular type of stairwell that was covered with posters. Not an easy environment to get some shots in…

I blocked it all out and took shots on all four sides of  ”Quest Eternal’, with the D3s,w 85 1/4 @ F2, 1/60 -1ev.  I liked the background of the Prudential with the complimentary green color cast of the bronze statue.  In post, I feared that the ‘Quest Eternal’ always consumes some part of you and reflected that in the final Image.

Wikipedia Link: Donald DeLue

Have you ever witnessed an enormous block of Glass and Brick merged floor by floor towering over a colonial backdrop of history.  I was traveling with my daughter and woke up to these modern marvels embedded in Boston’s Copley Plaza Skyline. The glass mirrored building is the tallest building in New England, the 60 story Hancock tower with the Westin Copley Place hotel on the left.

The Hancock was built in 1976 (for $175m, $100m overbudget), and has had it shares of engineering and architectural woes, falling mirror glass windows( $7m to fix), faulty footings causing damage to the close by 250 year old Trinity Church, a nauseating sway on the 53rd floor, (costing $3m to fix) and more recently in 2009 it was sold at auction for $660 million.

It was tough to get a 100% proper alignment, I was shooting with the 85mm @ f/8 at 7:30, but it was fun trying ….