inspired photography with just enough perspective
This was taken from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. This is one of those old world estates with thousands of acres and vineyards and rolling hills. Now it’s open to the public and you could spend a week here exploring and living the life of Riley.
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This is the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch near the capitol building in Hartford Connecticut. I took this a few nights ago in the twenty degree chill and so not too many people were out. However, as I set up for this shot someone starting walking towards me while singing quite loud. I sized up my situation but had nothing to worry about as the gentleman simply inquired about my photography. Turns out there was a concert, opera I think, just up the way and he was just walking home reveling in the moment. I, on the other hand quickly finished and made a hasty retreat to the warmth of my car.
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Meanwhile back in Florida… The clouds do cool things like this all the time, …well a lot of the time. Sometimes I’ll check the local news webcam which is located at the beach to see what the cloud situation is and if it looks good I’ll head over for sunset. Today, by chance, I sat under that same webcam as it’s located at The Beachhouse restaurant. So, while sitting there I got it in my mind to check the webcam, and sure enough the scene in front of me at the beach was unfolding on my iPhone. Weird, I know. No, there’s no point in any of this. Happy Monday everyone.
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It was only yesterday that the leaves had colors. Now, not so much. This is in Connecticut a couple weeks ago. What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Now the long haul begins.
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I took this from Chesterman Beach near Tofino in British Columbia. It’s no wonder so many artists live in the area, no matter where you look there is some icon of nature waiting to be painted, carved or sculpted. If you look there’s beauty wherever you go, but here on Vancouver Island it jumps right out at you. Very little effort required.
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This is another shot of New Zealand’s southern alps I captured earlier this year from a helicopter. There’s no question this was one of the more spectacular things I have experienced. Not sure I can adequately describe what it’s like but I do remember that the adrenalin had me pretty much wired for about two days after. Since I can’t describe it, just imagine yourself thousands of feet up with no doors and looking out at this scene. And if you can come up with the right words you’re way better than me.
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This is a path through the mangroves at a place known as Leffis Key in central Florida. It’s a little nature preserve where you can watch all kinds of wildlife and about half of the trails are on these boardwalks. I came here early one morning to capture the rising sun peaking through the mangroves and just to walk along this path to take it all in. It was a warm morning and mostly the birds were about their business starting to fish for a meal. In any case, as I write this I’m about a thousand miles from here and it’s below freezing outside; I can’t wait to get back to the warm climate and walk again through these mangroves.
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This is part of the path to Rainbow Falls in North Carolina’s Gorges State Park. I took this as we hiked out and the sun was a little lower on the horizon thus casting these awesome shadows across the path. I was feeling a little guilty for dragging my wife and her sister on this hike that was a little more than we bargained for. I’d walk up ahead about a hundred yards, stop and turn around with my tripod and then take a couple of pictures until I saw them coming up the path. Then I’d motor on and repeat the process a little further up the way. In this manner I got a lot of shots of the trail and this is one of my favorite.
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This is Lake Hayes in southern New Zealand. I was here about six months ago and I already miss it. I think the thing I miss the most is the amount of wide-open space with amazing landscapes. Certainly we have beauty in North America, it’s there, waiting, not going anywhere. My ambition is changing a little bit and I’m craving more and more landscapes. I guess it’s one of those things that once you get hooked on you keep looking for new vistas wherever you go. That’s probably not a bad thing.
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I’m constantly on the lookout for landscape, scenes, visual beauty; I suppose its part of the rewiring of my brain as a photographer, an artist. In truth there’s beauty all around, it’s just that maybe we miss it, don’t know how to see it, aren’t practiced. I resemble that. But it’s there if you know where to look. For instance, I love this sky, these clouds, the way the tree reaches up from the bottom. I don’t even know if this is a good photo, but I see something I like here. This could be anywhere really. But here’s a little secret. Below these trees are telephone poles, a parking lot, and a busy freeway. Only I decided to look up and see a little slice of beauty, and then click the shutter button.
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