Photographs and thoughts on photography and camera collecting
I came across this impressive fungus while walking along the Appalachian Trail. No, I’m not attempting to walk its entire length (approx. 2,200 miles!) – just that bit, which passes by close to where I live. I liked the light coming in from the right and behind.
This was taken at my brother-in-law’s house in Rochester, NY – yes, the home of Kodak. On the left is another brother-in-law, and on the right one of my nieces’ daughters. Between them, and apparently fascinated by either me or what I was doing (i.e. taking pictures) is another daughter. I’m surprised that she found the photography so intriguing because both her grandfather and her uncle are avid photographers and I would have thought that she would by now be used to the sight of a camera. So maybe it was me……
Stairway.
I’d been to Constitution Marsh and I knew that Indian Brook Falls was somewhere nearby. After looking around for a bit I decided I was on the right track, unfortunately I missed the trail to the falls and continued onwards into the woods. After a while I came across this old building. As always I loved the crumbling masonry, the rusty metal and the vines and other vegetation growing all over it.
Taken with a Sony NEX 5N and Sigma 30mm (35mm equivalent 45mm) F2.8 E-mount.
Window and Vines.
Wall and tank.
I’m not even sure that these are herons – I’m not really that good on birds. My instinctive reaction was to think that they were cranes, but then I started to rethink. They’re in a friend’s garden. His house is situated right next to and slightly above a wetlands area. I was sitting with him one day when I noticed that at that time of day the sun was going down and highlighting the trees on the other side of the wetlands. This caused the statues to be silhouetted. I didn’t have a camera with me at the time, but not long afterwards I was back again – this time with my trusty camera.
I had a fairly clear idea of what I wanted: a bright background that I would throw out of focus with strongly silhouetted statues standing against it. However, when I came to edit the pictures I changed my view slightly. I didn’t like the statues being totally black and instead decided to try and lighten some of the details. I like the rather wild out of focus areas though.
My friend tells me that the two statues are actually fountains and are even connected to a water supply. He finds the water pouring out to be rather “cheesy” and so never turns it on.
The pictures were taken with a Sony Nex 5N and Minolta 50mm MD f1.4
Washing the Elephants.
My mother loved elephants! So I’m sure that was one of the reasons I took these. I have to admit though that going for a ride was somewhat exciting for me. Since these were taken I’ve been on safari in Kenya and seen how different zoo/tame elephants are from the magnificent beasts that you see in the wild. Consequently it’s a bit hard for me to look back on these pictures and realize that to a certain extent I’ve endorsed keeping these animals in captivity. The first two pictures were taken at Ayutthya and the third at Bang Pa In. I don’t recall where the final one was taken – presumably part of an elephant show. I do remember that one part of the show involved getting volunteers to lie down while an elephant stepped over them. I also remember hearing that not too long afterwards an elephant misjudged its stride, stepped on and killed someone (can’t verify this though). That’s why I wasn’t one of the volunteers.
On the road. Clearly I was on one of the elephants when this was taken.
Topiary elephants at Bang Pa In.
Up!