Stony Brook - Harriman State Park

 I took a short hike along the aptly named Stony Brook today and got these great photos.  It was cloudy which helped with the lighting.  I also used an 8x neutral density filter to slow most of them down and make the water blurred and silky.  I am really happy with these and am smiling thinking that my old friend Dave King would have called them a 'gob-smacking treat'.  I sure do miss seeing his enthusiastic comments and reading his poems.  I hope his heaven has some amazing scenery for him to capture with his pen.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

A Spring Sunday Morning in the Woods

After her long winters slumber... Life and color return to the woods and are playfully reflected in the streams and brooks that are closely followed by the foot paths.
It was a wondrous morning to be out with my camera hiking, saying hello to everyone I passed and enjoying solitude with my camera!

Keep Makin' Art!
Carl

Sunday Oct 23th Harriman State Park

This past Sunday I went for a hike and photo jaunt with my Mom in Harriman State Park.  We followed one of my favorite streams for a while.  It was nice to see so many people in the park and on the trails enjoying nature on that fine Sunday morning.  This park is a treasure and it never fails to recharge my batteries walking along its many paths and streams.  We are supposed to get some snow here tonight so i amy be able to get some snow photos with some fall color left.  It is these moments that make the most striking photos when you are able to show something unexpected.  I will be moving into the studio this weekend as well as I can not ignore the call of my watercolor paints and brushes much longer.  There are paintings from our Italy trip last year still screaming to be painted.  They waited patiently as I set a hectic pace with the camera running around New York and Cape Cod this year..... the paintings will not wait much longer.  It is important to follow your art when the muse calls you... If you ignore the muse it will simply call to another who will serve its means..... For now the muse has been in the streams, waterfalls and gorges of New York, but the studio now calls.  Maybe just one more hike.....

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Mom's photos from Stonybrook

I mentioned recently that my Mom (Pat) has been joining me on some of my hikes and bringing her camera.  The shots below are ones Mom tot and we edited together on my computer.  Great job Mom.  I am very proud of you for picking the camera back up.  You are taking some great shots.

You can see more of my moms photos on her blog Shared Musing.

Keep makin' Art!

Carl

Looking Back...

I started reviewing images from Harriman State Park over the years.  This is from the first time I took my first digital SLR out on a hike along StonyBrook in 2006.  I may have to go back over the 20 plus times I have photographed there and see what else I shot and did not edit.  There may be more winners in there waiting...

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Harriman State Park - The One That Almost Got Away.

I was going thru the raw captures from Sunday Morning's shoot with Mom at Stonybrook.  I just wanted to make sure I had not missed any images that were worth looking at when I stumbled on this little Gem.  I really love the orange color of the rocks in the shallow water and the green gold at the little waterfall.  It really packs a punch.  I am reminded again to wait a few days after initial editing and review my images with fresh eyes!  I am glad this one did not get away.

Keep Takin' Pictures!

Carl

Harriman State Park- Tiorati Brook

Saturday was a 'two-fer' I got back out into the park a second time and hike up along Tiorati brook.  I have enclosed color and black and white images to show the differences.  Which way do you prefer them?

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Harriman State Park - Stonybrook

Today I went for a hike with my Mom in Harriman State Park along Stonybrook.  I intentionally started out a bit later than normal hoping to be able to capture some nice colored reflections in the stream.  I felt conditions were right for it.  We got there at just the right time.  Here are some of my shots.  Mom got some awesome shots too.  All in all a great morning out in the woods.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Tiorati Brook - Harriman State Park

My friend Mike and i headed to Tiorati Brook this morning after our first location choice was unavailable to us.  Thank God we could not get to our first choice.  Driving over we noted the rain yesterday and were hopeful the brook would be running nicely it is rare to get a full stream of water, lush summer greens and soft overcast light.  When we got to the brook I felt I had entered Middle Earth and would not have been surprised at all to see a hobbit.  It was a perfect setting and I could have stayed there all day.


Keep Makin' Art!
Carl

Final Spring Shots at Minisceongo Creek... I'll be Back in the Fall.

I went out this morning for one final shoot at Minisceongo Creek (unless we get fogged in one morning).  the creek will dry to a trickle in June, unless the rain keeps falling!!  I will head back in the fall to catch the autumn colors reflected in the falls.  It is one of my favorite spots and seems to be different each time I photograph it.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Pine Meadow Brook

I got called into work this morning around seven for an issue with one of our servers.  I don't normally mind this, but I had been keeping an eye on what was brewing up to be perfect conditions for a landscape photographer.  It was a combination of super saturated greens of spring and a good rain last night so the streams would be running.  It was also quite foggy in the morning.  I was lucky enough to finish my work by eleven and it was still really overcast so the conditions were ideal.  I would have liked more fog when I went out, but I can't complain.  I got these photos all within a half mile of entering the trail near Pine Meadow Brook in Harriman State Park.  I am thrilled with the results.... Especially on a day when I did not think I'd be able to get out with my camera at all.


So keep you camera handy.... you never know when you will have a chance to get great photos and have to be ready.


Now it is time to prep my camera's and charge my batteries.... I am taking a photojournalism workshop hosted by Nick Zungoli and Chris Ramirez at the Hudson Bread Company... Check back Monday night for some of the images.  It should be a fun and educational day.


Keep Makin' Art!
Carl

Early Spring Snow - Harriman State Park

We had a light snow last night. Rather than be bummed that it had been 70 degrees on Friday and it is now snowing again I headed to the park with my camera at sunup. I had the trails to myself my only company was the sound of the streams swollen with rain and melted snow. It was wonderfully peaceful. I hope these images convey to you how at peace and awed by nature I felt. After I took the images I just stood to enjoy the sights and sounds. A perfect way to start the day.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Let It Snow... The Pictures

I set out on one of my favorite paths this morning that follows the course of a brook and changes elevation slowly. This gives you several small falls and pools in the brook as it meanders thru the rocks and trees. The only sound this morning was the rushing of water on rock. It was incredibly peaceful. The hike and the photos were exactly what I needed to recharge my batteries as we jump into 2011.

Today I will work on my best of post for 2011 and my goals for next year.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl