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

Rhodo Gardens in Skylands

The annual parade of blooms is under way at Skylands (the New Jersey Botanical Gardens) Sunday morning was cloudy and a little rainy before the storms that came in later in the day.  I took the opportunity to photograph the newly blooming rhododendrons.  I caught them early in the cycle so if you would like to photograph them you have a couple of weeks.
I love sky lands!  all year long there is something to photograph.  I used this as a chance to practice working without a tripod and manual focus on my macro lens.  I am really happy with the results.

Keep Makin' Art!
Carl

Night Photos - Suffern, NY

There is a carnival in town... So I wandered around tonight with my camera.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Bear Mountain Bridge

I went to the bridge tonight thinking I might catch the moonrise over the mountain and it would make a great photo.  That did not work out, but when I over exposed the scene by about 1 and 1/3 stops I picked up all the ambient light from down river and came away with this beauty instead.

Object Lesson: Always be prepared to take advantage of the unexpected opportunity when it arises.

Keep Makin' Art!
Carl

Early Dogwood Blooms

The first Dogwood blooms of the spring are out in my yard.  I always feel like that is the unofficial start of spring!  The trees will really start to bloom in the next few days.  I'll be ready with my camera.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Nice drawing of a pear right?

Here's the kicker.  I never picked up a pencil to do this.  I drew it on my IPad with a drawing application I downloaded.  Very cool!  I can sketch and anywhere I want now every pencil, brush eraser and smugger is right there in my IPad.

Keep Makin Art!  (old school or new school... just keep makin' art!)

Carl

Spring is here... almost.

Well even though we did not have much of a winter to speak of I have been looking forward to spring!  The blooming flowers and greenery everywhere always inspire me to paint and take photos.  Today I found the Sargent's Cherry were in bloom up at the Skylands Botanical Garden.  This will be the start of the time of year when I stop in to the gardens weekly to watch the progress and anxiously await the return of the wildflowers and butterflies in mid-summer.

I hope the start of spring is finding you renewed and inspired!

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

The Cloisters - Metropolitan Museum Medieval Architecture

I was restless this morning and wanted to take some photos, but spring is still a week or two from being interesting around here, so I hopped in the car and headed to the Metropolitan Museum's medieval art and architecture collection at the Cloisters in Fort Tyron Park.  These test shots were done hand held at a high ISO so they are grainy, but I got a great idea of what I can do there.  I will go back at a time when I am allowed to use a tripod and get really good exposures.  In the meantime I am thrilled with the results and happy to have a new location not too far from home I can photograph at.

Keep Makin' Art!
Carl

Pete Seeger - Bearsville Theater - 3/17/12

Last night I had the privilege of seeing Pete and Peggy Seeger in Woodstock, NY.  Pete is a living legend.  As a folk singer and activist based here in the Hudson Valley I have always admired him.  I had a chance to see him on the environmental sloop Clearwater when I was about 12 and have never forgotten it.  The concert was a wonderful event filled with old folk songs and stories.

I hope that when I am 92 I am still getting out there with my camera the way Pete does with his banjo!

Thanks to my friend Nigel for making the trip to Woodstock with me!  I had a great time.

 Pete and Peggy play a tune.

 I love this shot.  The legend quietly watching his baby sister sing.

Master story teller. 

My wish for you all... That you are healthy and have this kind of joy at 92 years old.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

St Catherine of Bologna - Ringwood NJ 2012 Art Show

My photo of Grand Central Terminal in New York City won a judges award at the 2012 St Catherine of Bologna Art Show in Ringwood, NJ.  Congrats also to my friend the the talented photographer Mike Malandra who took first place in the landscape category and won a judges award too!

I am looking forward to going to the show with my family and friends this afternoon.  If you are in the NY Metro area stop by this wonderful show it runs until tomorrow (Sunday 3/18)

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl