There is no theme here. Only photos I have taken for the sheer joy of taking photos. I hope you’ll enjoy seeing them as much as I have enjoyed creating them.
Lunar eclipse during the Harvest Moon (2015). 8 minute exposure to create a moon trail, instead of the typical star trail.
Quite literally, a clump of snow I found on the side of the road. Sunlight was shining through from the back. Closer inspection reminded me of glaciers or underwater caverns. Definitely more abstract than my typical shot, I decided what direction was "up", simply because I imagined the silhouette of an alien poking his head around the corner.
Double Arch in Arches National Park
Double Arch in Arches National Park. This is actually two photos stitched together, as the arch was so immense from directly underneath, my wide angle lens (at 10mm) couldn't fit in the entire view.
A furry cat staring up at the camera. Shallow depth of field makes it look even softer.
A cat named Kitty. Usually with animals, it's best to photograph them down low, at their eye level. Sometimes though, it's best to tower over them, making them seem more fragile and adorable than ever before.
Backlit portrait on a bench.
Portrait on a bench. Sun backlighting made for a great hair light and added a nice glow to the top of the bench.
Autumn Spin- Twirling around under fall foliage.
This is what happens when you point your camera up and spin under fall foliage.
Bipolar
Ping-pong ball showing a smile, but I suspect more is going on beyond that happy facade.
Avalon
Morning mist on the Housatonic River. The shape of the deadwood reminded me of either the neck of a swan or pictures of the Loch Ness Monster.
Autumn Reflections
Autumn colors reflected in a lake with lily pads.
Panned Waterfall
I panned (moved my camera to follow) a waterfall. This kept the falling water relatively sharp while blurring the rocks and moss in the background instead.
Another One Bites the Dust
Camera trigger.
Dandelion Heart
Close-up of a dandelion, almost from inside the ball of fluff.
Bad Idea
Camera triggers. They're fun to use.
Bad Idea
Camera triggers are fun.
Bright Bulb
A light bulb. Obviously not plugged in. Appears to be on due to the camera flash being aimed at it.
Bryce Canyon Star Trails
Yes, the ground was brightened in Lightroom. But I was only able to brighten it because there was light there to begin with. The stars alone (and maybe that town on the horizon) provided all the light needed for this nightscape. The typical round star trails are more oval here, as it was a wide angle lens and the image gets stretched towards the corner (upper-left in the case of the star trails).
Flats of Yellowstone
In Yellowstone National Park. Wide angle lens down close to the ground allows for the over exaggeration of perspective.
Excelsior!
My favorite part about Yellowstone; Excelsior. Beautiful blue in an alien landscape.
Bryce Camping at NIght
Looking up through the trees at my campsite. Trees were "painted" a tiny bit with a flashlight.
Disoriented in the Grand Tetons
This is a reflection. The duck you see swimming through the sky? Yeah. It's upside down.
Disoriented in the Grand Tetons
What you are looking at is a reflection.
Misty Mountains Reflected in Jenny Lake
Grand Tetons reflect in Jenny Lake early in the morning.
Bee in Oregeno From Six Inches
Six inches (or less) off the ground and crawling around on my belly. Got stung twice by bees I didn't see. Also got the shot. Worth it.
DC Nightscape Reflections
DC, but it could be almost any city, as there are none of the typical landmarks most people connect with DC.
Pastel Silhouettes
The sunset reflecting off this puddle (about 8 feet wide) was too bright to get a "good" shot where you could actually see the birds and the colors of the sunset. Grabbed this silhouette before three or four tourist saw me taking the shot and decided to take it as well, running in front of me to get a better view and scaring the birds off...
Sunset and Framework
Sunsets viewed across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Memorial in DC. Noticing the see-through framework of this building, I realized the sun would set just off to its right and not behind it. That's why I grabbed my tripod and walked about fifty feet to the right to "move the sun" into position.
Shenandoah Sunrise
Sunrise at Shenandoah National Park. The only sunny morning while I was there.
Dandelion Fluff
Dandelion seed catch and release program.
Neon Waters of a Brick Path
It had just stopped raining. I was at the grocery store's front entrance when I looked down to see the neon lights on the wet surface of the bricks. 3D appearance of the bricks caused by using a wide angle lens really close to the ground. Really close. I was on my stomach. Really.
Autumn Puddle
When looking for Autumn colors, especially after peak or after a gentle rain, sometimes it helps to point the camera down.
Autumn Mist
Reflection of autumn colors in the calm misty morning waters of Heart Lake in the Adirondacks of NY.
DC War Memorial Dome at Night
This small pavilion often gets overlooked as tourists head to better known monuments of the National Mall. At night and under the dome, you get this interesting view.
Girl in the Archway
One of the biggest problems going on vacation is all the tourists. Ironic, I know. Anyway, I had been waiting for the girl to leave "my" frame so I could get a photo of the archway, then realized she was as important as the archway itself.
DC Night Walk
Along one of DC's many walkways after a warm rain on a humid night.
Trampolinist Silhouette
At The Big E in West Springfield, MA, trampolinists were showing their skills. As the sun was interfering with my view anyway, I decided to use it to my advantage and took this somewhat abstract silhouette.
Oasis
Bash Bish Falls, along the NY/MA border. Colors are enhanced a little, but not as much as you'd guess. A yellow overcast sky provided much of the yellow hue on the rocks. WIth no blue in the sky, the water reflected mostly the surrounding trees to make the green water.
Sunset on the Pier
Sunset in Provincetown, MA. MacMillan Pier, I believe.
DC Metro
Commuters wait as a train departs from a metro station in Washington DC.