Aquarium

From a recent outing to the Pittsburgh zoo.

Lake in October

A recent view of the lake take this weekend during a sunny, cold, and windy afternoon.

B&B at Snowdon, Wales

This is the edge of Mt. Snowdon in Wales, taken after a storm, from the backyard of a B&B where we were staying, almost a decade ago. It one of the favorite photographs that I have ever taken, for a number of reasons. In part, because it was unplanned, and in part, because it is from Wales, where some of my ancestors were from (on my dad's side, my mom's side originated in Switzerland. What happens when you cross a culture with one of the longest histories of continuous insurrection with a culture known for neutrality?) The owners were selling the B&B so that they could retire (don't ask me why they would ever want to leave that view...), for a mere 80,000 pounds sterling...

On the Dock

On the dock at Wallenpaupack, with B&B during their two day visit to the cabin.

Dark Sky

Dark sky over the lake before the storm.

Sunset

Here is another sunset view, taken from the beach facing West at the rustic cabin at Lake Wallenpaupack. I'm headed there in exactly one week, and am looking forward to two long weeks of peace and recreation... swimming, fishing with the kids (& alone), excursions in the canoe, walks in the woods, stories and pandamonium at dinner, time with friends, small fix-it jobs on the old cabin, reading, reading, reading, the last shot of Absinthe, steaks on the grill, blueberry picking, blueberry pancakes, horseshoes, a ride on a go-kart, chopping wood, a bucket of balls at the driving range, sun, sunsets, thunderstorms, taking pictures, and perhaps time to write a letter or two to my neglected friends. I has been a tough year and I am very ready for some time away.

Sunfish

Here is the Sunfish from the cabin at the lake. Some say the best time for a sail is just before the storm. You get an exiting ride but better watch out that the wind does not die down, otherwise, you just might have to swim for it when the hail comes (been there).

Northern Coast

An image from the upper coast of Aruba, taken many years ago. The intense blue sky is part real, part polarizing lense on my old 35mm Minolta. (That camera served me well for over a decade, but now I have converted mostly to digital.) The North coast of Aruba is more scenic, and as those of you have visited will know, especially near the beach at Dos Playas ;-)

Blackwater Falls

A converted color image of Blackwater Falls, taken just outside of Davis, WV. The water volume was high after several days of heavy rain, and there was a nice cool mist in the canyon below.

Snowdon

Waterfall at Mt. Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales (3560 ft.), taken while travelling in the UK after my brother's wedding in London. Being part Welsh (& Swiss on the other half), sometimes I sometimes take a strange pride in the fact that the Welsh people once held one of the longest insurrections in recorded history. Cymru am byth!

Canaan

Dawn view of distant fog rising over the pond from the porch at Canaan Valley VW this weekend.

Ridgefield Point at Promised Land

This is another photograph from Promised Land State Park in northeastern Pennsylvania. It was taken from a spot along the trail of Conservation Island, looking towards Ridgefield Point. It is a wonderful place to hike with views of the lake, forest, ferns, and a cool rock climbing formation along the way to boot. As a bonus, if you go in July, (and if the bears have not been there first), you can snack on the ripe blueberries growing along the bushes along the shore...

New Years Vice

This image is here not so much for its photographic quality, but for the warm memories it inspires (as such, I suppose it qualifies as a "snapshot"). This is a picture of an exquisitly mixed apple martini during a fun night with good friends, S&C, lots of games, and enough cheer to last us until August. Sometimes to know the quality of an image, you have to be there when it is captured. Photography is as much about process, timing, and the experience of the capture, than what the picture looks like when it comes out. In fact, the image is merely the reminder of the experience. Deep stuff...

Koi

The aquatic theme continues. It must be from all that rain....

Jellyfish

Floating, waving, drifting, glowing... I took this photograph at the Pittsburgh Zoo during a weekend outing. While we were wandering about, these glowing feathery globs of jelly drifting under the UV illumination somehow caught my eye, and kept me occupied for many minutes with my lense pressed against the glass (much to the dismay of others trying to look). There was not much light, so I tried to hold the camera as still as possible. The image is still a bit blurry (due to the movement of the jellyfish of course, and the glass, not my steady hand...), but I like how it captures the movement, and the colors are very cool.

Fishing Before the Storm

Here are kids and cousins fishing before a big storm at the dock in front of the cabin at Lake Wallenpaupack. The largest take of the week was a 10 lb. catfish, caught successively by Bridger and then by me. You would think that the fish would get smart, but then again, those worms must be pretty good...

Symmetry

Shot near Parker Dam, PA sometime in October 2005, during a cloudy, cool, somewhat damp day. I wish I had taken some photographs of the freshly stocked trout visible from the bridge, but I couldn't decide between taking pictures or getting my fishing rod, and ended up doing neither. A classic double bind, resulting only in regret...(almost)

The world is your oyster...

Lynn Run

This is a winter hillside at Lynn Run, taken some time in March of 2004. The cabins there are rustic, with a nice little stream that meanders through the park. I like it there - it is quite secluded, and there is not much to do, but hike and think.

Pond at Ithaca

Somehow, water seems to be a consistent theme for me. Many of my best images include water. I'm not sure why...

Phipps Pond

Orange

Sometimes, to find inspiration you just have to look in your back yard. Sometimes you just have to check your your kitchen windowsill ;-)

Rocks

Vivid

I am an occasional idealist, but almost never a purist. Yes - I used Photoshop. Yes - it is cropped. Yes - the colors are a bit brighter. But in the INTJ way, everything has room for improvement...

Beginnings

Another experiment. I thought I would start with a weekly blog (or more often, as the stars move me) as a way to foster creative thinking and a place to post some of my photography work. This is also a way to keep in touch with those that I know, so thoughts, comments, ideas, and feedback are solicited. But be kind ;-)

The picture above is from Promised Land State Park, PA taken while on vacation in the Pocono's (I've found that recreation and creativity go hand in hand for me). I'm often amazed at the scenery there, and in Pennsylvania woodlands as a whole.

-Dave