Some more edits

So I bought a new toy on Friday, a Wacom Intuos 4. It is for this reason, as well as the end to another semester of school that I have had such a drive to edit photos. I am releasing another batch of photos that I was working on today.

Greg

I kept coming back to this photo, and I don't know why.

This is Sharon... she wanted all the chicken we could give her.

This bugger was in the shower in Virginia beach. I don't know why he looks so sad....

Bad day to be an M&M.

Found this guy on the trail in Virginia, still have little idea what he is.

This is one of the Four Brothers Islands on Lake Champlain.

A few photos

Since the semester has ended a few days ago, I have been able to work on a bunch of photos. There are more coming later in the week. Enjoy

The gunwale on one of the work boats on a misty morning.

This I took only a few days ago as I was awaiting finals.

This is a trail HDR from my exploits in Letchworth this summer's end.

Rob

From a hike I took this summer, this guy was a blast to follow with the camera

Little Fish - AKA Goldfish

I must say it is crazy to think that we have had this cat for a whole year now. It was on October 16, 2011 that I made the post about the tiny kitten chasing leaves down the street. He is known round these parts as Little Fish and Gold Fish.

Happy home day... I guess...

 In celebration he is tearing apart paper, which is his current favorite toy.

Some Macro Pictures from Letchworth

Thought I would post a couple of unique macro pictures from Letchworth.

I have never seen a Grasshopper with white eyes. This guy was staring right at me.

Love how I got to miss the rain, and still find droplets.

This Summer was over in a flash, a recap in a flash

It has been quite a while since I have posted here... That will change. I was in both Wisconsin and Michigan for a combined 3 weeks. This of course was after I started off the summer with a full month of camping from Memorial day through mid June. It was a busy and fun summer. I will share some highlights.

I spent two weeks in Wisconsin, one at a conference, the next, on the water with some of the best weather one could ask for.

This is lake Michigan, and it is flat besides these 10-15 waves. These waves are interference waves between two different bits of water within the lake, we came upon them miles from shore. These were very striking, and I must say feeling that they were the most "perfect" waves I have ever seen.

 It was then Michigan's turn. Unfortunately the weather did not favor us again. Although the first trip saw many days where the temperature was above 90, some even over 95. The second trip saw the hottest temperatures of the summer, and oh yeah, it included 20mph winds! It made for some difficulties for sure, but we made it through. It was still gorgeous.

 Picture from parking lot of the hotel.

 When I got home there were only two things on my mind, the upcoming school year, and the time remaining I could use for a break. I decided to travel to Letchworth Park in New York. This stretch of land has been called the "Grand Canyon of the East". Here I concentrated on HDR images, this one I processed in my tent, uploaded it to my phone and shipped it around.

Beautiful Letchworth, will return soon.

That is all I shall report tonight, more soon.


p.s. I have still been on the lightning kick, so be prepared.


  Have a good one
           - Chris

Yesterday my band published its Facebook page. We have some music up, I suggest Get Away from Me which we finished today. We have 6 songs in our upcoming EP which we are having professionally recorded in Ithaca, picture below. My next post will discuss my evolution at nighttime photography and will feature some historic and present shots from the darkness, so keep an eye out!


http://www.facebook.com/VagaryBand

 Our blog page is http://vagaryband.blogspot.com/

The Price

5/3/12 - 5/4/12- The thunderstorms were raging when I left the concert. After the brief stop at the ice cream shop for a twist I return to my house in Clay. I parked, and saw a blinding flash which lasted in my eyes.

     " Ok, time to go take pictures." Is of course what I thought to myself.

I left to where the three rivers motel used to be on 57. With little luck I was rained out there and moved then to the boat launch under 481. After this failed I realized  that I could probably get better pictures back at the junction. It was no longer raining so I went back and spent a few minutes capturing nothing.

I had to go North. If you don't know about swamp road(Peter Scot Road) it has a dark history. Infamous for being the scene of many Fatal Tragedies. It just so happens that on this very same road I finally found success. For hours through pouring rain and 45 mph gusts, I had been trying to get pictures of lightning.

Braving the rain for the last time, I stood by the trunk of my car and shot more pictures. After half an hour, a few curses and many aiming adjustments I saw a car pulling down the road. I had parked on the left side so my brighter 4 ways and headlights pointed at oncoming traffic. He pulled a little toward my side of the road and I swore.

In a flash the truck squealed sideways missing my front bumper by inches.  I ran backward camera and all. Missing the swamp on the other side of the road he sped away leaving me dumbstruck and angry. I got in my car and drove away thinking how lucky I was to not become another statistic. I guess that moment of terror was the price I paid for a gratifying result.