Pleasant View

Pleasant View, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

When I first started taking, or making pictures as many call it, this was the type of scene that piqued my interest. Rural scenes (usually containing a barn that has seen better days) depicting a simpler side of life. As time went on I got caught up taking photos that I thought would appeal to more than just myself. While maybe those photos do appeal to the masses, it was easy to get caught up in taking photos simply because I thought the largest audience would enjoy it.

Don't get me wrong, I would like people to enjoy the photos I post (otherwise I wouldn't bother). However, sometimes I would rather have 5 people tell me that a particular shot means xyz to them rather than have 25 people just say "nice shot."

There is a particular photographer and blogger I read who has been very vocal against making and those who make "clichéd photos." By that I think he means your typical fall color reflecting on a lake, slow shutter blurring a stream etc. Or, in other words, all of the shots that I have enjoyed taking. When I first read his opinion on the subject I was somewhat insulted. I felt that those photos were the ones that the majority of people wanted to look at, the ones that the majority of magazines wanted to print and the ones that the majority of photographers wanted to take. While I believe that to be true and will likely continue to make images of that sort, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be to take a step back and realize that maybe he had a point.

Via Flickr:
Somewhere in rural Montgomery County, Upstate, NY

© 2011 All Rights Reserved. Do not use, or copy this image without my permission!

Fall 2011 on Galway Lake

Fall 2011 on Galway Lake, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

Quick shot taken from my boat with the 80-200mm F/2.8. The color was nice in some spots and only for a short period of time (IMO).http://www.flickr.com/photos/upstatenyphototaker/6258911553/

Autumn on the Trout Brook

Autumn on the Trout Brookhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/upstatenyphototaker/6226099325/, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

I haven't been that impressed with the color that this years trees have provided. It has been spotty in most spots and unpredictable. This shot was taken in Essex County in Minerva, NY on the Trout Brook. I was reasonably happy with this shot. Taken with the D90 and the Kit Lens, which I don't use that much anymore.

Calm After the Storm

Calm After the Storm, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

I was surprised to see quite a few trees come down over the Alplaus Kill In Charlton after Irene hit the area. This large tree in the background is what I believe is a Basswood tree. Whatever it is, it was quite a large tree. There were several other smaller trees taken down with this one and quite a few more down with a few hundred feet of this one.

This was taken with the D90, Sigma 10-20mm and a Cokin polarizer.

Big Rock in a Little Stream

Big Rock in a Little Stream, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

Had a chance to fish this pretty little stream in the Adirondacks and couldn't pass up a chance to photograph it. Managed to catch a small brookie, as did my brother, so all in all it was a good day.

This was taken with my aging D90 haha and the Sigma 10-20mm with a Cokin polarizer. I really liked the composition with the large rock, the flowing water and the bridge in the background.

Loonar Eclipse

Loonar Eclipse, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

I have been slow in posting lately (and slow in making photos). I have numerous Galway Lake Sunset photos, some I have posted and some I have not but this is my favorite so far. While it looks like a normal sunset photo, I waited patiently for that loon to enter the scene in just the right position.

This particular Loon was one of the least skittish that I have seen. It would appear that the loons are nesting on Galway Lake in Saratoga County. I have been told by people who know a lot more than me that this is pretty far south for loons to be nesting. Also, while Galway Lake is not small (550 acres), it is heavily populated with camps and houses. There are a few good sized areas that don't have structures and I would have to assume that this is where they would be nesting.

I would really appreciate it if anyone had more information about loon nesting behavior.

Via Flickr:
© 2011 All Rights Reserved. Do not use, or copy this image without my permission!

Rare Photos Of The Great Depression

These are interesting:

http://www.photozz.com/fizz/16745843.aspx

Derby Day

Derby Day, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

This was one of those lighting conditions where I had to find something to shoot. It wasn't sunrise light but the sun was still low enough in the sky and the clouds were doing a good job of diffusing the light. The breaks in the clouds that let the light through are obviously what make the photo.

It was difficult in post processing to keep the sky dark enough but keep the foreground and horses light enough to keep the detail. Ideally I would have shot this with a strong ND filter to darken the sky but this was more or less a grab shot.

Taken with the Nikon D90 & Nikkor 80-200mm F/2.8

First Light on Collins Lake

First Light on Collins Lake, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

I recently was able to purchase a number of lenses that I wouldn't have been able to purchase under normal circumstances. I bought them with a number of other lenses and camera bodies and made enough selling the items that I didn't want to be able to keep those that I did. Amongst the lenses I kept, was the Nikon 20mm F/2.8D AF that was used here. From my preliminary tests it definitely seems sharper than my Sigma 10-20 @ 20mm and my 18-105mm @20mm.

This one was taken right around 6am at Collins Lake in Scotia.

Not Happy

Not Happy, a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

Was fortunate enough to obtain a really cool Sigma 105mm F/2.8 Macro lens. This is my first attempt at a macro type shot. I am liking this lens so far!

Crystalline

Crystalline a photo by UpstateNYPhototaker on Flickr.

The area of Route 9 in Clifton Park/Halmoon and nearby Latham was hit hard with an ice storm earlier this week. That left all the trees and shrubbery looking like they were part of a sci fi crystal village. I didn't get a chance to shoot the area during the better light hours of the day and this one was taken with the high sun of mid day. Shot taken with the the D90 and Sigma 10-20mm.

"Megapixel War"

Nice blog post from Scott Bourne on the megapixel war in the camera world.

http://photofocus.com/2011/02/09/stop-the-megapixel-madness-stop-now/

New Nikon Cameras

Nikon is starting to announce some of its new cameras for 2011. The new lot consists of only point and shoots. Hopefully some new DSLR's will be coming next (D400 or D800?)

http://blog.nikonians.org/archives/2011/02/nikon_unveils_8_new_coolpix.html

Photography Podcasts

I recently started listening to podcasts. I know that they are nothing new but I was never a big iPod user (despite owning one) and I never took the time until recently to get into podcasts.

I highly recommend the Android app Beyond Pod for finding and listening to podcasts. I use the free version but there is also a premium version. While I have put some other categories of podcasts into my "queue", photography podcasts are the main ones that I listen to.

My recommended listens are as follows and not really in any particular order:

Photofocus - The host of this show is Scott Bourne and is a Q&A show that is a must listen for beginners. Scott normally has a guest host as well and past guests have included Tamara Lackey and Scott Kelby to name just a couple.

The Digital Photo Experience - Hosted by two excellent photographers, Juan Pons & Rick Sammon. They do   some Q&A and also some interviews and it is another highly recommended podcast.

The Pro Photo Show - Hosted by Gavin Seim, this is another nice podcast that is usually quite lengthy but only airs about once a month. Gavin is usually joined by a panel of guests and topics vary greatly but are always interesting and photography related.

This Week in Photo - Known as TWIP this is another quality podcast, that similar to Gavin's podcast, deals with a wide range of photography topics. It is also usually a round table type photography show.

There are a few others that I would like to mention that I don't listen to as religiously but have found to be good listens: Camera Campus, Camera Dojo, and The Digital Story just to name a few.

Anyone even remotely interested in photography should check these out. I would also encourage everyone to search out photography podcasts and share a link if they find a good one that I have not mentioned. If you don't have an iPod or smart phone many if not all of these podcasts are able to be heard on their respective websites. Enjoy!

New URL

As you can see I have changed my blog around a little and gave it a more updated look. I have also changed the URL to http://stephenpuliaficophotography.blogspot.com

Sunset on Galway Lake...Winter Style

Sunset on Galway Lake...Winter Style
Originally uploaded by UpstateNYPhototaker

Another shot from yesterday's snowshoeing outing, before I fell into the water...

Snowshoeing Galway Lake

Snowshoeing Galway Lake
Originally uploaded by UpstateNYPhototaker

Got out the snowshoes today and decided to take a walk in the (almost) knee deep snow on Galway Lake. The weather was very nice despite the quickly dropping mercury. It was around 19 when I started walking and about 10 when I got done and I was only out there for about 2 hours.

Galway Lake is currently in a state of "draw down." This fall the lake was lowered (Galway Lake is a man made lake and the water level can be controlled) drastically in an effort to stop the growth of weeds. You can see the exposed tree stumps which are usually under water.

A word or warning: As I was walking back towards my car I walked over what must have been a spring. I dropped without warning into waist deep water. I didn't really hear the sound of breaking ice, I just dropped like a rock. It was definitely a scary moment but all ended well and I was able to get to my car quickly where I had a change of clothes. I had thought that I was walking on what had become shoreline after the draw down but perhaps I was wrong...

Taken with the D90 and 18-105VR

These People Just Had to Put Me In Their Yard

These People Just Had to Put Me In Their Yard
Originally uploaded by UpstateNYPhototaker

This was a quick grab shot that I was compelled to stop for. I felt the gnome's pain being stuck half covered in snow. To me the gnome's pose coupled with the snow on his hat and arms made this stand out to me. I also liked the long shadow the morning sun presented.

Taken with the D90 (still waiting for a D7000 donation) and the venerable 80-200 F/2.8 near Amsterdam, NY in Montgomery County. I'll be curious to see if we get more snow and I pass by this way again if he becomes less visible.

Cleaning Your Camera

If you haven't read Laurie Excell's blog I highly recommend it. Her latest post on keeping your camera clean is an important lesson for all DSLR owners.

http://www.laurieexcell.com/blog/2011/01/11/tech-tuesday-a-clean-camera-is-a-happy-camera/

Street Photographer’s Work Discovered A Few Days After Her Death

This is an interesting photography story that I came across that was worth sharing.

Street Photographer’s Work Discovered A Few Days After Her Death

1880

1880
Originally uploaded by UpstateNYPhototaker

It has been a while since I posted anything and a while since I said I was going to make a concerted effort to take and post more photos. It's been a slow couple of months. This is another shot of the 1880 barn in Vermont. I would really like to get some shots of this barn with some snow in the area, especially on the mountains in the background.

If anyone has more information on this barn, especially the history of it, I would be most interested.