Red LockersPatterns and colors sometimes show up in the least expected places, like these red locker room doors at a ice rink.
July 4 Fireworks, Two Bursts, Orchard Park, New York

The most difficult part was capturing this quartet head on keeping vertical lines vertical, horizontal lines horizontal, and maintaining all of the right angles. I fiddled with the scene quite a bit but the resulting photograph still needed a minor tweak afterwards. Now I need to plan a photo op and return with a "real" camera.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

July 4 Fireworks, Handheld AbstractAn Abstract Pineapple PatternA Pattern Bug Ranch AbstractAn Abstract

Old Oak Trees of Oak StreetAlabama

Old Oak Trees of Oak Street, Magnolia Springs, Alabama

And then we are looking the other way in black and white. Old trees may be a photographic cliche, but I really do not care. Finding a beautiful old tree is always a good reason to bring the camera to my eye and click the shutter. And the oak trees of the American South are gorgeous. Their crowns tend to create these beautiful tree tunnels. Add some Spanish Moss and the Southern vibe is complete (even if it's neither Spanish nor moss)!

Oak Alley at Oak StreetAlabama

Oak Alley at Oak Street, Magnolia Springs, Alabama
Nikon FE, Ilford Delta 100, D-23 7 minutes

Alright, that's it for today's duo from our 2023 road trip to Alabama. Which version do you like more? Color? Black and white?

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Alabama 2023 Series: Part I, Houses on Stilts, Part II, Ends of Day, Part III, A Hop to Pensacola, Florida, Part IV, Mardi Gras, Part V, Magnolia Springs

Seville QuarterPensacola, Florida Plaza Ferdinand VII Sculpture, Pensacola, FloridaAlabama Office & Palm TreesGulf Shores, Alabama

Rolleiflex AutomatMedium Format

I changed things up a little bit on this trip and left my trusty 35mm Nikon FE at home. For black and white photographs it was replaced with a World War II era Rolleiflex Automat. To document the family trip in color the plastic fantastic Nikon N75 came along. Auto-focus comes handy for quick snapshots and to make sure family members are in focus even when things happen fast. And for the historical photos when time allowed the Rolleiflex was a great companion.

Another thing I usually do not do for trips like this but did on this one was bringing a mix of film. I prefer limited choices and familiar film but had some film laying around I wanted to try and did not get to it and so it went on the trip. I had the Cinestill BwXX (Double-X), Berger Pancro 400, Fomapan 400, and Fomapan 200.

Smith's FortCyanotype

Smith's Fort Cyanotype, Surry, Virginia, United States, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper

Even though I have to admit the film choice was probably completely irrelevant for today's post. The rough texture of the Shizen Design watercolor paper ends up having so much more influence over the look of the print that any black and white film would most likely end up looking similar. All of my cyanotypes so far have been from 135 or 120 film, scanned, and turned into a large negative printed on an inkjet printer. Thus the thought about the insignificance of film. When at some point I contact print some of my 4" x 5" or 5" x 7" large format negatives, the film choice will certainly matter. Cyanotypes love low contrast negatives.

Smith's FortToned Cyanotype

Smith's Fort Cyanotype, Surry, Virginia, United States, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper, Toned in Wine Tannin

Today, you are looking at three pairs of cyanotype prints. The first one of each pair is the traditional blue print one gets after an ultraviolet exposure and a development in water. The second print of each pair has been dried for 24 hours to allow for a complete oxidation, then fully bleached, washed and toned in wine tannin. In both versions the imperfect vintage look is preserved, yet, each come with their own mood.

Fence at New Town, JamestownCyanotype

Fence at New Town, Jamestown, Virginia, United States, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper

When it comes to toning, the choice of paper seems to be very important. Even though this is the 13th edition of me blogging about cyanotypes and the first one was back on August 11, 2021 - wow, almost exactly 2 years ago - I feel I am still barely scratching the surface and there is so much more to learn. I have already learned, though, that some papers stain pretty heavily during toning and both highlights and shadows take on the tones of the toner. I experienced that with black, green, and white teas. White tea seemed to be the most forgiving probably due to an overall subtle stain. The same happened with red wine and also with wine tannin. The paper all six of todays prints were printed on is a perfect match from that point of view. The shadows stain wonderfully and the highlights stay clean.

Fence at New Town, JamestownToned Cyanotype

Fence at New Town, Jamestown, Virginia, United States, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper, Toned in Wine Tannin

With the last pair we already left the main destination of our expedition and were headed back towards Buffalo, NY. There was a semi-planned stop along the way in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to supplement our knowledge of John Brown and the events of 1859.

John Brown's FortCyanotype

John Brown's Fort, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, United States, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper

The arsenal’s engine house that served as Brown's last hold out is no longer at its original location and was actually moved four times as far as Chicago, IL, but found its way back to within a stone's throw of where it started.

John Brown FortToned Cyanotype

John Brown's Fort, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, United States, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper, Toned in Wine Tannin

Which versions do you prefer? The blue? The brown? I'd love to hear from you so don't hesitate and drop a comment on this post.

Thanks for visiting, hope you'll be back :-)

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning - 7. Cyanotypes VII: More Toning - 8. Cyanotypes VIII: Toning Different Papers - 9. Cyanotypes IX: Horní Rozsíčky - 10. Cyanotypes X: From Black and White or Color - 11. Cyanotypes XI: Moravian Countryside - 12. Cyanotypes XII: Prague Castle - 13. Cyanotypes XIII: American History

If you like cyanotypes, you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy!

Bird Island PierCyanotype Chautauqua Belle SteamboatMeeden Cyanotype BUFFALOCyanotype

Zorki 4East Aurora

The first difference was that the film is designed for development in ECN2. All of my color development so far has been done in C-41. In theory, even the 250D can be developed in C-41 but my understanding is that its sensitivity would then be more around ISO 400 rather than 250. I also wanted to try the native process instead of cross-processing in different chemicals. No problem, I got myself one of the ECN2 KITs and since the steps are similar to the C-41 KITs this did not pose a problem.

However, another differentiating feature of movie film is that it is coated with a black remjet that needs to be removed during processing. Automated minilabs had water jets on both sides of the film to wash the coating and quickly carry it away from the film. My home environment does not offer that luxury. What now?

Gingerich Auto Care, East AuroraiSRD OFF

Gingerich Auto Care, East Aurora - iSRD OFF
35mm Zorki 4 camera, Kodak Vision 3 250D color negative movie film, ECN2 developer

In theory, a simple prewash in baking soda should soften the remjet and wash it off the film. However, it stays in the developing tank until the water is dumped. There is so much theory on the Internet about how to make this effective that it is hard to choose what method to go with. Some say to do several normal inversions, dump, repeat until the water runs clear. Others advise vigorous shaking, followed by thorough washing. There are even people who don't do a prewash at all, develop their film, and then physically wash the remjet off the film at the end of the cycle either with a fiber cloth or with their thumb!

Gingerich Auto Care, East AuroraiSRD ON

Gingerich Auto Care, East Aurora - iSRD ON
35mm Zorki 4 camera, Kodak Vision 3 250D color negative movie film, ECN2 developer

For this first attempt at movie film, I tried the baking soda prewash and if my memory serves me well the vigorous shaking method. Everything seemed to go well as a lot of "dirt" came off when I dumped the baking soda solution. I refilled and emptied the tank several times until the water came out completely clear. Then the two developers and fix with washing in between each step. The ECN2 process was more demanding on water than C-41 for sure. The prewash and two extra thorough washes during the process definitely result in a higher consumption.

Little Red Caboose, East AuroraiSRD OFF

Little Red Caboose, East Aurora - iSRD OFF
35mm Zorki 4 camera, Kodak Vision 3 250D color negative movie film, ECN2 developer

When I hung the film to dry all seemed well. However, when I started scanning, I saw problems right away. There were specs all over like it snowed ash on the film. I was familiar with dust spots, water residue, or leftovers from a wetting agent but this was so much worse! There were so many specs! There was no way I would manually retouch them one at a time. If automation was not available, I would have written the roll off as an unsuccessful attempt and moved on.

Little Red Caboose, East AuroraiSRD ON

Little Red Caboose, East Aurora - iSRD ON
35mm Zorki 4 camera, Kodak Vision 3 250D color negative movie film, ECN2 developer

While a lot of people are happy with and promote digitizing film with digital cameras and macro set ups, I use a dedicated Plustek scanner along with SilverFast software. The scanner offers IR scanning that the software's iSRD can use for automated spotting. While the use of it doubles the scanning time, which is slow to begin with, I usually have it on with all color negative film. It can't successfully be used with black and white negatives due to the film density preventing a successful infrared scan.

Taste & Red's, East AuroraiSRD OFF

Taste & Red's, East Aurora - iSRD OFF
35mm Zorki 4 camera, Kodak Vision 3 250D color negative movie film, ECN2 developer

I figured why not try what it would be capable of in this extreme case. I turned iSRD on and let it do its magic. Were the results perfect? Absolutely not. But in my opinion, they were better than good enough and all of a sudden, the photographs were usable with minimum number of specs. I am really glad that was the case as I really liked the colors the film and ECN2 gave me. It created a whole different mood for these photographs from East Aurora, New York, compared to my previous many rolls from that beautiful village.

Throughout this post I am sharing three pairs of photographs. In each pair, one image is scanned without iSRD and the other one with iSRD. Feel free to click into them to see them large and compare. I did not do any additional manual spotting.

Taste & Red's, East AuroraiSRD ON

Taste & Red's, East Aurora - iSRD ON
35mm Zorki 4 camera, Kodak Vision 3 250D color negative movie film, ECN2 developer

In my mind, the availability of infrared scanning and automated dust and scratch removal gives the old-fashioned scanners an edge over digital camera scanning. Sure, it also has disadvantages and everyone will end up choosing what works for them but in this not so successful remjet wash I sure was grateful for the automation.

What advice would you give for remjet removal? Do you have a solution to automated spotting with digital camera digitization? Or do you have any questions or other comments? Please, drop me a comment on this post, I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

July 4 FireworksNiagara Falls, 2006

What I was getting at here was that I have not really photographed fireworks since. I am just not into them, they seem like a monster waste of money, and they create a lot of mess on the ground and in the air. Especially with the 2023 wildfires in Canada and a frequent bad air quality it felt even weirder this year to do all of this.

July 4 Fireworks, Two BurstsOrchard Park, NY

July 4 Fireworks, Two Bursts, Orchard Park, New York

However, since we went to see the July 4 parade in Orchard Park, NY I stayed for the fireworks too. And since I had the camera with me why not use it, right? I had a 50mm lens mounted and thus my photography was limited to the bursts alone without any foreground or ground level reference point. I have always felt that was a problem because the fireworks could have been anywhere without any recognizable foreground features.

July 4 Fireworks, GhostsOrchard Park, New York

July 4 Fireworks, Ghosts, Orchard Park, New York

Maybe the lack of context encouraged me to think of other ways to be more creative rather than mechanically repeating what I did 17 years earlier (wow, that sounds so much worse than saying 2006). I decided to do these long exposures handheld. Why not, I thought. Since I had no stationary objects in my frame, the fireworks were moving objects anyway, and the background was almost black, why would there be a need for perfect stability? Sure, 10 - 20 seconds is quite a long time but why not?

July 4 Fireworks, Handheld AbstractOrchard Park, New York

July 4 Fireworks, Handheld Abstract, Orchard Park, New York

I had the Nikon D610 DSLR with me and during long exposures the mirror is lifted and one can't see anything through the viewfinder. Therefore, I used a trick often used with other optical instruments and kept both of my eyes open. I started by tracking the fireworks through the viewfinder and when it burst open, I'd initiate the long exposure and continue hunting for and tracking additional fireworks with my left eye, trying to move the camera along hoping it would somewhat point at what my left eye was seeing.

July 4 Fireworks, SquigglyOrchard Park, New York

July 4 Fireworks, Squiggly, Orchard Park, New York

Initially, I tried to keep my hands steady following one, two, or three different fireworks. As time went on, I went crazier. I explored what would happen if I moved my hands up and down, left and right, or even turning the camera clockwise and back. I also tried going out of focus and back into focus during some exposures. The LCD confirmed that whatever I was doing was translating into the photographs, which encouraged me even more.

July 4 Fireworks, RainOrchard Park, New York

July 4 Fireworks, Rain, Orchard Park, New York

From an exposure point of view, things were really easy this evening. Not including any foreground and having the almost black sky for a backdrop, I only needed to record and not overexpose the fireworks. Shutter speed had minimal impact on the exposure as the fireworks move and the source of light does not stay long enough in one spot for the exposure time to matter. Instead, the shutter speed only controlled how many different bursts I could catch in a single exposure. I found a sweet spot around 15 seconds which allowed for 2 - 3 bursts. Any longer and the result was too chaotic and less would mean single bursts only. To get the fireworks bright but not overexposed I had to work the aperture. I found that between F/16 and f/11 worked well this evening. That also provided enough depth of field for the infinity focus of the 50mm lens.

Conclusion? This was simple and a lot of fun! The results can vary from quite steady with predictable fireworks light trails to a complete mess of lines and anywhere in between.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

For some reason, the reader view is not available. I will have to figure that one out too.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! #etbtsy

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It is a shame but I do not make it into the darkroom as often as I would like to. I'll have to work on that as I truly enjoy the process. I like it allows me to finish the analog picture making journey started by capturing the world on film without a computer inserted into the process. And to top it off, it is very relaxing. The whole world is literally shut out and not allowed to enter. And time becomes relative. Hours can pass by feeling like no time at all.

For now, I have stayed with the simple yet powerful process my dad introduced me to back in 1980s. I take couple light readings from the frame to be printed, one for dark and one for light areas. I use the low value reading (dark in the negative but bright in the final positive) to set the aperture of the enlarger lens to place the target exposure time somewhere around 10 seconds. While it may sound like that there is not much science to this. It's based on past trial and error and knowing that approximately 2/3 EV should get me close. I use the high reading (bright in the negative but dark in the final positive) to gauge the contrast I should start with.

A test strip is the next step. While I am aware of f-stop-based darkroom printing and f-stop-based test strips and definitely see the logic and advantages behind that I have stayed with the simple timing method for now. For my first test strip I will go for about 6 - 7 strips on a 5x7 paper ripped in half to limit waste. Thus, each strip is less than 1 inch wide. I will start on 6 or 8 seconds and add 2 seconds for each next step. In practice, the whole sheet gets exposed for example for 8 seconds. Then I cover a small section and add 2 seconds of exposure. Then I slide the cardboard more in to cover an additional step and repeat until the whole paper is used. That will give me 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 seconds. And that's what you see in the first photo below.

Roofs & ChimneysTest 1 Roofs & ChimneysTest 2 Roofs & ChimneysTest 3

Unfortunately, this time my guesswork was a little bit off and even the darkest stripe lacked punchy blacks. As a result, I repeated the test starting with longer exposures and going past 20 seconds. I could have also opened up the lens a stop but I chose the longer exposure times instead. As you can see, I also widened each stripe and printed 5 variations instead of 7 to have wider areas included in each. Now I definitely had the whole range covered but hesitated on selection. To solve that I printed the final test for the three exposures I wanted to pick from.

Another option is to use bigger time differences for the initial test strip but I usually work with 2 seconds. If I was not metering the dark and light areas at all and depended solely on the initial test strip, I would definitely go with 3 or even 5 second increments to make sure I get to the ballpark with the first test strip. The exposure selection can be narrowed down by going in smaller increments for each successive test.

For now, I've used this simple method of sliding a thin cardboard over the face of the photo paper. That comes with some major disadvantages as each strip includes a different area of the print and the shadows and highlights may not be present in each, making it difficult to pick an exposure working best for both whites and blacks. Localized test strips are meant to solve that challenge. It is something I plan on trying out in the (near) future. Another use for the localized test strips would be insuring a face in a portrait is well represented in a test strip. With the simple method described above the face (or faces) may be completely missing from some of the samples.

Roofs & ChimneysPrague, Czech Republic

Roofs & Chimneys, Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Traditional Black and White Darkroom Print on Ilford MG IV RC Portfolio

You can see the final print above. Please, keep in mind that these are scanned images of the test prints that I tried to adjust for brightness and contrast to be as close to the paper versions as possible but that is not an exact process. And it was close on my monitor, which is a huge variable. When working on photographs I keep my monitor turned down quite a bit to see what I would get if I printed the photos on a printer or had them printed by an online photo lab. Most people's monitors are set to a way higher brightness. Thus, the photos here are just for process illustration rather than showing which strip was or should be chosen.

Now for a little bit of background for these photographs. When one exits the Prague Castle, the views don't get any less impressive. I have always liked the roofs and chimneys of the houses along the roads on the slopes below. The first two prints in today's post are dedicated just to those views. The one above for the Roofs & Chimneys, and the one below focused on the Chimneys.

Since this print was from the same roll of film exposed and developed identically to the previous one the starting point was easier. One test strip would have most likely been enough but I chose to confirm my selection with a small print. I wanted the chimneys as bright as possible without losing detail in them.

ChimneysTest 2 ChimneysTest 2

That relatively quick process gave me the final print below. Even though the sky has a very minor role in this photo I was quite happy about its tonality. On cloudy days that can be taken care of by itself and when the sky is blue, I prefer to use an orange filter. Yellow often seems too subtle while red can be overpowering and can also make it harder to get the right exposure for both highlights and shadows. With the orange filter, I often leave the exposure compensation up to the built-in meter and get very good results. With a red filter, I get better results metering without the meter and adding compensation manually.

ChimneysPrague, Czech Republic

Chimneys, Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Traditional Black and White Darkroom Print on Ilford MG IV RC Portfolio

For the third and final print we are staying at almost the same location but the focus is now on the approach to the castle, specifically the stairs. In this case they are the Castle Stairs (Zámecké schody) also known as the New Castle Stairs (Nové zámecké schody) in contrast to Old Castle Stairs (Staré zámecké schody) at the eastern entrance.

(New) Castle StairsTest 1 (New) Castle StairsTest 2

As with the chimneys I was happy with my results after one test strip and one small print for a confirmation. Enjoy the final print below.

(New) Castle StairsPrague, Czech Republic

(New) Castle Stairs, Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Traditional Black and White Darkroom Print on Ilford MG IV RC Portfolio

What remains? Not only did this post make me want to print more photos from Prague I already have ideas where to visit next and capture some future printing material. So many opportunities!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

PS: Future darkroom topic ideas: f-stop printing, localized test strip making, 3d-printing a localized test strip masking frame, home made developer

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more darkroom prints, head over to the Darkroom gallery.

Previously from the darkroom:

Chautauqua BelleBlack & White Darkroom Print Chautauqua BelleDarkroom Lith Print

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Wailua RiverKauai, Hawaii

Wailua River and Mount Wai'ale'ale in the distance on the island of Kaua'i in the Hawaiian archipelago

Then while enjoying the views we noticed the roadside sign advertising the Kamokila Hawaiian Village and decided to visit without previously planning to do so. And with the help of the second image I remember the steep hill down, the shoes on the fence welcoming us, and some of the structures and overall look of the village emerges from some obscure and forgotten section of my mind. All of these shoes also qualify for my Lost Shoes collection of photographs, don't they?

Lost Shoes of KamokilaKauai, Hawaii

Lost Shoes on a Fence in Kamokila Hawaiian Village, Kauai, Hawai

As I was captioning these photos today prepping them up to go to their respective galleries on my web site I searched the internet to see what's out there now in 2023. These photographs are from 2016. Yes, it took me seven years to share them with you. Fortunately, we made the spur of the moment decision to visit the village back then. Unfortunately, we won't be able to do that again and it looks like nobody will. At least based on the 2022 news articles, the State of Hawaii had a reason to force the closure of the village after decades in operation. That reveals the next value of photographs. Not only do they bring memories back they also preserve them. They preserve them even for those that never had a chance to witness the photographs' content in person.

Table Set Up at KamokilaKauai, Hawaii

Table Set Up at Kamokila Hawaiian Village, Kauai, Hawaii

Unlike my usual more focused posts today's post has an interesting variety of photographs spread across three different galleries: Landscapes Faraway, Nature - Animals & Plants, and Travel Photography. In a way, that shows just the tip of the iceberg of what one can experience on this beautiful island.

Plumeria BloomsKauai, Hawaii

Plumeria Blooms, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii

I will always associate plumerias with Hawaii and with the Hawaiian leis but they are not native to Hawaii. They are endemic to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. They were brought to Hawaii by Dr. William Hillebrand in 1860 and thrived. Do you want your own plumeria tree? Try a cutting from the Maui Plumeria Gardens. Even with shipping from Hawaii it's not too pricey. I have just spent about half an hour reading about growing plumerias in pots and caring for them even in cold places and am incredibly tempted. In fact, this whole part is a note to self to easily reference in the next few days when I decide to go for it. The brief reading indicates they're easy to start from cuttings and easy to care for in a manner similar to succulents. But don't take my word for it, do your own reading. And don't blame me for buying one!

Stars over KoloaKuai, Hawaii

Stars over Koloa in Kauai, Hawaii

And for a happy ending of today's post I am sharing an end of a very beautiful day on Kauai. What a wonderful starry sky with a planetary cherry on top! What's left? Maybe ordering that plumeria, maybe booking a flight, or maybe just diving into the archives of photographs with a beverage in hand and some happy music in the speakers. Cheers to our happy places! ;-)

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Previously from Hawaii: The Beginning - Seaside Pinhole Photography - Tropical Clichés - Windy Drama of a Tropical Morning - Quite an Ad - Searching for Sun and Warmth - Not Your Sunrise Cliché - So Peaceful - Some Morning Drama - Farmland in the Canyon - Further up Waimea Canyon - At the Edge of Kalalau Valley - Tropical Sunrise - Tropical Sunset - The Photo at Your Back - Hawaiian Mix

Rainbow over Kalalau ValleyKauai, Hawaii Waimea Canyon, Deep & WideKauai, Hawaii Farm in the CanyonKauai, Hawaii

Lava Rocks at Waiohai BeachKauai, Hawaii The Start of a Beautiful Day at Secret Beach, Kauai, HawaiiKauai, Hawaii

To Paul, who introduced me to this wonderful location

terraPIN ACME Pinhole CameraWPPD2023 As the link above indicates, this is a continuation of the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day 2023. The same camera, the same film, and the same theme. If you did not read my intro to the day in Roll 1, I picked a theme of water for WPPD 2023. I wanted something in motion to take advantage of the long exposures one usually gets with a pinhole camera. And I have liked playing with different shutter speeds and water for a long time. It's amazing how much a photograph of water can change simply by varying the exposure time.

The one thing that I changed for Roll 2 was the location. Instead of a small creek I headed to a large lake, a Great Lake to be more specific. The shoreline of Lake Erie has a lot of private areas where a normal riffraff can't get, a few town parks limited to residents only, and a few precious public areas where it's possible to stroll along, contemplate, and even take photographs.

I like this specific location because the curve of the beach is made more interesting by the presence of some beautiful big rocks. And that is what I focused Roll 2 on - the interaction of the waves crashing against the shore and the rocks. It's amazing to photograph but it's also a lot of fun just to sit and watch. Yep, I'll trade this for a TV series any day. It seems that no two waves are the same. Different strength, different direction, and also different placement in the sequence of waves all cause the rocks to get submerged differently. And as one never really knows what each wave will bring it's only fitting to photograph it on film as one won't know what the film captured until quite a bit later. It adds to the mystery.

Submerged Rocks of Lake ErieWPPD 2023

Submerged Rocks of Lake Erie
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

I enjoy how this specific camera renders the sky too. I did not customize the camera to be able to attach a filter and all of these photos are captured without any. I suspect that a horizon placed high in the frame falls in the vignette area of the frame and thus gets darkened preventing it from blowing out. And sure, friendly weather with some clouds in the sky does not hurt either.

In and Out of WaterWPPD 2023

In and Out of Water
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

Scene selection is always fun and a challenge at the same time. In this case, I knew I wanted water and rocks. Thus the rocks had to be at the water's edge to be swallowed by the waves and promptly revealed again. They could not be too far into the lake as I was not ready to get soaked on this chilly morning. At least I was not wearing sneakers, my usual shoes for expeditions around water, but winter boots. Those gave me about 2 inches of water to work in. That's not much when the lake speaks loudly. Spoiler alert! I left with both shoes filled with water!

Big RockWPPD 2023

Big Rock
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

Sometimes, I try to find angles that will group and arrange several rocks in an interesting formation. Other times I will go for a single rock. In all cases, I try to get very close to my subjects with the very wide angle of view of the terraPIN ACME pinhole camera. However, I do leave an inch or two more space than I used to. In combination with the dark vignette I like to give my subjects a little room to breathe.

Flooded Jagged GapsWPPD 2023

Flooded Jagged Gaps
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

In the past I used to experiment with either including or excluding the horizon from the frame. Over time I grew to like the horizon included either very low or very high in the frame. Since there is no viewfinder on this camera it is a bit of guesswork but there are some helpful tools included on the camera. To get the right vertical angle there are lines on the side of the camera that approximate the angle of view. To get a high horizon I tilt the camera forward (downward) almost to a point that the upward pointing line becomes horizontal. Just the slightest angle up pulls the horizon into the frame.

Gap RevealedWPPD 2023

Gap Revealed
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

In the two photographs above you can compare how different things can appear based on wave strength and proper timing. How many small waves does one need to count off before a bigger one arrives? How many bigger ones arrive back to back? How many times is all of this so random that one can make no assumptions?

Between RocksWPPD 2023

Between Rocks
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

I tried to get really close and really low for the final photo and it definitely changed the original top down perspective. Sometimes this trickery with distance results in a complete loss of perspective when one can't really tell the real-life size of the objects. Were the rocks just a few centimeters? Or were they large boulders?

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

More of my Pinhole Photography ...

Down Smoke CreekPinhole Photography Two CanoesPinhole Photography Against the CurrentPinhole Photography

Mardi GrasGulf Shores, Alabama

Mardi Gras, Gulf Shores, Alabama

We started within literally walking distance and walked about a mile to see the parade in Gulf Shores, Alabama, which was in the morning. That was new, different, and fun and we doubled up in Orange Beach, Alabama, in the afternoon.

Mardi GrasGulf Shores, Alabama

Mardi Gras, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Despite the relative proximity (8 miles) we drove, which posed a challenge. While we expected that, we underestimated how little parking there would be available and arrived rather late. Definitely a lesson learned and a confirmation that our choice #1 was a perfect one. No driving definitely makes it easier and more enjoyable.

Mardi GrasGulf Shores, Alabama

Mardi Gras, Gulf Shores, Alabama

And that is it for today's quick visit to the Mardi Gras in Gulf Shores, Alabama in February 2023.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Alabama 2023 Series: Part I, Houses on Stilts, Part II, Ends of Day, Part III, A Hop to Pensacola, Florida, Part IV, Mardi Gras

Seville QuarterPensacola, Florida Red StairsPensacola, FL Office & Palm TreesGulf Shores, Alabama

terraPIN ACMEPinhole Camera

When the WPPD 2023 weekend arrived, I was ready to grab a pinhole camera and head out into the wild. Ahead of time I knew I wanted to use my 3d-printed terraPIN ACME that only saw three rolls through it and I liked the results. I did not take any notes though and could not remember how I measured and calculated the f-stop. I knew it was not wider than f/144 so I decided to start there for my first roll, adjusting from there. I also knew I wanted to use up my Fuji Acros II 100 film that freshly expired last year.

Green Lake CanoesWPPD2023

Green Lake Canoes
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

terraPIN ACMEPinhole Camera The original Fuji Acros as well as the new Fuji Acros II land themselves very well to long exposure pinhole photography thanks to their almost non-existent reciprocity failure. As such, using it was a no brainer especially since I had some on hand. I have also been trying to slim down my film stash, especially if expired or on the verge of expiration.

Since I knew the ISO 100 film, f/144, and cloudy weather would result in long exposures I wanted to have some motion in my photographs. I chose water for my WPPD2023 theme and in the end managed to almost stick with it.

Down Smoke CreekWPPD 2023

Down Smoke Creek
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

As you can see I selected a nearby Yates Park in Orchard Park, New York. In a small package it manages to feature two beautiful bodies of water: Green Lake, and Smoke Creek. I wanted to focus on the creek. I had photographed it a few times in the past but struggled to reconnect with that area after the town cleaned up the lake a few years ago, which involved deforesting a significant chunk of land around the dam.

Up Smoke CreekWPPD 2023

Up Smoke Creek
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

This was my opportunity, and it went very well. I had a blast there with the pinhole camera despite having taken several photographs pretty much from the same spot just rotating around and selecting a different camera height. So many opportunities! I also already decided that I will be heading back soon with a lensed camera and color film. To find the charm of this location I only had to wonder about a little bit and find a new vantage point, the old one gone with the wind.

Against the CurrentWPPD 2023

Against the Current
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

I really like how the bright glare off the water made the stream look like a flowing melted lead in the above photograph. That takes my mind back to the film, Fuji 100 Acros II. With Fuji's exit from film manufacturing, it is my understanding this successor to the original Acros 100 is made by Ilford based on a Fuji recipe. And it delivers! It's not going to become my all-around film though mostly due to its intense cupping. That makes it really difficult to scan in the flimsy film carriers of flatbed scanners. In fact, I suspect most of the edge blur in these photographs is not due to the pinhole camera used but rather due to the far from flat film during scanning. I like the results, though, and don't want to go through digitizing these with a digital camera. The 3d-printed film carrier for that method would keep the film perfectly flat. Maybe if I am bored on a rainy day, I will try that just for comparison's sake. Probably not.

Rocks of Smoke CreekWPPD 2023

Rocks of Smoke Creek
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

Kraken DungeonWPPD 2023

Kraken Dungeon
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

At one spot there is this monster of a structure sticking out of the creek bed. Maybe a storm sewer access point, maybe something else, it totally does not fit the otherwise natural and romantic feel of the place. I wanted to photograph this monster lair, this Kraken Dungeon, but forgot and left my photo perch. When I looked around to survey the location one final time for the day I spotted ti again and had to return. There's no water in the picture but it still fits the water theme, doesn't it?

Two CanoesWPPD 2023

Two Canoes
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

As you can see, I closed the first WPPD 2023 roll where I started. I was back at the canoes looking for additional, more close-up and abstract angles. I especially like the above Two Canoes.

One CanoeWPPD 2023

One Canoe
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer

Finally, One Canoe closes off today's blog post. 8 photographs from a roll of 12, not too bad. All 12 technically came out but I did not like them enough to share. If you like what a simple 3d-printed box with a tiny hole can do, come back soon, I will share my second roll from this year's WPPD. The theme of water will stay, the location will differ.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

More of my Pinhole Photography ...

Mysterious RocksPinhole Photography Bow Up from WaterPinhole Photography Five and a Half RocksPinhole Photography

Pinhole Refueling TruckPinhole Photography Pinhole Lemonade WagonPinhole Photography

The location of the Ostaš Rock City was a site of a terrible tragedy in 1421. The villagers from a nearby village of Police hid here from the army of Sigismund of Luxembourg. However, their location was betrayed and the army massacred the villagers including men, women, and children. Is that why the Mound of Death appeared in the rock wall?

Mound of Death, OstašCzech Republic

Mound of Death, Ostaš, Czech Republic

The above Mound of Death is not the only creatively named rock formation in the Ostaš Rock City. Others include Armed Man, Traitor (related to the story above) and the below Devil's Car. Their look changes from different angles and who knows what they would all be called if someone else did the honors.

Devil's Car, OstašCzech Republic

Devil's Car, Ostaš, Czech Republic

Sometimes it is not about the rock formations towering above the forest floor but about the gaps in the table mountain itself. Sneaking through narrow gaps like the one below provides a reminder about our human size compared to Mother Nature. While usually translated to English as a cave it is more of a deep and narrow notch.

Czech Brothers' Cave, OstašCzech Republic

Czech Brothers' Cave, Ostaš, Czech Republic

In a few places the view opened up and the tall rock formations looked rather magnificent against the blue sky and the bonus white puffy clouds floating by for the perfect backdrop.

Below Cat Rocks, OstašCzech Republic

Below Cat Rocks, Ostaš, Czech Republic

Some of the narrow passages required custom made solutions like the ladder below.

Up the Cat Rocks, OstašCzech Republic

Up the Cat Rocks, Ostaš, Czech Republic

And that's it for today's brief stroll through a beautiful piece of nature in the Czech Republic. And it looks like next time will be a slight change of pace even though we will not leave the rock cities completely. Where are we heading? You will have to check back ...

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more landscape photographs from places beyond Western New York? Visit my Landscapes Faraway or Travel Photography galleries and enjoy!

Cat Rocks, OstašCzech Republic Rock City OstašCzech Republic In a Fairy TaleCzech Republic

terraPIN ACMEPinhole Camera

The simplicity of the camera is underpinned by it being a pinhole camera with no lens. Instead of a lens, the camera has a tiny hole. In fact, the name pinhole exaggerates the size as the hole is so small that a pin would not fit through. To complete the simplicity, I did not fit this version of terraPIN ACME with a fancy laser drilled pinhole but instead made my own by solely mechanical means into a sheet of aluminum from a soda can.

Mysterious RocksPinhole Photography

Mysterious Rocks
Photographed with a medium format pinhole camera on Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film, developed in D-23

terraPIN AcmePinhole Camera in Action I have a few favorite approaches to photographing the Sturgeon Point beach area. While that can lead to repetitive images and a difficulty to challenge myself to find something new, nature usually helps out. It seems that on no two visits does the beach look the same. Finding different submerged rock formations is one of those things I like to do every time, and they never ever look even similar, let alone the same. It seems like the force of the water repositions the rocks. Then, water level determines how submerged they are. Wind will create different waves.

With the tiny pinholes the f-stop of my pinhole cameras is between f/100 and f/200. Combined with a medium speed film at ISO 100, this results in exposures of several seconds, automatically pushing the photographs into the long-exposure territory without the use of any special filters. As the moving water does its thing the photographs are transferred into the mysterious moody territory.

Five and a Half RocksPinhole Photography

Five and a Half Rocks
Photographed with a medium format pinhole camera on Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film, developed in D-23

The camera features a very wide angle of view. The film plane is about 25mm from the pinhole, which would be a wide angle even on a 35mm camera, let alone the 120 medium format. This makes it fun to experiment with extreme close ups. While nothing is really in a sharp focus with a lensless camera the tiny pinhole resulting in a large f-stop creates an almost unlimited depth of field. As a result, things 1cm away will be as in focus as things at infinity. Different photographers prefer different looks but one school of thought with these extreme wide angles is that "if you think you're close enough, get closer". I am not really sure where I'd place myself. I continue experimenting with close and more moderate distances and often prefer the look of stepping just a bit back letting my main subject form a center of the square image and the natural vignetting accenting it. However, here the camera was almost touching the rock's corner.

Bow Up from WaterPinhole Photography

Bow Up from Water
Photographed with a medium format pinhole camera on Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film, developed in D-23

There are quite a few of these dome-shaped rocks along the beach. Some dry far from the water's edge, some close getting splashed over, and some permanently submerged. They're like cannon balls cut in half. They seem unnatural as if from another planet. Sometimes I call them UFO rocks even though they're most certainly not flaying (any more), at least I have never witnessed that. For today's post, I went with a more boring name of a Dome Rock.

Dome RockPinhole Photography

Dome Rock
Photographed with a medium format pinhole camera on Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film, developed in D-23

May this serve as a reminder that every last Sunday of April is the annual Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. This year it falls on Sunday, April 30. I am not yet sure what camera or cameras I will bring but an idea is brewing. Maybe this terraPIN ACME and the Holga Wide Pinhole (WPC), one for black and white and one for color. Check back in May for results.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

More of my Pinhole Photography ...

Pinhole Lemonade WagonPinhole Photography Pinhole Wagon WheelPinhole Photography Pinhole Refueling TruckPinhole Photography

Orange BicyclePensacola, Florida
Orange Bicycle, Downtown Pensacola, Florida

I really enjoyed this charming town and it did not hurt we visited a day before Mardi Gras and some of the decorations were already up for a more festive mood. The beautiful afternoon sun warmed up the air and the tones of the photographs I liked the increased contrast too.

Red StairsPensacola, FL
Red Stairs, Pensacola, FL

So many passages and balconies all around with stairs of many kinds. The red of this staircase looked gorgeous against the deep blue sky and it translated into a photograph really well too, which is not always the case. I tried different angles standing directly in front of the stairs, a little to the left, a little to the right, and in the end liked this version the most as it shows how one can sneak by the stairs.

BricksPensacola, Florida

Bricks, Pensacola, Florida

Mentioning the balconies, they all looked great. But this decorated one with the brick building behind it and lit by the warm rays of sun took the prize. I loved the deep black shadow underneath this scene created too.

Plaza Ferdinand VII SculpturePensacola, Florida

Plaza Ferdinand VII Sculpture, Pensacola, Florida
Nikon FE, Ilford Delta 100, D-23 7 minutes

Not exactly sure about the significance of this sculpture but am assuming it was related to the next day's Mardi Gras. Like with the stairs above I tried various angles here too but in the end the obvious symmetry of the head on approach won.

Seville QuarterPensacola, Florida

Seville Quarter, Pensacola, Florida

That light! We really lucked out on the lighting conditions while visiting Pensacola. Many of the photographs would become quite boring had it not been for the help of the warm directional sunlight. The yellow makes for another great combination with the blue sky, and the red text fits in too.

Mardi Gras MasksPensacola, Florida

Mardi Gras Masks, Pensacola, Florida
Nikon FE, Ilford Delta 100, D-23 7 minutes

Walking under the balcony of the Seville Quarter color photo, the Mardi Gras masks in the window caught my attention and I explored several angles again trying to show the sense of the place. I selected this version as the sidewalk goes on into the distance and is lined with the columns supporting the balcony above.

Tarragona StPensacola, Florida

Tarragona St, Pensacola, Florida

There was something irresistible in the old brick building especially once we cleared the corner and saw the palm trees down the narrow street. And just a little further the crosswalk willed in the corner and the scene was camera ready.

Pensacola Bay BridgePensacola, Florida

Pensacola Bay Bridge, Florida

Just a few steps from there we made our way to the water's edge offering a nice view of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. And that view will be the end of today's post.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Alabama 2023 Series: Part I, Houses on Stilts, Part II, Ends of Day, Part III, Hop to Pensacola, Florida

Gulf Shores Beach SunsetGulf Shores, Alabama. Office & Palm TreesGulf Shores, Alabama Gulf State Park Pier at SunsetGulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores Beach SunsetGulf of Mexico
Setting sun over the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama
Nikon D610, Nikkor AF-S 24 - 85mm ED, Aperture Priority +1 EV, 1/125 sec, f/16

Standing at almost the same spot as for the photo above just turned to the left and that is where the sun rose the following morning. For a different mood I went with a long exposure here completely flattening the already calm surface of the Gulf of Mexico. Not sure how but even the slope of the sandy beach disappeared for a complete leveled look of the sand and water.

Gulf Shores Beach SunriseGulf of Mexico
Rising sun over the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama
Nikon D610, Nikkor AF-S 24 - 85mm ED, Aperture Priority +4 EV, 25 sec, f/22

First, I tried finding angles that would eliminate. any signs of civilization from my photos. however, as we continued our walk down the beach and the shape of the beach behind us changed it offered the below view including the silhouetted condominiums under the wild sunset colors. 

Sunset Colors over Gulf Shores BeachGulf of Mexico

A distant condo silhouette under bold sunset colors in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Nikon D610, Nikkor AF-S 24 - 85mm ED, Aperture Priority -2/3 EV, 1/125 sec, f/4.5

And finally for the least intuitive view. While this was at sunset the below view is towards the east. There, the bold colors of the sunset were replaced with more subtle pastel tones. And no, the long pier of the Gulf State Park did not hurt the composition a bit. It was visible from quite a distance and it took us a while to realize we would not make it all the way to it that evening.

Gulf State Park Pier at SunsetGulf of Mexico

The Gulf State Park Pier in the distance with painterly sunset colors in the eastern sky
Nikon D610, Nikkor AF-S 24 - 85mm ED, Aperture Priority, 1/50 sec, f/7.1

And that is it for today. One beach, many different looks.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Alabama 2023 Series: Part I, Houses on Stilts, Part II, Ends of Day

Sunny Afternoon at Paradise IsleGulf Shores, Alabama Office & Palm TreesGulf Shores, Alabama Paradise Isle at DuskGulf Shores, Alabama

I was tired from the long drive and a bit lazy and did not feel like digging out the camera at that very moment even though some lessons of the past went through my head. The light might not be the same again! We might not be there mid-afternoon again! Yet, all I did was pull out my phone and snapped a quick memory that way. For a few days afterwards, my worries kept coming true. Eventually I got my second chance though when we were not exploring elsewhere, and the light was similar to the arrival conditions.

Sunny AfternoonParadise Isle Resort

Sunny Afternoon at Paradise Isle Resort, Gulf Shores, Alabama
Nikon D610, Nikkor AF-S 24 - 85mm ED, Aperture Priority +2/3 EV, 1/60 sec, F/16

The resort offered some other picturesque angles. Here's a pretty basic head on photograph across the West Beach Boulevard. I tried several other angles but in the end liked the simplicity of this one. I also liked how the palm trees fit in this frame.

OfficeParadise Isle Resort

Office of the Paradise Isle Resort, Gulf Shores, Alabama
Nikon D610, Nikkor AF-S 24 - 85mm ED, Aperture Priority +2/3 EV, 1/200 sec, F/10

Since the houses on stilts also featured outside lamps I had to try a blue hour photo. We were lucky with the week spent there and evenings and nights offered clear skies with some decorative clouds floating by. And yes, I was happy with a scene similar to the opening one, just a few steps back to include one extra unit. I was hesitant about the cars on the right edge but did not have much of a choice as I absolutely wanted to include the utility poles. Why not though? These are vacation houses and the cars belong there.

DuskParadise Isle Resort

Paradise Isle Resort at Dusk, Blue Hour over Gulf Shores, Alabama
Nikon D610, Nikkor AF-S 24 - 85mm ED, Aperture Priority +2 & 2/3 EV, 15 sec, F/10

The next evening we returned early enough to catch another dusk photograph. For this one I went around the corner and looked for a new angle. When I thought I was done someone turned on the light in the window on the right and I grabbed one more photo. And I am glad I did. As I reviewed the whole series it was that last one that came ahead of the rest for me. It added a little extra bonus.

Blue HourParadise Isle Resort

Blue Hour over Paradise Isle Resort, Gulf Shores, Alabama
Nikon D610, Nikkor AF-S 24 - 85mm ED, Aperture Priority +1 EV, 25 sec, F/11

There you have it, the opening post to another series. Apparently, I am doing really well with the sequels to the other ones (from 2016!).

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Alabama 2023 Series: Part I, Houses on Stilts

De Immigrant on MississippiRoad Trip Trading Post in Georgetown, ColoradoRoad Trip A Rural HouseTravel

Pineapple PatternA close up on pineapple skin pattern

Pineapple Pattern Close Up
Tokina atx-i 100mm f/2.8 FF Macro, 1/4 sec at f/16, ISO 200

I have had an opportunity to meet and talk with people from many countries and somehow by accident our discussions often turned to a pineapple. While our common language usually was English, we found it interesting that ananas was the word for it in our native languages. And the more people I asked the more of them knew the fruit as ananas.

For the second photo I have gone for a profile. Can you tell this pineapple is looking left? I liked the contrast between the warm colors of the fruit and the black background.

Pineapple ProfileThe side of a pineapple, or its profile.

Pineapple Profile, Side Close Up
Tokina atx-i 100mm f/2.8 FF Macro, 0.6 sec at f/16, ISO 200

And finally, a full head portrait to close us out today. Unlike the two photos above I did not want to go for a frame-filling portrait. Instead, I wanted to give the fruit plenty of room around the edges. I like the mood better that way.

PineappleHow do you say pineapple?

Pineapple, Ananas, Piña, Abacaxi
Tokina atx-i 100mm f/2.8 FF Macro, 0.5 sec at f/11, ISO 100

All photos were captured with a very simple set up. I hung a black velvet fabric behind (and under) the pineapple for a blank black background. Then I placed a single large adjustable LED light (18" FotodioX C-700RSV FlapJack) at about 45 degrees on the left and turned it more right to just illuminate the fruit by the feathered edges of the light. With that set up almost no light was falling on the fabric to the left of the fruit and the right side was far enough to also stay in the dark. In fact, the light was turned more towards the camera than the fruit and was causing a flare despite having placed a hood on the lens. I flagged the light off with a piece of black matboard leaned against the light from the camera side. I manually set the camera white balance to 3700K and the light to 3600K for a slightly warmer rendering.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs of the animal kingdom? Visit my Nature - Animals & Plants and enjoy!

Banana FlowerPlants Catkins, Green ThemePlants Cherry Tree BlossomsPlants

Mamiya 645Fomapan 400

Basketball HoopWestern New York Winter

Basketball Hoop, Western New York Winter, Snyder Road, West Falls, NY
Mamiya 645 1000s, Fomapan 400, Kodak XTOL Developer

On days like this snow is a huge bonus. While the sky may be dark and gloomy snow on the ground cleans and brightens everything up. Up is down and down is up. The light comes from the ground.

Car Repair ShopWestern New York Winter

Car Repair Shop, Western New York Winter, Center Street, East Aurora, NY
Mamiya 645 1000s, Foma Fomapan 400, Kodak XTOL Developer

The Southtowns of Buffalo, NY are in the so called snow belt, the area to the east of Lake Erie that gets most of the lake effect snow. Thus they also provide picturesque winter scenes, whether they are scenic landscapes or ordinary scenes along the small country roads people take daily on their commutes to work. Do they see it all though?

Old Shed in the FieldWestern New York Winter

Old Shed in the Field, Western New York Winter, Emery Road, East Aurora, NY
Mamiya 645 1000s, Foma Fomapan 400, Kodak XTOL Developer

That's one of the reasons I like photography. It helps me pay more attention. I see things, I look for things that I would otherwise overlook. And I see history passing through my mind, things changing, things getting older, and once in a while a new thing popping up. Barns and sheds usually slowly give in to time, eventually collapsing. But here and there, even if rarely, a beautiful new barn pops up and brings a huge smile. Maybe it's knowing it will be there for me to watch forever.

Emery Park PergolaWestern New York Winter

Emery Park Pergola, Western New York Winter, East Aurora, NY
Mamiya 645 1000s, Foma Fomapan 400, Kodak XTOL Developer

The car is parked in a lot now and we're on the foot through the beautiful Emery Park south of the village of East Aurora, NY. And even here it's a twofold story. There's scenic nature, always reliable, always beautiful. And then there is the human side of things, the structures people build. I really appreciate some of the local parks and the fact that the towns, counties, and state usually try to build things in a way that blend better with nature even if those choices are not the cheapest. Look at this stone pergola. Isn't it some much better than some quickly raised shelter? While not on these photos, I was very pleasantly surprised recently as some bridges were being repaired in Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, NY, and their side walls were wrapped in stone. It gives the parks charm and it makes them happier places to those who pay attention.

Aging Stone BridgeWestern New York Winter

Aging Stone Bridge, Western New York Winter, Emery Park, East Aurora, NY
Mamiya 645 1000s, Foma Fomapan 400, Kodak XTOL Developer

On that note here's an example of the potential contrast. There's a beautiful old stone bridge crossing the creek but it has fallen into disrepair and will need to be services. Meanwhile, a simple wooden bridge was laid down nearby to keep the trail open. Will the stone bridge be repaired to bring smiles to future generations or will "lack of funding" make this one history? I hope it can be repaired. It would be another reason to smile in this wonderful park.

Freezing WatersWestern New York Winter

Freezing Waters, Western New York Winter, Emery Park, East Aurora, NY
Mamiya 645 1000s, Foma Fomapan 400, Kodak XTOL Developer

I started with doom and gloom of the Western New York Winter but found happier topics along the way. And as I am getting to the closure of today's philosophical post I can see a very small gap in the clouds. And guess what's visible through it! Indeed, a blue sky!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! If black and white is your cup of tea, why not head over to the World without Color photo collection? And finally, if you enjoy looking at winter scenery, I have the Winter collection just for that purpose.

Spooky Winter WetlandsWinter Winter EntranceWinter Through the Winter LandscapeWinter

Birdsong Gate in WinterWinter Branches Dressed for WinterWinter The Creek Guard in WinterWinter

Sun-Tanning BullfrogLast Bits of Sunshine

Sun-tanning bullfrog basking in the warmth of the waning sunshine
(The Original/Old) Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR, 400mm, 1/800 at f/5.6, ISO 220

We have a favorite three-mile loop through local wetlands that's great for walks and runs. For variety and beautiful scenery there are three ponds along the way too. That's how we describe where we are on the trail. So here we're by the second pond and in late afternoons it is surrounded by bullfrogs soaking in the heat for the night. I always see them and try to make it by without scaring them. I figure if it were me I would not want to jump into the water yet either.

Peeking BullfrogLast Bits of Daylight

Bullfrog peeking out above the surface of a small pond enjoying the last warm rays of the setting sun
(The Original/Old) Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR, 400mm, 1/800 at f/5.6, ISO 450

This evening was different though. Instead of a walk or a run I picked up my camera, a long lens, and slowly walked the trail backwards to get to the second pond faster. And the slow mode of operation continued on location too. I tried to stay low and kept my distance at first, grabbing a few safety photos, then inching forward. And again and again. As usual there were quite a few bullfrogs to photograph each posing differently and using a different strategy for camouflage. I looked for those that were surrounded by greenery for a more picturesque photo. Too much mud did not seem to do it for me.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs of the animal kingdom? Visit my Nature - Animals & Plants and enjoy!

Japanese MacaqueAnimal Kingdom Iguana of Fence PostAnimal Kingdom Coyote in the DesertAnimal Kingdom

Zero Image 35mmPinhole Camera

Right there lies another creative option - the choice of format. However, this choice is usually made ahead of time and not on location. At least I don't bring all of my formats at the same time. On the contrary, for the last few years, I have really enjoyed a limited choice. Not only does it help me focus on photography instead of fiddling with gear it also offloads a lot of weight from my camera bag which my back appreciates a lot and so do I.

Pinhole Take on the Lava Rocks at Waiohai BeachPinhole Photography

Pinhole Take on the Lava Rocks at Waiohai Beach
35mm Zero Image Pinhole Camera, Ilford PanF+ 50 Black & White Film.

What do you think? Does a black and white pinhole rendering change the mood of a scene a lot? If you are curious enough to find out, you can go a few posts back to Tropical Sunset and compare. It's pretty wild, isn't it?

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Makawehi Lithified CliffsPinhole Photography Shipwreck BeachPinhole Photography Ke'e BeachPinhole Photography

Shutter speed plays a huge role changing the look and feel of the ocean. Go for a long one and the action melts into a peaceful mist. Go the other way and a very short shutter speed freezes the droplets of the surf showing the energy charged water hitting the coastline. Then the choice of a wide-angle lens versus a telephoto one will completely change the message in a photo. And for a yet another twist one can reach for a macro lens and focus on the little things that often get overlooked. Then there also is focusing and depth of field to be explored. Another alternative can be going for a less literal or an abstract photograph and introduce camera motion during the exposure. And these are just a few examples for a more unique photo of an often-photographed place. And what place is not photographed often these days?

And then there is the another quite simple alternative as long as we keep our eyes open. Too often do we get so focused on a specific subject that we become blind to the other subjects around. And very often, a great photo, or even the better one, is full 180 degrees at our backs. While I don't always remember this, I have been trying to stay aware of this for many years now. Finish with your primary subject, keep your camera handy, and simply turn around. What do you think?

Kauai Beach BoysWaiohai Beach, Kauai

Kauai Beach Boys, Waiohai Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

It was no different this particular evening at the Waiohai Beach. I had spent quite a while taking advantage of the beautiful sunset light and explored the beach per the above. I also had a pinhole camera loaded with black and white film for a different take on that evening. And I had fun and left with several photographs that I really like and that will remind me of the experience for years to come. However, as the light faded, and I felt satisfied with the wonderful photographic opportunities the location had offered I turned around and started walking away. That is until I saw the scenes that I am sharing with you here today.

Too Blue to SurfWaiohai Beach, Kauai

Too Blue to Surf, Waiohai Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

The combination of dusk and artificial illumination provides a whole different opportunity and look. The time after sunset and before night turns black is called blue hour and is an intersection of reality and visual trickery. The warm artificial light clashes with the cool natural light and our brains magically blend the two together for a nice but not all that striking view. However, things turn out differently when the photographer decides to set the overall white balance based on the warm artificial light. And digital cameras actually do that quite automatically in real time. The result? The cool background becomes even cooler and turns blue, creating a truly striking contrast with even more visual impact that the original scene. A limitation of the media becomes its strength. Even though it's clearly a manipulation it appears that blue hour photography has been able to retain its appeal for a long time and definitely outlasted some other techniques that proved to be short-lived fads, like overdone HDR tone-mapping. Or maybe that is just my wishful thinking because there is still quite a bit of this genre, and many smart phones default to such scene rendering. 

Next time you finish your primary photographic objective, don't pack up yet. First, turn around. You might be (pleasantly) surprised.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Previously from Hawaii: The Beginning - Seaside Pinhole Photography - Tropical Clichés - Windy Drama of a Tropical Morning - Quite an Ad - Searching for Sun and Warmth - Not Your Sunrise Cliché - So Peaceful - Some Morning Drama - Farmland in the Canyon - Further up Waimea Canyon - At the Edge of Kalalau Valley - Tropical Sunrise - Tropical Sunset - The Photo at Your Back

Paddling through LifeCanandaigua Lake BuoyedCanandaigua City Pier On the WaterCanandaigua Lake

Route 66: Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari, NMRoute 66 Route 66: Dodge, Santa Rosa, NMRoute 66

Green Lake in WhiteWinter in Orchard Park, NY

Green Lake in White, Winter in Orchard Park, NY
Mamiya 645, Foma Retropan 320, Kodak XTOL

Foma Retropan 320 has quite a pronounced grain that comes through strong even in the medium format photos. It's definitely a personal preference but I also think the subject matter either works with this type of film or it does not. In the case of snowy landscapes I like the combination quite a bit. What do you think?

Thanks for visiting, ...

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! If black and white is your cup of tea, why not head over to the World without Color photo collection? And finally, if you enjoy looking at winter scenery, I have the Winter collection just for that purpose.

Barn and Silos in WhiteWinter BrokenWinter Snowstorm over Three RoofsWinter

Nikon FEBlack and White

The stairs date back to the 17th century and provide a quick connection between public transportation and the castle. They take us to the castle's east gate, which serves as a back entrance to the castle complex. It's a completely different arrival experience compared to the guarded main gate followed by several courtyards. Through here, one enters what appears to be a small village with narrow streets that eventually take us to the majestic St. Vitus Cathedral (the full current name is Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert) at the 3rd Courtyard.

Old Castle StairsShizen Watercolor Cyanotype

Old Castle Stairs, Prague Castle, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper

Tools of the trade? It all started with my trusty Nikon FE loaded with my favorite Fomapan 400 black and white film. What other film could one possibly document the Czech Republic with? Later, I home developed the film in a replenished D-23 developer, which grew on me tightly over the last two years that I have not used any other developer.

Then I interrupted the analog path with a digital interlude, scanning the 35mm film and printing a 5" x 7" negative on an inkjet printer in order to be able to make the cyanotype contact print. And that is where I finished the photo's journey with a final analog touch, hand-coating the watercolor paper with the cyanotype emulsion, exposing the contact print with a UV lamp, developing in water, letting dry on a line, and pressing under a stack of books.
Old Castle StairsWine Tannin Toned Cyanotype

Old Castle Stairs, Prague Castle, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper, Toned in Wine Tannin

I also wanted an additional variety of these photos from Prague. Therefore, I made a few extras that I bleached and toned with wine tannin, one of the many options available for print toning. It tones the print similarly to black tea but stains the paper itself less. However, the paper itself playes a significant role too. The Shizen Design Watercolor Paper I like to use is especially good at this property and highlights do not stain much. It's a personal choice for sure though. The paper has a very rough texture and is made from fully recycled materials that hold on to the emulsion to a varying degree. I really like the rough look I get though. The only time I deviate is when I want some more subtle prints with a lot of detail. This paper definitely does not render detail well.

St. Vitus DoorShizen Watercolor Cyanotype

St. Vitus Door, Prague Castle, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper

From the Old Castle Stairs and through the east gate we made our way all the way to the 3rd courtyard and the spectacular St. Vitus Cathedral, which was founded in 1344 and was only completed in 1929. Indeed, it took almost 600 years to finish. Talking about history, Prague Castle itself probably dates back to the year 880. From the 10th century the castle was the seat of the head of state and the church, the Prague bishop.

St. Vitus DoorWine Tannin Toned Cyanotype

St. Vitus Door, Prague Castle, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Shizen Design Watercolor Paper, Toned in Wine Tannin

Exiting the castle through the main west gate one can descend either via the Ke Hradu and then Nerudova streets or via Zámecké schody (Castle Stairs), also called Nové zámecké schody (New Castle Stairs). The interesting thing is that these new stairs are older than the old ones. A steep dirt road in their place is documented back in the 13th century. Steps were mentioned as early as the 14th century and their current form is from the 17th century.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning - 7. Cyanotypes VII: More Toning - 8. Cyanotypes VIII: Toning Different Papers - 9. Cyanotypes IX: Horní Rozsíčky - 10. Cyanotypes X: From Black and White or Color - 11. Cyanotypes XI: Moravian Countryside - 12. Cyanotypes XII: Prague Castle

If you like cyanotypes, you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy!

Karlštejn Castle Tower and WallsCyanotype Karlštejn Castle Tower and WallsTea Toned Cyanotype Helfštýn Castle PalaceCyanotype

Foma Retropan 320, Mamiya 645 1000sFoma Retropan 320, Mamiya 645 1000s

You can see the choice of camera and film on the right and I will repeat, that Foma Retropan 320 in combination with winter landscapes is growing on me. Yes, the grain is the size that one could bite it, but it seems to suit the mood very well. Of course, feel free to disagree and leave me a note either way, I'd love to get your perspective.

I love the large barn in the first photo, which is just up the hill from me. Unlike many other barns you have seen on my blog this one is in a good shape and in active use with hopefully many years ahead. It's next to a larger and busier road making it harder to stop and photograph. But it all worked out on this occasion, and I am really glad. It looks even better in winter! And that grain!

Winter on Chestnut Ridge RoadOrchard Park Winter

Winter on Chestnut Ridge Road
Mamiya 645, Foma Retropan 320, Kodak XTOL

And then there are roads themselves. I am not sure when my obsession with roads began but I have my suspicions. I think our first long family road trip in 2013 had something to do with that. And I mean mostly narrow back roads, whether winding or straight as a shot. They have their charm and come with different moods. Or maybe they are accepting of my moods. I gave this one an ambiguous name of Southtowns Winter. The photo is not means as a depiction of a specific location. It's meant to express what the Southtowns of Buffalo, NY are known for, what it feels like to be there for about 4 months every year.

Southtowns WinterOrchard Park Winter

Southtowns Winter
Mamiya 645, Foma Fomapan 400, Kodak XTOL

Let's see what the weather has in store for us going forward. That may influence what the next post brings. Or it may not. Looking at the photo candidates I see a neutral opportunity as there has been too much of a break from cyanotypes on these pages and I have some new ones I've been holding back for a while. Is it time to get them out?

Thanks for visiting, ...

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

PS: I goofed up a little bit and the second photo is from the next roll of film. Thus it's on Fomapan 400, not Retropan 320. And the photo that was supposed to be here will be in the next wintery post making for another mixed film post. But you know what? That could be a good thing to show the comparison side by side. The Retropan definitely shows more grain and creates a different mood.

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! If black and white is your cup of tea, why not head over to the World without Color photo collection? And finally, if you enjoy looking at winter scenery, I have the Winter collection just for that purpose.

Through the Winter LandscapeWestern NY Winter Spooky Winter WetlandsWestern NY Winter Birdsong Gate in WinterWestern NY Winter

LongboardsWestern NY Winter Hamburg Kingdom of IceWestern NY Winter

Gardeau Overlook in the Fall, Letchworth State ParkSlightly off-the-beaten-path in Letchworth State Park ...

Gardeau Overlook in the Fall, Letchworth State Park

May these photos bring some sunshine to our dreary days!

We usually take southern backroads and enter Letchworth via the Castile entrance and then focus on the southern part of the park. Once in a while to stir the pot a little bit we take the 20A, circle around the park's northern tip and enter from the northeast. That allows us to enjoy the sights around route 20A and then drive through the full length of the park, pick some stops we normally do not get to enjoy, and hike some new trails. Indeed, we still have not hiked quite a few.

The first picture here is one such example as we rarely stop at the Gardeau Overlook and enjoy the plains where the Genesee River flows out of the Letchworth gorge. The cliffs are replaced with more vegetation here, which works well with the seasonal foliage. I was really glad to find a vantage point that was not too overgrown, and it was possible to spot the river. And even better, it was one of the many river bends.

Wolf Creek Trail in the FallWhile the main attractions in Letchworth State Park ...

Wolf Creek Trail in the Fall, Letchworth State Park

Further south the Wolf Creek area is very popular, and I was glad this was not a weekend. The creek flowing under a bridge, the surrounding forest, and the tall waterfall into Genesee River all make for quite a picturesque location. The trail that starts across the creek from the parking area is a gem too, though. I really like the stairs, the rock walls lining the trail, the forest, and the gorgeous views one gets rewarded with after a very short hike.

The rock walls are a beautiful add-on to a lot of the viewpoints and trails in Letchworth State Park and I hope people's stupidity does not force a change to thick tall steel railings or worse, some plastic monstrosities. Every time I see people on or behind the walls these thoughts go through my mind. Every time someone gets hurt in the park the chances of negative changes grow. I hope future generations will still get to enjoy thsi park in its current form with the rock walls adding beauty rather than taking away.

Back at Hog's Back in the FallWhile not one of the three main attractions in Letchworth State Park ...

Back at Hog's Back in the Fall, Letchworth State Park

The day ended up on a two for one deal for the northern part of the park. We decided we also wanted to take 20A back home and thus had another chance to fill in the blanks. I like the Hog's Back area quite a bit and have photographed there many times in the past and if you go back through or search my blog or the Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes photo gallery you will find more photos to compare. Sometimes, the Genesee River can be a small creek that's hard to find and other times, the whole floodplain down in the valley will be flooded. I enjoyed how it looked on this day! But even here, finding an unobstructed view was unusually difficult. My usual spots were so overgrown with shrubs that I could not believe they were the same spots. In the end, standing on my tippy toes, I found this last view shared today.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Autumn Reflection at Sinking PondsFall Abstract Fall ColorsFall Abstract Fall Abstract at Moss LakeFall Abstract

Stone WallLetchworth State Park Colorful Morning InspirationLetchworth State Park

Foma Retropan 320, Mamiya 645 1000sFoma Retropan 320, Mamiya 645 1000s

As a result, I am going with a winter theme. Right now, the forecast calls for a warm up during the week and a significant snow melt, as it often happens when snow arrives this early. On one hand it is quite a waste as this would serve as a super snow base for the season but on the other hand a thaw can provide the needed relief for maintenance crews as well as our roofs. There have already been a number of collapsed structures and having so much snow above my head does not make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

To get a dose of happy winter mood we're heading just a little bit south to the rural Southtowns on Buffalo, New York. There are some roads I really enjoy exploring and visiting repeatedly in different conditions. And sometimes the equipment or materials contribute to the difference. I've posted winter scenery captured on Foma Retropan 320 before but the more I look at this combination the more I like it. I think the grain combines very well with the mostly high key images. And I will admit, I have also been moving more and more away from perfection full of detail. I enjoy many forms of photographic imperfections. And a grainy film like the Retropan 320 fits the bill quite well.

Draudt Road Barn and SilosOrchard Park Winter

Draudt Road Barn and Silos, Orchard Park Winter
Mamiya 645, Foma Retropan 320, Kodak XTOL

The first photo shows my favorite angle on the old barn and silos. I like that the structure is fairly prominent while still showing the surroundings, the charming narrow road running by, the utility poles, and of course the trees. Lately, I have been more and more of a fan of wider views though allowing my main subjects fall further into the background and leaving plenty of room around them in the frame, when such a photo is possible. I was glad that for this scene I chose to do both, the closer angle as well as the wider one.

Winter On Draudt RoadOrchard Park Winter

On Draudt Road, Orchard Park Winter
Mamiya 645, Foma Retropan 320, Kodak XTOL

And then there are views that speak to me all of a sudden. I passed them as many times as the sights photographed lot more often, yet, I may not have raised the camera and clicked the shutter before. That is the case with the photo below. Somehow, this winter scene was what I needed to change that.

Farmhouse in Trees in WinterOrchard Park Winter

Farmhouse in Trees, Orchard Park Winter
Mamiya 645, Foma Retropan 320, Kodak XTOL

What do you think? A worthy trade off of fall and winter photos? Or would you have preferred I went with my original colorful plan. If that is the case you won't have to wait too long, I have that post planned next and the weather will determine when that is.

Thanks for visiting! Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! If black and white is your cup of tea, why not head over to the World without Color photo collection? And finally, if you enjoy looking at winter scenery, I have the Winter collection just for that purpose.

Farmhouse in WinterWestern New York Winter Winter on a Country RoadWestern New York Winter Utility PolesWestern New York Winter

Beautiful Barn in WinterWestern New York Winter Railroad Crossing, 3 TracksWestern New York Winter

Mamiya RB67Mamiya RB67, Fomapan 200

The house is located in West Falls, NY and at some point, I noticed how great it looks in sunrise light. Its facade is facing east and when the sun clears the terrain to the east and illuminates it with its warm rays it lights up like a light bulb. And of course, the wonderful variations go from there, whether a sunny morning with clear skies paving the way for a fitting filter or cloudy skies with the clouds getting a similar sunshine treatment from below as the house itself.

One of these sunny mornings it was time to go back to the target location with a camera. The tool of choice was a Mamiya RB67 loaded with Fomapan 200 black and white film. To enhance the sky behind I fitted an orange filter on the lens. I had three lenses with me for this expedition: a wide angle 65mm, normal 90mm, and a short telephoto 127mm.

How did things go in the end? I started the day with the 90mm lens at the primary location. As hoped for, the house was lit wonderfully and all that remained was a choice of a perspective. I settled on the 90mm and an angle that would include not only the house but also the leaning utility pole across the street. I decided to go hand-held to keep things simpler. The camera is so heavy that its inertia helps with steady photos. And as I mentioned, the scene was brightly lit.

Camera malfunctionWest Falls, NY

Camera malfunction, an abstract roadside photograph from West Falls, New York
Mamiya RB67, 90mm Mamiya-Sekor, Fomapan 200, D-23

What do you think? Exactly as planned, right? I was quite surprised when I developed the roll a few days later and found that the 10 total frames were divided into three groups. The first group, like the first photo here, had an alright exposure but lots of motion blur, the second group were blanks, and the final third group looked as intended.

This was only my second or third outing with the camera and the first time I decided to pay attention to the camera and lens combination. I also decided to go hand-held and forgo the mirror lock-up mode to simplify. When I saw the results, I was able to tie the three groups to the lenses used and carefully inspect each to see what was happening.

The 90mm lens showed visibly lazy shutter blades that closed fast at first but then took extra time to fully close, explaining the motion recorded on film. The 65mm lens was in an even worse shape with the shutter blades fully seized not opening at all. And finally, to provide at least some happy relief from a total failure, the 127mm lens operated perfectly. Over the years oil must have seeped over the blades rendering them almost motionless.

I already had repairs quoted and it's not looking good. One can buy 5 - 10 secondhand lenses on eBay for the repair price. The repair tech is very good, and the lenses would be like new. But with the price of the used lenses being so low it may be better to gamble on those, even if I have to buy a handful before finding one in a solid working order.

MailboxesWest Falls, NY

Mailboxes, West Falls, NY
Mamiya RB67, 127mm Mamiya-Sekor, Fomapan 200, D-23

In the second photo we are still at the first location. After the overall photo I decided to get closer with a tighter lens and focus on the mailbox trio on the corner. And I am glad I did, at least location number one was not a total bust.

From West Falls, I continued along my favorite loop while often deviating to find other nearby photogenic sights. And after the 30% success rate of this roll of film it sure looks like I will have an opportunity to revisit many of the locations.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around.

Passing Storm over BuffaloMamiya RB67 Dock D, Erie Basin MarinaMamiya RB67

Waiohai Beach SunsetKaua'i, Hawai'i

Waiohai Beach Sunset, Kauai, Hawaii

Yes, I am fulfilling a promise from the last post to post from somewhere warm. I am not sure I timed it all that well though as the beginning of November 2022 does not feel all that different right here in Buffalo, NY. Yesterday's temperatures reached a crazy 76°F and today did not lag too far behind. While a very pleasant summer extension it makes me think how we are going to pay for it with Lake Erie staying this warm. A fun lake effect snow in the making?

Lava Rocks at Waiohai BeachKauai, Hawaii

Lava Rocks at Waiohai Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, Kauai, Hawaii

Which photograph do you prefer? The first one with a shorter exposure time freezing a moment in time close to what one's eyes would see or the second with a long exposure moving us just slightly outside of reality?

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Previously from Hawaii: The Beginning - Seaside Pinhole Photography - Tropical Clichés - Windy Drama of a Tropical Morning - Quite an Ad - Searching for Sun and Warmth - Not Your Sunrise Cliché - So Peaceful - Some Morning Drama - Farmland in the Canyon - Further up Waimea Canyon - At the Edge of Kalalau Valley - Tropical Sunrise - Tropical Sunset

Sunrise over Makawehi Lithified CliffsKauai, Hawaii Stormy Pacific DaybreakKauai, Hawaii Lava & WaterKauai, Hawaii

Colors of Sunrise at Shipwreck BeachKauai, Hawaii The Start of a Beautiful Day at Secret Beach, Kauai, HawaiiKauai, Hawaii

Rolleiflex Automat1940s TLR

I had my Rolleiflex Automat from the 1940s loaded with a fresh roll of Fomapan 400, my favorite all around film. You might think a 400-speed film is not the best fit for a sunny day, but I rate this specific film at 200 and I usually have a yellow or orange filter on my cameras loaded with black and white film. So right there, one is down to either a 100 or 50. That leaves just enough leeway to stop the lens down a bit for the right dose of depth of field.

Alright, let's head to the northtowns first, specifically the place where Tonawanda Creek finds its mouth into the Niagara River. And there, its northern banks are lined with picturesque boathouses that caught my eyes many times before and I keep looking for the best way to capture the idyllic sight in a photograph. This day, that attempt was a black and white square.

Tonawanda Creek BoathousesBlack and White

Tonawanda Creek Boathouses, North Tonawanda, NY
Rolleiflex Automat, Fomapan 400, D-23

There is also an old defunct swing bridge that now remains permanently swung out of the way. It has been drawing my attention for years. Here's a 2012 photograph with a completely different take on the same structure. It was built in the 1890s and served the New York Central Railroad through the 1970s.

Boathouses and Swing BridgeBlack and White

Boathouses and Swing Bridge, North Tonawanda, NY
Rolleiflex Automat, Fomapan 400, D-23

For the next two photographs let's head south from Tonawanda to the city of Buffalo, specifically to Broderick Park on Unity Island (previously Squaw Island). That's where the Bird Island Pier starts and splits apart the Niagara River and Black Rock Canal. The total length is around 2 miles but unfortunately, it's been a long time since I could walk its whole length. Weather is taking a toll on the structure and repairs don't keep up. A good chunk of the pier is flipped over making the section unpassable. In the photograph below, we're looking from that point back north towards the Peace Bridge

On Bird Island PierBlack and White

On Bird Island Pier, Buffalo, NY
Rolleiflex Automat, Fomapan 400, D-23

And the final photograph brought a smile. In one of the many overflows from the canal to the river there was a "For Rent" sign drowning. Maybe it would not be so funny without the context, but I was walking with a friend who is in the rental business.

For Rent, A DealBlack and White

For Rent, A Deal, Buffalo, NY
Rolleiflex Automat, Fomapan 400, D-23
 

And those were the four squares I prepared to share with you all today. What's planned for the next one? As the Western New York weather turns cold it will be something warm. Come back (hopefully) next week and see for yourself.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by and ... Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around.

Different Types of ShipsBuffalo, NY On the WaterBuffalo, NY Sailboat and a CruiserBuffalo, NY

Edward M Cotter & Spirit of BuffaloBuffalo, NY Edward M Cotter at Naval Park IIBuffalo, NY

ZeroImage Pinhole CameraPhotography simplified

Pinhole photography takes that concept to the next level. It drastically simplifies the whole photographic experience and allows me to fully focus on the experience. Most of the technicalities simply go away.

There is no lens, just a tiny hole through the front of the camera in its place. As a result, any considerations for the aperture opening (f-stop) go away. These cameras have a fixed aperture size and it is very, very small. The resulting f-stops are usually between 100 and 200. That removes any depth of field considerations. Anything front to back will have the same level of focus. You will often hear that pinhole cameras have an unlimited depth of field. That's an interesting combination with the other fact that images from pinhole cameras are never really "sharp", especially by today's standards.

Down the Lower Niagara RapidsNiagara River Gorge

Down the Lower Niagara Rapids
Photographed with a 35mm ZeroImage pinhole camera on expired Kodak Max 400 film

Since I am talking about pinhole photography on film here, once the film is chosen and in the camera that removes another variable during photography. There is no changing of the light sensitivity (ISO/ASA) mid-roll. With the aperture fixed and the light sensitivity fixed only one variable remains, and that is the shutter speed. And that is usually not a real variable. The shutter speed needs to correspond to the level of light hitting the scene to achieve a proper exposure. Whirlpool Rapids BridgesNiagara River Gorge

Whirlpool Rapids Bridges
Photographed with a 35mm ZeroImage pinhole camera on expired Kodak Max 400 film

I carry an external light meter when out and about with a pinhole camera but whether I use it or not depends on the situation. On a sunny summer day no light meter is needed and the good old Sunny 16 rule works remarkably well. Sunny 16 states that you can set your aperture to f/16 and the shutter speed to 1/ISO. For example, with an ISO 400 film, 1/16 and 1/400 sec. will result in a good exposure. With today's cameras that would mean using a 1/500 sec. (if shutter speed set manually). Rocky Banks of Niagara RiverNiagara River Gorge

Rocky Banks of Niagara River
Photographed with a 35mm ZeroImage pinhole camera on expired Kodak Max 400 film

Now let's see how this applies to the pinhole camera used for all of the photographs in today's post. The 35mm ZeroImage camera features an f-stop of f/136. Going from the Sunny 16 f/16, we have these steps: f/22, f/32, f/45, f/64, f/90, f/128 (close enough to f/136). With each next f-stop the amount of light hitting the film is cut in half and thus the shutter speed needs to double to compensate. In our example, we have to double it 6 times: 1/250, 1/125, 1/60, 1/30, 1/15, 1/8.

The Kill ZoneNiagara River Gorge

The Kill Zone
Photographed with a 35mm ZeroImage pinhole camera on expired Kodak Max 400 film

Things get a bit fuzzy from here but in my experience that is just fine with pinhole photography. The Kodak Max 400 I was using was over 10 years expired and thus I decided to rate it at 200 instead of 400. With that the shutter speed goes to 1/4 sec. And the light was not really at a full summer blast so I decided to go to 1/2 sec. All this "accuracy" is not really critical with this camera. As you can see in the picture the shutter is a wooden slider that is moved manually. However, what this helped me determine was that the required shutter speed was slow enough and I could use this camera and film combo and simply open and close the shutter within about 1/2 second.

After this initial mental exercise, it was just photography. The lighting remained about the same the whole afternoon and all I had to do was find a scene I liked, lay the camera on a rock, guess the angle of view, press the camera down with my left hand and open and close the shutter latch with my right. And don't forget to advance! I always wind to the next frame right after taking a picutre to avoid unintentional double exposures.

Water Zooming ByNiagara River Gorge

Water Zooming By
Photographed with a 35mm ZeroImage pinhole camera on expired Kodak Max 400 film

I rarely use expired film but did have a few rolls of this expired Kodak Max 400 and figured this was the perfect use for it, with the lose definition of focus and proper exposure. It was also an opportunity to try pinhole photography in color as I almost always use black and white film for this purpose. And finally, I took advantage of the dual formats supported by the ZeroImage camera and removed the frame spacers for a slightly wider panoramic view.

What do you think about this bare bones take on photography? Does the lack of sharpness bother you or are you alright with it? In 35mm, the effect is definitely more pronounced as the tiny original image gets more magnified for viewing. With 6x6 or 6x9, some pinhole photographs may be hard to tell from regular lenses photos. And in large format, it they may be unrecognizable.

A different point of view to judge this lack of sharpness by is my reality. I have been wearing glasses for a while and every few years they get stronger. When I take them off my world is far from sharp and exact. Pinhole photography gives me a chance to show the world more of what I see without my lenses.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around.

Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Cargill Pool Grain ElevatorPinhole Shipwreck BeachPinhole Makawehi Lithified CliffsPinhole

Yashica LM and FilmTLR Camera

First to the new trails. We walked around the Niagara Falls State Park many times before and hiked the Whirlpool State Park and Devil's Hole State Park as many times. However, we always skipped the area in between. I am not sure what triggered the thought but one day I ended up on the New York State's website for Niagara Gorge Trails and identified Trails #4 and #3 as hiking targets. The website stated there was some water damage to Trail #4 and it would not take us all the way to the Whirlpool Bridges but it should be open to and a little bit past its intersection with Trail #3. At this planning stage, I planned on hiking down and back up the same way. While I always prefer loops that was not an option here, or so it appeared on the map.

And for the trails to revisit? That would very much depend on how much time the new exploration would take. Read on to see what happened.

Whirlpool Rapids BridgesNiagara Falls, NY

Whirlpool Rapids Bridges, Niagara Falls, NY
Yashica LM, Fomapan 100, D-23

After parking at the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center and seeing the blue skies and full sun I loaded my Yashica LM TLR with Fomapan 100 (a black and white negative film) and we headed down the trail. I also had an orange filter affixed on the taking lens of the camera to darken the blue skies and avoid the washed out look. And yes, there are public restrooms available to make hiking more comfortable.

All along the trail I was looking for an opening in the trees towards the river hoping to get a view back to the Falls or forward to the Whirlpool Bridges. In the end, the trail offered both and in two different varieties. There was an official lookout, and in one or two places there was an opening in the trees I liked, as in the photograph above.

Across the Rainbow BridgeNiagara Falls, NY

Creek Gate
Yashica LM, Fomapan 100, D-23

While trail #4 headed towards the Whirlpool Bridges, trail #3 turned our direction almost 180 and headed towards Rainbow Bridge and Niagara Falls, completely descending to the riverbanks. Continuing up the river we reached a point where the river widened quite a bit, which opened up an interesting vantage point as if from the middle of the river.

Then, the hike took us to the paved observation deck you can see in the photo above on the left. There was a heavyweight lift that can probably raise and lower ships into the river, but that is my guess here, I did not further look into its purpose. You can see its tall column in the above photo too. And the most surprising feature for the first time visitors found at that location? An elevator! The Schoellkopf Public Elevator in what remains of the Schoellkopf Power Plant directly connects the parking lot where this whole adventure started with the deck down below and cuts the travel time down to seconds.

I did have some doubts, this was meant to be an outdoors hiking day and using an elevator felt like massive cheating. Elevator? Hike back? In the end, the elevator won. The hike was not a loop but rather a there and back arrangement, thus my motivation to explore sunk a bit. Also, if a chunk of time could be saved here we'd have time for another walk in the area, right?

Storm over Niagara FallsNiagara Falls, NY

Storm over Niagara Falls, NY
Yashica LM, Fomapan 100, D-23

As soon as we walked out of the elevator and looked towards the Falls, we could see a dramatic weather change. An ominous storm was moving in and it seemed like the outdoors activity might be in danger. However, the weather radar seemed to have good news. It was showing a relatively narrow front moving through. Solution? We decided on a lunch break in a restaurant we'd not been in before either and took advantage of already being this far north.

The planned worked perfectly. After lunch, rain stopped and the heavy clouds were slowly moving past. We could see nice weather in the west. Thus, we headed for my favorite walk along the American Falls over the Green Island and to Goat Island. We walked down to Luna Island to see the Bridal Veil Falls. I always enjoy the view of the river rushing down there. Then we continued to the tip of the Goat Island to enjoy the above view of the American Falls. The lighting conditions were insane! The storm moved past us but filled the sky in that direction while it was already sunny overhead and behind us. You can even see a rainbow in the photo above, even though I must admit black and white photography may not be the best way to present one. Yes, that subtle white bow on the left is a rainbow.

Rushing Down to the FallsNiagara Falls, NY

Rushing Down to the Falls
Yashica LM, Fomapan 100, D-23

To add to the day's step count we walked further around the Horseshoe Falls to the Three Sisters Islands. I still love the area quite a bit, however, a dose of nostalgia usually hits me. I definitely liked that location even more before it became civilized. Paved paths and fences have been installed for safety. I miss the days when one could freely wonder about the islands looking for just the perfect photo spot. It also used to be easier to capture the natural look of the Upper Niagara Rapids without the fences finding their way into one's photograph.

Canada Down the RiverNiagara Falls, NY

Canada Down the River, Niagara Falls, NY
Yashica LM, Fomapan 100, D-23

The last two photographs of today's post are literally back to back. They are both taken from the bridge connecting the Three Sisters Islands with Goat Island. First, a view up the river and second, a view towards Niagara Falls even though there is no sign of those. I always enjoy looking at the many islands in the river making the location look more "wild" than it really is. And those buildings? You are looking at the other river bank to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

After this stop, it was time to head back to the Niagara Discovery Center parking lot. for a return drive home. If only one could spend this much time walking or hiking daily!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Phalanx6x6 Square Cottage in Winter Woods6x6 Square Brant Street Pier, Burlington, ON6x6 Square

Nikon FENikon FE, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 Pancake

That final option is what I selected for the two prints presented in today's post. I wanted to keep and show the fine detail in the tree as well as the grass and thus went straight for the smooth paper.

Along the CreekCyanotype, Hiking Nemotínek

Along the Creek, Hiking Nemotínek, Nemotice, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated smooth watercolor paper

The ability to reproduce fine detail really showed in the second photograph below. The grass and shrubs covering the banks of Kyjovka came through with a surprising detail, including the two trees in the background.

KyjovkaCyanotype, Hiking Nemotínek

Kyjovka, Hiking Nemotínek, Nemotice, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated smooth watercolor paper

I will definitely continue experimenting with the three papers I have already used as well as introduce new ones. Oh, and I forgot about a fourth type I used at the very beginning and quickly abandoned. It was inkjet watercolor paper and I really do not recommend it for this type of printing, especially if you want something at least somewhat predictable. The cyanotype chemicals will react with the chemicals the paper is coated with to better receive ink and anything can happen. However, even that can provide its own unique look.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning - 7. Cyanotypes VII: More Toning - 8. Cyanotypes VIII: Toning Different Papers - 9. Cyanotypes IX: Horní Rozsíčky - 10. Cyanotypes X: From Black and White or Color - 11. Cyanotypes XI: Moravian Countryside

If you like cyanotypes you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

Bird Island PierCyanotype BUFFALOCyanotype Chautauqua BelleCyanotype

Pentax K1000

I wanted to make sure the camera would not get stuck with me for too long and only kept it for two days. Day 1 was a roll of Kodak Double-X in Birdsong Park, day 2 was another roll on the shore of Lake Erie (more on that in a future post, hopefully not in two more years). This project and my approach allowed me to see the park quite differently.

Twinkle in the TreesTrees of Birdsong

Twinkle in the Trees
Birdsong on Pentax K1000 and Kodak Double-X

So what was different? Since I visit the park often I try to be very careful about what I photograph. Did I photograph it before? Is it any different? Should I press the shutter? I question every single photograph and try to talk myself out of it. This evening, I fully intended to go through a whole roll of 35mm film. I had just over an hour to get approximately 36 photographs. Even rounding things a bit for simplicity that is about a photo every two minutes. That was definitely something I had not done in this park in a long time, probably since my very first visit.

Creek GateTrees of Birdsong

Creek Gate
Birdsong on Pentax K1000 and Kodak Double-X

There was another significant difference that evening. My cameras usually have a wide angle lens, like a 28mm, attached as the default. The Pentax K1000 used for this project came with a 50mm lens and that was quite a difference. It was a whole different world. Back in 2020, using a 50mm lens was a complete unknown to me. And looking at it now, I suspect it was this experience that opened up the world of normal lenses to me. I now go out with 50mm lenses much more often and even went on whole big trips with that focal length as my only lens!

Old BranchesTrees of Birdsong

Old Branches
Birdsong on Pentax K1000 and Kodak Double-X

There is a saying "can't see the forest for the trees" but I think my usual wide angle approach resulted in me not being able to see the trees for the forest. I'd always be framing for my foreground, middle ground, and background. With the 50mm lens, I could place more focus on details, on narrower areas, I could, or even had to flatten my plane of focus on a specific feature. The opening photo of this post is a scene one gets to see immediately after turning into the woods. It always makes an impression on me, yet, I had never been able to photograph it that way. This evening, I could. The same experience followed just a few steps further into the forest with the gorgeous branches of the old tree. I was able to raise my camera up and focus on just the scene that caught my eye, the branches.

Dead Tree Up CloseTrees of Birdsong

Blooming Bush
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

This old and very dead tree is the only photograph in today's post that is outside the woods. I love the tree and I always stop, admire it, and sometimes take a picture if I can convince myself that something about it looks different. And again, the normal lens facilitated a different perspective.

ForestTrees of Birdsong

Blooming Bush
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

However, we are heading right back into the woods. There was something magical with the light that evening. Whether it was a figment of my imagination or reality I am not qualified to say due to my bias towards these photographs but even now more than two years later I still see that shimmering light. Maybe it was the lens, maybe it was the backlight painting the pictures on the Kodak motion picture film, maybe it was my imagination, or maybe it was a combination.

Creek in the WoodsTrees of Birdsong

Creek in the Woods
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

To close out today's post we're stopping by the creek. This particular spot has captivated me for years but it has been only the last year or two that I've really come to appreciate and enjoy the full length of the creek as it passes through the park. The combo of the creek and the leaning trees along both banks creates some very charming scenes. In this specific location, the fallen tree crossing the creek and its reflection add a little extra to the whole scene.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

• Original project posts: The Partnership of the Passing Pentax, Roll Number 1, The Partnership of the Passing Pentax, Roll Number 2
• My first ever post from Birdsong: Adapt, aka Plan but Welcome the Random

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Pentax Spotmatic35mm Film Camera It's already the second half of August and my Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes photo gallery still has winter photos at the top! Wow! Let's change that right away with some color. And while moving from white to color, why not go with some crazy colors?

I think this makes for a great opportunity to wrap up the walk around Birdsong Park with a Pentax Spotmatic loaded with Lomochrome Purple special effects film. I am not big on filters and I am not big on special effects films, however, I am trying to keep my mind open and try different things out here and there. Who knows, maybe I'll find something to my taste!

A Creek Flows ThroughBirdsong Park on Lomochrome Purple

A Creek Flows Through, Birdsong Park, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Pentax Spotmatic on Lomochrome Purple film and developed in Arista C-41

I think it's a little more complicated with my statement above. I am very interested in alternative processes with black and white photography and some of them definitely form a departure from reality. You've seen me post a lot about Cyanotypes, a process that results in blue and white photographs. And I love those! I also tried my hand in lith printing and loved those tritone prints. Somehow, I am more open to crazy results with black and white photography whereas more conservative with color photography. So yes, Lomochrome Purple is definitely pushing the envelope for me! And if I ever get the Lomochrome Turqoise it will be no different. That being said, I love the light in the first photograph shared here, purple or not!

An Accidental Tee PeeBirdsong Park on Lomochrome Purple

An Accidental Tee Pee, Birdsong Park, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Pentax Spotmatic on Lomochrome Purple film and developed in Arista C-41

I have gone through a change of my likes and focus in Birdsong and the two photos above are from the surroundings of the creek flowing through the park. It is the creek and the wonderful old leaning trees lining its banks that have become so captivating to me recently. In contrast, the next two photos have no water featured, which is a bit strange given the fact the park is basically a swamp.

Purple CanopyBirdsong Park on Lomochrome Purple

Purple Canopy, Birdsong Park, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Pentax Spotmatic on Lomochrome Purple film and developed in Arista C-41

I love this park and it is really close to where I live. And I love making photographs close to home. There is always something new to capture and things are changing all the time. Sometimes, I find new subject matter, other times I go for a new take on something previously photographed. Now that I have selected the photos for this post I went back to the archives to see if I had posted more traditional versions of these. If you are curious and want to compare, feel free to scroll down once you finish reading.

Among TreesBirdsong Park on Lomochrome Purple

Among Trees, Birdsong Park, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Pentax Spotmatic on Lomochrome Purple film and developed in Arista C-41

How do you like this purple look of Lomochrome Purple? Any favorite photos from this post or from Part I? What do you think about their comparison to the three below?

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.  

Leaning Trees of BirdsongOrchard Park, NY The Tree Tunnel of BirdsongOrchard Park, NY The Music of Fall at BirdsongOrchard Park, NY

This will be a four part series of night photography around Buffalo, NY. Today, we are starting in East Aurora. The next three sequels will be Hamburg, Orchard Park, and Buffalo. We're also traveling back in time a bit to 2020 and some photos may date themselves as such. Can you spot them?

Nikon FM2n with 50mm f/1.8 Pancake35mm Film Camera Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them.

For these night photography outings I loaded my Nikon FM2n with a roll of Kodak T-Max P3200 film. I like that specific camera for night photography because of its LED light meter that is very easy to see at night. On my other cameras, like the Nikon FE, I enjoy their analog match needle meters quite a bit but those become of limited value in the dark. And that's where the LED lights shine. I paired the camera with a fast 50mm f/1.8 lens to see through the night even better.

Let me get another technical detail out of the way right at the beginning. While I like the grain that film brings to the photography game I like it in measured doses. Based on my previous experience with this film, it came out of the developer rather thin when exposed at 3200. Setting my meter to 1600 and developing normally certainly worked much better for me. For this roll, I took things one step further. I exposed the roll at EI 800 (overexposed by 2 stops) and later developed for 1600 (1 stop pull) in Kodak XTOL. I'm quite happy with the results and will stick to this method in the future unless I absolutely need a higher ISO. However, it turns out 800 speed film and an f/1.8 lens are a great combo for night photography, whether black and white or color.

Rookies Sports Bar and Grill at DuskEast Aurora after Dark

Rookies Sports Bar and Grill at Dusk, Night Photography, East Aurora, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on Kodak T-Max P3200 Black and White Negative Film

Nights in the suburbs can be devoid of people even under normal circumstances but these photographs document September 2020, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. I never went after documenting that period directly but the emptiness definitely crept into some of my photographs, like here, and you can definitely spot other clues about the times.

Aurora Theatre Showing Fifty Shades of Grey SweatpantsEast Aurora after Dark

Aurora Theatre Showing Fifty Shades of Grey Sweatpants, Night Photography, East Aurora, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on Kodak T-Max P3200 Black and White Negative Film

The Head over Heels Women's Boutique across the street was just about perfect for a night photograph. I definitely enjoyed the brightly lit shop window.

Head over Heels Women's Boutique after DarkEast Aurora after Dark

Head over Heels Women's Boutique after Dark, Night Photography, East Aurora, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on Kodak T-Max P3200 Black and White Negative Film

And we're going to close today off with an East Aurora classic, the Vidler's store. It opened in 1930 during the early days of the Great Depression and despite the odds made it and is a staple on today's East Aurora's Main Street. The first photo captures the store at dusk before things turned dark. In the background, you can see "Vidler on the Roof", or the store's long-time president Edward W. Vidler, welcoming you to the store from its rooftop.

Vidler's 5 & 10 at DuskEast Aurora after Dark

Vidler's 5 & 10 at Dusk, Night Photography, East Aurora, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on Kodak T-Max P3200 Black and White Negative Film

And then the night settled in. I always enjoy the one-figure clock when walking along the Main Street. Alright, it is not a clock but a thermometer but I always go through these thoughts. Too bad there was no illumination in the actual clock in the background, that would have made the photo even better. I don't know if that was just a malfunction or if it is never illuminated and now that I realized it I may have a new reason to revisit the location.

Vidler's 5 - 10 & $ at NightEast Aurora after Dark

Vidler's 5 - 10 & $ at Night, Night Photography, East Aurora, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on Kodak T-Max P3200 Black and White Negative Film

So there you have it, this has been Part 1 of Nights around Buffalo. I hope you'll be back for parts 2, 3, and 4. Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

All posts in the Nights around Buffalo series: #1 Nights around Buffalo, East Aurora - to be continued

Nostalgic Hydraulic HearthCity nights Hamburg Palace ClassicCity nights Stormy over Buffalo Central TerminalWorld without Color.

Smena 8MA simple plastic Lomo camera

It's a very simple fully manual camera that requires no power as there is not meter or any other electronics. Both shutter speed and f-stop are set on the lens. The shutter is cocked with a dedicated lever also on the lens and is thus separated from film advance. While that may take some getting used to it's not really a problem. And if you forget and click the shutter release button? No problem, cock it and fire away again. It's also very simple to do multiple exposures if one so desires. Focus is accomplished by zone focusing. The real bonus? Given the simplicity the camera can deliver some surprisingly good quality and sharp photographs.

To complete the Lomo experience I loaded the camera with a Lomography Metropolis color negative film, which delivers photographs featuring a different color palette and pronounced grain. Colors are mostly muted and somewhat shifted towards the greens. I used that film before and was not much of a fan for natural landscapes but enjoyed the results from urban settings.

BUFFALOA scene from Canalside, Buffalo, New York.

BUFFALO, a scene from Canalside, Buffalo, New York.
Photographed with a Smena 8M 35mm camera on Lomography Metropolis color negative film

For the first photograph I struggled a bit as the space in front of the building is limited and the camera has a fixed 40mm lens. At first, I was reluctant to raise the camera up as I am not a fan of converging vertical lines in architecture but I eventually had to accept reality. Plus, it was a lo-fi kind of a day so why not? In the end, I am now very glad I did. I like both the version above as well as the Cyanotype print I made with it.

Next up was a walk over to the Naval Park to see how the ships would look with this lomo combo. In the end, I opted for an obvious angle I had photographed before. I think the colors of the film go well with the steel hulls.

USS Croaker and CompanyBuffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park

USS Croaker and Company, Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
Photographed with a Smena 8M 35mm camera on Lomography Metropolis color negative film

And finally, away from the Canalside and waterfront, the next photo is on Buffalo's Main Street with its signature Buffalo Metro Rail.

Train on MainThe NFTA Metro Rail train on Buffalo's Main Street

Train on Main, The NFTA Metro Rail train on Buffalo's Main Street
Photographed with a Smena 8M 35mm camera on Lomography Metropolis color negative film

Overall, this photographic outing revealed that this extremely simple plastic camera is perfectly capable and I will certainly be using it again. And I still like the Lomography Metropolis film for urban settings. I guess they picket the name (Metropolis) well.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Instagram @danielnovakphoto - Facebook @danielnovakphoto - flickr @masinka

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Vintage USS Little RockBuffalo, NY Erie Canal Harbor à la 70sBuffalo, NY Vintage USS CroakerBuffalo, NY Spring Morning at the MuseumBuffalo, NY Morning ReflectionBuffalo, NY

Rolleiflex Automat1940s Rolleiflex Automat

For photo number one we're headed to Broderick Park in Buffalo, NY and to the Bird Island Pier that starts there. It frequently suffers weather and winter damage, which is a shame, because it is a really unique and wonderful way to walk several miles literally in the middle of the mighty Niagara River. So far, it was always repaired in the end and I hope that continues, even though some of the recent damage has been slow to fix and the pier is cut short as a result.

Camera of choice on this day? A World War II time Rolleiflex Automat. It needed quite extensive repairs to be in its current shape but right now it's like clockwork. I loaded it with Fomapan 400, attached a yellow filter to the taking lens and headed out.

What you see in today's first cyanotype is the view one gets when reaching the unpassable damage area and turning around. It's the pier heading back to Unity Island and Broderick Park and the signature Peace Bridge between the United States and Canada.

Bird Island Pier CyanotypeBuffalo, NY

Bird Island Pier Cyanotype, Buffalo, NY, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured watercolor paper

Smena 8MSmena 8M 35mm Camera For cyanotype number two we're headed into the heart of the city. It's hard to believe Canalside really wasn't a thing until a few years ago. I did something different for this cyanotype. I normally select from one of my black and white photographs but for this one, I picked a photo captured on Lomography Metropolis color negative film. These cyanotypes are printed using a digital negative and even for this one I first converted the color photo into a monochrome.

However, I have heard of people printing their negatives in color and getting great results. Maybe I'll have to try that soon and compare with a monochrome one to see if there's a difference in practice. In theory, each color allows different levels of UV to pass through. That is similar with different density of black. Would the color negative result in more or less contrast?

Oh, and the camera of choice for this downtown Buffalo expedition? Smena 8M was the camera I started my (film) photography endeavors with back in the 1980s. Indeed, there was no discussion about film versus digital back then. Film was all there was and our family's film choice were black and white film stocks from Orwo. I don't remember why but my Dad was not a fan of Fomapan. He used to buy Orwo in bulk on our occasional trips to East Germany. I used that camera on several school trips and got alright results for the purpose they were supposed to serve. Some of them even saw the light of day as darkroom prints. Even now in 2022 I was rather pleasantly surprised about what one can get from a simple camera like this.

BUFFALOCanalside, Buffalo, NY

BUFFALO, Canalside, Buffalo, NY, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured watercolor paper, bleached and toned in green tea

Yes, a short post today, just two photographs. Come back soon and maybe there will be a new post with more to share. Do you like one of these two cyanotype prints or one from the past posts in this series? You can see them all in my Cyanotype Gallery and if you're interested, you can order one there too and get your own unique and original print. No two are the same. I coat the paper by hand and print of textured papers. As a result, they each have their own look and feel.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning - 7. Cyanotypes VII: More Toning - 8. Cyanotypes VIII: Toning Different Papers - 9. Cyanotypes IX: Horní Rozsíčky - 10. Cyanotypes X: From Black and White or Color

If you like cyanotypes you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

House of Memories, Cyanotype IIHorní Rozsíčka On the Way from School, CyanotypeHorní Rozsíčka U Vlachů, CyanotypeHorní Rozsíčka

Mamiya RB67

Whether it is digital posts on my website or social media, making inkjet prints, darkroom prints, zines, or cyanotypes, I feel like it is that phase that deserves a lot more attention. In the end, what is the purpose of capturing the world around us if the pictures cannot be seen again? To be fair, photo taking motivates me to spend more time outside in fresh air and under the sun so there's still that purpose for me. But is that enough?

So how long has it been? These photos are from summer 2020. It was only my second roll with a new to me Mamiya RB67 and as such I was mostly focused on learning to use it rather that having any high expectations. The camera is a beast, heavy as a tank, and requires a certain process to execute a photo session successfully. In many aspects, it is similar to large format work.

Yet, when I arrived on location my hopes of cooperating weather seemed to meet and exceed my expectations. The storm that was rolling through the area at sunset time was just clearing the western sky and moving overhead and over the city. While absolutely perfect that put a bit of a time pressure on me as I did not have time to waste.

Passing Storm over BuffaloDramatic Buffalo, New York

Passing Storm over Buffalo, Dramatic Buffalo, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya RB67 medium format camera on Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film

As you can see, it all worked out. I got my photo! The scene lasted for a few minutes before the sun dipped under the horizon at my back, which gave me a chance to point the camera in a few different directions.

Erie Basin Marina after StormBuffalo, NY

Erie Basin Marina after Storm, Buffalo, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya RB67 medium format camera on Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film

For the last photograph in this set, I decided to place the focus on the boats in the marina and use the city and the storm as a backdrop. I moved closer to one of the docks and the fence and framed the below photo. I really like how it all came together even now two years later. The clouds look like someone painted them in with a paint brush and their jagged edges fit the Dock D sign perfectly.

Dock D, Erie Basin MarinaBuffalo, NY

Dock D, Erie Basin Marina, Buffalo, NY
Photographed with a Mamiya RB67 medium format camera on Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film

I was really happy with the results and yet, this remains the last Tri-X I used. It's been almost two years and maybe it's time to get a roll or two ready for the next summer storm? We'll see.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Instagram @danielnovakphoto - Facebook @danielnovakphoto - flickr @masinka

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Different Types of ShipsBuffalo, NY Edward M Cotter's Solo ShowBuffalo, NY Sailboat and a CruiserBuffalo, NY

Sideview of Kleinhans Music HallBuffalo, NY Black & White SymmetryBuffalo, NY

After I visited the village of Horní Rozsíčka in 2019 after more than two decades and mentioned to my Mom that it felt like time stopped there she agreed and added that time had in fact stopped there back in the 1980s. I spent about an hour walking around with two cameras. I had Kodak Double-X loaded in my trusty Nikon FE and Kodak Ektar 100 in the plastic fantastic Nikon N75. I walked the main loop circling the village, I added the loop that went by the orchard, fields, and barn, and I also walked down the short hill towards a house called Pazderna. And of course, I idled a bit by the two houses where my grandparents lived.

The "new" one they lived in was hard to see. The whole house was overgrown by the surrounding vegetation reminding me of a Czech version of the Sleeping Beauty fairy-tale where the whole castle of the Rose Kingdom was overgrown by roses. The one across the street, the "old cottage" serving as a farm house, was also rather overgrown on three sides but at least the side facing the street was unobstructed. That became the focus on my photographic attention and later became the "House of Memories" darkroom print, a lith print, and a cyanotype.

In today's post I am sharing a new take on the "House of Memories" printing it from a different negative where I opened the shadows a bit more and chose the Shizen Design watercolor paper with its strong texture. The texture disrupts the photo in a way I really like, the recycled content of the paper further adds to its unpredictability, and finally, I also printed two versions. One straight blue cyanotype and one cyanotype toned in green tea.

House of Memories, Cyanotype IIHorní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic

House of Memories, Horní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured watercolor paper

The alternative version was printed the same way as the blue cyanotype above. However, once the print was done, I allowed it to dry and react to oxygen for about 24 hours. Then I fully bleached it and toned it in green tea. 

House of Memories, Tea Toned Cyanotype IIHorní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic

House of Memories, Horní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Tea Toned Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured watercolor paper, bleached and toned in green tea

I also remembered another path we used as kids. It was a dirt road shortcut to an old school house and then down to a sister village of Dolní Rozsíčka. Cherry trees lined a section of the path and were a favorite spot when the cherries were ripe. I only walked a short distance and back. On my way back, this wonderful view opened up.

On the Way from School, CyanotypeHorní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic

On the Way from School, Horní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured watercolor paper

Since this was a tea toning session, I also printed an extra to be bleached and toned in green tea. Compare the feel of that version below.

On the Way from School, Tea Toned CyanotypeHorní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic

On the Way from School, Horní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Tea Toned Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured watercolor paper, bleached and toned in green tea

And finally, the third pair of today's cyanotypes is from a corner that I must have walked and run countless times as a child. It led to couple of my friends, it led to the village pond where we climbed its fence and fished, it led to the village center with a small circle a mobile grocery bus would stop  at twice a week and people would form a line for their chance to do their shopping.

U Vlachů, CyanotypeHorní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic

U Vlachů, Horní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured watercolor paper

And of course, the second green tea toned version.

U Vlachů, Tea Toned CyanotypeHorní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic

U Vlachů, Horní Rozsíčka, Czech Republic, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Tea Toned Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured watercolor paper, bleached and toned in green tea

At some point, I want to do more with my photos from this tiny forgotten village where I spent many summers and weekends as a kid. I may even need to return once or twice more to gather additional material. Initially, I thought I'd hold all of these photos until such grand reveal but then decided to take it one step at a time and share what I have now. I hope you have enjoyed this cyanotype sequel and a brief glimpse into a place of my childhood.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning - 7. Cyanotypes VII: More Toning - 8. Cyanotypes VIII: Toning Different Papers - 9. Cyanotypes IX: Horní Rozsíčky

If you like cyanotypes you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

Chautauqua Belle SteamboatShizen Design Cyanotype Chautauqua Belle SteamboatTea Toned Cyanotype Chautauqua Belle SteamboatMeeden Cyanotype  

Karlštejn CastleCyanotype Karlštejn CastleCyanotype

Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using the Amazon search box in bottom left of this page for anything you want (commission earned) keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them and costs you nothing. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

So while few of you may be enjoying the hopefully last blast of winter 2021/22, I am taking advantage of this window to share a few more cold frames. On one hand, they are photographed with a medium format Mamiya 645 1000s camera providing increased quality over smaller formats but on the other, my film of choice was Foma Retropan 320, which has a pronounced grain. It makes for an interesting combination that I like, especially with the bright winter photos.

On top of the grain, there are also some dark spots visible in a few areas, which resemble the emulsion problems specific to Fomapan 200. Does or did Retropan 320 share those at least for a while? It would appear so.

Farmhouse in WinterOrchard Park, NY

Farmhouse in Winter, Orchard Park, NY - Winter in Western New York
Photographed with Mamiya 645 medium format camera on Foma Retropan 320 black and white film

For this photo op I did not head too far, only a couple miles south down some of my favorite country roads I love driving and riding on. In winter, the vehicle of choice definitely is a car but the rest of the year if can be either a motorcycle or a bicycle. No matter what the mode of transportation, I love watching the changes.

Triplets that Are No MoreOrchard Park, NY

Triplets that Are No More, Orchard Park, NY - Winter in Western New York
Photographed with Mamiya 645 medium format camera on Foma Retropan 320 black and white film

The photograph above is a bit of a sad story that I get to see all too often. The two structures on the left gave in to time and are no more. Many local barns are disappearing. It is always a great feeling when I run into a new one being built, even if those moments are in minority. Or maybe because of it?

Winter on a Country RoadOrchard Park, NY

Winter on a Country Road, Orchard Park, NY - Winter in Western New York
Photographed with Mamiya 645 medium format camera on Foma Retropan 320 black and white film

And for the last picture, I really liked how the utility poles framed the drive into nothingness, including the overhead cable zigzag.

Utility PolesOrchard Park, NY

Utility Poles, Orchard Park, NY - Winter in Western New York
Photographed with Mamiya 645 medium format camera on Foma Retropan 320 black and white film

I hope you did not mind this winter themed post too much and based on which turn the weather takes I may squeeze in one more. Who knows? Either way, I am sure spring truly is right around the corner and I will admit that while I enjoy a good winter I also look forward to warm weather at this point. Once we're past the warm weather teaser the white relapses do become a bit of a nuisance, don't they?

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using the Amazon search box in bottom left of this page for anything you need (commission earned) keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them and costs you nothing. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Hamburg Kingdom of IceWinter The Ice ClawWinter LongboardsWinter

Barn and Silos in WhiteWinter BrokenWinter Icy PierWinter

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Let's start with a straight Cyanotype of the Beautiful Chautauqua Belle on two of my favorite papers so far. The first is the Shizen Design textured surface cold press recycled watercolor paper. It has a very rough texture, accepts the emulsion coating very unevenly, and produces sharp images with high contrast that lack fine detail. I really like this paper and the vintage look it gives my photos.

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat CyanotypeShizen Design Watercolor Paper

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold press recycled watercolor paper

The second paper is the Meeden Textured Surface Cold Press Watercolor Paper. Overall lot more subtle than the first, with noticeable texture but regular and accepting the emulsion very evenly. Results are of lower contrast, lot more details are preserved but the images appear a little blurrier overall. It is really important to use heavy glass or weigh it down to insure the negative keeps as close of a contact with the paper as possible.

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat CyanotypeMeeden Watercolor Paper

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Meeden Textured Surface Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Now let's repeat the same sequence but bleach the blues and tone the prints in green tea. The properties of the Shizen Design paper remain the same and it shows another advantage for this process. The paper itself seems to resist staining very well. The tea toner attaches mostly to the previously coated and bleached areas and leaves the bare paper alone.

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat, Tea Toned CyanotypeShizen Design Watercolor Paper

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Tea Toned Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold press recycled watercolor paper, bleached, and toned in green tea

The Meeden Textured Paper is very different from this point of view. While its other Cyanotype properties also still hold true, green tea tones the previously coated, exposed, and bleached surfaces as well as a stains the paper itself, which is clearly visible in the last print included here today. The lower contrast and the stain work together to produce a different warm tone vintage look.

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat, Tea Toned CyanotypeMeeden Watercolor Paper

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Tea Toned Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Meeden Textured Surface Cold Press Watercolor Paper, bleached, and toned in green tea

Which paper do you like better? I'd love to hear from you. Please, feel free to use the comments function.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning - 7. Cyanotypes VII: More Toning - 8. Cyanotypes VIII: Toning Different Papers

If you like cyanotypes you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Karlštejn CastleCyanotype Karlštejn CastleTea Toned Cyanotype

Helfštýn ArchwayCyanotype Blueprint Helfštýn ArchwayBlack Tea Toned Cyanotype Helfštýn ArchwayRed Wine & White Tea Toned Cyanotype  

Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them.

This day, I felt like I woke up to a wonderland. All of the neighborhood trees had winter coats on and the ouside was calling me. It really was a simple decision. All I had to do was to put winter clothes on, add good boots, grab a camera, and head out. The edge of the woods in the first photograph is just minutes of walking and serves like a visual season meter. On this day, the dial was clearly showing winter.

Trees of the Winter WoodsWinter in Western New York

Trees of the Winter Woods, Winter in Western New York, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Nikon FE2 35mm camera on Agfa APX 400 black and white negative film

And into the woods I went next. I tend to take the same route every time, which is good and bad at the same time. The good part comes from knowing it well and having many favorite little things to notice along the way and watch them change with passing time. Take this stump as an example. I have photographed it in all seasons and for different reasons. Here, the puffy hat it was wearing was the trigger for another photo of it.

Buried StumpWinter in Western New York

Buried Stump, Winter in Western New York, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Nikon FE2 35mm camera on Agfa APX 400 black and white negative film

I like to shy away from signs of civilization in my photos but the snowed in boardwalk seemed to express what I was enjoying perfectly. A coat of fresh snow on the ground that no one has been through yet, trees wearing white, and I with a camera soaking it all in. Oh, and I love the fresh air that comes with winter. Somehow, the cold air is more intense and feels cleaner and very refreshing.

Boardwalk in SnowWestern New York Winter

Boardwalk in Snow, Western New York Winter, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Nikon FE2 35mm camera on Agfa APX 400 black and white negative film

Many people prefer warm weather and that is fine, to each their own. I think it's an acquired taste. One needs to head out often enough to find the magic and there is so much winter can offer photographically and in general. So next time you see everything coated in white, don't hesitate to leave the warmth of your home, put on some good winter clothes and head out.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Farmhouse in WinterWNY Winter Hay Bales in SnowWNY Winter Battle LostWNY Winter

Birdsong Gate in WinterWNY Winter Winter Creek at BirdsongWNY Winter Spooky Winter WetlandsWNY Winter

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I also stuck with the rough texture of the Shizen Design Cold Press Watercolor Paper. For me, there's something oddly satisfying in the rendering of that paper. Capturing the photos on film sent me down the retro path, then I printed them as cyanotypes, another step down that path, so why not add a paper with texture so rough that details almost disappear and it all becomes more about the overall form, shape, and the interaction of light and dark.

Helfštýn Castle Tower and WallsCyanotype

Helfštýn Castle Tower and Walls Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

For the first photo, we did not even leave Helfštýn, the castle we entered last time around. This time, the focus was on the castle walls and the watch tower in one of the corners. The lighting set up was quite different for this photo and I wanted to see how it would come out as a cyanotype. Dark clouds and a rainstorm rolled over and then sunshine lit the castle brightly up while the sky remained an ominous dark. Definitely a different look but I like how it worked out.

Despite the many recommendations I read not to use white tea but green instead, I am a white tea fan so far. Unlike what the internet says I find 4 tea bags per 500ml working perfectly fine, darks become dark enough, and white tea barely stains the paper. I also like the colder tones compared to the browns of green tea. For now, I will continue experimenting with both as I bought a monster pack of green tea bags too. For drinking, I prefer loose tea so green tea toned cyanotypes it is until the box runs out.

Helfštýn Castle Tower and WallsWhite Tea Toned Cyanotype

Helfštýn Castle Tower and Walls, White Tea Toned Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

And now it is time to leave Moravia and travel over to Bohemia not far from the capital of Prague. There's one of the most picturesque castles in the whole of Czech Republic and Europe for that matter too. It's name is Karlštějn and it overlooks a namesake village. It was named after one of the greatest Czech Kings, Karel IV (Charles IV), who was very successful and also became a Holy Roman Emperor. The Karlštejn Castle was founded in 1348

Karlštejn Castle Tower and Walls Cyanotype

Karlštejn Castle Tower and Walls Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

I was really happy with how this particular photograph turned out as a cyanotype. It fit the process and the rough paper texture very well and so far remains one of my most favorite cyanotype creations. It will be hard to top. Seeing how well it worked as a blueprint there was just one other thing to try. You guessed it. How would it look toned in white tea?

Karlštejn Castle Tower and WallsWhite Tea Toned Cyanotype

Karlštejn Castle Tower and Walls, White Tea Toned Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

That session proved to be another success. Which one do you like better? I'd love to hear from you. Please, feel free to use the comments function.

And a final thought before I sign out. A few posts back I wondered whether one could pre-treat a large batch of paper with the cyanotype chemicals and then use them as needed. Now the answer is shaping up for me. Yes, it can be done and it works fine as long as the paper is in a dark and dry place. But I would not recommend that. I like my results best when I use the treated paper within 48 hours. Otherwise, the chemicals turn yellowish and even processed cyanotypes then retain this yellow cast, which I do not like. A rinse in vinegar sometimes helps clear it out a little but it lingers. Bleaching for toning seems to take care of it so that can be one strategy if you leave your paper around too long.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning - 7. Cyanotypes VII: More Toning

If you like cyanotypes you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Helfštýn ArchwayCyanotype Blueprint Helfštýn ArchwayBlack Tea Toned Cyanotype Helfštýn ArchwayRed Wine & White Tea Toned Cyanotype

Old HouseCyanotype House of MemoriesCyanotype

Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them.

Instead of a single walk through a single neighborhood we're visiting three different food stands today. They're each very popular with the local community in their own way and each have their specialty. However, they are also stands that look great at night thanks to their bright lights or neons that make them very eye catching when the daylight runs out.

The idea started with a wonderful vintage ice cream stand in Orchard Park, New York. I drive by it almost every day and quite often even after dark. I figured I could include the popular local ice cream stands on a single roll of film of night photography. And of course, I had to start where the idea was born. I had to start by Custard Lite in Orchard Park, NY.

For this purpose, I loaded my Nikon FM2n with a roll of Cinestill 800T film. I like that specific camera for night photography because of its LED light meter that is very easy to see at night. On my other cameras, like the Nikon FE, I enjoy their analog match needle meters quite a bit but those become of limited value in the dark. And that's where the LED lights shine. I paired the camera with the original all metal pancake Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Custard Lite Corner at DuskNight Photography

Custard Lite Corner at Dusk, Night Photography, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on  Cinestill 800T Color Negative Film

This first establishing photograph has become a favorite of mine. I really enjoy leaving enough room in the frame for the utility poles and playing with their position in the frame. Most streets in the are run in a perpendicular pattern but here and their one is the oddball. And the end of the Ellicott Road is just such a road placing Custard Lite on a small triangular plot of land.

Since this was at night, there was a new opportunity though. There was an opportunity to show off the lights, to show off the vintage look of this stand. The 50mm lens worked well too and just allowed me to fill the frame with the building while staying within the safety of the lot. I was very happy I went for this frame filling photo and even happier when it showed up on my monitor screen. That's one of the quirks of film photography. It adds a dose of suspense as there is no LCD to quickly check to make sure the exposure and the focus were in order.

Custard Lite Lit UpNight Photography

Custard Lite Lit Up, Night Photography, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on  Cinestill 800T Color Negative Film

I enjoy photography very much but prefer to do so away from people. For me, getting some peace and quiet and time just for myself are part of it. As soon as people are around the experience changes for me and it is no longer so relaxing and enjoyable. Night photography has its pros and cons from this point of view. There are usually fewer people around and that opens up new locations to photography that would otherwise be full of people. However, the people that are around will be even more suspicious of someone walking around and taking pictures at night. A lot of people just can't understand why I would take a photo of a building at night without any bad intentions. And if you run into a paranoid person that had one too many drinks the situation can get quite ugly.

Taffy's after DarkNight Photography

Taffy's after Dark, Night Photography, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on  Cinestill 800T Color Negative Film

The second location is on the other side of Orchard Park. Whereas Custard Lite's specialty is ice cream, Taffy's is a popular open-air location for summer lunches and for milkshakes. And while their food selection is what one would expect their milkshake selection is wild. I don't remember the total but it must be over 100. Are you adventurous? Try to get each at least once! I will admit, I usually stick to a few of my favorites, and often go with the good old boring choice of strawberry banana.

For the final photo we're heading back across Orchard Park and all the way to Hamburg. And we will end with the same treat we started with, ice cream. Nick Charlap's ice cream stand stays open longer into the night than the other two and people stream in all the way through the closing time. And since I don't want people in my photographs, it can become quite the exercise in patience. To get this photograph, I actually had to return back twice. But it was worth it!

Nick Charlap's Open at NightNight Photography

Nick Charlap's Open at Night, Night Photography, Hamburg, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FM2n on  Cinestill 800T Color Negative Film

That's it for today. I hope you've enjoyed this change of pace and the night time photographs.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Night at a Grain ElevatorNight Photography Buffalo, New YorkNight Photography Bus 'round the CornerNight Photography

Peace Bridge Blues at NightNight Photography USS Little Rock at DaybreakNight Photography

Commission HouseBeaver Island State Park, Grand Island, New York

Commission House, Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island, New York

It was very cold, air freezing my nose, and snow beautifully cracking under my boots. There was also a lot of mist over the Niagara River creating a nice mysterious mood and simplifying my backdrops. It's sometimes tough to convince myself to go out in these conditions but I always enjoy it once out there.

Tree on the River BanksBeaver Island State Park, Grand Island, New York.

Tree on the River Banks, Beaver Island State Park,  Grand Island, New York

Hope you all have a wonderful day whether you choose to brave the low and still dropping temperatues or watch the white world from the comfort of your home, maybe sitting by a fireplace and sipping hot beverage of your choice.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Did you enjoy this Western New York post and the enclosed photographs? Visit the Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes gallery for more local landscapes. If you are a fan of the snowy white season, I have a Winter collection dedicated to that season for you. Please, let me know if you have any questions about photo products offered, or not offered. Looking for a present? I offer ready to hang solutions like canvas gallery wraps, prints on metal, and matted and framed ready to hang photographs. You can see the photo and product offering on the Products page.

Would you like to see my photographs printed, matted, and framed? Visit Picture Your Walls in Hamburg, NY (184 Buffalo St, Hamburg, NY 14075).

Active Volcano on Lake ErieWinter Frosty Horseshoe FallsWinter

Season's Greetings from Buffalo Main LightWinter Kiss of Light on Buffalo Main LightWinter Frozen & Wind-Swept by CargillWinter

SaveSaveSave

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This was my first venture into altering the final results of my cyanotypes. In concept, it is a very simple process, however, it adds quite a bit of time until one gets to the finish line. First step is to print a normal blue-looking cyanotype and let it fully dry and cure by being exposed to oxygen. It seems like the general recommendation is about 24 hours. At this point, you may have something like the below print.

Helfštýn Courtyard CyanotypeThe Original Blue

Helfštýn Courtyard Cyanotype - The Original Blue, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

After 24 hours, the print is ready to go through the next two or more toning phases. First, the print needs to be bleached and I followed the recommendation of using washing soda (not baking soda), approximately one tea spoon per liter. In my case, I estimated half a tea spoon and only mixed 500ml.

The length of bleaching depends on one's desired results. The highlights and then mid-tones start bleaching first and very quickly, in about 15 seconds. Then the apparent speed goes down and full bleaching my take 2 to 3 minutes depending on the print, the paper, the bleach concentration, the temperature, and probably the weather outside (joking). I do the bleaching step in a darkroom tray while constantly agitating the bleach by rocking the tray back and forth.

Removing the print after about 10 - 30 seconds results in a partially bleached print with the shadows keeping some of their blues. You can see a sample of that stage below. This remaining blue will combine with our toner in a successive step. Based on how long the bleach worked on the shadows their color may also change and they may appear black, gray, cyan, or even have a greenish tone.

Helfštýn Courtyard CyanotypePartially Bleached

Helfštýn Courtyard Cyanotype - Partially Bleached, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

Continued bleaching will start removing even the mid-tones and shadow areas and the look will depend a lot on the paper. Smooth papers bleach differently than textured papers. In this case of the rough texture of the Shizen Design Watercolor Paper, the dark areas turn yellow and "never" really disappear, at least not within a few minutes. For full bleaching, I wait for all other colors do disappear and only faint yellows and whites remaining.

After bleaching, whether partial or full, the print needs to go back into a water wash to get the bleach out. I have seen wildly differing recommendations but based on my testing so far, 4 minutes of flowing water in a print washing tray does the trick. However, ask me in 100 years to confirm whether those 4 minutes provide archival washing quality.

Once washed, the print goes into a toner of your choice. In today's example, I used the partially bleached print from the above step and toned it in black tea, 4 tea bags per 500ml. Temperature does matter and going with room temperature is generally recommended. Higher temperatures will result in faster toning but will also cause general paper staining, front and back.

Helfštýn Courtyard CyanotypeToned in Black Tea

Helfštýn Courtyard Cyanotype - Toned in Black Tea, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

You can see the remaining unbleached areas in the above print. You can increase their presence by bleaching less or decrease by bleaching more, all the way to removing them completely.

Alright, that's it for black tea. But how about other toners? How about green tea? Or white tea? Or something more adventurous like red wine? Let's take a look. First, I printed a whole bunch of cyanotypes from the same negative so that I could keep some in blue and experiment with the rest.

Helfštýn Archway CyanotypeCyanotype in Blue

Helfštýn Archway Cyanotype - In Blue, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

I really liked the blue look. I am definitely nowhere close to getting tired of these blue beauties. As a result, it was quite hard to keep only couple and proceed through the next stages with the rest. During this session, I decided to stick with the partial bleaching process. If you'd like to see what one can get with fully bleached prints, you'll need to return to my blog in a week or two, I hope to have that post up by then.

Helfštýn Archway CyanotypeToned in Black Tea

Helfštýn Archway Cyanotype Toned in Black Tea, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

The theory has it that as far as teas go black tea tones the most and the closest to black tones. It results in rich blacks. It also stains the paper on both sides. At first, I did not like the staining much and was excited about trying other teas but at this point, I will admit I am more and more partial to going back to black tea. The charcoal look appeals to me more and more and I am over my initial problem with the slight general staining. It can also be somewhat controlled by keeping the toner at room temperature or at least between 20ºC to 30ºC. Hotter liquid will stain more. I also found that at this temperature and with this paper, 15 minutes provides a good balance between effective toning and limited staining. Leaving the print in black tea for significantly longer results in limited toning improvement but significant staining all over.

Next planned experiment was with cheap red wine at about $6 for 1 liter. I was not sure what to expect but wanted to try something other than tea. I also intentiopnally stayed away from coffee for now. I use coffee and Caffenol for another project and wanted to try my hand in other materials first.

Helfštýn Archway CyanotypeToned in Red Wine & White Tea

Helfštýn Archway Cyanotype Toned in Red Wine and White Tea, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

After 15 minutes in red wine, the toning was very faint and I did not yet have the experience that would prompt me to either raise the temperature or let the print sit in the wine for longer to see what would happen. I still have not tried that and it is coming soon. On this day, I decided to pull the partially toned print out, wash it, and then tone in white tea. Why white? I was afraid black tea would overpower the faint wine toning results and I did not have cheap green tea on hand. I did not want to "waste" fancy loose tea for these experiments. However, I had some cheap white tea handy that I normally use for my kombucha. I used the same strength of 4 tea bags in 500ml of water and went for it. I read that white tea was not good for toning but I figured I could try and hoped that in combination with red wine it would be enough, And it worked really nicely and I am sure this was not the last time I tried this combo.

Future plans? I am working on a project that will require me to print traditional cyanotypes as well as cyanotypes toned in green tea. I need to try red wine again on its own and be more patient. I am also more and more curious about coffee. And there are quite a few herbs that can also be used. I really liked prints toned in marjoram I saw soemwhere on the web.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning

If you like cyanotypes you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

House of MemoriesCyanotype Helfštýn Castle PalaceCyanotype Highland Hay BalesCyanotype

Hopping Down the StepsRose River Falls Trail

Hopping Down the Steps, Rose River Falls Trail, Shenandoah National Park

Looking at these two photos induced a bit of nostalgia and I went back to photo archives and realized how long it has been since our last trip to Shenandoah National Park. Wow, two back to back trips in 2013 and 2014 and not since then.

Waterfall ZigzagRose River Falls Trail

Waterfall Zigzag, Rose River Falls Trail, Shenandoah National Park

I hope this brought a dose of warmth to this cold day and maybe even a smile.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Previously from Shenandoah: Trouble with Color - The Details or the Wide and Grand? - The Skyline Drive View in Autumn - The Lonely Tree - Dark Hollow Falls - Cozy at Shenandoah - Skyline Drive of Shenandoah - Shenandoah Sunset - Different Look of Shenandoah at Big Meadow - Shenandoah is Waking Up - On Skyline Drive - Colorful Flashback - Luray Caverns - Luray Valley Museum - Fox Hollow Trail - The Treasures of Shenandoah - Distant Sunset Views - Hiking - Rose River Falls Trail - Still on the Rose River Falls Trail - More Waterfall Wonders along the Rose River Falls Trail - Continuing our hike along the Rose River Falls trail - Shenandoah: The Unfinished Hike

Did you enjoy this post and the enclosed photographs? Visit the Landscapes Faraway gallery for natural landscape beyond Western New York to see more. If you are a fan of nature's fall colors, I have an Autumn gallery dedicated to that season for you. Please, let me know if you have any questions about photo products offered, or not offered. Looking for a present? I offer ready to hang solutions like canvas gallery wraps, prints on metal, and matted and framed ready to hang photographs. You can see the photo and product offering on the Products page.

Would you like to see my photographs printed, matted, and framed? Visit Picture Your Walls in Hamburg, NY (184 Buffalo St, Hamburg, NY 14075).

Lower Emery Falls in the FallAutumn Eternal Flame FallsAutumn South Emery Falls in the FallAutumn

Water Veils in the FallAutumn Fall At Watkins GlenAutumn

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Twelve Months Twenty Photos 2021Black and White

As a result we're starting this grid on the home front with winter scenes from Orchard Park and East Aurora. Everything was beautifully covered in snow. The sky was almost permanently not so beautifully gray. Nature looked black and white to me and that drove my choice to stick with black and white film during those months. I'll see what 2022 brings but so far we are lacking the white cover, everything seems to be gray, and my bias towards black and white holds. But who knows. If we get some nice sunny days with blue sky it might be cool to go for color contrast. Stop by in a year and we'll see.

Then came the road trip to Arkansas with a repeat stop at Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis, MO. It provided a nice driving break, an opportunity to stretch our legs, and had plenty to offer photographically too. Then a short drive along the wonderful Route 66 that we like to seek anytime we get close enough, and finally Arkansas. We visited the charming little town of Eureka Springs several times, hiked several areas of the Hobbs State Park, and went for a longer 1-day trip to explore the Buffalo National River area.

Next up was a summer trip to the Czech Republic with a mix of hiking and castle chasing. Some of the places we enjoyed that made it to the 2021 collage are Rymice, Radhošť, Milotice, Holešov, Helfštýn, Karlštejn, definitely a dirt road, and Praha (Prague). 

And finally, the selection is closed by a home front sample from the long-term large format Niagara River Project photographing locations along the river with a 4x5 camera on Foma film developed in Caffenol. It was a big year for Caffenol. After some experimentation I settled on developing Fomapan 100 and 400 in Caffenol Delta and was able to get consistent results very much to my liking. The project is far from over and I will stick with the chosen constraints into 2022.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Twelve Months, Twenty Photos 2019A cut through 2019. All photos captured on film. Twelve Months Twenty Photos2018

Twelve Months, Twenty Photos 2017A 2017 year-end collage of natural landscapes and cityscapes from around Buffalo, NY. Twelve months, twenty photos

Twelve Months Twenty Photos 2021 - ColorTwelve Months Twenty Photos 2021 - Color

What's in the grid? It starts with the road trip to Arkansas. Along the way, we had an opportunity to drive Route 66 again and that's something we do not turn down. Then Table Rock Lake with it's many boat marinas and a sometimes even rental offices on the water. Further south, Beaver Lake and Hobbs State Park offered many hiking trails and natural and historic sites for the camera. The Van Winkle Historic Site at the edge of the Beaver Lake seemed like a paradise. The trail was short thus there was not much hiking to do but the natural beauty was intense there with the West Fork Little  Clifty Creek flowing into Beaver Lake. Next a trip to Buffalo National River, established in 1972 as America's first National River. Being just a 1-day trip this was more of a scouting expedition for a future trip than a thorough exploration. Still, we managed two hikes and saw that the river as well as the surrounding area are true natural wonders well worth their protected status. All along we had an opportunity to stop at and explore the wonderful small towns of Arkansas. Eureka Springs was definitely a gem.

In my photography I usually stay away from photographic gimmicks but once in a while they provide a nice change of pace. In 2020, I had an opportunity to photograph a roll of Adox Color Implosion film, which definitely yielded unique photos. I also tried cross-processing E-6 slide film in C-41. It was also the year of Lomochrome Metropolis. In 2021, I continued to play with Metropolis but have to admit I struggled finding suitable opportunities for that film. I also tried Lomochrome Purple for the first time. It's definitely an in-your-face type of an effect with no subtlety but I rather liked it. Not a film I'd use all the time but I liked that it provided a change of pace as well as gave old subjects new looks. I spent time with it in nature and next up are cityscapes.

Next up the beautiful little country of the Czech Republic. For the longest time the country had no official abbreviation. Now, for couple years, Czechia has been an approved one but I really don't like it and am sticking to the full name. We hiked in the Beskydy Mountains and their Radhošť Peak. We explored more medieval castles including Helfštýn, Karlštejn, and Konopiště. And we visited several historic cities including Kroměříž, Holešov, and Praha (Prague). While this was between Covid waves its impact was quite stark. The touristy places lacked tourists. They were not empty but significantly below the normal levels. And we had some areas just to ourselves. While that was great for us to explore it definitely placed small businesses relying on tourism under stress.

As every year, I also made sure to photographically explore and document the home front. And I took it even closer to home this time and while still venturing to Buffalo, NY quite a bit I photographed Orchard Park, NY even more. I also gave in to GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) in the second half of the year after a long break and could not resist the pricing of Minolta cameras on Facebook Marketplace. For $30 one could get a great camera with a lens. And that range held for both the old manual line up as well as the newer auto-focus cameras. The good news? The cameras and lenses needed testing and the home front was the best place to do that!

I used to do a combined collage of color and black and white photographs. For 2021, I decided to change things up and create one of each. You've seen the color one today and the black and white one is coming soon!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Twelve Months, Twenty Photos 2019A cut through 2019. All photos captured on film. Twelve Months Twenty Photos2018

Twelve Months, Twenty Photos 2017A 2017 year-end collage of natural landscapes and cityscapes from around Buffalo, NY. Twelve months, twenty photos

Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them.

To add to the moody light I was out with a roll of old Agfa APX 400 black and white film. It's common to rate older film stocks at lower speed to insure they get enough exposure. On this occasion though, I went in the opposite direction and pushed the film to EI 800. I developed the roll in Caffenol Delta and added time for a 1-stop push but the negative came our very thin. That ended up exaggerating the contrast and grain during scanning.

Moody United MaterialsOrchard Park, NY

Moody United Materials, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Zorki 4 35mm camera on Agfa APX 400 black and white negative film

What caused the thin negatives? Hard to tell. It could have been the older film as mentioned above, it could be that this emulsion does not respond well to Caffenol Delta or extra development time in it, or it could be my mistake when mixing the Caffenol developer and starting with coffee instead of ending with it. The whole mixture was very foamy!

Moody United Materials OfficeOrchard Park, NY

Moody United Materials Office, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Zorki 4 35mm camera on Agfa APX 400 black and white negative film

After spending some time with my favorite plant in Orchard Park, NY, I pointed the camera to the skies. The tops of two utility poles caught my attention. It was not the first time that happened. There is something captivating in the criss cross of wires we all depend on so much.

Power in all DirectionsOrchard Park, NY

Power in all Directions, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Some cities and states have begun renewed electrification push in order to lower and maybe one day discontinue the use of fossil fuels for heating, cooking, and lighting. There are so many questions going through my head. How will the electricity be made? Coal-fired plants would certainly not serve this purpose, would they? But more pointedly to these poles, is the grid ready for the accelerated use of additional electricity? The power plants claim so but I have my doubts living the regular power outages every time the wind picks up.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Swannie HouseBuffalo, NY Freezer QueenBuffalo, NY Loading a Truck at Standard Grain ElevatorBuffalo, NY

Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them.

So what was the next thing to learn? As you can see in the first photograph below, I have been getting very dark mid-tones resulting in a compressed tone curve with mostly dark tones and then usually blown highlights.

Milotice Chateaux CyanotypeOriginal Tone Curve

Milotice Chateaux Cyanotype - Original Tone Curve, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

To fight back, I had tried to select mostly bright photographs that seemed to work much better, as in the Helfštýn print below. However, I did not want to be at the mercy of the process and wanted to be able to print any of my black and white photographs.

Helfštýn Castle Palace GateOriginal Tone Curve with a Brighter Print
Helfštýn Castle Palace Gate - Original Tone Curve with a Brighter Print, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

Since I am printing inkjet negatives for my Cyanotypes, I decided to address the problem by adjusting the tone curve of the original print. Aparently, what looked great on screen or in an inkjet print did not look its best as a Cyanotype. I fired up Gimp and created the below swatch of tones. I started at an RGB value of 0 for all colors and added squares of increasing brightness all the way through 250 for each color. At the end, I had room left for a few more squares so I also added 215, 225, 235, and 245 just in case the fine details mattered but that did not end up being the case. Then I printed my negative as usual and created a Cyanotype.

A Cyanotype Test Tone SwatchOriginal Tone Curve

A Cyanotype Test Tone Swatch - Original Tone Curve
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

As you can see above, the results confirmed what I saw in my prints. There was pretty much no tonal difference between 0 and 90, then a nice range between 100 and 200, and then cut, max brightness reached. I did a bit of Internet searching and found that some take this to an exact science where the print can be scanned and run through software to generate as accurate of a curve as possible. I chose to wing it and leave more to the chance. I actually liked the deep tones of my prints and did not want to open the shadows to a point of the prints looking like a regular black and white print, just in blue.

Looking at the swatch I decided that my current value of 50 really should be at 100 and pushed the curve up accordingly. I also lowered the peak from 255 to 230. I don't claim these adjustments make it perfect neither do I know whether I am settled on these values with finality but it was certainly a step in the right direction, at least to my taste. Take a look below.

A Cyanotype Test Tone SwatchOptimized Tone Curve

A Cyanotype Test Tone Swatch - Optimized Tone Curve
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

I liked I got a much nicer gradation even if there was still a bit of compression left in the darkest and brightest tones. So what was left? It had to be tested, right? I made the same tone curve adjustments to the original Milotice photograph and reprinted a new negative and a Cyanotype. You can see the result below.

Milotice Chateaux CyanotypeOptimized Tone Curve

Milotice Chateaux Cyanotype - Optimized Tone Curve, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Shizen Design textured surface cold pressed recycled watercolor paper

And to close things off for today's post? Let's put the two side by side.

Milotice Chateaux CyanotypeOriginal Tone Curve Milotice Chateaux CyanotypeOptimized Tone Curve

If you decide to try Cyanotypes I hope this quick overview will help you out. If you have any questions about this process, don't hesitate to ask, I'd be happy to help. And if you like one of mine and decide to buy it, that would be great too and I'd enjoy shipping it your way very mcuh.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve

If you like cyanotypes you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Buffalo, NYCyanotype Edward M Cotter's Solo ShowCyanotype Old HouseCyanotype

Minolta XG-7 and Manual Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them.

The reason for this walk and for going through a whole roll of film was a new camera test. After couple years of holding back and not adding to my film camera collection I have had a few momentary lapses of reason in 2021 and entered the world of Minolta cameras. It was hard not to as many can be had under $20 - $30 with a lens. The one that started it was a Minolta XG-7. Nothing too special about this particular model, it just happened to be available couple miles from where I live, came with a 45mm f/2 Rokkor.X lens, and even a bag!

I loaded the camera with a Kodak Max 400 expired over 10 years ago. I was not sure whether testing a "new" camera with an expired film was the best choice but I had good luck with this specific batch before so I figured why not. The camera's shutter speeds sounded ok and everything seemed to work but one never really knows until a test roll goes through. I did make one slight adjustment and set the camera's ISO dial to 200 instead of 400. And since I still have couple more rolls I'll go with 100 next time.

But enough of the technical mumbo-jumbo, let's take the walk, starting at Terry Young's Auto Plaza heading south. It's a little counter-intuitive as south is up the hill from this spot and and south is supposed to be down (on the map), right?

Terry Young's Auto PlazaUnited States Postal Service Trucks awaiting repair at Terry Youngs in Orchard Park, NY.

Terry Young's Auto Plaza, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Just across the street is a gas station that has recently changed hands and went from Noco to Speedway. However, Charlie the Butcher's Express stayed and even has a nice bright sign now.

Charlie the Butcher's at SpeedwayCharlie the Butcher's Express at the Speedway Gas Station (used to be Noco until recently) in Orchard Park, NY.

Charlie the Butcher's at Speedway, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

The village of Orchard Park struggles to keep small businesses open and to have enough to attract a walking crowd. There are some businesses but the wrong type to get general public in there. I feel there are not enough cafés, bakeries, restaurants, and other small shops to make it worth parking a car and strolling along. That is one big and not so positive difference compared to nearby East Aurora, and Hamburg. I have heard that rents are too high and there may be other reasons too. Unfortunately, this is just another example when a recently opened small business, Kaylena Marie's Bakery, closed down its doors in he village and moved furthter out beyond the walking reach.

Empty Kaylena Marie'sIt was great to have a small artisan bakery right in the village of Orchard Park, NY but it moved out.

Empty Kaylena Marie's, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Judith Krantz Salon & BoutiqueJudith Krantz Salon & Boutique in Orchard Park, NY

Judith Krantz Salon & Boutique, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Mangia Ristorante has taken over one of the four corners and has been steadily expanding over the last few years. Each summer they have a beuautiful flower garden in front, which definitely cheers things up.

Mangia FlowersThe always beautiful flower garden in front of Mangia Ristorante in Orchard Park, NY

Mangia Flowers, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

I love vintage items, including old gas pumps. We even travel to Route 66 to get the does of nostalgia that comes with a more old-fashioned travel. But I was unaware of this gem right here in Orchard Park until very recently. Doesn't this analog dial of a vintage Mobilegas pump look awasome even if it's now located at a Kwik Fill gas station? I am glad they kept it!

Vintage Mobilegas PumpVintage Mobilegas gas pump at the Kwik Fill gas station in Orchard Park, NY

Vintage Mobilegas Pump, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Now we are starting to talk real vintage. And having mentioned how small businesses struggle in Orchard Park, here's an example of one that has lasted for a while. The Anthony Brown Pharmacy opened all the way back in 1880! And with so many Rite Aid, Walgreens, and CVS locations around, I don't think pharmacies have it easy.

Anthony Brown Rx PharmacyA unique family owned pharmacy in Orchard Park, NY

Anthony Brown Rx Pharmacy, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

As I was scanning the photos from this roll of film, all looked well so far. But with the next photo I saw the first signs of troubles. See that faint vertical stripe all the way from top down crossing through the "THO" letters in Anthony? I've seen that before and it usually means the camera needs cleaning and lubrication to insure the shutter curtain moves smoothly and evenly across the whole frame. Here, the opening hesitated a bit and created a ore exposed stripe. Call me strange, but I actually like that imperfection in this photo.

Anthony Brown Rx PharmacyA unique family owned pharmacy in Orchard Park, NY

Anthony Brown Rx Pharmacy, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

The next photo is of private residence that I usually shy away from taking pictures of. I do not want to spook anyone and neither do I want to trigger a confrontation if challenged. But once in a while, I feel like it has to be done. And this unique house is one of those situations. There's none other in the village that I know of and I really like it. I call it the Castle House. Unfortunately, it's in a bit of disrepair at the moment and I hope it can make it.

Old Castle HouseA small unique house in the village of Orchard Park, NY

Old Castle House, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Yes, it's a public library in the next photo. In this digital age of do everything from your couch they are often overlooked and I have run into young people that do not even know public libraries exist. Yet, in my opinion, they remain very relevant. They provide "free" access to an almost unlimited library of books. And since the whole county is interconnected you can order material from any library in the system and pick it up in your local library. Isn't that convenient? And it's not just books. You can get music CDs and movies on DVDs and Blueray too!

And guess what! The libraries are also going with the times and if you have a library card you also have access to free e-books and even audio books right from your couch after all. With the price of audio books, who would not enjoy free? So head out, check out your local library, and their website too to see what's available to you.

Orchard Park Public LibraryMaybe old-fashioned but still a great source of books, music, and movies.

Orchard Park Public Library, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Next we're stopping by one of my all time most favorite locations in Orchard Park, the historic train depot. It has recently undergone a renovation and looks better than ever, as you can see with the beautiful new platform. What could be better? Well, a steam locomotive rolling in and stopping next to it certainly would not hurt.

Orchard Park Train DepotThe Historic Orchard Park Train Depot, Orchard Park, NY

Orchard Park Train Depot
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Just a few steps down the tracks is a bridge I have also photographed quite a bit. In the past, I enjoyed its old rusty look but I have to admit this new black paint is not too shabby either. And while you cannot see that here, it certainly looks much better from the street level below.

Railroad Bridge at the Train DepotThe recently painted railroad bridge over South Buffalo Street in Orchard Park, NY.

Railroad Bridge at the Train Depot, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

If you visit my website regularly, you must be familiar with Green Lake, or Yates Park. However, I usually focus on the natural part of it trying to hide the signs of civilization. On this occasion I did the opposite and went for the park's sign throwing the lake itself into the background. Yes, this is what you will see right from South Buffalo Road.

Yates Park at Green LakeThe Yates Park and Green Lake wooden sign by the South Buffalo Street in Orchard Park, NY

Yates Park at Green Lake, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

The future of the Custard Lite ice cream stand is uncertain after it being in business for decades. While the business itself may go on the building's years may be counted, we will see. I have always photographed it and even more so recently while it is still here. And yes, that shutter problem creeped right back in here. The curtain's travel was even more choppy here as it created couple hard edges. Yet again, I like what it did for this photo of a vintage ice cream stand. I actually excluded couple photos from this walk where the shutter problems were really severe. Needless to say, this test roll resulted in me liking the camera but needing to send it out for a CLA (Clean, Lube, and Adjust). I am hoping that it will be back in several weeks working like new.

Custard Lite Ice Cream StandA favorite local ice cream stand in Orchard Park, NY

Custard Lite Ice Cream Stand, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

We're now nearing the end of this day's walk and are stepping into the jungles of Orchard Park. I am very grateful for some of the nature trails available here, whether it is this wetlands area or the Chestnut Ridge park no too far. And anytime I walk or run along this trail I always look forward to this section. There's something different about it than the rest of the trail and I admit, I refer to it as the jungle section.

Wetlands JungleThere's a wonderful trail through the local wetlands in Orchard Park, NY.

Wetlands Jungle, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

The wetlands also feature three ponds. They're actually part of the flood control system but make the wetlands look even better. And they provide nice progress markers especially for runners. We have creative names for them all: first pond, second pond, and third pond. Here, you're looking at wildflowers by the third pond.

Wetlands Pond WildflowersWildflowers Just off the wetlands trail, Orchard Park, NY.

Wetlands Pond Wildflowers, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a 35mm Minolta XG-7 on Expired Kodak Max 400 Color Negative Film

Alright, that's it for today's visit to Orchard Park, NY.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

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Well, it turned out I could not be more wrong. There was a lot of debris held away from the dam by some type of a boom, like what they use on Lake Erie to keep ice away from Niagara River, and my initial impression was the dam was pretty much empty with just a puddle by the dam itself. The first clue something was off was the water bursting with force from the outlets below the dam. The second clue was my wife giving me a strange look and questioning my assessment. Maybe she remembered our past visits better or maybe she saw through the debris quicker or both.

Either way, the park kept me acutely aware of my mistake through the rest of that day's visit. No matter where we went the river was swelling like I could not remember ever before. And my initial statement became the running joke of the day - "not enough water".

My photos from this visit are still on undeveloped film in the basement waiting their turn. Instead, these are the 2020 photos when there truly was very little water. And having looked through all of them I now find my mistake even more funny, actually quite ridiculous.

Big Bend in the FallLetchworth State Park

Big Bend in the Fall, Letchworth State Park, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 1000s on Kodak Ektachrome E100 slide film and developed in E-6

The Big Bend area is breathtaking in any season and any time of day. Many moons ago, arriving here for a sunrise used to be not only a wonderful experience and a photo adventure but also an opportunity for solitude and a quiet contemplation. That has changed though and it's rare to have the location to yourself. There will usually be one or two other photographers. There's nothing wrong with that but it does change the experience.

This day it was not the sunrise though that drew us to Letchworth, we came to enjoy the colorful show. And having arrived through the Castile entrance this was also our welcoming view. Looking into the zigzagging valley down below I always like to catch a glimpse of the Genesee River to complete the view. Somehow, the scene feels incomplete without it.

Tea Table Cliffs in the FallLetchworth State Park

Tea Table Cliffs in the Fall, Letchworth State Park, New York State
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 1000s on Kodak Ektachrome E100 slide film and developed in E-6

Almost all Letchworth's viewpoints are beautiful and Tea Table is no exception. As a side note, it's also being renovated and all of the old crumbling stone and concrete tables are getting fixed up with the stonework repaired and new concrete slabs for tabletops. Once finished it will be a top notch picnic spot. So bring your lunch or snack and a thermos filled with hot tea and come enjoy the Tea Table area. The views you'll have are hard to rival.

Tea Table Gap in the FallLetchworth State Park

Tea Table Gap in the Fall, Letchworth State Park
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 1000s on Kodak Ektachrome E100 slide film and developed in E-6

You can enjoy the views of the near cliffs to the side, there are often turkey vultures or other birds to keep an eye on, and you can also look across and into the valley as the river winds through. As a photographer, bring along different focal lengths. This spot and the whole park has plenty for each of them.

Hog's Back in the FallLetchworth State Park

Hog's Back in the Fall, Letchworth State Park
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 1000s on Kodak Ektachrome E100 slide film and developed in E-6

We definitely frequent the south section of the park more and usually start at the Castile entrance and wind our way down. As such, it was a nice change of pace to travel north and explore the less familiar views. I have to admit, I could not even reliably remember the sequence of the viewpoints. I hope that's not a sign of deteriorating memory but rather a hint I should visit more often.

As you head north the river mostly straightens up and the number dramatic views disappear. Don't forget to stop at Hog's back though where the river makes a final zigzag. And it was at this stop where I realized how silly my opening comment about low water level was. Above, you are looking at the 2020 view with the river cutting just a very narrow path through the flood plain with the rest of it covered in vegetation. The 2021 view was much different. Genesee River was side to side, cliff to cliff, completely filling the whole valley floor. I can't wait to develop that film and put the photos side by side for a stark comparison.

Hog's Back Plain in the Fall, Letchworth State ParkLetchworth State Park

Hog's Back Plain in the Fall, Letchworth State Park.
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 1000s on Kodak Ektachrome E100 slide film and developed in E-6

As a bit of contradiction to one of my statements above I took advantage of the dry situation here and found framing that eliminated all of the water from my view. The river is still there if you know where to look but  no water is directly visible. Wow, how different a view of the same spot can be!

I hope you enjoyed the brief excursion to one of the best State Parks in New York. If this preview encourages you to come, you will not regret. It's a carry in and carry out park so please, remember to leave only footprints and take only photographs

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

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Then it all mostly recovered though. Some rain, some more colder weather, and we got colors after all. Maybe not as bold as in some of the past years but beautiful to look at anyway. And I will admit, despite being a big fan of black and white photography, I do take a bit of a break from it in the fall and think color. It is hard not to as it is all around. It is also the last opportunity for a while. It's the opposite of "the silence before the storm". This is the storm before the silence. Once the last leaf falls we dive into the Season of Gray that can feel endless. At least here in Western New York it will be 6 months before we see the cheery greens and yellows of spring.

I may not enjoy getting up early but I do enjoy arriving at my chosen destination before sunrise and more importantly before other people. Having a beautiful slice of our world just to myself feels great and provides a great counterbalance to the hustle and bustle of our lives. And if it is still so dark that pulling out a camera is pointless it encourages quiet contemplation.

Knox Farm DawnMorning Glow

Glow of a cloudy dawn at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora near Buffalo, NY

After a bit of walking, thinking, breathing, and just overall enjoyment of the surroundings the sun got things under way. And as it was a cloudy morning it played right into the mood of the morning. Clouds filter the light nicely and bathe the landscape in less contrasty diffused light that illuminates everything more evenly. The clouds themselves also provide for a nice moody backdrop too.

Knox Farm Alley in the FallMoody Morning

Colorful Knox Farm State Park Alley in the Fall, East Aurora, NY near Buffalo, NY

I really love this tree alley and the road going through but since I've been there so many times I also enjoy looking for new takes. Sometimes I find them, sometimes I leave satisfied with a variation or two on old ones. On this occasion I walked a little bit further down the road, turned around, and stepped to the side. An all new view emerged!

Fall Colors at Knox FarmMoody Morning

Fall Colors at Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora, NY near Buffalo, NY

So there you have it, that's what's still out there if you rush out quickly. Yes, we're now past peak and losing colors with each day but there is still plenty to enjoy. No worries, the couch will still be there next week!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them.

Yes, instead of my usual photography I went for a video this time. No worries though, this is definitely the exception rather than the rule. And yes, there is a music track included so adjust your computer based on where you are watching.

Cyanotypes Process Demo

Cyanotype Process Demo

If the process and results caught your eye, don't hesitate to head over to my newish Cyanotypes photo gallery. It's small for now, just six photos as of this writing, but it will grow from here. I already have several blue projects in mind!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

PS: Music for the video by Mike Gutterman. Thank you!

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more traditional wet prints? Visit my Darkroom photo gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. And yes, if you choose to buy one of my photographs, that would be swell. Thank you!

Highland Hay Bales CyanotypeCzech Republic Old House CyanotypeEureka Springs, Arkansas Buffalo Main Light CyanotypeBuffalo, New York

The rock city at the Ostaš table mountain is no different. Actually, it may be. While the rock cities of Adršpach and Teplice Rocks are very famous and very touristy Ostaš has been saved that fate so far. Every time I post about a place like this I pause. Should I be writing the post? Or would it be better not to and let it be a secret gem for a little longer. So please, if it is this post that prompts you to visit, be respectful, take only pictures and leave only footprints. I hope places like this can survive and keep their mystique for many future generations,

Up to OstašCzech Republic

Up to Rock City Ostaš, Czech Republic

The initial climb to the hiking loops through the labyrinths of Ostaš is very unrevealing. There's really no indication of what's to come. It is just an ordinary path through the woods, right? And then the incline gets a little steeper and then things start popping up. And before you know it it's easy to experience a system overload. There are gorgeous sights everywhere!

Rock City OstašCzech Republic

Rock City Ostaš, Czech Republic

Squeezing through some very narrow passages, wondering what's around the next bend, being concerned about one's way out or way back, climbing up to get a better view, reaching the peak of the mountain and being in awe about what Mother Nature created here. Yes, those are just some of many emotions you may be prone to experiencing at Ostaš. It's a paradise for many types of people: the nature lovers, avid hikers, fearless climbers, thrill seekers, and yes, photographers. Finishing a roll of film or even filling up a memory card is not out of question here!

Cat Rocks, OstašCzech Republic

Cat Rocks, Rock City Ostaš, Czech Republic

I hope I can return soon :-)

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more landscape photographs from places beyond Western New York? Visit my Landscapes Faraway or Travel Photography galleries and enjoy!

Continued a while later on More from Rock City Ostaš.

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Entering Fairy TaleRock Cities Fairy Tale TrailRock Cities Squeezed Between RocksRock Cities

High WallsRock Cities Rising HighRock Cities

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Alright, before we head over to the highlands of the Czech Republic, here's one local from Buffalo, New York. The main lighthouse is a gorgeous historic structure welcoming boats to the inner harbor of the city. I have photographed it many times under many different conditions and it was only fitting to make sure I had a version of one of those photos printed as a cyanotype.

Buffalo Main Light CyanotypeAn original hand-made 5" x 7" cyanotype

Buffalo Main Light, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Meeden textured surface cold pressed watercolor paper

Now that the home front print is out of the way, let's visit the highlands of the Czech Republic where I grew up and created many memories. Back in my childhood the giant round hay bales did not exist and straw was pressed into smaller square bales instead. That was for practical reasons as many small farmers handled the bales manually. However, photographing the landscape these days the large round hay bales are usually the only ones to be found.

Highland Hay Bales CyanotypeAn original hand-made 5" x 7" cyanotype  
Highland Hay Bales, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Meeden textured surface cold pressed watercolor paper

Today's last cyanotype is one I have a strong personal connection to and as such it comes with a high dose of nostalgia. Various alternative processes seem to work really well with it.

It's a very old farm house where my great grandparents once lived. My grandparents later built a new house just across the narrow village road. It originally had one small bedroom, a kitchen, a decent size workshop, a cellar, a cote, and an attic. I don't remember anyone ever living there. During my childhood, the cote always had a pig or two, the cabinets in the kitchen were used to store all kinds of pickled stuff, and the kitchen was mostly used once or twice a year to process everything after a slaughter of the pigs.

Most of the family showed up for these events and they made for a tiring weekend of activity. Tiring but always fun. Days were busy taking care of business and evenings dedicated to my dad's accordion, singing, and Slivovice. Not much drinking for the kids but we always had our own fun alongside the distracted adults.

I spent long periods at my grandparents' every summer and helped with the farm work there. Feed the chickens, feed the pigs, collect the eggs, feed the rabbits, and much more. There were plenty of opportunities to be a kid though too - head out with my friends from the village and go fishing, pick plums, apples, or be up to no good in one of the many barns scattered throughout the village.

House of Memories CyanotypeAn original hand-made 5" x 7" cyanotype

House of Memories, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically printed on a hand-coated Meeden textured surface cold pressed watercolor paper

Now a tiny bit for the technical side of thigs. So far, I have focused on printing on heavy-weight water color paper and really like the results. I like the paper texture showing through and also like how it reduces the apparent detail of the prints. It supplements the hand-made look very nicely. The two papers I came to like so far are very different.

First, the Shizen Design Professional Grade Watercolor Paper (Cold Pressed 100% Recycled) is very bright white with a strong texture and some random "impurities", probably due to being a fully recycled paper. I love the combination of the cyan tones and the bright white. However, it further increases the already high contrast in the cyanotype prints.

Second, the Meeden Textured Surface Watercolor Paper (Cold Pressed) provides a more subtle and less contrasty look. All three photos in today's post were printed on this paper. It's warmer and less bright base gives prints a completely different look.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

If you like cyanotypes you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy! Do not hesitate to contact me whether you would like to learn more or would like to purchase one of my prints.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Buffalo, NYCyanotype Old HouseCyanotype Edward M Cotter's Solo Show Cyanotype

In the first part, I walked you through my usual film scanning set up, and the scanning options available to me. I concluded I was happy with my results from negatives but ran into an unintuitive challenge with scanning Kodak Ektachrome E100. That being a positive film I figured what could be so difficult taking the already existing colors and turning them into pixels. No magic was needed in the software. It turned out I was wrong.

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I encourage you to look the first part over first before reading the below. It had samples showing my results from the Plustek OpticFilm 8200i, Nikon D610 with Tokina atx-i 100mm f/2.8 FF Macro Lens, and finally the Epson V600. I showed both the full frames as well as 100% crops as I was comparing sharpness and color accuracy.

I was so baffled by the bad colors from the slide film using my Plustek and the SilverFast Software that I kept digging, searching the internet, and engaging some online film photography groups. And a recommendation soon surfaced. And it seemed so very simple.

SilverFast, currently in version 9, comes in four different versions: SE, SE Plus, and Ai Studio, and Archive Suite 9. Bundled with various scanners you may get the SE or SE Plus. You can go to their online store, select Scanner Software, fill in some basic info about your scanner and computer operating system and you will get pricing for all of them, ranging from $49 to $399. Next to each edition there is a question mark icon that pops up a comparison of the different editions. The one feature that was key to my challenge is called Auto IT8 Calibration.

Long story short? I threw money at my problem. I upgraded my SilverFast from my version 8 to the latest version 9 and also to the AI Studio 9 edition, which was the first to have the above mentioned Auto IT8 Calibration. In order to use that feature I also had to buy their Advanced Target (ISO 12641-2 compliant 2019) consisting of three 35mm Fuji transparency slides. The SW upgrade was instant but I had to wait for the slides to arrive in the mail.

Once I had all pieces, the calibration was a breeze. I clicked a button in SilverFast and the screen guided me through scanning the three calibration slides. Once completed, it saved a profile for my scanner and I was ready to scan the troublesome roll again. The suspense! Was the investment worth it?

--- Sample A ---

Sample A - Plustek OpticFilm 8200iSilverFast SE Plus 8

Sample A - Kodak Ektachrome E100 - Uncalibrated Scanner
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i, SilverFast SE Plus 8

Sample A: Plustek OpticFilm 8200iSilverFast Ai Studio 9, Advanced Calibration Target

Sample A - Kodak Ektachrome E100 - Calibrated Scanner
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i, SilverFast Ai Studio 9, Advanced Calibration Target

--- Sample B ---

Sample B - Plustek OpticFilm 8200iSilverFast SE Plus 8

Sample B - Kodak Ektachrome E100 - Uncalibrated Scanner
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i, SilverFast SE Plus 8

Sample B2 - Plustek OpticFilm 8200iSilverFast Ai 9 Studio, Advanced Calibration Target

Sample B - Kodak Ektachrome E100 - Calibrated Scanner
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i, SilverFast Ai 9 Studio, Advanced Calibration Target

--- Sample C ---

Sample C - Plustek OpticFilm 8200iSilverFast SE Plus 8

Sample C - Kodak Ektachrome E100 - Uncalibrated Scanner
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE, SilverFast SE Plus 8

Sample C2 - Plustek OpticFilm 8200iSilverFast Ai 9 Studio Advanced Calibration Target

Sample C - Kodak Ektachrome E100 - Calibrated Scanner
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i, SilverFast Ai 9 Studio, Advanced Calibration Target

You can draw your own conclusions but I am happy with the outcome. To me, even with zero fussing with the different adjustments, the scans look much better. If you scan your own transparency film and are not happy with the results, I definitely recommend calibrating and creating a custom profile for your scanner. And a side effect of the exercise? On my 11 years old MacBook Pro, SilverFast 9 runs noticeably faster than SilverFast 8 and I like the dark theme I can now set.

#shootfilmbenice

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Note: While I earn a commission on the amazon.com links on this page I am not in any way associated with or earn any commission from SilverFast.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

This was a late spring exploration of Buffalo's waterfront as it came to life after the annual winter hibernation. And of course, it would not be a proper exploration without a camera in my hand. The choice that day was Pentacon Six, an East German medium format camera loaded with Fomapan 400 black and white negative film.

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I had wanted a Pentacon Six ever since I returned to film photography back in 2015 and it had been so for purely sentimental reasons. In my childhood, my Dad's primary camera was a black 35mm Pentax. Unfortunately, I have not been able to figure out which exact model as there are apparently no photographs of him with his camera. I think I remember it did not have a bayonet mount but rather was a screw mount but I am not 100% sure neither does that conclusively narrow the model down. Anyway, while that was his primary camera for most of is photographic work, I remember he would always borrow a medium format camera for family portraits. He wanted those to be of better quality. And yes, you guessed it, the camera he was able to borrow was a Pentacon Six.

Different Types of ShipsCanalside, Buffalo, New York

Different Types of Ships, USS Little Rock CL-92 guided missile cruiser and Spirit of Buffalo sailboat at Canalside, Buffalo, NY
Photographed with a Pentacon Six on Fomapan 400 black and white negative film and developed in D-23

I finally made that purchase happen in late 2020 and am still working on becoming closer buddies with the camera. My first two rolls were in winter months and I learned that the camera does not like Buffalo winters much. Whatever design and lubrication is used for the shutter it does not like frigid temperatures resulting in the shutter moving unevenly across the film plane and creating vertical stripes of different exposure levels.

However, it seems to be just fine when it is warm outside or inside and is relatively small for a medium format camera. It is an SLR, however, I did not get the eye level viewfinder for it yet and use the waist level finder instead, as is more common with TLR cameras. As a result, it offers a rather unique photographic experience. As with TLRs, it creates square images on 120 film at 2¼ x 2¼ inches. In the parts of the world using the metric system, it would be called a 6 x 6 camera as the square is approximately 6 x 6 centimeters. However, unlike TLRs, the Pentacon's viewfinder is not as large as the captured image. Working with that smaller image can be more difficult including achieving sharp focus, however, it allows for an overall image evaluation at a single glance similar to a thumbnail on a computer.

Many dislike the camera for its quirks and low reliability and only time will show where I end up. For now, I know to avoid winter and have had fun with it otherwise. And as you can see in this post, it can definitely capture images. I hope you like them as much as I do.

Sailboat and a CruiserCanalside, Buffalo, New York

Sailboat and a Cruiser, USS Little Rock CL-92 guided missile cruiser and Spirit of Buffalo sailboat at Canalside, Buffalo, NY
Photographed with a Pentacon Six on Fomapan 400 black and white negative film and developed in D-23

As you can see, my spring outing took me to the inner harbor of Buffalo, NY. I enjoyed a walk from the Erie Basin Marina, through the Naval Park, to Canalside. It was a route I walked many times but there is always something that catches my eye. Sometimes, it is a different take on previously photographed subjects, other times, it is something completely new. Most of my photographs are rectangular and heading our with a camera capturing squares also introduces a new way of looking at and photographing the cityscapes around.

The first two photographs are of the two very different ships I had photographed before. This time they are in square and black and white and I really like the resulting mood. The third and final image is different and one I do not believe I photographed before. The open water and open space was what caught my eye. This was the waterfront! I decided to accentuate the openness by raising the camera upwards and filling most of the frame with the sky. I am a fan of minimalism but do not embrace it as often as I would like to. I did try to simplify this scene as much as I could though given the camera and a single focal length I had available.

On the WaterCanalside, Buffalo, New York

Sailboat and a Cruiser, USS Little Rock CL-92 guided missile cruiser and Spirit of Buffalo sailboat at Canalside, Buffalo, NY
Photographed with a Pentacon Six on Fomapan 400 black and white negative film and developed in D-23

Is there a camera you have wanted for sentimental reasons? Have you bought it yet?

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Swannie HouseBuffalo, NY Freezer QueenBuffalo, NY Loading a Truck at Standard Grain ElevatorBuffalo, NY

Franciscan HallHamburg, NY Edward M Cotter at Naval Park IIBuffalo, NY

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While natural landscapes are definitely the best for getting away from civilization I enjoy rural landscapes too. Landscapes with obvious presence of humanity yet lacking humans. These landscapes usually include a dirt road or a country road, a fence, a barn, or another manmade structure. In these landscapes, documentary photography creeps in as manmade objects tend to have a rather short lifespan compared to the natural world. Even though trees don't live forever either, grass can grow, a bush pops up here and there, it all changes. And when one takes a camera along on their favorite route often enough over several years the changes show.

Bold Three BarnsMy First Photo of the Trio in 2014

Bold Three Barns, My First Photo of the Trio in 2014

Sometimes the changes are neutral, just the world changing around us, other times they're positive with things getting fixed or new ones built, but many times the changes can be negative, or at least perceived as such at the moment. Take this section of a local country road for example. It has long been my favorite for bicycle rides and later for riding my motorcycle. And as you'd suspect with me, I often pack a camera.

One of my favorite subjects was the trio of barns and sheds pictured above. Every time I would go by I would notice. With or without taking a photo I would always take a moment to see what the triplets were up to. And unfortunately, soon after that first photograph in 2014 I started noticing signs of trouble.

Three Barns in a Snow StormFebruary 2019

Three Barns in a Snow Storm, February 2019
Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35mm Camera, Rollei Superpan 200 Black & White Film

I was surprised about the five year gap between my photos. Maybe I will still find more photos showing the state of affairs in between. However, by 2019 the main barn was clearly showing signs of getting tired. Especially the main doorway no longer had its original right angles at the corners.

Three Barns Tired in the FallSeptember 2019

Three Barns Tired in the Fall, September 2019
Nikon N75 35mm Film Camera, Fuji Velvia Slide Film

And even just two months later the situation deteriorated further with the whole barn giving in to time. And look, not just one but two bushes popped up, one completely obscuring the middle structure.

Three Barns' Last FallOctober 2019

Three Barns' Last Fall, October 2019
Zeiss Ikon Contessa, Kodak Gold 200

Last Winter for the Three BarnsFebruary 2020

Last Winter for the Three Barns, February 2020
Mamiya 645, Foma Retropan 320

As it turned out, the 2019/20 winter proved to be the last. Not sure if it was just the passage of time or the harsh winter conditions followed by a wet spring but there was no way back at this point, the barn passed to the other side.

It's over for the Three BarnsApril 2020

It's over for the Three Barns, April 2020
Nikon N75, Kodak Portra 160

And indeed, this April 2020 photo was the last one I was able to capture before the barn could take no more. Then, for several months, a pile of rubble was left that I passed several times. I will admit though, I did not feel like raising the camera and firing the shutter. Maybe I should have but that's in the past now. It felt like I lost something familiar, something I got used to counting on. Maybe even something I took for granted too much.

Things disappearing is an all too familiar pattern now. I've been really passionate about photography since 2005, which is about 16 years now. The number of photographs I have taken during that time is pretty crazy and during the last few years I have noticed the number of "historic" never-to-be-seen-again photos in my photo library grow steadily.

How do you all feel about this aspect of documentary photography?

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Hay Bales in SnowRural Landscapes Country Roads on MotorcycleRural Landscapes Barn and Silos in WhiteRural Landscapes

By a BarnRural Landscapes FarmhouseRural Landscapes

Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them.

Yes, here we are revisiting the Thunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, which used to be the Thunder of Niagara Air Show. However, due to Covid and a cancelation of the original show the event morphed into a great show over the Outer Harbor of Buffalo, NY, with lots to be seen from many other areas along Buffalo's waterfront and beyond. It was quite picturesque to see the airplanes low over Lake Erie as well as over downtown.

For the rest of today's post, let's let the photos do the talking..

RCAF McDonnell Douglas CF-18 HornetThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20.

RCAF McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet over Buffalo, NY

P-51 Mustang Mad MaxThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. P-51 Mustang Mad Max over Buffalo, NY

USAF Boeing V-22 OspreyThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. USAF Boeing V-22 Osprey over Buffalo, NY

Two USAF Boeing V-22 Ospreys over Buffalo Main LightThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. Two USAF Boeing V-22 Ospreys over Buffalo Main Light

USAF A-10C Thunderbolt IIThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. USAF A-10C Thunderbolt II over Buffalo, NY

USAF Boeing C-17 GlobemasterThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster over Buffalo, NY

USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster over Buffalo WaterfrontThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster over Buffalo Waterfront

USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster over Buffalo Main LightThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster over Buffalo Main Light
P-51 Mustang Quick SilverThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. P-51 Mustang Quick Silver over Buffalo, NY

USAF F-16CM Fighting Falcon Viper DemoThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. USAF F-16CM Fighting Falcon Viper Demo over Buffalo, NY

Blue Angels - F-18 Super HornetThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20.  US Navy Blue Angels - F-18 Super Hornet over Buffalo, NY

Four Blue Angels F-18 Super HornetsThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. Four US Navy Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets over Buffalo, NY

Blue Angels Diamond - F-18 Super HornetThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20.  US Navy Blue Angels Diamond - F-18 Super Hornet over Buffalo, NY

Six Blue Angels F-18 Super HornetsThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20.  Six US Navy Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets over Buffalo, NY

Two Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets over Buffalo Main LightThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. Two US Navy Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets over Buffalo Main Light

Two Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets Low over Buffalo WaterfrontThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. Two US Navy Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets Low over Buffalo Waterfront

Six Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets over Buffalo Main LightThunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show 2021, originally known as Thunder of Niagara Air Show, in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. Six US Navy Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets over Buffalo Main Light

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Support this blog: Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph yet? Using my links (Amazon) to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them. Thank you!

While Kauai definitely has an unlimited supply of grand vistas, whether along its beautiful coastline or inland, there is also lots to see when one pays attention to details. A lot of details, textures, and patterns can be found when one takes a pause and looks a bit more carefully. Often, these are right under your feet, other times right in front of us. Take the strangler fig as an example. There is so much to study, admire, and learn about later when one has a computer or a library handy. But leaving the biological facts aside, there is also beauty in its sheer existence.

Strangler FigKauai, Hawaii

Strangler Fig Close Up, Kauai, Hawaii

No worries though, I am not going to leave you hanging without sharing one of those breathtaking ocean vistas. As almost every day at a place like this, it pays to wake early before sunrise and find a spot to enjoy the start of a new day. On this day, I took a walk along the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail and explored Makawehi Lithified Cliffs. Then, I stopped and enjoyed the wave action for a bit, fixed my camera to a tripod, and click, preserved a memory forever.

Sunrise over Makawehi Lithified CliffsKauai, Hawaii

Sunrise over Makawehi Lithified Cliffs, Kauai, Hawaii

For those curious about the technicalities, while I am still a sucker for long exposures the effect has definitely been overused a bit. At each location, I try to decide what settings will express the feeling at the location the best. Sometimes, it's a very quick shutter speed and other times I still go for a very long one. And then there are situations like this one. Let's keep the shutter open just long enough to show the motion but not long enough to obliterate the details - 1/15 sec in this case.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Previously from Hawaii: The Beginning - Seaside Pinhole Photography - Tropical Clichés - Windy Drama of a Tropical Morning - Quite an Ad - Searching for Sun and Warmth - Not Your Sunrise Cliché - So Peaceful - Some Morning Drama - Farmland in the Canyon - Further up Waimea Canyon - At the Edge of Kalalau Valley - Tropical Sunrise

Did you enjoy this post and the enclosed photographs? Visit the Landscapes Faraway gallery for natural landscape beyond Western New York to see more. If you are a fan of nature's fall colors, I have an Autumn gallery dedicated to that season for you. Please, let me know if you have any questions about photo products offered, or not offered. Looking for a present? I offer ready to hang solutions like canvas gallery wraps, prints on metal, and matted and framed ready to hang photographs. You can see the photo and product offering on the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

Lava & WaterSeascapes Sunset Colors over PoipuSeascapes Hawaiian Sunrise in FloridaSeascapes

Fisherman at SunriseSeascapes Sunrise under a PierSeascapes