Brewing Storm over Cargill Pool ElevatorOuter Harbor,Buffalo, NY I have just returned from our third annual road trip where we visited many spectacular places and I had a wonderful opportunity to use my camera in many different ways. I really enjoyed both landscape photography of all of the natural beauty but also road trip photography, i.e. all of the things that come with a road trip, like the road itself, roadside attractions, and moments that will help us remember the road trip many years down the road.

Now I am back on the home front in Buffalo, NY with a hard drive full of photos that need attention, but also with all of what Buffalo has to offer during a beautiful sunny summer. A tough thing to balance. Last night, the fresh air and views of the lake won.

I headed out very late knowing I would not even make sunset. I was hoping for some nice glow in the sky after sunset. I could not do the short walk to Buffalo Main Light as the Coast Guard was just closing the gate to the path. I backtracked south and visited the Buffalo Harbor State Park for the first time. I was in that area many times before but it was not a state park yet. It was pretty late and crowds were low, which I always appreciate. My first impression is somewhat incomplete as it was already pretty dark but I had a mixed feeling. On one hand, the park looks nice and will definitely attract people. On the other, I had always liked the big meadow that used to be there and that was used for kite flying and other activities. That meadow is now reduced significantly, with s strip of grass, couple large shelters, a playground, and a large parking lot. One shelter was in use generating a lot of noise. I was always used to quiet sunsets here and now it seems to be a "party place". I will go back a few more times to see it during the day and several times before settling on an opinion though.

Fuhrmann Boulevard in Sea of BlueOuter Harbor, Buffalo, NY I walked around the fence separating the new urban features from the remaining grass (serving an unknown purpose at this point) and focused on a well known and explored subject, the Cargill Pool Grain Elevator on Lake Erie. The sky to the west and north was featureless making for a so so sunset with no post-sunset color show. However, to the south some heavy clouds arrived darkening the sky over the elevator, making it stand out nicely, and adding drama. I usually photograph this elevator from the shoreline along Fuhrmann Boulevard. This was a nice opportunity for a shot across the water from the side.

After enjoying that view for quite a while and seeing the night take over I turned the tripod even further towards south-east and the street lights along Fuhrmann Boulevard stood out nicely as darkness was settling in. The mix of incandescend lighting and natural blue hour light usually works nicely and this was another opportunity to capture a familiar place in a new light (and perspective).

Stay tuned for more Buffalo and road trip photography, enjoy the beauty that surrounds you (#etbtsy).