Stormy over Buffalo Central TerminalDrama in Black & White This was an excellent evening for photography at the Buffalo Central Terminal, and probably many other places. From the very beginning, it was all about the clouds. The clouds were what got me out this evening as I watched them roll in from the west over Lake Erie and continue east.

First, I headed to the waterfront to photograph the clouds over the lake and also over some downtown buildings. However, seeing how the clouds kept their drama heading east made me think about eastbound locations where the clouds could serve as a backdrop. Buffalo Central Terminal came to mind.

I arrived just as the sun found its way under the cloud layer and illuminated the terminal building. It was very dramatic and the dark clouds above and behind were adding a great dose of drama. Both light and color were great, given the last light of the day bathing the architecture in warmth. However, I felt the light alone was dramatic enough and the color was actually taking away from the scene. And yes, a historic building also looks great in black and white. There's just something to black and white photographs that color cannot deliver.

Have fun tracking your visions down!

PS: If you enjoy black and white photography, feel free to visit my World without Color collection of black and white photographs. Enjoy!

Equipment used: Nikon D600 (replaced by Nikon D610), Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, Manfrotto tripod (055MF3; replaced by 055CXPRO3 with the convenient Q90 column) and Manfrotto Ball Head (496RC2), Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack, Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), Jackery Bar 5600mAh (usually on hand to keep the smart phone going), SanDisk Extreme 32GB SD Cards, Nikon Capture NX2.

Using my links to buy your equipment keeps me going and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything not mentioned here. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!

Sunrise over Buffalo Main LightLight and Colors on the Other Side On my photographic expeditions, I am learning to look the other way more and more. When watching a sunset, turn around and look east. Yes, the intensity is much stronger looking west but the more subtle colors in the east have their beauty. And it is that opposite direction that has the biggest potential for a surprise. Sometimes, nothing happens there at all, other times, just very small hints of color show up, and other times, the show can be wild. It also provides for whole different looks of your old subjects and photographs that are more unique, more surprising too.

The same goes for a sunrise. While the eastern sky can be miraculous leading into the sunrise itself, going from first glimpses of light to a wild show of color that dissipates and then the pinpoint sun pieces the twilight with its sharp rays. But again, turn around at all stages. Sometimes, that is where the surprise show is.

That is what I was lucky enough to enjoy and photograph this morning. I was treated to a Morning Fire over Buffalo, as well as more subtle light and color show behind the lighthouse to the west. I really enjoyed the contrast between the wild scene in one direction and the more peaceful action in the other. To further add to the dreamy quiet look I went with a 10-stop neutral density filter and captured this 2-minute exposure, giving the choppy waters of Lake Erie an almost frozen look and allowing the clouds to float and blur up above. Unlike the contrasty scenario towards the sun, there were no exposure challenges shooting west.

Have fun looking the wrong way!

Equipment used: Nikon D600 (replaced by Nikon D610), Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, Kenko 77mm 10-stop ND Filter, Manfrotto tripod (055MF3; replaced by 055CXPRO3 with the convenient Q90 column) and Manfrotto Ball Head (496RC2), Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack, Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), Jackery Bar 5600mAh (usually on hand to keep the smart phone going), SanDisk Extreme 32GB SD Cards, Nikon Capture NX2.

Using my links to buy your equipment keeps me going and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything not mentioned here. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!

Old Ladder in an Old ShedTreasures of Travel Photography One o the reasons I enjoy travel photography is the unexpected, unpredictable. Yes, I mentioned how today's technology can facilitate detailed planning in the post about Arches but I also mentioned how liberating it can be not overdoing it.

In my opinion, that is where the power of travel photography comes from. Keeping one's eyes open and staying alert for unique moments, moments that emerge out of nowhere and disappear shortly after.

Take this photograph for example. I walked into this old shed and struggled to see anything at first. It was a bright summer day outside but the inside was surrounded by darkness. After a few moments my eyes adjusted to the low light and as I was slowly turning around this set up just jumped at me.

With architectural photography I am rather paranoid about proper perspective and keeping the verticals vertical. Here however, I felt the slight turn of the camera fit the bill better and created a stronger photograph. I felt that while on location and later in post-processing too. I straightened it up, compared, and went back to the original. While I liked the photograph in color I felt black and white was the way to go. It adds to the simplicity, and provides and old-time look fitting the shed's state of affairs.

Have fun and serendipity will strike!

Equipment used: Nikon D600 (replaced by Nikon D610), Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack, Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), Jackery Bar 5600mAh (usually on hand to keep the smart phone going), SanDisk Extreme 32GB SD Cards, Nikon Capture NX2.

Using my links to buy your equipment keeps me going and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything not mentioned here. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!