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Out for a Ride
A beautiful sunny evening and temperatures in the 70s made for wonderful conditions to combine two hobbies. I grabbed my Nikon FE2 with a previously started roll of Ilford FP4 black and white film, a bottle of water, placed both in the bag on the motorcycle and headed out to explore the countryside.
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Whether in a car or on a motorcycle I like small back roads, the smaller and less frequented the better. When I am out to enjoy the scenery the thing I want last is someone in a hurry on my tail. In fact, if I can find a road where I won't run into other cars at all that is ideal. Unfortunately, that is more and more difficult here around Buffalo, NY. It seems there are more and more cars everywhere with each year.
Country Roads on MotorcycleWestern New York
Country Roads on a Motorcycle, Western New York
Photographed with a Nikon FE2 on Ilford FP4 Black and White Film
I had a vague idea where to start. I have always liked the Centerline Road as it finds its way over the rolling hills to the east. And a starting point is really all one needs. After that, it's just a matter of looking around and making random turns based on what looks interesting. In fact, the closer one gets to getting lost the better. No longer having a destination in mind provides a complete freedom to simply enjoy the moment.
Black Cow on a Pasture, Western New York
Photographed with a Nikon FE2 on Ilford FP4 Black and White Film
The only limiting factor becomes time as the fading light of the evening makes picture taking impossible at some point. And returning home on the small country roads in the dark can be challenging too as they may not be that well maintained and potholes can lurk.
Happy Cows Resting on a Pasture, Western New York
Photographed with a Nikon FE2 on Ilford FP4 Black and White Film
My equipment for these rides is very simplistic. No camera bag full of gadgets, no tripod. Usually just one camera pre-loaded with film based on the weather and one filter already mounted on the lens. It's all tuned up for a quick action so that I can pull over, take the picture, and move on. The motorcycle has some advantages over cars as it fits easier on the side without blocking the road.
Geese on Pond WatchWestern New York
Geese on Pond Watch, Western New York
Photographed with a Nikon FE2 on Ilford FP4 Black and White Film
By now, temperatures have dropped below freezing and we have switched from daylight savings time back to standard. Thus, it's dark after 5 p.m. And even worse, the roads have seen their first doses of salt. More rides like this may have to wait until spring or some longer heat waves coming through the region. Until the next one!
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!
A House Past PrimeBlack & White
Sportster 1200 CustomBlack & White
Stormy Weather over the LakeBlack & White
Nostalgic Hydraulic HearthBlack & White
Hamburg Palace ClassicBlack & White
Rybník Špinka in Fog
With the complete lack of travel in 2020 I have not been motivated to post my past travel pictures either. As such, couple series have had a rather long break. As I sat down on Sunday evening and browsed through couple options for Monday I have decided to break the travel drought and am taking you on a trip to the Czech Republic.
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Fog is usually a fall phenomena so I was rather surprised to wake up into a think fog at the beginning of summer. My surprise turned into an alarm quickly though as I scurried to find some clothes, my camera bag, and shoes and I was out of the door in minutes. I love fog and I know how fleeting it can be. At least at this location I had no driving to do. The lake was just couple minutes on foot.
Špinka in Fog, Czech Republic
I quickly explored the near shore and peed through high grass and bushes to explore a nice viewpoint. The fog remained very thick and I had to find some foreground to include that would actually remain visible. In the end, I found a few vantage points I liked and am sharing one of those with you today.
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! 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.
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Ballooning above ŠpinkaCzech Republic
Squeezed Between RocksCzech Republic
Path through Fields of GoldCzech Republic
Chvalkovice Wind Mill at DuskCzech Republic
Rolling Hills of Southern MoraviaCzech Republic
Bright and Happy Fall World
Last post was a celebration of the wonderful bright and sunny summer we had here in Western New York. And today, I am continuting in the same spirit while moving one season forward. The 2020 fall was absolutely gorgeous with plenty of sunshine for everybody to enjoy it and forget about all of the troubles this year brought.
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This was not a year of long-distance travel, this was a year to explore one's back yard. And there was so much when one cared to look. We revisited many familiar places and enjoyed sights we had seen many times before, we found new trails in those familiar places, and we found completely new destinations that we'd never visited before despite living so close to them for so long. And yes, my cameras joined us on these trips.
Today's post is very close to home. It is literally just up the hill. Chestnut Ridge park has beautiful colors to offer each year and this fall was no exception. I love looking for frames of pure nature excluding any signs of humanity but I also enjoy including paths and roads in my photographs. Maybe it is because they make the photographs more ordinary and closer to what we see every day. Maybe it is because the paths take us somewhere forward. Or maybe it is because of something altogether different.
Colors Turning at Chestnut RidgeFall Foliage
Colors Turning at Chestnut Ridge, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Rolleiflex Automat on Kodak Portra 160 Color Negative Film
On this bright fall day I had my 1940s twin lens reflex Rolleiflex camera with me loaded with 12 available exposures of Kodak Portra 160. Over the last few years I have really enjoyed the subtle colors of this film. To me it provides a nice counterbalance to today's digital world full of bold saturated colors that go way above and beyond what things look like naturally. As such, the subtlety allows me ro rest my eyes and take a stroll through the outdoors scenes without being immediately overwhelmed.
Red and Orange Chestnut Ridge ParkFall Foliage
Red and Orange Chestnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park, NY
Photographed with a Rolleiflex Automat on Kodak Portra 160 Color Negative Film
How about you? Which photographic version of the colorful season do you prefer?
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!
Fall Colors around Murder CreekColorful Outdoors
Down The Rocks it Goes - Smoke Creek FallsColorful Outdoors
Fall CascadesColorful Outdoors
Lower Emery Falls in the FallColorful Outdoors
Fall At Watkins GlenColorful Outdoors
Bright and Happy Summer World
Summer and flowers go hand in hand and while we're at the end of our colorful fall season let's take a trip back and enjoy some happy summer views. And what other flower says sun better than a sunflower? Let's fill the page with them!
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First thanks are in order to Sunflowers of Sanborn. Sure, if you're a professional photographer and get paid for shooting on their fields, you need to get a permit. However, if you're a hobbyist or fine art photographer that is not on a paid engagement you don't have to. And from what I have seen they are very generous towards photography. People take pictures of each other all over, selfies are flying through Instagram and other platforms, and yes, you will see a pro here and there on a mission.
Despite the fam being very popular and the parking lot being often filled there is enough space for the crowds to spread out even during these COVID times. If you come earlier in the day, there will be fewer people and vice versa.
So thank you, I have truly enjoyed photographing my family and sunflowers there, and our dining room table had a new centerpiece after the visit. This was a very refreshing experience to me as photographers are often frowned upon or hassled.
Orange and Yellow SunflowerSunflowers of Sanborn
Orange and Yellow Sunflower, Sunflowers of Sanborn, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film
For this visit I decided to leave my trusty 35mm cameras behind and only used a single camera, the Mamiya 645 1000s with manual focus lenses. And I used a variety trying to cover both wide views as well as tighter close ups. The film of choice? I brought both color negative as well as positive transparency film. Today, I am sharing my photographs captured on Kodak Ektar 100, a film that should go well with bold colors. I will leave the judgement regarding how well it worked up to you. Aside for this roll I also left with a roll of Kodak Ektachrome E100.
A Single Orange SunflowerSunflowers of Sanborn
A Single Orange Sunflower, Sunflowers of Sanborn, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film
For most of the photographs I wanted to use a very shallow depth of field, a very different approach from my usual landscape photography relying on a small aperture and hyperfocal distance. I really wanted to isolate individual flower heads and take advantage of the shallower depth of field inherent to medium format compared to 35mm.
Yellow SunfowerSunflowers of Sanborn
Yellow Sunflower, Sunflowers of Sanborn, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film
That, however, posed a focusing challenge with the fully manual system and my far from perfect sight. I took my time, focused carefully, and was happy that in the end the majority of the frames were properly focused. And yes, there were a few that did not make it.
Sunflower ProfileSunflowers of Sanborn
Sunflower Profile, Sunflowers of Sanborn, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film
I failed to mention another great feature of this sunflower farm, which may have already become obvious from the included photographs. They grow a variety of sunflowers, which definitely help with the ultimate variety of photographs.
An Old Farm TruckSunflowers of Sanborn
An Old Farm Truck, Sunflowers of Sanborn, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film
Yes, there are other exciting props scattered through the farm. An old truck, a tractor or two, and even some old frames to frame your headshots with that are provided to people free of charge.
Have you heard that sunflowers follow the sun and turn their heads based on where the sun is? Well, not really. It's a bit of a myth and only partially true. Young sunflowers indeed turn their heads, however, at some point they stop and forever face east. As a result you may want to plan the time of day based on whether you want the sunflowers front or backlit or lit by the scorching noon sun. And your choices may be limited by the opening time of the farm you visit. Sunflowers of Sanborn did not open until 11 am in 2020 sunrise or the morning golden hour was not an easy option.
Tall SunflowerSunflowers of Sanborn
Tall Sunflower, Sunflowers of Sanborn, New York
Photographed with a Mamiya 645 on Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film
This was a very fun family visit and each of us had fun. And we left with some beautiful sunflowers as souvenirs and a way to say thank you. I will definitely be looking at more sunflower farms next year and hopefully return to Sanborn too.
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
References: The Mystery Of Why Sunflowers Turn To Follow The Sun
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!
Oak OrchardColorful Nature
Mossy Niagara River BanksColorful Nature
Leaning Trees of BirdsongColorful Nature
Spring Day at Emery ParkColorful Nature
The Akron FallsColorful Nature
The Creeks of Birdsong
Birdsong Park in Orchard Park, NY has grown on me over time becoming one of my favorite places to visit and photograph in all seasons. Today, I'm sharing a set of black and white photographs from there from early summer. Their common theme is creeks. They are also connected by all being photographed on one of my favorite films, the Kodak Double-X, aka Kodak 5222.
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.
That film captures tonality that is very appealing to me and I especially love how it handles highlights, despite the film being developed primarily for recording movies in dim conditions. Its increased sensitivity to blue and reduced sensitivity to red may not be the best for capturing blue skies through an orange or red filters but it shines in conditions like these. I was in the woods and the outside light was seeping in through all of that new foliage.
This opening photograph is what I usually encounter first when I turn into the woods the very first opportunity there is. The boardwalk almost immediately goes over this small creek and to the left there is this broken tree forming a gate over the water. I have seen this scene many times and it always strikes me as beautiful and never quite the same.
Birdsong Creek GateOrchard Park, NY
Birdsong Creek Gate
Birdsong with a Pentax K1000 on Double-X 5222
Coming out of the woods the path winds its way by two wonderful ponds that each offer plentiful photographic opportunities. However, for this series of creeks we need to keep on walking, re-enter the woods, and come out on the other side. Just before the path exits the woods we are back over the creek on boardwalk and what a creek it is. It moves through the woods in picturesque short zigzags and is covered with a canopy of trees growing in all kinds of directions anywhere from vertical to almost horizontal. And that's what caught my eye on this day.
Birdsong Creek in the WoodsOrchard Park, NY
Birdsong Creek in the Woods
Birdsong with a Pentax K1000 on Double-X 5222
As if to confirm its charming looks, this creek proves the point further down the trail. Coming to the very end of the hike there is a creek visible just off to the right. And it just happens to be a middle section of the same creek just about midway between the first and second photos above. And again enclosed among trees growing in seemingly impossible directions.
Birdsong CreekOrchard Park, NY
Birdsong Creek
Birdsong with a Pentax K1000 on Double-X 5222
So there you have it, a quick walk through a wonderful town park and three photographs of the same creek. So yes, I admit, calling this post The Creeks of Birdsong is a bit misleading. But is that really important?
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!
Lower Niagara Rapids - The CrashMonochrome
Lower Niagara Rapids - The CliffsMonochrome
Lower Niagara Rapids - The SwellMonochrome
Upper Papermill Falls in Black & WhiteMonochrome
Eighteen Mile Creek Bend in WinterMonochrome