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Abstract Seasons, Fall & Winter
Abstract Seasons - Woods in AutumnTrunks, foliage, and forest floor.
A few months back I captured a forest abstract of an early fall. It was a very simplified representation of the scene in front of me showing hints of only the main elements. The strong verticals of the tree trunks, the still mostly green foliage with some signs of yellow tones, and the brown forest floor. It seemed to have represented the moment better than any other photo I took that morning.
Now fast forward to December. Winter came early to Western New York, and especially the south towns of Buffalo. It all started before Thanksgiving with such a nice snowfall that Kissing Bridge opened on Wednesday followed by Holiday Valley on Friday. Yes, there was a little set back a week later with temperatures in the high 50s but nature quickly restored its winter glory and these last few days leading to December 15 each brought about a foot of snow.
Abstract Seasons - Woods in WinterTrunks, cloudy sky, and snowy blanket.
As I was walking around looking for ways to capture the white wintery mood I had an idea to go with a similar abstract to compare the seasons in an abstract form.
And they sure look different, don't they? The colors of the leaves have gone and were replaced with the cloudy sky visible through the bare trees. And the colors of the forest floor were replaced with a thick blanket of snow.
Equipment Used:
Nikon D600, Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack, Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), 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!
Winter by the Orchard Park Train Depot
Where the Trains Don't Go Any MoreA Harry Yates legacy in Orchard Park, New York
Over the last few weeks I've been taking a closer look at my immediate surroundings looking for places I've either not photographed yet at all, or haven't photographed for a while. I also tried looking for seasons covered and not.
That yielded two of my recent posts: Between Fall and Winter, Orchard Park Library, and White Thanksgiving around Buffalo. Today's post continues that series.
This was a beautiful evening with a fresh coat of snow and freshness in the air. I enjoyed some more angles of the Orchard Park Library and then moved on to the depot, still catching it with some beautiful blues left in the sky. I played with different angles here too, off and on tracks.
The depot was built in 1911 by the Buffalo, Rochester Pittsburgh Railway presided by Harry Yates, an Orchard Park resident. The depot site also includes a freight house, very uncommon for a small town train depot. Today, it is owned and run by the Western New York Railway Historical Society.
Sources:
Equipment Used:
Nikon D600, Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, ALZO Wireless Radio Shutter Release, Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack, Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), 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!
Road Trip: Golden Spike Tower & Union Pacific's Bailey Rail Yard
Nebraska became the 37th state to join the United States on March 1, 1867. The capital city is Lincoln. The highest point is Panorama Point at 5,424 feet.
Road Trip 2013 - Day 4 - June 14 - Nebraska - Stop 2 (Previous road trip 2013 posts: Indiana Dunes, De Immigrant, Amana Colonies, Des Moines, Madison County Roads, Bridges of Madison County, White Pole Road, Great Platte River Road Archway Monument)
Union Pacific's Bailey Rail YardView from the Golden Spike Tower
Whether you are a fan of trains or not if you're passing through Nebraska on I-80 near North Platte I'd recommend this stop. You can spend as much or as little time as you want. If you can I'd also recommend skipping the elevator in the Golden Spike Tower and heading for the stairs. It just might be the best way to stretch your legs and get the circulation going again!
Union Pacific's Bailey Yard stretches over 2,850 acres of land and handles 10,000 train cars a day! The yard consists of two hump yards, westward and eastward, where a gentle slope is designed to take advantage of gravity and cars are sent down these without need for additional power. The yard also has a locomotive repair shop the size of three football fields.
The Union Pacific Railroad is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and is the largest railroad network in the United States.
Golden Spike TowerUnion Pacific's Bailey Rail Yard, North Platte, NE
If I remember right, the elevator takes you to an 8th floor covered observation deck. However, I would recommend the 7th floor open half-deck, and taking stairs. The fresh air adds to the intensity of the visit. You had all of your comfort in your car, didn't you? So why not some intense stair master exercise and some fresh air? And by all means, visit both floors. The boards are quite informative and you can learn quite a bit about the "train business". I quickly looked at Yelp for reviews and I agree with most, other than the few one-star ones from those that apparently can't entertain themselves and need an organized tour, a movie, and step by step entertainment instructions. And no, the visit is not free - it will run you $7 / person and we did receive a $1 AAA discount.
If you have these, by all means, bring binoculars with you and a long lens for your camera, as well as a normal or a wide one. I enjoyed both wide views and looking at the individual trains being handled. And if you're up for it, this might be a good place to try a panorama stitching, or at least the automatic panorama your smart phone can do.
Ok, you rested, stretched your legs, got some fresh air, have your own opinion about the place, back in the car for the next few hundred miles.
Wait! If you are if North Platte, Nebraska and found the Golden Spike Tower and Bailey Rail Yard interesting there is another place you may want to consider. Cody Park Railroad Museum (closed in winter) has the only Union Pacific Challenger on public display, the Union Pacific 3977. Another Challenger from the same series, UP 3985 is the largest operating steam locomotive in the world. They were both built in 1943. Alongside, you will find a Union Pacific 6922 diesel locomotive built by General Motors as part of the most powerful and longest single-unit diesel locomotive series. You will also see a railroad depot, rail cars, and a caboose.
Enjoy the road!
- Nebraska on 50states.com
- Golden Spike Tower
- Golden Spike Tower Live Webcam (not as good as a personal visit since it does not provide as good sense of scale)
- Union Pacific Railroad on Wikipedia
- Cody Park Railroad Museum, North Platte, Nebraska
- Challenger No. 3985
- Union Pacific 3985 on Wikipedia
- EMD DDA40X on Wikipedia
Equipment Used:
Nikon D600, Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack, Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), 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!
Road Trip: Great Platte River Road Archway Monument
Nebraska became the 37th state to join the United States on March 1, 1867. The capital city is Lincoln. The highest point is Panorama Point at 5,424 feet.
Road Trip 2013 - Day 4 - June 14 - Nebraska - Stop 1 (Previous road trip 2013 posts: Indiana Dunes, De Immigrant, Amana Colonies, Des Moines, Madison County Roads, Bridges of Madison County, White Pole Road)
Great Platte River Road Archway MonumentLearn about early pioneers right by I-80 in Kearney, NE.
The road trip has taken us another state westward. Just about half way across Nebraska, in Kearney, this was a wonderful stop to rest and learn something new at the same time. Despite the millions of travelers passing underneath the archway every year, this wonderful museum enjoys only about 50,000 visitors each year. We're all in such a hurry! Don't be like most, slow down, get off the highway, and learn something new. You can rest and eat at the same time and be fresh for the next several hundred miles ahead of you. In my opinion, well worth the stop!
The monument, built as an arch directly over I-80, will take you back “to an era when covered wagons, buffalo, hand-pulled carts, and trains first criss-crossed the prairie”. It will take you back to mid nineteenth century when pioneers traveled to the West Coast overcoming many challenges they could not even imagine.
Inside the archway your wi-fi headsets detect the zone you are in and automatically play the relevant narration. The exhibits consist of both physical objects, like wagons and their cargo, as well as large whole-wall murals. It’s all made in a way that’s engaging for both adults and children.
Artifacts at the Archway MonumentLearn about early pioneers right by I-80 in Kearney, NE.
Aside for the interior exhibit your admission will also include an outside exhibit about Pawnee Indians, how and where they lived, and how they grew their food.
To close your visit off, you can try your navigational skills at their outdoor maze. Can you visit all four towers and then find your way to the exit? Who can make it faster? Again, challenging enough for both adults and children. Oh, and if you’re hungry, before or after the maze, the first floor restaurant is very reasonable and yummy!
The monument opened to the public in 2000, however, is having severe financial difficulties. Maybe the new eastbound exit on I-80 will help. If you’re driving by (or under I should say), take a break and visit.
Enjoy your travels!
PS: December has started and I am on Day 4 of our June road trip. At this pace, the next road trip will be here before I manage to document the previous one. I guess I'll have to pick the pace up.
- Nebraska on 50states.com
- Great Platte River Road Archway Monument
- Great Platte River Road Archway Monument on Wikipedia
- A Monument to the West That Many Pass By on New York Times
Equipment used:
Nikon D600, Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack, Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), 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!
Memories of Autumn in Winter
It's still November, and it's a beautiful white and sunny winter day after Thanksgiving 2013. Some call it Black Friday, I call it a day off. Skiing started at Kissing Bridge on Wednesday, Holiday Valley kicked the season off today. It is difficult to predict what the future holds but I am hoping for low temperatures and regular dose of snow to keep everything white and clean. Winter's here so it might be pretty as well!
That being said, I do miss summer and fall here and there. And that s where photographs can come handy. Whether you like to view them on your computer screens or hang as large format prints or gallery canvas wraps on your walls, they do seem to warm everything up. And hang your canvas by a fireplace and it sure will feel warmer no matter what's behind your window. Here's one on my photos to warm things up.
Fall At Watkins GlenColorful fallen leaves lining Glen Creek for a Warm Look
Watkins Glen Cascades in the Fall
Need more colors and warmth to browse? Feel free to check out my Autumn Collection.
Have a great winter!
Equipment used:
Nikon D600, Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, Induro Carbon Fiber 4-section Tripod (CT014) (my travel tripod; its four sections give it smaller collapsed size and it's also lighter than my standard workhorse tripod. It has been through deserts and oceans and is still going strong after 4 years), Manfrotto ball head (496RC2), Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack, Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), SanDisk Extreme 32GB SD Cards, Exposure delay mode of 2 seconds, no remote release, 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!