Puddle Shot of the Buffalo City Hall This morning I headed out for a sunrise photo of the Buffalo City Hall. Using TPE (The Photographer's Ephemeris) I knew that light would really be best at least an hour after sunrise, maybe later, but why not be there for sunrise?

I set up with mostly nobody around, took my establishing shots, and then waited and waited, adding some more shots as the light developed. In the end, my estimate of having to wait about an hour proved too optimistic and 2.5 hours later the light was about 3/4 of what I wanted it to be and I had to pack it and leave. Oh well ...

However, as I was waiting between my pictures I tired to look around and see what else the location presented. I loved this puddle, it was just about perfect. Fairly large, clear, letting both the reflection and the sidewalk texture come through.

In the end, this was the first and so far the only photo I processed and posted. It's completely different than what I had previously done at this location. And that takes me to my very first blog post on this site: Plan but Welcome the Random!

Have fun and keep clicking!

The current photographic theory has it that pictures should be taken during the two magic hours of the day - around sunrise, and around sunset. The light is warm, colors are great, long shadows create depth and intensify textures. But what happens to the rest of the day? Don't we live for more than 2 hours a day? Also, what if everyone followed the magic hour theory? Wouldn't all photos look the same and wouldn't the magic hour lose some of its magic?

Two Trees on the Waterfront

So today, I was adding to my collection of daytime photos. This one was just shortly after noon as some impressive clouds were rolling in over Lake Erie and Buffalo's Waterfront, just south of downtown. There's a beautiful bike path along the water's edge but otherwise, this area is completely empty. Well, almost empty. There are three pairs of trees of various sizes that always catch my attention and serve as my secondary subject. Today, I focused on them after taking pictures of a cargo ship across the road on the City Ship Canal.

 

This is actually a stitch of three horizontal exposures. I did not intend on it, shot exactly as seen here with a single exposure, the trees also centered in the bottom, but then I noticed the land and clouds extending further left and right and thought adding more would further highlight the open empty land and the two lonely trees.

I am a bit late writing about this. It's been on my list for about a month. But it's a funny story even if no longer relevant this year. Maybe you will remember it next year when something similar happens to you.

I continued my project to shoot local bridges and went to Squaw Island on the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY, to watch the sun set over the International Railroad Bridge. I did not even walk too far from the parking lot and set my camp on the river shore rocks about 2 minutes from my car. About 60 feet from me was a very friendly guy, Eugene, who just came to enjoy the beauty with his eyes and binoculars. He made the evening so much more enjoyable by commenting on what he saw through the binoculars, whether on the boats passing by or on the opposite shore in Canada.

The sun has set, Eugene packed up quickly and said he was out of there before the June bugs come. He did not want to get bitten. I had never heard of June bugs before, had no idea what they might be, or whether he was just in general referring to all insects that happen to show up after sunset. I continued taking pictures of the bridge as the colors in the sky intensified, and later faded. I tried long and short exposures, with and without filters, it was a good time and the cool breeze over the water felt wonderful after the hot summer day.

When I was done, it was getting quite dark but I figured I'd walk around the island a bit to pick a possible spot for the next time. I think I walked about 200 years or so when all of a sudden I was under an intense attack! Several flying bugs were flying around my head and crashing into me, into my head, back, legs, everywhere. They did not just fly around, they were crashing right into me! I had no idea what they were and Eugene's words sounded in my head over and over.

Needless to say, this was one of the fastest retreats from a photo expedition ever. I pretty much ran all the way to the car. There was a bit more fun with some bugs under my shirt and getting in the car, but in the end, I survived and looking back at the incident makes me chuckle. I can still see myself running, waving my hands, and wondering why the crazy bugs went after me like that.

Thank you Eugene, you tired to warn me but I was clueless.

Have fun and keep clicking!