Gas Works Park

That’s Gas Works Park in Seattle. My photo makes it look serene, but last night it was bursting at the seams (I assume) with celebrants after the Seahawks gutted the Broncos. Mood changes everything, even the way the world looks.

Ocean Parkway

You can walk or ride your bike the five miles from Prospect Park, Brooklyn to Coney Island on Ocean Parkway.

The parkway and park were both designed in the late 1880’s by Fredrick Law Olmsted, the architect who designed Central Park. Until the 1970’s the parkway included a bridal path. You could rent a horse at Prospect Park and ride the 19 miles to Coney and back. The walking path and bike path, the first one constructed in the US, are part of the original design.

Walking there today in late March it was desolate. Lined with trees of extreme nakedness now, the paths are near deserted. Still one respects the genius of joining the two most impressive recreation areas in the Brooklyn with a third recreation area five miles long.

Soon the walkways and bike paths will be full of walkers, cyclists, baby strollers and couples. Ocean Parkway was a very good idea.

Sunday Morning Bagels

Brooklyn at 8:30 in the morning is quiet. The light is as sweet as anywhere even as it falls on dirty streets. The papers – Times and Daily News as well as Chinese ones – are piled high waiting to be read. Bagels & Beyond has been opened for a while and the plump delicious bagels are ready and still warm.

The alley ways and gardens have their cats and statues of the Virgin Mary. A few commuters are on their way to jobs via the elevated subway. The sun is shining today even in the face of the Times’ forecast: Today, Chilly, snow changing to rain, high 45.

I wonder what else they got wrong.

The Cathedral of Commerce

In 2005 we visited New York to see the Gates installation in Central Park and to meet our daughter’s boy friend’s parents. Had lunch in Little Italy and then walked through China Town toward the village. I saw a fabulous photo opportunity and created an image that has been used commercially as book covers twice. I took it with a little Olympus P&S — but a good camera nevertheless. (The Woolworth Building is the ornate skyscraper in the background, AKA The Cathedral of Commerce). Today I went back to the folder to see what shots I had that I never processed or used in any way. Came up with the ones below. I’m pleased with what I was able to do in Lightroom. I used some presets with a little tweaking. What do you think?

“Normal Black and White”

Unusual Black and White

Robust color and clarity

The one that has been published etc.

Cardinal Puffed Up in Storm

A cardinal trying to stay warm

Its snowing in Sandwich again today. Lots of activity around our feeders. Its hard on the birds and other wild life when it snows.

 

 

Woods Triptych

The Woods Filtered Three Ways.

I went for a longish walk in the woods on Valentine’s Day. I used a new app in my iPhone — Wood Camera. It has lots of filters that you can apply while shooting. I couldn’t decide on one so I made this triptych.

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Found in the woods on Valentine’s day.

Snowed in Blizzard Photos

During the blizzard of ’13 we had no power for 3 and a half days. Stayed at a friends part of the time.  Didn’t do much photography but took some snaps while we walked around Falmouth (where we had shelter from the storm) and out my back door while watching birds at our feeder. iPhone ones —  fun photos that have a charm of their own — aided by the Hipstamatic app.

Birds at our feeder – blizzard of ’13

Falmouth after the storm.

Shopping in Falmouth

Artsy puddle

 

Tom Turkey Display

I put out some seeds for the turkeys that live in our condo complex and was treated to some of the Toms in full display.

A puffed up Tom Turkey on display.

Fan tail the turkey.

Remember what these guys look like usually?

Turkeys in my backyard.

They get to look twice their size — “I’m big so watch out — don’t get between me and my food!”

 

 

Here is powerful, eloquent photography underscored with well chosen quotes. Steve McCurry is reliable.