Thanks to all the exhibitors from the 2009 Flower and Garden Show.

Pictures:

[click to image to enlarge]

Ok, so strictly speaking upstate NY is not included in the tri-state area according to wikipedia, but it is a convenient phrase. I was over in the Rock Gym looking for something to photograph when I noticed a guy was staring me down. Generally speaking this is because I am carrying a camera and not because I am so awesome to observe. Sure enough, "Joe" introduced himself and while his buddies climbed the boulders, he and I talked Nikon.

As it turns out Joe is into photography and climbing (which I can appreciate) and he is in town with a few guys from NY for the weekend exploring the wilds of Rhode Island. When I overhead them talking about climbing in the woods nearby I had to invite myself along. I love shooting in Lincoln Woods, outdoor light is so much more forgiving and interesting than indoor light.

So, I managed to not get the group lost in the 5 minutes from the gym to the woods, and soon we were amongst the rocks and trees. Without fail, I run into a top notch scientist clinging to a rock when I go out there. This time, it was a German professor (his nationality, not specialty) from MIT. I didn't post his photo just 'cause he took off before I established a rapport and I don't want to start posting too many random photos of people I don't know.

I also met a guy named Kyle from NJ (who was wearing a NY Giants cap). Saddened, I realized I was surrounded by Yankees and Giants fans. I put aside my inner disdain and poked around here and there shooting.

I need to get out shooting film more. Pretty much if you are really mediocre at photography, film will let you know. It makes me really work each time I am out. It is too easy to set the camera to A (for awesome) or P (for Pro) and "set it and forget it." [Edit: I think these modes are the curse of automatic cameras for many aspiring photogs]. I wanted to really work and get it right in the camera. I had a total of 60 exposures to work with, in Tri-X, and three lenses: a 105 f2.5 (world class), a 50mm f1.4mm (pretty good), and a 12-24mm f4 DX (~17mm+ for film). Ideally I wanted to be shooting as large an aperture as possible, but lighting (and I had a flash for fill) wouldn't always permit it. The 1/250th sync max kept me from throwing the background out on a number of shots. But, in the end I got what I was looking for.

I wanted to get some portraits. There are things in each photo I may work differently if I were to do it over, but I enjoyed being out shooting. Whenever I am out with film it is a bit of a pop-quiz. Every shot costs money and you don't have an infinite number. So, what are you trying to say with each image? I know I didn't catch the most outrageous climbing pictures, but that wasn't really my goal. Instead I think I caught some moments of real people doing what they do.

Many thanks to Zack, Brian, Brent, Joe (hah! I think I got that right) and Kyle.

[click to image to enlarge]

Every now and again you see something that just begs for miniaturization. Driving around Providence at night I have often remarked upon the beautiful view of the houses on the east side. I was inspired a bit by Rachel Whiteread's exhibit at the MFA . It is a bit surreal to walk in to the venerable Museum of Fine Arts and pull back a thick black curtain to be surrounded by doll houses lit by small electric lights.

A few weeks after visiting the exhibit I decided to put my vision of the houses into action. I took a bit longer than I told Amie I would (she was patiently waiting in the car as I trudged through the snow). Somehow an hour goes by very quickly even in the bitter cold standing knee deep in snow with holes in your shoes. It just takes the right vista before you. I shot long exposures with a well planted tripod. Most of the exposures were between 20-30 seconds (OK not so long by astronomy photographer's standards perhaps).

When all was said and done looking at the picture here I was pretty happy. I suppose if I wanted to there are things that could be different. But, the image just gives me a tickle. It's nice to dream of something, or see something, and just take the time to make it happen.