• landscape,  sunrises

    Hazy Sunrise

    Hazy Sunrise
    Hazy Sunrise

    Morning haze makes for some interesting sunrise images. Visibility is decreased and colors change. They can be difficult to correctly expose. But, don’t you love them? I could be wrong, but it seems my home state of Colorado does not have as many mornings of haze as I find here in Ohio. My curiosity drove me to google-it for an answer.

    Haze is caused when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the air. Some light is absorbed by particles while other light is scattered away before it reaches an observer. On days when there are more pollutants in that air, light is absorbed and scattered more. When this happens, visibility is reduced as well as the clarity and color of what we see. Some types of particles such as sulfates scatter more light, particularly during humid conditions. Haze is caused from a variety of natural sources such as wind-blown dust or soot from wild fires. Man-made sources include cars, electric utility plants, and factories.

    Have a super day!

  • landscape,  Metro Parks

    My back yard

     

    Blendon Woods
    Blendon Woods

    I have a wonderful back yard. It’s called Blendon Woods Metro park. I think this image captures what I mean by this. While on an afternoon walk I stopped by the waterfowl overlooks at Thoreau Lake and was treated with both a small deer and a blue heron. Of course I did not have a telephoto lens so they are quite small. The heron is on the right side and the deer is along the edge of the lake. Birds are singing their songs of happiness and the sounds of the city cannot be heard. This parks boundary is right behind my apartments. I do have to drive or walk around to the park entrance.

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  coffee shops,  Documentary/Street

    Pick a Chair

     

    Painted Chairs
    Painted Chairs

    While walking the streets in Westerville, Ohio, I discovered these chairs on a porch at a small shop. Colorful and eye-catching I raised up my camera to capture in pixels what I saw and felt. But what did these eclectic chairs on this porch lead to?

    Ironically the shop is called Serendipity. At first I thought it was a coffee shop but they were advertising ice cream sundaes. After walking inside I discovered it’s an older home where they have converted the different rooms into small coves with tables and chairs. People can come in find a table in a corner that suits them for study time, after all it is a college town, or read a book, or write in their journal or share an intimate conversation. For any of you couch potatoes, you could sink into the couch located in a back room and watch CNN on a flat screen TV. Weather permitting you may want to grab one of the tables on the patio or you could pick one of the brightly painted chairs on the front porch and stare at strangers as they walk by.

    I met the owners, a husband and wife team, who hire the college students to help in the shop. I would use the words friendly, outgoing, energetic, to describe them. From the description above you may think I’m describing a coffee shop but it is more than that. They served a little bit of everything including sandwiches, fries, soups, salads, ice cream, malts and coffees. Did I mention ice cream? Their ambiance was inviting enough that I’ll go back sometime and try one of their paninis or a sundae or a salad or a bowl of soup or a quesadilla or a cappuccino or a……

  • Candid Portraits,  Metro Parks

    The Innis Sisters

     

     

    The Innis Sisters
    The Innis Sisters

    I took Jamie to InnisWood Gardens. They have a sculpture recognizing the efforts of the Innis sisters. The sisters  wanted to preserve and enhance their  gardens and woodlands for the enjoyment of all people resulted in their generous donation of their home and property to the Metro Parks in 1972. This sculpture shows the one sister reading to the other who os holding a basket of flowers. Jamie ran over and stood behind them while I took the photo. 

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Travel

    Granville Streets

     

    Downtown Granville
    Downtown Granville

    One of my coworkers lives in the small New-England style Village of Granville, Ohio and suggested I visit the town sometime. Well today was the sometime. We had clear skies and cold temperatures so felt a drive over there was the order for the day. After having my car serviced I headed for Granville which is located about 15 miles from Columbus along Highway 161. The above image was taken on the main street of the older part of town. Just behind me is the intersection of Broadway and Main. Each corner of the intersection was a church. It reminded my of the fact this country was founded and settled with Christian roots.

  • landscape

    Fog and Mist

     

    Fog and Mist
    Fog and Mist

    Todays weather matches my mood: gray and drab. I woke to the pattering of rain on my bedroom window, causing me to snuggle deeper into my blankets. It remained cloudy with fog and a light mist off and on throughout the day. I felt confined inside so this afternoon I drove out east in the New Albany area to explore wonder of the the landscape and feel the weather. There is a mood with rain and fog that wraps around us. While in bed the mood is to wrap ourselves in a warm blanket while getting out and taking in the fog and rain can be invigorating. For me  I can see deeper into nature. Photographers will mention how much contrast is increased with rain and diffused light from clouds and fog. This mood, this feeling can be portrayed in the simplest of scenes as seen in this road leading into the trees. When we stay dry and venture out in this weather we can have some wonderful photo opportunities and encounters with nature.