I am not talking about Game of Thrones or Winterfell either. All signs here point to a mild winter. The caterpillars are not too wooly and there are tons of acorns on the ground. Somehow, I feel that we will get more snow than last year which, is not saying much because last winter never happened. Won’t be too long though until sources like this will become common. You can see other images from my nature portfolio by clicking here.
Winter Patterns
Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus is a plant native to the southwestern USA. They are fairly easy to grow at home if you have the right lighting conditions. This one was photographed at the Garfield Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois. You can buy a print of this image by clicking here.
Opuntia at he Garfield Conservatory
Wetlands is the new politically correct word for a swamp. Just sounds better doesn’t it? Wetlands in Pennsylvania are homes to bears, snakes and migratory birds and a valuable water source. In the autumn they take on a wonderful color like this spot in the Pocono Mountains. You can purchase a print of this image and see others on my commercial site by clicking here.
Pennsylvania Wetlands
It is fall in the Pocono Mountains and the leaves are falling down creating splashes of color everywhere. While the autumn is beautiful, the leaves can create a huge mess. Sometimes there are a lot of wet leaves on a mountain road and they are easy to skid on or slip on while walking. Hopefully it doesn’t snow too early because a heavy snowfall on top of leaves equals one colossal cluster ____. However it is all worth it to see the crown of natures beauty. You can see other images and buy a print of this one at my commercial gallery by clicking here..
Falling Leaves
Around the corner from my house is this little pond that is part of the Maple Swamp. Swamp in the Pocono Mountains means something different than it does in the South or near the equator. Sure we have the occasional Black Bear and you have to watch out for a rare copperhead but there are no large snakes and alligators.This is my neighborhood in the fall, you can buy a print at my commercial gallery by clicking here.
Autumn in the Poconos
Although I consider myself to be first and foremost a photojournalist, I like all sorts of photography. I love photographing animals,sports contests,concerts and scenic views. Sometimes though, the devil is in the detail. Macro and closeup photography provides a different perspective and view of the world. I love photographing architectural patterns and closeup photography of plants and foliage. One of these succulent leafs is beautiful all by itself but when you photograph the foliage of many, the plant itself changes into a natural mosaic. This was photographed at Chicago’s Garfield Conservatory. You can buy a print of this image by clicking here.
Leaf Patterns at the Garfield Conservatory
If you drive to Lake Como or take a Bus or Boat you might miss this great scene. This is the side of a sculpture you see as descending the stairs from the Lake Como Train Station. It is called the Monumento ai Caduti per Servicio and dedicated to disabled service people. It was created by Francesco Somaini and is actually a sculpture of two hands but from this angle it looks like the City is waving hello. You can buy a print of this image at my commercial gallery by clicking here.
No, I am not talking about “Game of Thrones”. In the Pocono mountains winter comes early though, just like it does for the Starks. Last year we had our biggest snowfall in October. The leaves were not completely off the trees when we got our surprise snowfall last year and it made a colossal mess. I am hoping for even less snow this year, I hate winter! You can buy a print of this image on my commercial gallery by clicking here.
A Winter Oak
We are looking to move back home to Pittsburgh soon. We haven’t lived there since 1978 although we have visited many times to see family and friends. There is a reason that Pittsburgh is frequently listed as one of the best places to live in recent years. Low real estate costs, reasonable taxes, one of the best medical centers and solid public transportation to list just a few. It is also a very clean city. People frequently see Pittsburgh as viewed from the North Side where you can see the confluence of the rivers. This is a more pedestrian view from the South Side with the deck of the Gateway Party Liner in the foreground. You can buy a print of this image on my commercial gallery by clicking here.
Pittsburgh from the Southside
Most still photographers don’t think about panning very much. Panning is commonly used in cinematography but in still photography will cause motion blur. Sometimes motion blur can make an image work by giving the illusion of motion. If you place the camera on a tripod and pan with the action during a slow shutter speed you can still create blurred motion but through panning make the subject blur less. This was shot at an exposure of 1 second and the camera was panned with the action during exposure. The panning causes the background to blur but by panning with the action the deer are not blurred as much making them stand out. You can see more of my nature images at my gallery by clicking here
Running Deer
Imagery Photography 