Remy, Henry and I took a nice fall drive today. Here are a few of the images I got.
Fall Drive
Landscapes
Almost a lost opportunity
This sunset photo was taken just outside of Pittsburgh earlier this year. My brother Josh and I had just finished a weekend of shooting urban exploration photographs in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and were on our way back to Toledo, Oh for Easter. We had waited for the sunset in the city on one of the many bridges in the city until we just couldn’t take the wind anymore. We felt like we had shot some nice sunset shots until we realized that the best was yet to come. Instead of being upset over the lost opportunity, we pulled the car over and took these shots.
Walleye Run
The Walleye Run in the Maumee River in Toledo, Oh is a big event each year. It’s so big, Toledo has named it’s professional hockey team, The Walleyes, who are actually in the playoffs right now. Each year the Walleye come up the Maumee river to spawn and it attracts hundreds of fisherman each year. At peak times, you can see fisherman of all ages, sexes and races fishing shoulder to shoulder. Some fish waste deep in the water with their waders, nets and stringer lines and some fish from small boats in the middle of the river. Despite the method, most leave with at least one fish on their line.
It’s also great business for local bait vendors and sports equipment retailers. There is a certain set of gear that it seems all fisherman must have. Those who don’t have the proper gear look awkward and amateur.
This shot was taken at dawn near Sidecut Park in Maumee, Oh.
Drill Baby Drill
As I traveled along I-25 north of Denver, I realized the landscape was spattered with these oil drills. I’m always looking for situations where there’s a juxtaposition of nature and man. Although we’re currently completely dependent on oil for transportation, energy and plastics. I hope that one day these oil drills are replaced with renewable technologies. Until then, they make for a great composition.
Smooth Waters
Yesterday, I received a neutral density filter that I ordered earlier in the week. I went for a walk along the Platte river with my dog, Kahlo to get this shot. I scouted this spot on a walk with my partner Remy last weekend and I knew it would be the perfect place to try out this new filter. A neutral density filter just filters out a certain percentage of light passing through the lens. This allows me to either reduce my depth of field in bright situations by opening up the lens or, as in this case, leave my shutter open for longer periods of time in brighter situations. This is a 3 second exposure at f-stop 29. I love the smooth feeling of the water going over the rocks.
Costco Sunset
The other day I was heading to Costco for some of the usual staples and I noticed this sunset from the parking lot. I try to make it a habit to always have my camera with me, and on that day, I did. I took about 6 captures and this was my favorite.
I used to miss shots like these because I thought the fence destroyed the scene. I realize now that the fence doesn’t ruin anything. This view is one that so many people see everyday but don’t even really notice. I’ve come to embrace the lines of the city. Telephone poles, wires and street signs are all a part of our every day experience. It should also be in our art.
Como Cemetery
This was taken from Como Cemetery, just outside of Como, Colorado. Como is an old mining town that was very popular because the railroad passed through on it’s way to Breckenridge. At one time the town even had two newspapers, multiple saloons and hotels. Much of the town burned and was never re-built.
Now, there are less than a hundred people living there. It’s situated at the opposite end of Boreas Pass from Breckenridge in South Park.
The Cemetery itself is filled with mysterious tombs of babies, nameless women and miners. It’s nestled into a beautiful Aspen Grove overlooking this great vista.
Water Tower
This great water tower was along the dirt road that led us to our campsite that was on a dramatic hill. Sleeping was so difficult that we had to move our site the next day. Never camp sleeping on a hill! It made for a good story and this dramatic photograph.
Mountain Living
We came across this trailer in Como, Colorado during a camping trip in the area. Although it might not be the ideal structure to live in, the view was amazing! Who chooses to live here? What is the history of this time and weather damaged structure?
