Our annual trip to the mountains in north Georgia was again in the general area of Blue Ridge.  Here are a few photographs from the week including one from Burt's Farm which I photographed last year.  The pumpkin display is extensive and features orange and white ones.  (MF Film)

Here are two photographs I rather like.  One is from many years ago at Pemaquid Point on the Maine coast.  The other, taken recently, is also of rocks, but in Florida at the mouth of the Fort George River.  Both were taken with the same camera, a Pentax 67 but more than thirty years apart. That camera is still the one I use almost exclusively. 

I'm trying to stay away from the shore where it's all too easy to find interesting subjects.  So, I went for a very long walk on a bike path a few hundred yards inland and found this.  (MF Film)

Most of the trees at Washington Oaks State Park are live oaks.  I recently read that they were much prized by ship builders because of their often complex curves.  These photographs were made in the gardens which are beautifully maintained.  (MF Film)

Returning to the present day, here are two photographs from Marineland Beach.  There was a strong breeze and a tempestuous sky that was a fine complement to the raucous surf.   (MF Film)

Here are three from 2012 taken in the Warwick Valley of 'upstate' New York near where I used to live. I think this is an orchard, but I'm not sure what kind.  The trees are too tall and straight to be apples which leaves me utterly uncertain of what they are.  They were gorgeous in their April raiment, though!  (MF Film)

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More oldies!  From my summers in Maine teaching at the New England Music Camp came this view of the lighthouse at Pemaquid Point.  We often went there on our one day off from teaching, and always stopped in New Harbor to eat lobstah with a mug of beah!  The other is of the moon at perigee over the Hudson River at Peekskill. Good times!  (MF Film)

Sorting through some pages of negatives from years past, I discovered some from 2001 that were taken at Watkins Glen, NY.  I seem to recall reading that some Tarzan movies were made in Watkins and/or one of the other glens in that region.  It's fun to see these almost 20 years later.  (MF Film)

Here are three more from the Talbot Islands State Parks within the last two days.  (MF Film)

The first two of these three photographs must seem unremarkable until you realize the fences go over little hills!  And why is that noteworthy?  Because this is northeast Florida and if you feel the need to climb something you need to go to a mall and take the stairs to the second or third floor.  The air at the end of September here is finally much more pleasant, and I was not at all too warm schlepping a mile or two with my photo backpack and tripod. There was a good stiff breeze too, and a roiling,  windblown surf.  (MF Film)

Here are three more from yesterday's (Friday the 13th) shoot.  Who says that date is unlucky anyway!!   (MF Film)

Scouting for subjects to photograph, I usually find myself driving north to the Talbot Island SPs and surrounding area. Today, though, I drove south to the area near Marineland.  Before getting quite that far, I came to the mouth of the Matanzas River where it empties into the ocean.  I have to remind myself to go there more often as there's much drama in the sea and sky when the Atlantic Ocean has been or is getting to be busy. (MF Film)

Before making the forty minute trip, I checked on line that the Talbot Islands State Parks were open again after yesterday's hurricane had move on.  There was no mention that they were not, but when I got there, the gates were still shut. I was disappointed, but at least the trail to boneyard beach was open, so that's where I took myself.  I was hoping for a roiling ocean surf, and high tide, but I discovered neither of those. The tide was out, and the ocean was quite calm. so I settled once again for portraits of long fallen trees that, in death, survived as relics longer than they had as living trees. I think they're wonderfully sculptural.  (MF Film)

 

Hurricane Dorian has crept up the coast of Florida like an inebriated sloth, but the sea and sky ahead of its arrival has been visually very exciting.  All the access points I had hoped to visit had been closed because of the storm, but these photographs were taken from the side of the road at Little Talbot Island State Park.  (MF Film)

There's something comforting about returning to familiar places that have been photographically fertile. However, it's risky to do that without being sure what is photographed isn't repetitious and stale.  This photograph is one of that kind...I've made quite a few photographs here, but I don't think any duplicates what has already been done except for the actual place.  It's like making multiple portraits of the same person.  The face remains the same, but the expression, lighting, and other details can be different. (MF Film)

I sometimes wonder about the sentience of trees.  Some say they are that to a degree. If so, these two  reveal very different experiences.  The poet (which I am not) could spin a myth of crushing humility and soaring exuberance!  (MF Film)

A day like this one could eventually clear up leaving warm, filtered sunlight, gentle breezes, and puffy clouds. OR, it could devolve into spitting, wind driven rain, and totally grey skies. I don't remember which of those two possibilities actually occurred, but in the moment, it was lovely!  (MF Film)

I hadn't been to Big Talbot Island SP for quite a while, especially this part of boneyard beach.  I had a hunch the sky would be interesting if I visited today, and I was not disappointed.  (MF Film)

Most of the time, I drive north to an area where I've often found worthwhile subjects to photograph.  I decided, instead, to drive south today along Route A1A that hugs the coastline and beaches.  My drive ended at Vilano where these two images were waiting.  (MF Film)

I don't know why it has taken me so long to discover how splendid early light is, but knowing it now gets me up well before dawn.  It's a half hour drive to where these two photographs were taken, but usually well worth it!  I was concerned about internal reflections shooting directly into the sun, but the lens is well coated, and I was using a deep yellow filter which may have also helped. (MF Film)

Getting up very early seems a bit onerous unless there's something to look forward to.  What I'm discovering is how gorgeous early light is.  I'm eager to be up well before dawn now!  (MF Film)