Sunday, October 31, 2010

Have You Ever Heard Of Tamarack Trees?



A friend of mine Brad located Tamarack Trees not to far from where I live. Tamarack trees are also know as Western Larch. In the fall the trees turn a golden yellow and are the only conifer to drop their needles. You will find growing ponds and bog areas.


Another friend mentioned Tamarack Trees was used by our native Americans for making canoes, tepee poles and was used to treat for medicinal use.

After Brad mentioned his finding, I decided to go searching for the trees. I realized had I seen the golden trees, I thought they were dying and would never had photographed, I am very glad Brad educated me. I enjoyed the fun of learning and finding beautiful Tamarack Trees in their golden fall tones.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Looking Up

Hiking Winipseaukee River Trail, I looked up and found grass with late afternoon lighting on the seed heads.

One my lesson's learned:  look at all levels, walk around all view points of an area you are shooting.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Raindrops

Raindrops On Japanese Maple


A friend Betty's challenge Creativity--Bits and Pieces, (check out her beautiful blog) was, taking pictures from inside your home. It was raining yesterday when I took this shot. My image was taken from a bathroom window over looking a Japanese Maple in full fall color, covered with raindrops.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Photo That "Sparked" My Photography Interest

First Image Taken With My First Digital Camera

Garland Pond, Moultonborough, NH, 10 Year Later, Over Grown But Still Pretty



About 10 years I purchased my first digital camera. A friend and artist asked me to send him photos for him to paint, living in beautiful New Hampshire, finding beautiful scenery was not hard to do. My first image I had taken look pretty good, helping me realize a new interest and hobby, photography. Instead of using the camera for holidays, birthdays, vacations and putting away in drawer waiting for the next event, I started shooting.


Bob and I return often to the place my first image was taken, sadly the park and overlook is overgrown but still offers a pretty view. 


I would be interested in hearing what sparked your interest in photography.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

NH.com Photo Contest

I enter a photo for NH.com fall's photo contest.  If you like my photo please vote for me :).

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Sack Lunches

My blog I share my photos but sometimes I will post what I consider a thought provocative post. Ellen, my friend sent me my below post, I wanted to share with my readers. Have a wonderful day and remember honor our servicemen and women.
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

'This is your thanks..'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.

A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.

I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base.. It will be about time for a sandwich.

God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country.. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

New York City Skyline and Giant's Stadium View From New Jersey


Bob and I attended our class reunion held in our hometown, East Rutherford, NJ, last weekend, what a great time we had.


We had a beautiful view from our hotel room over looking New York City skyline and Giants Stadium with a football game soon starting. You can see the lighted bill board plus a plane flying over the stadium with banner.

Giants won:
Giants 17, Bears 3