Bob's Charting Out Tours of Sugar Houses and Maple Sugaring

Cooking down process, the smell is wonderful.

A display of grades of Maple Syrup

Pond View Maple Sugar House, Weare, NH

Maple syrup runs weather is warm during the day and cold nights.

March to us means New Hampshire's Maple Weekend, March 28-29, 2009. Bob found a site New Hampshire Maple Producers' Association - Welcoming Page This year we would like to visit and photograph different sugar houses. Bob is researching, mapping out, and entering the addresses in our GPS. We have a process .

We have found wonderful recipes, tasted freshly made maple syrup, sugar on the snow, learned about the grades syrup and cooking process. In addition I have the opportunity to photograph the sugar houses, process and scenery. You can view my previous year's images click on bpdphotos.com. I'll be adding new images after the tour.

Benu's Friday Finds

Benu at Creativity--Bits and Pieces blog has started a new feature. Friday Finds.

FRIDAY FINDS will be open for entries every Friday. You may share new finds or old. First, post "A FIND" photograph in your journal. (You may copy the FRIDAY FINDS header and place it in your blog with a link back to the FRIDAY FINDS weekly column along with your entry. To do this click on the image above and save it to your computer, then open it as an image in your journal and include link to this page with that image.) Next, return to this page and add a link to JUST your entry page, not to your entire blog. To do this, click on the heading of the entry in your blog and you'll get a window that is JUST that entry. Then, copy the URL from the browser address window at the top of your screen. Paste this URL address as a comment under FRIDAY FINDS COMMENTS here. That's all there is to it. Anyone may share a FIND. All are welcome.

My Entry

Fisheye Photos: Concord, NH State House

I bought my Fisheye Lens (/ef 15mm f.2,8), adding a new dimension, creativity to my photography. Not everyone likes the distraught look when using the Fisheye Lens, I happen to like the look.

Fisheye Lens are useful for wide landscapes, wide day or night sky shots and interior pictures of houses, vehicles, architecture and other confined spaces. The lens offers very sharp images. I am learning what works best with this lens, I am having fun!!!

Keeping Myself Amused During A Power Outage

A couple of nights ago, the night of the Academy Awards, I was sitting down to watch the anticipate show. Flash, dark the power went out!!!! We were having extremely heavy snow storm that took down the power lines. Our last power outage we were without power for three days, our neighboring towns were without for days and even weeks.

We lit the candles and settle in waiting for our power to return when I had an idea. "This was GREAT time to practice with my settings and flash outside." My husband thought I was nuts and tried talking me out of going outside but I was determined!!!!

I am so glad I did not listen to him, decided to go outdoors and tried taking a few images. You decide how did I do capturing the snow, beautiful snow scenery?

80th Laconia World Championship Sled Dog Derby 2009

I attended Laconia's Sled Dog Derby, February 14, 2009, always a fun event. Lakes Region Sled Dog Club The weather was cold, windy, sunny, did not deter large, spectators crowd.

You can feel and hear the excitement the dogs experience when they are ready to race, the barking, needing to hold them back from taking off until the count off, they love racing!!! The dogs are well cared for, you can see the attachment the owners have for their dogs.

Meredith, NH Docks, Church Landing Hotel

You will very often see me showing images of Meredith, NH, a beautiful resort town. Great eating places, shopping, hotels and boat docks, even scenic during the winter. Church Landing Hotel (you can see in the distance of my photograph), decorated in a comfortable, homey, rustic decor, with fireplaces roaring during the winter.

Meredith's Great Rotary Fishing Derby on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH 2009

Anglers run quite a few lines this way hoping for the record catch.

Fishing pole. The ice is 2 feet thick.

Snowmobilers enjoy the weekend also.

" The Lodge" bobhouse has a statellite TV, stove and now a hot tub.

Fish weighed in and regisitered, waiting to see which one brings in the record. Catches are hanging for each variety of fish.

I attended one of my favorite events, I enjoy photograph yearly, The Great Rotary Fishing Derby in Meredith, NH 2009. Ice Fishing Derby, a popular event, hosted by the Rotary Club, fundraiser offers great prizes. Offers a weekend of fishing, snowmobiling and I even saw a group cross country skiing on the Lake.

Testing a New Lens: Canon Fisheye EF 15mmf/2.8, Test Images

Canon Fisheye Photo Of Our Three Season Porch.

The Of My Test Images. Tall White Pines and Bench

I bought a fun lens for my scenics and architectural for my photography. Adding creative dimensions to my images. My friend Charlie had bought a Nikon Fisheye lens, seeing his images; I discovered and loved the look the Fisheye created. After researching on photographing scenery and architect with the Fisheye, I found it would work out nicely.

Not everyone is a fan of the distraught effect on the edges and a full frame camera would work best with this lens. I will be working with my lens this weekend and post my images.

Hopkinton, NH Barn and Silo

My back roads find, an old barn and silo on Rt. 103 in Hopkinton, NH is probably my best barn discovery. I have to return all seasons and retake. Check out my Old Barns, Structure and Equipment album.

New Hampshire's Three Covered Bridges

Old Railroad/Hopkinton Railroad Bridge, # 10, Contoocook, NH

Rowell Bridge #9, Hopkinton, NH.

Dalton Covered Bridge #12, Warner, NH

My back roads excursion this past weekend, took me back to cover bridges I have previous taken photos. I like returning all seasons and times of day looking for the perfect image.

My husband and I have located all but three covered bridges....I plan on completing our journey this year. The remaining three I need photography are in the north country.

Winter Scenery In My Backyard

Humorous Birdhouse

Backyard Winterview

I wanted to take a hike with my Canon 100-400 lens, exploring the use of this lens on the golf course. The snow depth was about 2 1/2 feet deep, helped change my mind. My images were actually taken indoors, looking out the window.

Brrrrrrr But Pretty!!!!

Early Saturday morning, on Main Street, Franklin, NH, we found a beautiful scene. Early morning fog and the spray from the rapid Winnisquam River, ice coated trees, river rocks. The challenging river is a place for kayakers often frequent, yes they usually run the day after New Year Eve in the frigid water. My picture includes an old train trestle, extending over the Winnisquam River.

I was not the only photographer who pulled over to take a few images. We had to straddle a snow bank on the edge of the road and hope we did not get hit with car or fall into the river...we prevailed, taking our shots. No way was it possible to set up a tripod.

Back Roads Photography

I love taking back roads looking for interesting old barns, sheds, farm equipment, covered bridges and scenery. Click on my link and check out my collection Old Barns, Structures and Equipment

Sadly a few old barns or sheds I photograph, I have returned finding they have either collapsed or been dismantle. I like to think my photography documents and preserve the memory of the old historical structures.

Round and About NH: Canterbury, Shaker Village

Shaker Village In the Winter


Canterbury United Community Church.


We took a ride yesterday, staying local because of the an expected snowstorm. One my favorite places to visit a picturesque towns, Canterbury where Shaker village is located. I like to return and capture all the season of the year.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
NH.com has invited NH's bloggers, adding blog entries to their site. You will find our entries on NH.com home page. If you are planning a New Hampshire vacation, NH.com is the place to go for information.

Light Post

Double click for full view

I was playing with an ordinary photo. Created a color isolation, converted to Black Pencil, final touch up, HRD plug in.

Steam Engine #7470 Run, North Conway, NH

Taking a ride, we saw a group of people with cameras standing near railroad crossings, naturally we had to stop.

Mount Washington Valley and Conway Scenic Railroad, runs nostalgic train rides.

Mt. Washington Hotel

Mt. Washington Hotel and Ski Slopes

Bob I went North Conway and Jackson for a day trip. Talk about cold and windy but beautiful.

More Golden Finch, Blue Jay and Dark Eyed Junco

Today again my feeders were full of hungry birds during a small snow storm.

I have a great view point, full glassed exterior door on my three season porch allowing me to shoot from the indoors. (Not too much else to shoot, it has been so darn cold.)

Golden Finch, Winter Color

The birds are back feeding after the snow. I had to purchase another finch feeder there were so many birds. I totally enjoy watching, usually need help to identify. I am still trying to learn how to take decent shots of the birds. Out 10 shots this was the only decent one.

Christmas Kindness True Story

I ordered a gift for my niece Nichol's son Doug from Toy R' Us. Somehow the town was wrong....it seems Toy R' Us, changed the town..I did not notice on the order.

Yesterday morning I received a photo call from a man, asking me I had shipped a toy to Douglas. I said yes. Well it was delivered to his restaurant. One of his employees signed for it not realizing the mistake. The man tried contacting UPS, no success, saw my address and phone number and decided to call me.

The kind stranger was willing to deliver to her house...I decided the man really went out of his way, instead called Nichol at work and she knows where his restaurant is located and is picking up the gift.

My gift to Dougie meant a lot more, experiencing the kindness, honesty from a stranger. Thank you to the owner of Gunnar's Landing Restaurant, in Belvidere, NJ

My Recycled Christmas Card

I sent out my Christmas Card to my photo friends, well I think they liked my card :).

Larry (his idea took off) sent:

I received a card from Reb:

Oh my, one from Terry:

John sent his card:

Merry Christmas my friends!!!

Happy Holidays

Red Wagon Wheel

I found a red wagon wheel displayed in someone's yard. The red against the ice and snow really showed up nicely.

I had a little help with photo's cropping showcasing the RED wagon wheel.