29th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival, 2008

Check this link for more images 29th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival 2008 - a set on Flickr

Our NEPE group meet last Friday night in Vermont, to shoot glow pictures of the balloons after they took off at 6 PM. John one of the organizers, decided to take a flight, returning with an experience of his life.  The cost for the flight was $222. The balloons for the glow show remained on the ground, they are not allow to fly at night, showcasing their firing up, displaying an awesome glow show to music.

The next morning we were up at 4:30, meeting at the field at 6 AM to view another flight.  The wind current was not as strong as the night before, the balloons remained very close to the field, allowing us to photograph.

I cannot think of better time, great shooting with our newly found friends, enjoy one of my most remembered events. 

Tags: 29th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival, Vt, 2008, bPd photos

Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge - Summer and Winter

Winter

Summer

My covered bridge project is going to take a lot of time and will be slow going.  The great part I have been going back redoing previous images, since taking I have learned different techniques using Photo Shop. 

If I can offer photography advice, shoot using the raw format, (thanks to CmishVicki's encouragement).  Most of my bridge pictures were shot in jpeg format. There is a huge difference in tweaking your images using raw format.

Another tip buy a wide angle lens.  I have a Canon 17-40, is one of my most used lens for my scenics. My spring image of the bridge was shot with this lens.

 

 

Tags: Covered Bridges, Cornish-Windsor, Summer, Winter, Pictures, bPd photos

NH Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge #20-Spring

My husband and I decided to locate and photograph all the covered bridges in New Hampshire. Another goal we have, photographing the bridges all the seasons.

We have almost completed our journey, only three more bridges to photograph.  Vermont here we come :)!!!

Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in the USA.  The bridge links NH to VT.

Tags: Covered Bridges, NH, Cornish-Windsor, #20, Spring, bPd photos

Wildflowers: Yellow Pond Lily

I found on Rt. 3 on a pond, beautiful Yellow Pond Lilies.  A nice addition to my Wildflower Photo album.  Check it out and if you can identify the flowers I left vacant, please get back to me ....thanks.

(Thank you helping, identifying or correcting my flowers names. I still have few more needing indentification.)

Tags: Wildflowers, Yellow Pond Lily, Rt. 3, Pond, bPd Photos

I woke up very early, was having tea and reading on the porch.  I was looking outside, watching the birds feeding, when I notice beautiful, morning light shadows.

Definition for Pajama Photo:  Spotting a great site or photo op, early in the morning in my yard while still in my PJ's.  I was hoping and praying it was too early for the golfers to appear :).

Tags: Morning Light, Woods, Hostas, Black, White, Color, bPd photos

Wildflowers: Painted Trillium, Tartarina Honeysuckle Shrub

I wish I was knowledgeable, knowing the names of wildflowers and shrub. Aunt Alice and my mother's cousin Mimi, when hiking in the woods had no trouble naming all the wildflowers.

Tags: Wildflowers, Painted Trillium, Tartarina Honeysuckle, Shrub, bPd Photos

Twin Bridges, Merrimack, NH: Waterfalls

After the photo meet, my new shooting friend Bruce (we met in AOL's photo chat, he joined NEPE), wanted to show me one of his favorite areas to photograph, Twin Bridges, Merrimack, NH. I have to agree, what a beautiful area and will go back often, making sure I bring plenty of bug spray!!! 

Tags: Waterfalls, Twin Bridges, Merrimack, NH, bPd Photos

NEPE Photo Shoot: Mine Falls Park

The group I joined went shooting last weekend to Mine Falls Park, Nashua, NH, schedule events Calendar - New England Photo Expeditions (Nashua, NH) - Meetup.com Unfortunately the water was not flowing over the dam and the wrong time of day. Our meeting was really nice, meeting new people, hiking, exchanging photo tips. We did find a few areas to photograph.

Tags: NEPE, Meet, Mine Falls, Nashua, NH, bPd Photos

New England Photo Expedtion - Castle In the Clouds, Images Shot By Our Group

My image taken inside Castle in the Clouds,
Window Box Seat and  Needlepoint

Greg and Marie question me about  going shooting with a group and how it might stifle your creativity. I explained to Greg and Marie. You meet at a location, go shooting on your own, meet up for lunch, a few lingered and continued shooting or left.

When we returned home we posted our images on the site. What is fun seeing the different angles, settings, the other people of our group shoot.  Images taken that day submitted.
Posted images from my group shoot last week Photos: Castle in the Clouds - New England Photo Expeditions (Nashua, NH) - Meetup.com A talent photograper friend, Gawdzilla sent out (author unknown).
You know you are a photographer when:

1. You paint the walls of your house skin tone colors so that you can do high key work, and replace your bathrooms with white marble tiles just because 'they'll photograph well'

2. You buy a chair on a whim because it will look good in a photo

3. When you turn you're head away from your computer screen and then realize your nose has a nice rim light around it from the side and you become annoyingly fixated on it.

4. When the contents of your camera bag = > 90% of your net worth

5, You try to remember back to when you would look at the world without visualizing or framing up a shot...evenwhen looking at some of the most normal things like..a light post and a car...

6. You walk backwards a lot

7. You put buying new gear before fixing your car

8. You go to garage sales strictly looking for props

9. You buy cameras as gifts for your family members so you don't have to take your gear or shoot snaps while on vacation

10. Every person you see causes you to think of how you could use them in a photo shoot

11. You cant go on vacation and turn it off because you are always saying to yourself "damn, that's a nice shot

12. You won't go outside until "magic hour."

13. You plan a photoshoot on your honeymoon

14. You have a cabinet full of hair dryers, flat irons, styling products, disposable razors and feminine products for no other reason than its nice to have on hand in case

15. Your pets hide from you because they know you are probably going to practice on them.

16. You think about buying store mannequins to practice shooting when real people aren't around

17. You notice that the grout in between the tiles is 18% gray...

18. You are out hiking with your dog and you take a snapshot of him without using the flash and he still squints out of habit

19. You make your spouse drive and keep a camera in your lap during the entire ride

20. You open you wallet and SD cards fall out

21. While standing in line at the checkout stand in the grocery store, you inadvertently hold up the line while you stare intently at the women's magazines trying to figure out how the cover shot was lit by studying the catchlights in the subject's eyes...

22. You can't find an image of you in any photos

23. Your girlfriend finds evidence of other women in the bathroom but only complains that you've left the toilet seat up...

23. You pat down fly away hairs on somebody's head on the elevator

24. You grab your daughters stuffed animals late at night to practice lighting because no one else in the family is awake to help out.

25. When talking to people, you assess how much healing brush their face would require

26. You realize that you will die hanging out your car window camera in hand taking your last picture as you careen over the guard rail into the other side of the highway

Tags: New England Photo Expedtion - Castle In the Clouds, Images Shot By Our Group, Window Box, Seat, bPd Photos

First Time Shooting With New England Photo Expeditions - Castle On The Clouds

To view additional shots  bpdphotos : photos : Beautiful Castle In The Clouds, Perfect Day- powered by SmugMug

Quite a few months ago someone join the photo chat and mentioned about a photo group  New England Photo Expeditions (Nashua, NH) - Meetup.com I checked it out and joined. You might want to check out  Meetup: World's largest community of local Meetups, clubs and groups! - Meetup.com  and see if there is a group near you or start up a group.

I was unable to attend their expeditions because Bob was recuperating from his knee replacement surgery. Finally I met the fantasic group at  Castle In the Clouds and will be attending future shoots.

Tags: New England Photo Expeditions, Castle On The Clouds, bPd Photos

Finding Perfect Light: Walk In The Woods "Ferns "

Last Saturday Bob and took a hike when visiting Massabesic Audobon Center in Manchester, NH. We were testing his stamina for hiking.  Bob had a knee replacement last December...he did GREAT.

We were looking for birds but did not see any birds on the trail but located a few near the center I will be sharing. 

Tags: Walk In The Woods, Ferns, Massabesic Audobon Center, Manchester, NH, bPd Photos

Chocorua Lake and Mountain, Spring

One of my favorite places to photograph every season is Chocorua Lake and Mountain on Rt. 16, the southern route to North Conway. 

I wanted to try different angles of the view and took the time walking around the area for different scenic.

Tags: Chocorua Lake, Mountain, Spring, bPd Photos

Did You Know.......

Dandelions Are A Wildflower?

My "Field of Wildflowers Shot" Dandelions

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) - Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake - An All Creatures Photo Gallery - creation, earth, env..

For the last few months my good friends from CA have been sending LOADS of beautiful wildflower images.  My well meaning friends knew I was living with snow and would not see a flower bloom for a long time. 

Well the time has come I was able to send them my pictures of our slowly blooming wildflowers this week ...puffing out my chest!!!!

Check out Carol's wildflowers, Sue's and Ed's beautiful wildflower images they had been sending me :) and explore their beautiful sites.

 

Tags: Dandelions, Wildflowers, Field, Carol, Sue, Ed, Sites, bPd Photos

Color Isolation on Black and White Images

Nancy requested information  how to create color isolation on black and white images.  I have a complicated directions using PhotoShop CS3, you are unable to my directions on other programs like Adobe Elements and Paint Shop Pro. 

I asked two of my very talented friends Reb and Sharon from Canada, their directions and found you can apply to all the programs listed above, following the below steps.  And it is easy!!!

Here we go:

*Open a picture

*Create a new layer

*Convert your new layer to black and white.  Click OK.

*Using the your easer tool (you can size your eraser), erase the black and white, exposing color in the picture you wish to expose.

*Flatten or Merge you newly created image

*Save your image to jpeg format. 

Create your color isolation, return to my entry and link your creation :). I will enjoy seeing your image.

Tags: Color, Isolation, Black and White, bPd photos

Green Door

Old Green Door, RT. 113, Tamworth, NH.  If you have a moment check my other  Old Barns,Structures and Equipment

Spring time is a busy time of year.  I am keeping busy during the week (yard work, the house) allowing us time to explore on the weekends.  After a rough winter it is so nice to get outdoors, enjoy the fresh air and taking pictures.

The picture I am featuring, the shed I have taken in the winter and now in the spring.  I am not sure it will live through another winter for that reason I  am taking images during all the seasons.

Old Green Door, RT. 113, Tamworth, NH.  If you have a moment check my other  Old Barns,Structures and Equipment

Tags: Green Door, Rt. 113, Tamworth, NH, bPd Photos

Nature Stills

A friend loaned me the upper jaw bone of moose for an idea I had. Nature Stills. I had fun testing my creativity, sitting up different views, working with light and fog. Check out my other images I created Still Life - a set on Flickr

Tags: Nature Stills, bPdphotos

Carriage Under An Old Tree

A couple weeks ago, Bob and I took a trip to Vermont in search of old barns, covered bridges and scenery.  Unfortunately the weather was overcast most of the trip but still a nice drive.

I found a pretty, simple scenic on the side of road in Windsow, Vermont.

Tags: Carriage, Old Tree, Windsow, VT, bPd photos

Newfound Lake, NH Beach Sunset

I am very fortunate having readers of my journal from all over the world. (I would enjoy hearing from you). What fun reaching out to everyone, sharing my images of our beautiful state of New Hampshire.
 
Today's images were taken on Newfound Lake in Bristol, NH. I am going to return for more images.  Newfound Lake area is one of my favorite places in NH.

I need wake up early morning for sunrise images...not so easy :).

Finally SUN, Sunday at dusk

LESSON LEARNED:  No matter what kind of weather, do not leave home without camera.

Shooting over the weekend was impossible it rained.  I ventured out not taking my camera, OPPS I came across a beautiful shot, clouds, mist, mountains and the lake.

The sun finally appeared near dusk.  I look out of the window and decided to look for a spot to take magic hour/sunset images. The sunset did not last as long as I hoped, a ridges of clouds hide the beautiful end of the sunset.

I found an OLD white birch, with the excellent lighting might work. 

Tags: Magic hour, Sunset, Golf course, White Birch, Spring, bPd Photos

Round and About NH: Salisbury, NH Spring Garden

 

 

Starting out early, for our back roads photo shoot and tour, we were driving throught Salisbury.  "Bob, turn around" a comment he hears way too often <grinning>, I notice a beautiful spring garden. 

The owners happen to be outside, I asked would they mind if I photographed their garden and would they allow me to post online and sell prints. They could not be any nicer, I want to go back with their garden is in full bloom. The vine arbor was made with bittersweet vine. 

I am printing the photos and dropping off to the owners.

Tags: Round and About NH, Salisbury, NH, Spring, Garden, bPd photos