Shooting my Universe

An astronomical phenomenon.

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:16:00 +0000

Where else in this universe would you get to see Starlight and Sunlight together?

Dusk on Eastern Point

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Last of the Meadowhawks

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:12:00 +0000

I went for a walk in Dogtown today. When I entered the areas that were once full of dashers, darners and meadowhawks only a few weeks ago, it seemed lonely without all of the dragons fluttering about. Down by the beaver dam and near the railroad tracks I did find some Autumn Meadowhawks in a sunny dene, confirming that they are appropriately named.

Eastern Point Lighthouse at Sunset

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:57:00 +0000

We have some wonderful sunsets this time of year. Here is Eastern Point Light as the sun goes down.

Test Shots

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:27:00 +0000

I've learned in outdoor photography that sometimes it is good to take test shots of subjects when you have the opportunity. That way, you can get new ideas, find out what works, and what doesn't.

Last September I took a drive up to my home town and spent the night at my brother's house in Vermont. The next morning I took photos of a remote covered bridge on the Green River. On the way home I crossed the French King Bridge that spans the Connecticut River along Rt. 2 in Massachusetts. This is pretty cool bridge in The Pagan Sphinx's territory.

The colors had not developed yet and it was my intention to return later and shoot them again. Alas, weekend after weekend of bad weather prevented me from returning to get better shots before the fall colors wained.

Looking East across the 782 foot span.

Two pictures of the Connecticut River looking north as the morning clouds burn off.

140 feet above the Connecticut River, a spider decide to try to catch dinner. The morning fog gathered in droplets in the prevailing southerly breeze.

Forgotten Photo Friday, White-breasted Nuthatch

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:16:00 +0000

I was really excited to get these White-breasted Nuthatch photos. I know a lot of my birding and blogging friends have lots of nuthatches. I used to have three species of nuthatches at my feeders in Colorado. Now I have gulls, gulls and more gulls. So for me, these were a treat.

These photos got upstaged by the American Goldfinch bathing on the banks of the Ipswich River.

The Terminator

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:28:00 +0000

The astronomy definition of terminator the boundary between the part of a moon or planet that is illuminated and the part that is dark. This shot represents the terminator crossing Gloucester Harbor.

The end of the season

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:05:00 +0000

This is the end of the season. This houseboat is being brought in from the Annisquam River to the inner harbor for the winter.

For the future.

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Here's looking forward to having a good crop of milkweed for next year's Monarch Butterflies.

Autumn Swamp

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:50:00 +0000

Memento Mori

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:15:00 +0000

This is a quick tour through a graveyard in Essex, Massachusetts. We have had wonderful weather this fall, that is during the work week but not on the weekends. Therefore I haven't had many opportunities to photograph the graves this year.

Last weekend after the rain stopped, I stopped in the Essex graveyard to look at the maples. I had my video camera in my pocket decided to take you for a walk.

This maple tree was just swaying in the breeze.

Be sure to see the wonderful headstones from the 1600s through the 1800s that I posted last year.

Memento Mori

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:49:00 +0000

This is a little on the macabre side for SMU. I found this pair of wings on a dock here in town. This is exactly as I found them. On this Halloween, Memento Mori.

I'm uploading a video I put together featuring a graveyard in Essex, Massachusetts. Be sure to check back later today. Until then, you can see some of the wonderful headstones from the 1600s through the 1800s that I posted last year.

Forgotten Photo Friday, Fisherman Walking on Dogbar Breakwater

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:01:00 +0000

Tenpound Island

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:32:00 +0000

Rowell Covered Bridge

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:10:00 +0000

Just a short while ago, I took you to Contoocook, NH and showed you the railroad covered bridge. This bridge is just a little ways up the Contoocook River.

October Darner

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:02:00 +0000

One would think it is getting to be too late in the season for dragonflies yet I shot this darner on Sunday Morning here in Gloucester. Every time I see one of these, I’m taken in by how big they are.

Burnham Ship Yard

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Yesterday after the rain stopped, I took a drive out to Essex to look for some colors and found some beautiful scenery. I stopped off and took a couple of snaps.

The Lewis H. Story from Essex.

Fall foliage by the Burnham Ship Yard.

Last August I took you on a sunset sail on the pinky schooner Maine with Harold Burnham. I'm pleased to see that Harold has started a blog which I think has lots of potential and will have a great future. Be sure to check out Boatbuilding with Burnham. (I head some hammering and sawing coming from the barn, I wonder what Harold is working on?)

Spotted Spreadwing

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:31:00 +0000

This is the last of the Spreadwings in our area. The Spotted Spreadwing will disappear at by the end of October, long after the other species have gone.

Forgotten Photo Friday, California Sea Lion Pups

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:43:00 +0000

When we go to Monterey, California, I like to shoot the sea lions. Last July we made a trip and saw these sea lion pups. This isn’t the most glamorous time of the year for them because they are losing their puppy fir. It just goes to show that a wildlife photographer must work on nature's schedule.

Sea lions are characterized by the presence of external ear pinnae (ear-flaps), long front flippers, and the ability to walk on all four flippers on land.

They do seem to enjoy the company of each other.

West Gloucester Sunset.

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:20:00 +0000

This was taken tonight as the sun set over West Gloucester, not more than 20 minutes ago.

Salem Eagles

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:34:00 +0000

Two eagles found in Salem, MA.

The Customs House eagle.

The eagle at the main entrance at the Hawthorne Hotel.

Scott Bridge, Townshend, VT

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:02:00 +0000

Along Rt 30 outside of Brattleboro is the town of Townshend. There you will pass the Scott Bridge, the longest wooden span bridge in Vermont that still remains.

It is interesting to look at how they attempted to construct this span using a laminated arch.

You can walk through the bridge. Since the sun was going down when I arived I wanted to take advantage of the light. When I got to the other side of the bridge, I was in for a little surprise.

A film crew was shooting a documentary. They were happy to have me watch. I did chat with the crew and left them with my card. They were supposed to send me a link to the movie's website. I'll be damned, they never did. If any one knows what this was all about, please let me know! I'd like to see the film some day.

The crew very quietly, frantically signals a car not to pass in the middle of the shot. A man with a rain stick soaks the actor standing outside of the car.

An reflection abstract.

I love this shot. Notice the rope swing on the far side hanging from the bridge.

For those who are new to SMU or are coming in from Watery Wendseday, be sure to take a look at this weeks Nor' Easter storm posts!

Sumac

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:48:00 +0000

Three pictures using the brilliant red of Staghorn Sumac with Autumn Meadowhawks.

Storm Photos from Bass Rocks

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:04:00 +0000

The ocean not only changes from day to day, hour to hour but from second to second. These pictures will gives one the idea that the ocean changes from instant to instant.

The ocean changes in space and time. I am standing in a safe place, yet not more than twenty feet from where I stand is a place where I could be killed. The sea rolls and thunders. The waves crash, you can hear cobbles crack against each other and the dull thud of moving boulders.

These seascapes have lots of information in them. Each one could stand on its own. As a group, they give a temporal perspective.

The first four shots are of one wave coming in. Look to the right of Thacher Island on the horizon of this picture. The uneven horizon is not do to an aberration but is actually due to the rollers crossing the open ocean.

The next two shots are of the same roller coming in. This really give you an idea of how the waves explode on the rocks.

Two Mid Autumn Dragons

oldwoodchuck@comcast.net (Steve Borichevsky) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:20:00 +0000

The dragonfly season is winding down. There are still lots of meadowhawks out there, but soon it will be all over until next year. Here are two dragons that you may still see in Essex County. These were shot in Dogtown Commons on Cape Ann.

Autumn Meadowhawk

Autumn Meadowhawk

Whitefaced Meadowhawk

If you didn't see yesterday's Monster Wave pictures from Eastern Point, take a look. You will not be disappointed.