RichardBell.me

Kicking myself in the butt to make me move forward

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 22:49:00 +0000

Its been awhile since I posted anything here. Why? I am my own worst enemy. I let life get in the way of my passion. there was always a reason to not grab my camera and head out of the door. Seems it got very true that the hardest thing to do is open the door. So with the changes of seasons coming, a change in me needs to take place. So new camera in hand, sites to photograph plotted. A week’s vacation coming. I will be trying to make up time and capture some good shots. I’m blogging this, being inspired by my wife’s resent blogging post, to get me moving again, and letting you hold me to my promise. So if you don’t see anything new from me, email me, text me, or call me. I’ll appreciate the nudge to get me moving. I know it will be bump and grind until I get moving smoothly but I so hope that it will inspire me be active once more.
thanks in advance for you help,

Richard “Moleman” Bell

Here’s one for the road.

Waterloo Canal Days

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 15:20:00 +0000

Waterloo Canal Days. Going to make this an yearly shoot. I think next time I will get a commercial license so I can sell a couple of these. Just was a great time and good weather day.

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 02:41:00 +0000

adusting the purchased plugin

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 02:31:00 +0000

Playing with the New Aurora 2018 software from StuckInCutoms. Loving it so far. Publisihing via the new Loghtroom Classic CC and a plugin called Photo Upload in trial

NIK Software Released by Google for Free!

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 20:45:00 +0000

So Google bought and released NIK Softare for free to the world. Between this and Adobe offering a photographers package of Lightoom and Photoshop for under $10 a month, photographers now have all the high powered tools they need to edit and polish thier photos to a professional level. And will the plethora of cameras from $1000+ cameras to the average cellphone cameras, even the most basic camera can produce beautiful images. Below are a few rough shots polished with NIK via Lightroom.

In Your Camera Bag - Beyond The Obvious | OutdoorPhotographer.com

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:00:00 +0000

In Your Camera Bag - Beyond The Obvious | OutdoorPhotographer.com

Winter Farm

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 19:13:00 +0000

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remembering the resting time for the Farmers who are now prepping everything for the first harvests of the season.

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:06:00 +0000

ScottBourne (@ScottBourne) tweeted at 10:04 AM on Sat, Mar 09, 2013: Better Black and White Photos with Photoshop http://t.co/kL502CocWR (https://twitter.com/ScottBourne/status/310405846821654531) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

waking to a winter wonderland

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:21:00 +0000

waking to a winter wonderland
Originally uploaded by NJMoleman

evening golden hours starting

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:48:00 +0000

evening golden hours starting
Originally uploaded by NJMoleman

Cluie looking too comfortable

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:31:00 +0000

Cluie looking too comfortable
Originally uploaded by NJMoleman

tradition snow fall start pic

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 17:15:00 +0000

tradition snow fall start pic
Originally uploaded by NJMoleman

its a little white outside

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 17:06:00 +0000

its a little white outside
Originally uploaded by NJMoleman

I wasn't dreaming of it, but its white out

Trey Ratcliff End of Year gift to us

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 01:28:00 +0000

Trey Ratcliff (@TreyRatcliff) tweeted at 3:42 PM on Fri, Dec 21, 2012: 1000 Free HD Wallpapers for you and your friends! Happy Holidays! :) https://t.co/J51V75MI (https://twitter.com/TreyRatcliff/status/282224473820758018) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

Instagram - did you kick them to the curb?

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:39:00 +0000

With the proposed new terms of service, where they own and could sell your photos and not ask or pay you, did you look for an alternative? Flickr released and update to both their IOS and Android apps, that included camera and filters. I have had a pro account with them for years but never really thought about using them as more then just for storage and client proofing. The app works great on both platforms, however the filters need some improvement to match what Instagram has. BUT for me I could use it to replace Instagram until I feel comfortable with them again... If I ever go back. I may use Snapseed (now free on both platforms) to tune a photo and then post thru Flickr until their filters get better. At least with Flickr I know where I stand with ownership of MY photos. As of this morning Instagram has backed off, and not implemented their new TOS after thousands (from what I am hearing) left Instagram in fear of having their personal photos sold for ads.

Shame on you Instagram.
If you needed revenue, charge me a fee for using you, don't steal. My photos are mine and if its a choice of my ownership or your service being pushed to the curb, get ready to taste the concrete.

morning has broken....

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:02:00 +0000

morning has broken....
Originally uploaded by NJMoleman

New post from Richard Harrington of Photofocus

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Seven Things Photographers Do To Ruin Their Photographs « Photofocus http://t.co/tqVTLoMG

Trey Ratcliff–Speaking at Google about his view of Photography

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:23:00 +0000

Trey is one of the new generation of photographers that produce amazing photos. He was the main reason I got a Google+ account. Google+ has become my photographic inspiration point. Now I just need to put it into action from behind the lens. Watch this and be inspired.

The October Snow Storm Escapees are doing fine

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:53:00 +0000

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The State pheasant farm had a large sections collapse during the freak early Fall snow storm. The valley took in 8 inches of very wet heavy snow and the netting just couldn't support the weight. What looked like a 1000+ plus birds escaped and have roamed the area every since. The remaing pheasants are getting quite large and are grouping into the non-hunting areas for the Winter.

NJMoleman's photostream

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:48:00 +0000

NJMoleman's photostream on Flickr.

New picture posts on my flickr

A few more from the Past

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:11:00 +0000

Zoos early in the morning are great shooting sites. Animals are fantastic subjects when they are waking up. Back in the day, Busch Gardens Tampa (aka The Dark Continent) started out as just a bird gardens that the public was allowed access to for free. Early one morning I arrived there just as the birds were waking. They sleep with their heads tucked under their wings. This beautiful Scarlet Macaw slowly moving and stopped to give me a quick once over. I quickly grabbed several shots before there was a lot of movement. I was able to get close enough to between the bars of the cage.

This Month’s Photo Contest–Cellphone Photography

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:23:00 +0000

So this month’s photo theme for The Photo Center’s monthly contest is photos captured with a cellphone. The only rule is no image processing with off camera applications. So… I am learning just what all my new Droid X. I has an 8 megapixel camera and there are a lot of apps for it. I like an app named Retro Camera. It’s a free download and lets you mimic old time cameras. The other night I was sitting on the couch and my cat Cluie came over and demanded my attention. So after giving her a through rubbing, I picked up my camera and opened Retro Camera and selected the Pinhole Camera setting. The result was surprising. Even when reviewed on a larger screen the photo held up nicely. If you get a chance, log into Facebook and follow the link to vote for my photo… if you like it as much as I do.

Day Nine–One of My Favorite Photos

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:02:00 +0000

I love photographing animals. So in pursuing this I visit a lot of zoos. I really like the newer zoos where the animal are in a more natural habitat. A perfect example of this is Tampa, Florida’s Lowery Park Zoo. When I was a kid I remember the old style zoo that was full of animals in concrete pits with no foliage or shelters. Then in my late teens they renovated and went to an open air bars free zoo. Now the animals look happier and most important to me and the other photogs, the opportunities for unencumbered shots opened up. So one day with my do everything 28-200mm zoom lens, trusty Pentax K-1000 loaded with T-Max 100 film in hand, I was at the tiger enclosure. The tiger couple were enjoying an afternoon nap together when the male awoke and yawned. And I happened to be there at the right moment. The truth is I had been there ready for something to happen for over a half hour. I knew that if I waited for them to wake up, there was a chance of them running around, licking one another, or something interesting. The wait paid off, at least in my opinion. This picture represents everything I love in a photo. Good depth of field, extreme detail, and capturing a moment that tells the story without words. One of my personal bests.

Last Week-Road Trips Snaps

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 03:51:00 +0000

Last week I had a trip to Baltimore in the rain and fog. Then a few trips to Somerville, Hackettstown, and then down to Turnersville. Here are a few of the photos I got a long the way.

This was a single tree standing in an empty field just before the traffic circle on Route 70 and Route 206 and the only thing clearly visible in the fog. Its starkness called me to photograph it. Everything about this photo is bad, but at the same time I’ll be taking more like it as something about it makes me want to get it right.

This is the corner of 571 and 27 in Princeton. I think the nearest building is the college library. The sky was so striking, the tree so bare, and the curved stone so textured.

This was just a few blocks from my house in Brick. I was at the start of a long day waiting at the traffic light that is leaves my neighborhood. This is a small area were the soccer moms wait to pick their kids from the school bus. While sitting there waiting for the red to go green these wild turkeys came strolling by. The were big and fat from the Fall feasting they have been doing. The males looked to be 25 to 30 pounders.

when in doubt get in close. Find the angle. Get the light to shine.

Autumn makes a splash of bright colors and if you set it against blue water. I can be wonderful. I’m still working on it.

Yellows of Fall.

I have a thing for lighthouses and other tall landmarks.

This is a proud shot for me. I was shot handheld with a 300mm zoom in the late afternoon. Never hold back from the taking the shot. You might just get lucky.

Large iron is always good to shot. curves and hard edges photograph with contrast and shadows.

This is but the first of my photos. Hopefully as time goes on both you and I can watch my pics get better. That’s really a large part of this project. Forcing me to get better or fail in public.

Stay tuned, there’s more to come.

Day One–Where I get Inspiration from

noreply@blogger.com (NJMoleman) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 14:17:00 +0000

We all get inspiration for our photography from different places. I have several books on photography that I have collected over the years that have been the base of mine. My prime technical book is Kodak’s Complete Book of Photography. I also have books on photography from the early 1900’s where the black and whites photos are pasted into the pages, and newer ones that are rich in color like David Muench’s book of photos Nature’s America . While I have never been to the Southwest (Southern California is the exception) I long to visit the Badlands of Nebraska. I have relatives in the Southeastern part of the State, and have seen them a handful of times over the years, I have never had the time to make the trip to the Northwestern part while there. I vow to visit the family again AND also make this trip. I have been working on a tight to no budget for a while, so I find inspiration where I can. A local festival like a seafood fest, cranberry harvest, State Park, Landmarks, and what seems to be my fall back, Things that visit my backyard. So with that in mine here are three sources that I have been getting inspiration from lately that I feel will reach out to everyone at any level of photography.

1. What I see out my car’s windows as I seem to be in the car a majority of my life as of late. I am snapping, no other way to describe that point the camera in the general direction and try to grab the shot, of the landscape going by. If there is time I might even stop and get out of the car for a photo. This is more to share the sights I see each day there actual “good” photography, but maybe I will get lucky along the way.

2. Actively pushing myself to photograph friends and family. This is really hard fro me. While I was a teenager, I always was the guy with the camera taking candid shots while out. Then my focus moved to nature and somewhere along the line, people got dropped out of what I called photos. I have been using my nephew to help me draw myself back into shots with people. Though I have been asked not to post his pictures on the internet by his parents, so you will not be seeing those images here, I hope to have photos of others to document my efforts presented instead.

3. Podcasts. I listen currently to 2 podcasts. Formerly they where under one umbrella known as TWIP or This Week In Photography, it broke into two different shows called This Week in Photo and PhotoFocus. This Week In Photo features several professional photographers like Alex Lindsay, Frederick Van Johnson, Steve Simon, Ron Brinkmann, and others. Scott Bourne was also on TWIP, and still appears from time to time, but has left to do his own podcast. Scott is the host of Photofocus, a podcast that is about photography but in a different way then TWIP. His often guess on this show is Nicole S Young, and she is the reason I am working so hard on photographing people.

4. The Best Camera is the One That's With You™. This is the motto and Trademark of Chase Jarvis. And it has moved me to carry a camera with me all the time. DSLR, compact camera, or Cellphone. Getting the shot is the biggest part. A good shot full of pixels is always nice, but if you don’t take it because you didn’t have a “good” camera then the shot is lost forever. Take the chance and push the trigger.

Scott Bourne made me see that while I was growing up in Florida and spending my time chasing Red-tailed Hawks, Ospreys, and Bobcats, I missed the beauty of of all the other birdlife that I wrote off as just too common. His photos of seabirds are inspiring and make me see that while I will always love big cats, the sandpipers deserve just as much attention. So now I try to view everything as a photograph when a camera is in my hand. A leaf deserves as much attention as a bear, a lighthouse as much as a person. I just need to capture it in an interesting way that holds a moment in time and can express “a picture says a thousand words”.

BTW: I was a very active writer in my younger years and that is yet another reason for changing this blog. So HOPEFULLY my writing skills will be cleaned up and sharpened as part of this project. Thanks for reading far enough to see this