Standing on a slippery ledge, inches away from an icy death, just to get the perfect shot.
I was most pleased being able to wander about without other people or cars in the way. It was quiet and the snow muffled any sounds. The sun was at the right angle to bring out the shadows and the snow added just the right contrast.
But it sure looks like one. I think the sign nearby mentioned it was designed by a guy who normally did churches, so it all makes sense.
This would make a good location for a horror film. Something involving Alice Cooper, clowns and Bruce Campbell.
It's hard for me to imagine where the river might once have been, especially one large enough to allow riverboats and ferrys through as you can see the river here is barely five feet wide.
This is the back, or possibly front of the building, depending on how you look at it. The river was once large enough to allow ferry boats to pass through on both sides and deliver people for dances. You can just see the second story arched windows where the dance floor is/used to be.
-when dealing with a 1-hour developing store.
Working again with Medium Format (120) Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) cameras for a little change. The camera I am using here is a Mamiya C220 with a 105mm lens. Film was Fuji Neopan400 film. Faster than I wanted for outside work, but all the camera shop had. The setting was a local university.
This is an eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) that I took for a project for my son. This image was taken with what is widely regarded as the worst modern autofocus lens ever made, the Tamron 70-300mm 'macro'.
The lake in the lower right was partially frozen, reflecting the dying light nicely. By this point in time the landscape was completely dark, with only the faintest light showing through the clouds. I like the contrasts. 
On the way back to where I was staying, I found a turnoff from the main road that allowed me to capture the sun as it was going down. 
There were several vantage points to view the falls, this was taken from the lower vantage point.
Most of the time there the sky was overcast (it was getting ready to snow) but on occasion the sun would peak through and give me a chance for a shot full of contrast, as seen here.
Also nearby was the Blackwater Falls park with some really nice waterfalls and general landscaping of the area. You can't get close to the falls (without breaking the law, or getting some permission) but the areas you could get were definitely set up with a photographer in mind.
So I had a chance to get away for a bit, and landed in West Virginia for some photography, snow and waterfalls. Lots of wonderful old buildings to photograph and this barnhouse was top of the list (also happened to be nearby where I was staying, but that totally didn't enter in to the equation!)
A shrubbery!
I read up a bit on how to shoot waterfalls before heading out there, and with such a nice day, most of the morning/early afternoon shots were less than impressive. I had to wait until the sun went behind the trees to get the really good depth and time images. 
Despite the limited access to the water (danger signs posted everywhere) I managed to get the fall colours in with the waterfall.
I had a polarizer I added to my lens for this shot. I wanted to bring out the clouds against the blue sky. It darkened the rocks a little more than I would have liked, but it's a fair tradeoff.
Went out to Great Falls recently for a photoshoot. The weather was perfect for a fall day and the water was moving fast. Perfect for those moving water shots.
This zombie reminds me of the replicant Pris from the movie 'Blade Runner' an interesting, if ultimately uneven, film.
Most zombies go after brains, though that particular legend came only after the comedy zombie film "Return of the Living Dead." In Romero's films, zombies went after anything that was breathing and ate all parts.
The dead have risen and are running for Congress! Just kidding, the dead are already running this country. The local trendy shopping area hosted a Zombie Walk the other day and I was fortunate enough to get some great shots. 
Looking at the stats for this journal, I see I've had hits from all around the world, so I feel I should say "Hello!" to all my visitors, and offer you a Fall shot from my neighborhood (well, more or less my neighborhood)
So I thought it would be fun to shoot people through a large sign, but as I lined up for the shot, I realized the background behind the people was far too busy and distracting, so I played around with various angles until I found one that was most pleasing (to me anyway)
From a gaggle of Russian musicians in traditional clothes.
The music festival was well planned and laid out, plenty of parking nearby for scooters and bikes.
So rather than try and capture musicians in less than stellar light, I moved about the festival to see what could catch my eye. 
Recently the city I live in had a huge music festival. Bright sunny day so naturally I left my flash gear at home, which of course proved to be a mistake as all the musicians were under tents, cutting the available light to nearly nothing.
You are looking at a bit of history here, it's an Arado AR 234, the world's first jet-powered bomber.
The most famous commercial jet ever, as taken through a 10mm ultra-wide lens, which lengthens the fuselage and shortens the wings, creating something akin to the orbiter from 2001 a Space Odyssey.
Relics of the Cold War. A MiG 15, and in the left side background, the tail of Corsair/Crusader.
If my memory of history is correct, the space shuttle Enterprise (pictured here) was so named from a massive write-in from Star Trek fans, as it was originally to be named something else.
Actually it's seapurses, aka skate eggs. From my trip. I have several more shots from my trip, but the next set will be from another trip I made, which was far more interesting.
So I realize it's still easier to load images here and talk about them than on my main website, so here is a recent one, a nice contrast to the one just below it I think.
Caught at sunset on July 4th. Trusty D1x, braced on the railing of the ship I was on. Got it just right I think.
For those of you following my journal, you know my posts are somewhat sporadic. I've set up a proper site for my photography work, http://www.studio-axis.com/
I was given a Nikon D1 for the pocket change in my couch. Worn, battered and unloved I took it in and cleaned it up, smoothed over the worn spots with gentle paints, brushed away the dirt and took it out to run it through a field test.
Give in to what you cannot fight, walk among us!
Waterfalls shot, a wider view than the last one. With the sun behind the trees, and some clouds overhead I couldn't quite stop the motion of the falls, but overall I think this shot turned out well.
I'm running out of things to say about the beauty of Colorado, so I'll let the images speak for themselves.
Lots of wildlife (no, not fratboys) casually sauntering around Colorado, including foxes, rabbits, sheep and deer.
Not from a park or a monument, just caught driving from one place to another. Once again the colours make the image (plus the lone tree in the upper right)
This was the last shot I took on a Compact Flash card. I changed cards and continued to shoot in the area (including caputing a heavy oncoming storm) but somehow in the process of transferring the files from CF to DVD, I'd lost that set. 
I don't recall where I took this, Colorado National Monument I think, but a nice landscape with great sky ties it together I think.
The sky really makes this image. After a while I'd gotten used to seeing rocks jutting from the landscape everywhere I went and trying to capture them in new or interesting ways was taxing. But when the clouds rolled in suddenly everything came together (cue Beatles music)
Not taken with a true macro, but rather taken with a 17-35mm lens at the closest focual point. I liked how the background turned out.
What I loved about Colorado was the contrasts in nature, as seen here, massive mountains, miles of flat area, then massive mountains again. Coupled with dramatic skies, and you've got a pretty good picture.
