I’m off to the Adirondacks for a 5 day canoe camping trip with my family where I hope to capture some late summer images, catch up on some reading, and enjoy some of New Yorks nicest lakes.

I’m a big reader, and in the past, reading at camp has literally been a burden for me, since I have a habit of bringing more books than I can possible read (and carry). But thanks to my new Amazon Kindle, an electronic book reader weighing less than a pound, I can bring more books than I ever imagined. Able to hold several hundred e-books in its memory, I think I should be covered no matter what mood I’m in. Yes it’s expensive, but worth every penny just in terms of giving me more access to the best resource for knowledge I know of, books. Just have to make sure I stop reading before the best light disappears behind the horizon.

When I return, I’ll be starting a new series on the blog titled “Finding a Landscape Photograph”, which will cover how I go about finding an image- from selecting locations, scouting, and the actual process and techniques I use when I’m on an actual shoot. I’m sure it will be a leaning experience both for myself and for those reading. Any suggestions, please let me know…

I participated in a Scenic Hudson kayak trip last night to the Esopus Meadows lighthouse and other areas along the Hudson shoreline. It was lead by pro kayaker Ray Fusco, who provided equipment and training to those new to kayaking. I had a great time, met lots of new people, and of course brought along my camera for the ride.

With calm water and low wind, it was a perfect evening to drift along the river, taking in the sights of eagles, the shoreline forest, and the sun as it set behind the Catskill mountains…summer at its best.

This Saturday June 7th I will be conducting a free photo workshop for Scenic Hudson at their annual River Champion reception which celebrates their $250+ donors. It will take place from 4-6pm at the Foundry Dock Park in Cold Spring, NY, a beautiful waterfront park where I frequently launch my kayak into the Hudson River. The event will also promote their 2008 Photo Contest, hence the idea for the workshops which should bring out lots of people interested in photography and the Hudson Valley. Joseph Squillante, a local photographer, will also be conducting a workshop that evening.

I’m not sure of the exact format, but I suspect it will be very informal and I’ll have to improvise depending on who shows up and what they want to learn. I’m planning on a short presentation of some of my work, then some Q&A time. After that it’s anyone’s guess, but I’m sure it will be fun. Ray Fusco will also be there leading some Kayak tours, so I’m hoping to get some good images of kayakers on the Hudson during sunset. If you’re local to the area, please come out and support Scenic Hudson and all of the great work they do in the Valley.

The Beekman Street Banners were unveiled this weekend in my home of Beacon, NY, and I’m honored to have been chosen as one of 34 artists to be included in this innovative and unique project. The official description from a new website dedicated to all things cool in Beacon reads:

“17 banners leading up from the Beacon Train Station to Main Street shops, eats and art, celebrating 34 local artists who place Beacon on the larger map of all things cool”.

After finally seeing the banners in person, they are very cool!

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There is a note-worthy article on the New York Times this morning about Ansel Adams and his gallery at Yosemite National Park. It got me thinking about people’s perceptions about photography and the false belief that an expressive image is “taken” rather than created. It stated how many photographers try and re-create the conditions under which Ansel made so many of his famous images only to find they don’t turn out quite the same. A photographer even worked with an astronomer who had tracked the exact minute the moon would ascend next to Half Dome in the same way it did in front of Adams in 1960 when he photographed his famous “Moonrise and Halfdome”. Similarly, it also notes how many are disappointed when they arrive at Yosemite only to discover it doesn’t look quite the same as in Ansel’s iconic images.

What many seem to forget is that successful landscape photography is about an interpretation, an expression of one’s vision and emotions at the time the shutter is pressed. Ansel was not interested in documenting Yosemite, but rather creating images that expressed his unique vision. People assume that if a photograph is digitally manipulated, or as I prefer “corrected”, it is no longer a valid representation of a landscape. Yet we each have our own way of seeing, and the choices made when photographing, whether time of day, weather conditions, and what we include or remove from a composition all manipulate what is conveyed in an image.

With so many images being created today from all corners of the earth, it is only the strongest and most original interpretations that will stand out from the crowd. And there is plenty of room still left for unique and new ways of seeing. This is what motivates me each time I get up at 4:00 AM to go out for a sunrise shoot. The anticipation of what each day will bring, both in terms of visual beauty and new experiences, should never be taken for granted. As long as I can appreciate each moment for what is is, an original and interpretive image will always be possible if I really open my eyes and mind.

I have been commisioned by Scenic Hudson to produce a series of 360° panoramas of the major parks they own in the Hudson Valley. Their goal is to use them to promote these parks as recreational destinations, and hopefully get more people to support them in their future projects. I’m very excited about this project for several reasons, mainly because I wouldn’t be able to hike and photograph in many places were it not for Scenic Hudson. Another is that the specific locations are very familiar to me, and close to where I live, especially Mt Beacon, which is literally a short walk from my home. They are interested in six of their main parks to start, with perhaps more in the future.

Interestingly, they had already contacted another company that specializes in virtual panoramas, but felt they would get better results with a photographer who was local, and had more than just a passing familiarity with the parks. When they first described the project to me on the phone, I immediately knew where I could setup my tripod at the various locations in order to have the greatest potential of achieving successful results. This is not because I have some special ability or talent, but simply because I have spent so much time at these places doing exactly what they were asking - looking photographically for great views and vistas. I am certainly honored to be participating on this project, and hope I can contribute in some small way to preserving some of the natural beauty in the Hudson Valley.

This project will probably run through the summer months, in order to capture the seasons and their different colors and moods. I will debut the panoramas here as they are created - stay tuned!

UPDATE: The first of the panoramas is available for viewing here: Foundry Dock Park, Cold Spring, NY

I love all of the seasons, but fall is especially exciting in the northeast, and I’ve been out exploring and shooting almost daily for the past two weeks. Peak color is still about a week away, but this varies with terrain, altitude, and location. I find fall shooting quite challenging because it is easy to get seduced by all of the color and make images that don’t stand up if the color were to be removed. Although color can be a very strong element in a successful landscape photograph, I always look for a strong composition, and favorable light to really bring the color element to life. Colors are everywhere this time of year, but I enjoy taking the time to find unique viewpoints, and changing weather to show the season in a different way that is not as familiar.

This is one of the greatest challenges of landscape photography, and one that I will be discussing in great detail in my upcoming seminar. As I’ve said many times before, patience and perseverance are key hallmarks of a landscape photographer, and though frustration is inevitable when conditions just don’t match your expectations, there is always something to learn when you’re out with your camera.

Although I rarely talk about equipment, I just upgraded my tripod to a Gitzo 6X GT2530 carbon model, and I couldn’t be happier with it’s quality, construction, and performance. Compared to my previous tripod, a carbon Manfrotto 190MF3, which is a great tripod and has served me well for two years, the Gitzo is lighter, more stable, easier to open and extend the legs, and just feels better to me. Coupled with a Kirk BH-3 Ballhead, it feels solid with all of my lenses including my Canon 70-200L f/2.8 IS, my heaviest lens. Of course, the price is a major obstacle, but being the most important pice of gear I use after my camera, and as someone who puts his gear through all sorts of conditions, it is well worth it.