Monday, May 22, 2017

Birds of New Jersey: The Great Egret

Welcome to another installment in the series of posts about the Birds of New Jersey. Today I bring to you the Great Egret. If you were to ask me about my favorite bird it would be the egret, closely followed by the heron. There are many different egrets (and herons) and I find them all quite fascinating. My favorite egret would be the Great Egret, aka Great White Egret; few birds can match its grace, both on the ground and in the air. I can sit for long stretches of time doing nothing but watch an egret hunt for food.

I worked for six months in Union Beach, New Jersey and found a small park not too far from the office. I would go there on nice days if I wasn't walking along the Henry Hudson Trail (more on that another time.) There was a walkway that ran along the water and I often sat there watching the gulls and terns fly by or plunge into the water to catch fish. I had been there mostly around times of high tide but one day went when the tide was low. This exposed a stretch of sand and I noticed a great egret walking at the edge of the water looking for fish. I quickly found a source of tide information for the area and made a point of being at the park when low tide and lunch coincided. The image above was taken at this park during low tide.

This shot of the egret in flight was taken on a different day but same location. The tide was a bit higher that day and it was flying to a small marshy area a bit west of where I was standing. These photos were taken during the Summer of 2012, not too long before Superstorm Sandy blew through New Jersey. Union Beach was hit hard, as was much of the state, and I haven’t been back since. I know many of the businesses and homes in the area of the park were severely damaged or destroyed – I don’t know how well the beach area held up.

I literally have 100’s more great egret photos that I have shot over the years – many on Kodachrome – and I’m sure they will show up from time to time in other posts. I will never stop “hunting” these magnificent birds. I hope you enjoyed this installment of “The Birds of New Jersey” as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you. Stay tuned for more.


All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

App Review: Exsate Golden Hour

What is the “golden hour?” Here is what Wikipedia has to say – In photography, the golden hour (sometimes known as magic hour, especially in cinematography) is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer compared to when the Sun is higher in the sky.*

I have been using “Exsate Golden Hour” for Android for a couple years and love it. I was looking for something that would help me to know where the sun was going to be and when it was going to be there. A few years ago I found a website called SunCalc (www.suncalc.net) that will allow you to input a location and date, it will then show you where the sun will be throughout the day sunrise to sunset. I found it while doing a search to find the optimal time to shoot some sunrise photos at the Fishing Pier in Ocean Grove. It worked beautifully and I have been using it to plan shots ever since. The problem is that I may not always have an opportunity to scope out a place while sitting at home. I don’t like using websites on my phone and so I have been searching for “the” app – I have found it.

p/> The images shown here illustrate how much impact shooting during the “golden hour” can have on your final image. I used Exsate Golden Hour before going on a recent photo shoot at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. I have done a lot of shooting at the Sutfin House but wanted something a bit more dramatic than what I had been getting. By using the application I was able to see where the sun was setting in relation to the house and the best time to get the shot. The result is the first shot shown here. The second photo was taken during a mid-day walk.

The name of the app is a little misleading because it does quite a bit more than just tell you when “golden hour” will be but I will start with that. When you first open the app you will see three (3) tabs – “Summary”, “Diagram” and “Map”. Directly under the tabs you will find the location name along with current date/time. The location can be your current location or you can enter a specific location either by name or GPS coordinates. Selecting the “Summary” tab will give you the following information:

  • Sun rise and set times
  • The moon phase along with rise and set times.
  • The date of New Moon and Full Moon
  • Golden Hour – time and duration
  • Blue Hour – time and duration
  • Civil Twilight – time and duration
  • Nautical Twilight – time and duration Astronomical Twilight – time and duration
As you scroll down there is more detailed information and an option to add your own “special” conditions.

Now let’s take a look at the “Diagram” tab. You can get to the tab either by touching “DIAGRAM” at the top of the app or by touching one of the descriptions on the “SUMMARY” tab. Once you open the diagram you will be presented with the name of the location you have set along with the date and time represented by the blue vertical line on the diagram. Directly under this you will see two sets of numbers; one color and one white. The colored numbers show the Altitude and Azimuth of the sun while the white numbers show the Altitude, Azimuth and % Full of the moon. Below that you will see the weather forecast. The diagram itself looks like a sine wave and is color coded. The colored line represents the sun, while the white line represents the moon. You can move the diagram through different days and times by touching the diagram and moving your finger left or right. You can also use the little calendar icon at the top of the screen to change the day.

The “MAP” is just that; an aerial view of the set location with a compass superimposed. The compass has a color-coded ring along the outside to indicate the “Golden hour”, “Blue hour”, etc…. and also shows the current position of the sun and moon.

The app is customizable beyond the aforementioned user-defined special conditions – you can set distance units (mile or kilometer), temperature (Fahrenheit or Celsius), GPS coordinates format and which weather service to use. These features, along with everything else make this application one that you must have. The application is only available on the Android platform and I see no indication that they are working on an iOS version. That’s okay with me, I don’t use my iPad when I am in the field but I always have my Android phone. For more information about the app, check out the website here.

The bottom line is this – if you are serious about your photography, get this app! It is not only the utilities that I have found it is also FREE!

* – you can read the entire Wikipedia article about golden hour here – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hour_(photography)


All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

Monday, May 8, 2017

Interview with Sports Photographer Dave Schofield

This weeks’ interview is with retired sports photographer, Dave Schofield. Dave retired in 2016 after an incredible career which got its start while still in college in Buffalo, New York. His story is a lot like other photographers – his father was a talented amateur photographer who passed along his love for the medium. The trusted Brownie was his first camera, using this until he got his first Nikon 35mm camera as a hand-me-down from his father. He has been a Nikon shooter ever since and, naturally, has handed down equipment to his children along the way.

He got his first break almost by accident; he brought some contact sheets to someone for a critique and walked away having sold five prints and, ultimately, a job. Pretty good for someone who was still a junior in college. I was introduced to Dave as the team photographer for the Trenton Thunder and Lakewood BlueClaws but as I looked into his career I discovered that is just a small part of who he is as a professional, as you will discover in the interview. He was the first photographer hired by the Thunder when they started in 1994 and it was he who initiated the meeting. Dave’s wife told him about a stadium being built next to her office; he kept his eyes and ears open. When the offices opened he introduced himself and secured a meeting with the ownership. They worked together right up to his retirement in September 2016. The Thunder and BlueClaws share the same ownership so it was only natural that he shoot them, too.

When I asked Dave to send me some images to include here I was expecting the typical – diving catch by the shortstop, a dramatic play at the plate or the grimace of a pitcher throwing his fastball. Instead I was treated to images showing more personal moments of the game. The celebratory shots that show the unbridled joy of the players and the inner kid that we all have inside of us.

I have enjoyed getting to know Dave through this interview and looking at his work, I only wish I had met him when I was a young man and maybe get a chance to work with him. Though he retired from his work with the Thunder and BlueClaws, he certainly has not gone out to pasture; he is still quite active shooting both sports and landscapes. I encourage you to check out his Facebook page (see link below) or search for his images online.

The Interview

Personal questions

What is your favorite childhood memory?

I grew up the second eldest of nine, in Louisville, KY, so there was always a lot going on. Picking a favorite childhood memory would be tough. But I guess it would be the time my Dad took the four oldest, all boys, to Crosley Field in Cincinnati to see the Reds play the Chicago Cubs. I think I was 6 or 7 and could probably count that as the day I became a die hard baseball fan. Dad was a big baseball guy who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, the heart of White Sox Country.

What are the five foods you can’t live without?

WOW! I will give this a shot
  1. Meatloaf
  2. Mashed potatoes
  3. My wife’s Irish soda bread scones
  4. Apple pie
  5. Tea

What’s the best advice anyone has given you and who gave it to you?

Professionally: Bob Shaver the renowned photographer for the Buffalo News and Buffalo Sabres once told me two things. He said, “Never cry in the darkroom”. He meant shoot loads of photos. He said that (in that day and time) if you sell one or two photos it will pay for your work and your expenses. I have followed that axiom to this day.

Personally: My Dad used to say, “Always tell the truth, if you lie there is too much you have to remember.” I truly hope I adhere to this advice.

What is your favorite thing to do when you aren't shooting?

Travel, which of course always involves shooting photos. Brennan (my wife) and I travel to her native Ireland nearly every year. If I ever went there without a camera I would deem myself quite foolish. It is such wild and beautiful country. In our travels there I have met many photographers, some of whom have gotten me work shooing Gaelic (Irish) games and football (soccer). We have also traveled to Spain, France, Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, Scotland, England, and all around the USA. Travel is something I hope I always do.

If you could spend an hour with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?

My Dad, because I surely did not pay close enough attention to him when I was young. There is so much more I could have learned from him if I had paid more attention..

As for famous person, I’d love to sit down to tea with Seamus Heaney, the Irish poet.

Professional questions

Why photography?

As a sophomore in college, the editor of the newspaper, The Griffin, asked if I could take some photos of a baseball game being played in Delaware Park, a short walk from the campus. He had a Nikkormat 35mm camera for me to use and two rolls of film. I took the camera and a short lesson from the Photo Editor and off I went. Apparently I had an aptitude for it as they assigned me to several events the next week. While working on the paper and the yearbook, I worked beside people who went on to write for some of the most prestigious publications in the USA. It was a great training ground.

Every day since then I have seen my images bring some joy to someone. Photographs are memories and when you provide people with those, you make them happy.

Can you explain your photography in 10 words or less?

I make action photographs of boys and girls playing games.

What is your greatest achievement in photography?

Providing support for my family by doing something I loved doing every day.

If you could share a gallery show with anyone past or present, who would it be?

Ken Babbitt, a close photographer friend of mine who passed away this day a year ago. He was one of the warmest people I have ever known, with one of the gruffest exteriors. If we shared a gallery, it would mean he was still here.

Where do you draw inspiration from when you shoot and what’s your favorite part about the process?

I love to look at the photos of some photographers I respect. Before their terrible layoffs the Asbury Park Press had some of the most talented shooters I have ever met in the business. I always check in on the MLB website to see what they are doing. And ANY website on Irish Photography. Some of the most amazing photos I have seen of this beautiful island have been taken by Damien Stenson who is a gifted Irish musician and teacher and Conor Ledwith, who is a police officer in Co. Galway. Look them up, just amazing work!

And I am inspired and learn from every photographer I have ever stood in a photo well, sat on the floor or in any way have come into contact with in my career.

For sports photography I just love the way the game or event develops. From start to finish the excitement and emotion of the event changes so dramatically. I love following the effort and emotion exhibited by the athletes.

How did you get your start and what advice would you give to someone looking for a career in photography?

When I was a junior at Canisius College, a Jesuit College in Buffalo, NY, I was working on the newspaper and Yearbook as a photographer. I was also playing soccer and picked up a little, nagging injury during the season. Canisius did not have athletic trainers. The Buffalo Braves NBA team used our gym for practice so they made their training staff available to us. While being treated at War Memorial Auditorium, The Aud, as it was called, I snuck into the arena with my Nikkormat and three rolls of black and white film while the Buffalo Sabres were playing. I shot the three rolls of film and went back and developed it and made contact sheets. I grew up in Kentucky so I knew nothing about hockey. I wanted to see if the photos were any good and what I could do to improve them. I dropped them off at the Sabres offices for Paul Weiland, their PR director. Within a week he called and said he’d be happy to sit with me and discuss the photos. I went to his office and we had a nice, frank discussion. At the end he gave me back the three contact sheets and three photos were circled. He told me he would like an 8”x10” glossy of each of the circled images and that they would pay me $20 each. This floored me and probably sealed the deal that I would be a sports photographer if I could make it work. He also gave me a season pass and told me to work with Bob Shaver, the man whose work I admired most. So in this one meeting I got paid for the first time for my photography AND was invited to serve, basically, a paid internship with the man I saw and the best in the business.

Mr Shaver taught not just the X’s and O’s of the technical aspects of photography, but a great deal about the business of photography. Later I worked with Paul Imgrund, a professional photographer here at the Jersey shore, who taught me an incredible amount about lighting and set up. These two men were my biggest influences in the business, to whom I will be indebted forever.

I would advise someone who wanted to go into photography today to learn how to become a plumber. THOSE guys are making money. If I could not dissuade them, then I would suggest that they find a niche in the business that no one else is doing. Since the digital age arrived the business has become saturated and EVERYONE wants to do professional sports. I would also say that if you are young, work for a local publication, print or digital. It will give you the experience of learning your craft while it is being published. And shoot, shoot, shoot! When I was learning I was limited by how much film, developer and paper I could afford. Now with digital you can fire away and learn. And when you meet someone who has been in the business for a lot of years, keep your mouth shut and your ears open. There is a good chance that photographer with lots of experience will not be terribly impressed with what you have done to date.

Bonus question:

What are your Top 5 "Deserted Island" albums?

Sorry, I love music too much to limit myself to 5! If I cannot take at least 200 I am not GOING to any deserted Island. But I will limit myself to 10 for this purpose.
  1. Blue-Joni Mitchell
  2. American Beauty-The Grateful Dead
  3. Island Girl-Altan
  4. Any Album-Mark Knopfler
  5. The River-Bruce Springsteen
  6. Blonde on Blonde-Bob Dylan
  7. The Baseball Ballads-Chuck Brodsky
  8. All the Roads Running- Emmlou Harris and Mark Knopfler
  9. Music from Big Pink-The Band
  10. Sodomy Rum and the Lash-Pogues

Check out Dave on Facebook at:
David M. Schofield/The Druid’s Eye Photography - https://www.facebook.com/David-M-SchofieldThe-Druids-Eye-Photography-182695008430746/

The images are, in the order of appearance:

  1. Dave shooting the 2008 World Series for the Phillies.
  2. Ali Castillo, hoisted by his Trenton Thunder team mates after winning the 2013 Eastern League Playoff MVP, The Thunder won the Eastern League Championship
  3. Shane Victorino jumping on the pile at the end of the game - World Series 2008
  4. The 2009 Lakewood BlueClaws celebrate winning the South Atlantic League Championship.
  5. Classie Bawn Castle, Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo, Ireland

All photos by David M Schofield

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

National Photography Month

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of year again! April Showers are giving way to May flowers and National Photography Month.

I can't believe it is already May! I guess it is true - as you get older the years go by in the blink of an eye.

You may have noticed that I am a big fan of Ocean Grove and so I start off with a photo of "Ralph" sitting on the railing of the Fishing Pier. This shot was taken in October 2011; a little more than a year before the pier was damaged during Superstorm Sandy. This is the same pier I wrote about in "God's Square Mile - Ocean Grove, New Jersey"

The deer was one of six that I found in the woods just outside my back yard one day. I was at the kitchen sink getting a glass of water and I noticed something brown - it looked like part of a downed tree but I couldn't be sure. I grabbed my camera (I always grab my camera when I go out back) and slowly walked over to where I saw the tree. It turns out that it was this young deer laying down among the leaves. It got up as I approached and I was able to grab a few shots before it took off. It wasn't until she ran off that I noticed the other five - they scattered at the same time. Years ago, before the dog and the fence, I would get deer coming almost to my backdoor. I have a holly tree about 10 feet off my kitchen and there was one fawn that came just about every day and stood under the tree eating. I would sit for the longest time doing nothing but watch her eat. Yes, my life was THAT exciting back then....

My wife planted a lilac bush a few years back and the buds are beginning to come out. I took this a couple days ago on one of my excursions around the yard. I like to go out a couple times a week with the camera around my neck to see if I can find anything new and interesting. I especially like to find trees, flowers, bushes, etc.... in various states of bloom and chronicle them during the spring and summer. I like the lilac in particular because there is always a lot of action around it during the spring and summer. Birds, butterflies and bees all seem to enjoy hanging around our bush and the ones that my neighbors have along their fence. I have some nice close-up shots of bees that I have shared in the past and hope to get even better ones this year.

The photo of the red maple leaf is another example of my meanderings. This was taken towards the back of my yard, just about where the yard ends and the woods begin. There are a few maple trees back there along with birch, holly, cedar and others. I have found that it is just as important to look down when you walk as it is to look up (and not just because the above mentioned deer leave their "calling cards"....) If I was looking for something instead of just looking around I never would have seen this red leaf all alone among the brown.

I will leave you with a shot of a black-crowned night heron that I shot back in the 1980's. This bird used to show up on a regular basis and perch on my neighbors dock support. I found this slide a few weeks ago while looking for something and did a quick scan. The slide needs to be cleaned and the scan isn't the best but I like the shot and wanted to share it with you.

And so ends my tribute to National Photography Month 2017! Now that you have read this, turn off your computer and go out and shoot!


All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

Monday, May 1, 2017

Parks of Monmouth County - Deep Cut Gardens

Welcome to the initial installment of a new series - Parks of Monmouth County. I will publish a new park on the 1st day of each month; the posts will spotlight the beauty of the parks and share some of my favorite trails or attractions at each. I am writing this on a rainy April afternoon and the rhyme "April showers bring May flowers" popped into my head. I thought, since this is going to be published in May then maybe it should be about flowers. In my mind there is no better park for flowers than Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown, New Jersey.

For a full list of the series, with links, check out the "Parks of Monmouth County" page.
Tulips at Deep Cut Gardens

I made my first trip to the park in 2012 and have been back a number of times since. The tulip bed shown here is one of the first images I made there and I didn't even have to leave the parking lot! This was taken in April 2012 and all of the tulips were in full bloom - this is the main tulip bed but they can also be found in other areas of the park and the median strip in the parking lot. It doesn't matter when you go to the park because this flower bed always has something to see, depending on what is in season. Below is a similar image of the same flower bed but taken in August 2014.

Daisies at Deep Cut Gardens

If you walk past this bed and around the corner you will find the Koi Pond where you can sit on a bench, admiring the fish and flowers planted around the walkway. Continue past the pond to the Visitor Center; stop in and say hello to the staff - they are very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. They can help you identify something you saw in the park (although everything is usually well labeled) or fill you in on any interesting "visitors" there may have been - deer or hawks, for instance.

 
When you leave the Visitor Center continue your journey to the Rose Parterre - you will be glad you did. The panorama at the top of the page shows the entire parterre; it is even more beautiful in-person. When the roses are in bloom it is so colorful and fragrant you may never want to leave. Take a leisurely stroll through the garden, taking in the beauty. Each plant is identified so that you know exactly what you are looking at. I guarantee you will see a variety of rose that you never knew existed. There are benches on either side or you can go sit in the shade of the gazebo before continuing. Don't make the mistake that flowers are the only things to see; this tree is just a few short yards from the parking lot, just before the koi pond. It is just one of many throughout the park. You will find these trees along either side of the walk/stairs leading from the Visitor Center to the Rose Parterre. Park benches can be found under the trees, many of which have a small pond next to them. These benches make wonderful resting spots - you are out of the sun and can see a world of beauty spread out below you.

While walking make sure to keep an eye out for the fauna that take up residence in the park. My wife and I found this little guy while walking along one of the wooded paths. You will also find chipmunks, squirrels and deer to name but a few. Look up to the sky and you are bound to see a red-tailed hawk circling overhead, I don’t think I have been to the park yet where I haven’t seen at least one. Birders would do well to bring their binoculars, too.

I think this is a good place to end the words and leave you with a few more images from my trips. I hope you will put Deep Cut Gardens on your “to-do” list and visit at least once.


All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

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