Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Autumnal Beauty - Does It Get Any Better?

Autumn... the year's last, loveliest smile.
- William Cullen Bryant

NO! It doesn't get any better than autumn! (This may be the shortest blog post ever written....)

Okay, if you are a regular reader of this blog you know I can't stop there.... You will also know that autumn is my favorite time of the year, followed by spring and then winter. I am not a fan of summer anymore.

I look forward to the cooler weather, the smell of the woods and, of course, the beauty of the foliage. I try to time a week’s vacation to coincide with peak foliage but always seem to be off by a week – either early or late. Last year I was about a week early of the peak in the Delaware Water Gap region and this year I am about a week late. It really doesn’t matter but one of these years I am going to get it right – hopefully I still can walk under my own power. 😉

Spring Lake

One of my sunset locations has been Divine Lake in Spring Lake and I always thought it would make a nice location for foliage, too. There are a few wooden footbridges and fountains, with lots of trees. I set out on a dreary Sunday afternoon to see what the foliage was like. Leaving the house with a prediction of 10% chance of rain – that quickly turned to 100% before I arrived at the lake. That’s okay, rain hasn’t stopped me in the past. In fact, I think some of my most successful autumn images were made during, or shortly after, a rainstorm.

When I got to my intended site, I realized there really wasn’t a composition. I drove around to the other side of the lake to find that there was potential. It was raining steadily so I left my gear in the car, walked to the edge of the lake and snapped a few images with my phone. I wasn’t sure if there was a composition. Once I got out of the rain, I looked at the snapshot on my phone; it was then that I decided to wait out the downpour and do some shooting.

This was a good situation for a long exposure, I wanted to eliminate – or at least minimize – the raindrops and ripples in the lake. Fortunately, there was virtually no wind at all, so I didn’t have to worry about the leaves on the trees blurring. There is some movement of the leaves in the bottom of the first image adding a bit of foreground interest.

I then turned my attention specifically to the footbridge – a wide shot and then a tighter crop. One common thread in all three (3) images is the large limb hanging over the lake. I was drawn to it because of the way it was framing the scene – particularly in the tighter image of the bridge.

Manasquan Reservoir

I went on a marathon excursion (about 100 miles) in search of foliage but came away mostly empty. I did come away with one image from “the Boneyard” (my wife’s term) at Manasquan Reservoir. The reservoir, particularly in the Chestnut Point area, provides a great contrast between the dead trees in, and around the water, and the foliage on the banks. The water level has been lower than I ever remember it being which is good for photography but not in the overall scheme of life.

This first image is from my favorite reservoir sunrise location (Manasquan Reservoir - A Sunrise & Sunset Weekend). I really struggled here – the sky wasn’t great, the colors muted and on the other side of the lake, about a half-mile or so away. I liked the idea of having this stump as foreground, it has such great texture. The solution was to leave the tripod down low, use a longer focal length to compress the scene and see what happens. A little bit of post-processing to bring out some of the color resulted in a reasonably good image.

Last October I had a much more fruitful experience. I decided to stop on my way home from work, in the rain, and capture some of the color. I came away with two (2) images that the color was near peak (peak?) that afternoon; the rain helped to bring out and saturate the color. These are two of my favorite autumn images, I share my favorite one here. You may have seen this image before – I used it in my earlier blog post about the reservoir (Parks of Monmouth County - Manasquan Reservoir)

In Closing

So.... Have I convinced you that autumn is the greatest season? While this autumn didn't produce quite the bounty of images I was hoping, I did come away with some that I am quite happy with. The only thing about autumn that I don't like is that it is far too short! I would love to live somewhere with a five (5) month autumn, four (4) month spring, two (2) month winter, and a month of summer. Yea, that would make me happy. What about you? Is autumn your favorite? If not, what is? Let me know in the comments below. Which is your favorite image from today's post? I would love to hear what you think.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the images.

    Technical information:
  • Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i (crop sensor - 1.6 factor)
  • Lens: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
  • Tripod: MeFOTO Roadtrip Classic
  • All images - ISO 100
  • All focal lengths are as-recorded - the full-frame equivalent is in parentheses.
  • Focus and exposure were done manually*. The shutter was tripped with a wired remote.
* - I set the focus and exposure manually but that in no way means you have to do that. I was playing with exposures and it is easier to do so in "M". I typically use "aperture-priority" when I am out.

If you enjoyed this post, please do me a small favor and share it with others. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

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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Location: Monmouth County, NJ, USA

Sunday, November 1, 2020

An Afternoon at Deep Cut Gardens

Deep Cut Gardens

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not. - Georgia O’Keeffe
I took a much needed day off at the end of September and spent the day with my wife. For the first time this year we had lunch at our favorite diner, All Seasons Diner in Eatontown, and then, after a quick detour, headed for Deep Cut Gardens. We love going to the park but don't get there nearly as much as we would like. A Thursday afternoon seemed like a great time to go but there were quite a few people there, including at least four (4) other photographers and more than a few women with young children. If you aren't familiar with Deep Cut Gardens, you can check out my earlier blog post - Parks of Monmouth County - Deep Cut Gardens - and I will provide further links below. I will also provide some links to photographs on Instagram featuring Deep Cut Gardens - I encourage you to check them out and follow them. I do!

The walkway from the parking lot around to the Koi Pond is now lined with beautiful fall colors, replacing the tulips that thrive earlier in the year. This flower bed changes thru the year - the last time we were here the Park Rangers were digging up tulip bulbs and giving them away. We will have tulips next year! I have to admit, I spent a while scoping out this bed and trying a number of compositions but nothing really clicked except for the zinnia shown here. It happens sometimes; there is so much going on and I jump from one thing to another like a kid at Christmas. I must make a conscious effort to slow down and work a composition properly. The good news is that, after all these years, I can still get as excited about photography as I did more than 45 years ago when I first fell in love with it.

Soon there were three (3) other photographers vying for space; it was time for me to move on. When I turned the corner to the Horticultural Center I was struck by these incredible golden spires, beyond them were bright red ones. These Celosia (see Celosia on Wikipedia) are simply magnificent. I made a few images before moving on to the “Main Event” – the Sargent’s weeping hemlocks and Parterre. The hemlocks are such beautiful, and surprisingly fragile, trees; we stopped to speak with Ranger Don who told us that the limbs sometimes must be supported in the winter if enough snow builds up on them. That is one reason why climbing, or sitting in, the trees is prohibited.

There is a wonderful series of waterfalls & ponds nestled within the trees; perfect for a bit of long exposure photography. I reached for my Ice 72mm CaNDi-5 Solid ND 1.5 and Circular Polarizer Filter (5-Stop) to help cut the glare and provide me with a bit more latitude for my exposures. Each of the three (3) ponds have their own charm so I set out to capture each, trying exposures ranging from about 1/3 second to 2 seconds. I have included my favorite image here – to see the others, along with more Deep Cut Gardens images, check out my Behance Project - Deep Cut Gardens. It was right about now that my wife, I was there with my wife – remember, caught up with me. We sat on one of the benches under a tree to rest a bit. You see, when we go to the park, we tend to go our own way at times. She has her interests and I am like a butterfly moving from one composition to another. She uses her phone to capture and edit images and has become quite good; I would even say that she can out-shoot me some of the time. Don’t tell her that, it will be our little secret. It doesn’t take long before something catches my eye and I am heading towards the Parterre.

The roses are mostly gone now but a few blooms remain, I used a couple of them to frame the pergola. Yes, I purposely have them out of focus…. No, I’m still not sure if it “works.” What do you think? Let me know in the comments. The destination was the pergola or, more specifically the flower beds in front of the pergola.

I thought the flower beds were a great opportunity, much like the flower beds in the parking lot. I tried focus-stacking an image using the front of the beds as a leading edge. I still believe there is an image there somewhere, but I didn’t find it that day. I did come away with a few individual blooms – the images here represent the best of them. I find myself attracted to the warm end of the spectrum when it comes to flowers which is a double-edged sword. They are strikingly beautiful but also rather difficult to photograph well. They tend to fool the camera’s meter and tend to be under-exposed. If you compensate too much they get washed out and look funny.

I did manage a few images of the red zinnias that are in the pergola flowerbeds, as you can see. I think I am doing better but need more practice; I suppose I am going to have to keep going back to Deep Cut Gardens. 😉

We decided to go back to the car by way of the greenhouse and Display Garden. This turned out to be the best thing I did all day; it brought me to the Japanese Hairy Toad Lily. I had never seen one of these before and I was captivated by it. Up to this point there was virtually no breeze at all but now that I wanted to get close, and these are on a long, thin, stalk, a slight breeze started. It was almost imperceivably but when I magnified the image to focus, you could see it moving. This flower is going to get a lot more attention whenever I go to the park.

The last stop was the Display Garden where I got to visit with a few of the locals, including a little Garden Fairy! The garden is a fenced in area filled with raised beds growing flowers, vegetables and herbs. Interspersed among the plants you can find some garden gnomes – a few of which I have here.

If you enjoyed this post, please do me a small favor and share it with others. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

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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Location: Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Rd, Middletown Township, NJ 07748, USA

Thursday, October 1, 2020

An Incredible Beach Sunrise

A panoramic view of sunrise on the beach at Ocean Grove, New Jersey.
Sunrise #1
Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Exposure: 35mm - 1/4 sec

Ocean Grove Sunrise

I finally got out for a sunrise and what a sunrise it was!
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. - Babe Ruth⁠
I've always liked this quote - Babe knew a lot about striking out but it didn't keep him from being one of the all-time greats and setting records that took decades (and drugs?) to break. ⁠I chose this quote because I almost stayed home on the morning I made these images. I woke up early but wasn't convinced that the conditions were going to be overly favorable, it would have been easy to go back to bed. I chose to go anyway and was treated to one of the best sunrise photo sessions that I have had in a very long time.⁠

I arrived rather late - about 6:10 AM for a 6:37 AM sunrise but I am quite familiar with the location and already had a composition in mind so I really need the extra time to scout. I was walking down to the water when I noticed a photographer with a tripod set up at the end of the pier; I asked if I was going to be in his way and he assured me I would not. It seemed to be that he was only interested in the horizon but it didn't matter, he was gone about 10 minutes later.

I set up with the remains of the jetty as my foreground, grabbed a few images and then a fisherman looked at me, decided he wanted to get in the picture and stood right in the middle of my composition. DAMN! I had to move.... All was not lost, though. I moved to the other side of the pier, got Ralph in the frame and squeezed off a few. I guess I should thank Mr. Fisherman but not today. The fishing must not have been very good because a few minutes after making me move, he went back to where he was - as did I.

This was right about the time that the sun started peeking over the horizon. This was also when the waves were getting a bit larger, more frequent and reaching me. I got so engrossed in the scene playing out in front of me that I did not notice the encroaching water. That is, until it washed over my feet and lower third of my tripod! Yes, I ended up getting wet to about four (4) or five (5) inches above my ankles and the first two sections of my tripod – it wasn’t fully extended. The soaking repeated a few times but after the first there was really no reason to move; actually, the exact opposite was true. I was in the perfect location this morning.

As the sun was moving higher on the horizon, I adjusted my composition to get in tighter on the rocks and crashing waves while still getting some of the Golden Hour color. I was so engrossed in what was happening I failed to see the low-battery warning light flashing. A quick look in my bag for my back-up battery yielded nothing. I never put it back in my bag after charging it! Having a spare battery is a great thing – leaving it on your dresser isn’t……. A few minutes later everything went dark, the battery was dead.

It’s just as well. I was losing the light; my feet were soaked, and I had to get back to the house to work. That is the one silver-lining to this pandemic – I now work from home full-time and so getting ready for work is simply sitting at the computer and logging in. It also gave me an opportunity to upload my images to see what I got. A few quick edits and then sharing with some friends for initial feedback. Their reactions confirmed my excitement and I spent much of my lunchtime refining the images. It wasn’t until this second editing session that I noticed the little blue float and rope tangled up in the rocks. It appears in a few images, but I would like to have been a bit more deliberate and purposely include it in a few compositions. Fortunately, it is still there, and I can go back whenever I want. Perhaps the next time I will go for a sunset and get that wonderful golden glow on the face of the rocks!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the images.

    Technical information:
  • Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i (crop sensor - 1.6 factor)
  • Lens: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
  • Tripod: MeFOTO Roadtrip Classic
  • All images - ISO 100
  • All focal lengths are as-recorded - the full-frame equivalent would be the value shown times 1.6.
  • Focus was done manually. The camera was in "aperture-priority" and all images are at f/8.0. The shutter was tripped with a wired remote.

If you enjoyed this post, please do me a small favor and share it with others. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

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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Location: Ocean Grove, Neptune Township, NJ 07756, USA

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

I Am Back with a Few Changes

Sunrise
Ocean Grove, New Jersey
The sunrise, of course, doesn't care if we watch it or not. It will keep on being beautiful, even if no one bothers to look at it. - Gene Amole

I am back

After taking the past two (2) months off, I have decided to continue with this blog. There were times during my hiatus when I thought about quitting for good and there were other times when I found myself at the keyboard getting ready to write. I didn't want to do anything until I was convinced one way or the other.

What is Changing

My main goal is to keep the blog informative but also fun; fun for my readers and for me. That means I will be focusing more on my photography, including the “where”, “what”, “how”, and “why.” My goal will be to publish one (1) or two (2) posts per month on a regular basis, with “special bulletins” if I feel there is something timely that cannot wait. Gone will be the “series” that I have been doing, including “Improve Your Photography”, “Behind the Image”, and “The Jersey Shore.” I had moved “Improve….” to a new blog a while back which is now defunct. Once the pandemic is over, I may start a new blog – “The Real New Jersey” or something like it.

What isn’t Changing

In addition to presenting my work, I will continue to bring interviews, app reviews, and product reviews as they seem to be quite popular and bring value. I will continue to use quotes as inspiration for my work, hopefully you will find them inspiring as well. Lastly, you can count on some humor along the way.

In Closing

I would like to end by thanking you for your support over the past 3 ½ years. If there are any topics you would like to see covered here, please let me know in the comment section below or send me an email – valencia32photo@gmail.com – and I will do my best to bring that content to you.

About The Image

The above image, "Sunrise - Ocean Grove, New Jersey" is my first in quite some time. I was awake and debated about whether to get dressed and drive all the way to the beach - I mean, it's nearly five (5) miles! 😉 I believe I made the right choice as I was treated to a spectacular sunrise. It also gave me an opportunity to disassemble my tripod when I got home as I was not paying close enough attention to the waves and the bottom two sections were treated to a bath a few times - as were my feet and lower legs.... I was quite surprised to discover how much sand had gotten into the legs and locking mechanisms!

    Technical information:
  • Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
  • Lens: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
  • Tripod: MeFOTO Roadtrip Classic
  • Focal length: 32mm (full-frame equivalent: 52mm)
  • Exposure: 1/15 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100
  • Focus was set on the rocks approximately in the middle of the jetty.
  • Focus, shutter speed, and aperture were set manually. The shutter was tripped with a wired remote. (Note: I will be discussing "manual" at a later date.)

If you enjoyed this post, please do me a small favor and share it with others. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

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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Monday, July 13, 2020

I Am Taking a Break

You may have noticed that I've not been actively blogging lately - my last installment was an interview a little over a month ago. I hadn't planned on taking time off, it just happened to be that my time was needed elsewhere.

I have a list of things I want to write about and even started writing a few but things just never fell into place. Some of what I want to write requires me to spend time in parks and they are just too crowded these days. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned people into nature lovers, rushing to parks that they might normally just drive by without notice.

One reason I love landscape and nature photography is the solitude; the increased popularity of the parks pretty much guaranteed company. I also hibernate somewhat during the summer months, the heat and humidity of New Jersey summers tend to sap me of all energy and desire to be outdoors. The last couple of weeks have been brutal - whenever I have ventured out to fire off a few frames the lens immediately fogs and it takes a while before I can start to use the camera. It has been maddening because Tropical Storm Fay blew thru here last week bringing us some incredible cloud formations.

All of that aside, there is still a lot of photography to be done indoors and still a lot to write about.

So, why take time off? I think I need to "recharge" a bit. I have been writing about photography for almost nine (9) years - I had a blog hosted on Wordpress before moving to Blogger more than three (3) years ago and was part of a blogging community named, Niume, before it folded. While I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge, images and stories I haven't quite "gained traction"; it seems as though I am (mostly) writing for myself, seeing very little legitimate traffic and virtually no interaction with my readers.

Earlier in the year I removed the "Improve Your Photography" series from this blog and created a new one specifically for that series. The thought was that I didn't have a primary focus (yes, I suppose pun intended) to this blog so I was turning towards more of a spotlight on my photography. The interviews seem to be quite popular so they will remain a special feature from time-to-time. What I learned was that, despite heavy promotion, very few visited the new site. I was encouraged one day when I saw a spike of 100's of views on each of the posts only to come to the realization that two of my blogs had 1,000's of views from Romania overnight; an obvious attack on the Blogger platform. All of the posts on that site have been reverted to "draft", at least temporarily, while I re-evaluate what I am doing. I don't know why I am having trouble with readership and want to take some time to figure it out.

The same goes for this blog. Where do I go from here? Do I keep writing or just retire the site and move on? I don't have any answers right now. I have spent the past nine (9) years writing and more than five (5) years trying to establish some type of freelance photography presence - maybe I am spreading myself too thin. One of the goals of the blogging (and YouTube channel) was to help generate interest in my work and provide an income stream to help support my passion. I can tell you that the "income stream" has produced not as much as a "drip" nor have I seen a growing interest in my work.

Social media - primarily Facebook and Instagram - seem to bring about a better response though only slightly.

So, with that I am going to close out this post. I don't know when I will be back but will announce on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram when I am ready. You can follow my work on social media at the links below. In the meantime - thanks for stopping by.

Social Media links
* Joe Valencia Photography on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joevalenciaphotography/
* Joe Valencia aka Wandering Photographer on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WanderPhotog
* Joe Valencia on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/valencia32photo/

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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Monday, June 8, 2020

Interview with Professor of Digital Media Technology Sue Urbine

This interview is a bit different. I asked Jim Klenk, Sue's brother-in-law, if he would write the introduction for me. Jim approached me with the idea of interviewing Sue for the blog and I thought it would be nice to hear what he had to say. This also brings a bit more insight into who Sue is than I could have provided. I would like to thank Jim for taking the time to write such a great introduction.

Introduction

I met Sue when she was in 9th grade. At the time I had just begun dating her older sister at Rutgers. Sue was different than most junior high students as she was extremely focused and driven. Her interest in photography was inspired by photos she had seen in The National Geographic Magazine. It's important to note that at this time in the late 70's the internet had yet to be invented. Newspapers and magazines were the primary vehicles used to share information. There were no cell phones, no selfies, no Facebook and or Instagram. Photographs were taken with film that had to be developed. The only instantly available photographs were from a Polaroid camera and the quality was no where near that of our digital photography era of today. The best photographers in the world worked for National Graphic. The pictures featured in their magazine were literally some of the finest photography on this planet. The exquisite shiny photographs spoke to her and she was hooked.

Sue's parents wisely reinforced her interest in photography! Her father built her a dark room in their basement. My first recollection of her work are some black and white photos that she had take of Bruce Springsteen in concert. She was shooting in B&W because she was concerned that if she used a flash her camera and film might be taken away from her. Driven and wise beyond her years she was literally off to the races. She took photography classes in high school. Her instructor recognized Sue's potential and continued to fan the flame of interest within her.

As I continued dating Sue's sister she became her family's official photographer. She would always gather and arrange everyone at all family gatherings to capture a group shot. Needless to say Sue's passion for photography continued to grow and was full blown by the time she entered college. She made a wise deal with her school. Sue was given a custodians closet to use as her darkroom and she agreed to photograph all events at the school.

By the time Sue was graduating from Clemson her parents had moved. Her father built her another darkroom in their new home. However Sue never moved back home as she had secured a job and didn't use the new second darkroom. Her knowledge and passion for chasing and capturing light still continues to grow. While sharing some of my favorite shots from a photography group I joined Sue and her husband pulled out beautiful waterfall pictures from the same location! Occasionally she will share with me a shot she captures for herself. Seeing the world thru talented trained eyes is a blessing in itself.

Over the years Professor Sue has shared her exploits about teaching her students. She no longer instructs how to develop film the old fashioned way with chemicals. Capturing the light and processing the images have become the main focus. She genuinely cares that each of her students get a proper photography education and will hopefully become enlightened and energized as she once was. Her children capture great photographs as well, go figure... They all went to the University where Sue teaches. They are talented musicians and artists. Sue's husband has taken some amazing photographs as well. His method is quite simple. He told me that he stands next to Sue and does exactly what she says!

This picture sums things up nicely, it's one of the shots her husband took while standing next to Sue and listening to her directions.

The Interview

Personal questions

What is your favorite childhood memory?

My favorite childhood memories are of the summers I spent at Lake Hopatcong, NJ with my family. Swimming until our lips were blue, picking wild blueberries, fishing, and sailing with my father.

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

Jay “Doc” Smith was my high school photography teacher who encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a photographer. He told me photography is about passion, patience, and practice.

What is your favorite thing to do when you aren't photographing or teaching?

I enjoy reading both mystery and feel good inspirational novels. I take long walks in the woods in my backyard where my mind can relax and enjoy nature.

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

I was fortunate to meet Ansel Adams when I was in high school but can’t remember anything he said because I was so awestruck. I recall his hands were big and soft and that he smelled like Old Spice when I was expecting him to smell like fixer. If I could meet him again, I would discuss the early years of photography when images were formed on glass plates. It was Adams who said, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it”; I try teaching this concept each day in my classes.
(Joe: I’m not sure I would remember much either, there are few public figures that I admire as much as Ansel.)

What is something that most people don’t know about you?

Each semester, during the third week of photography class, I lecture on top of my desk as we discuss perspective.
(Joe: That is quite a unique approach and I would be quite effective.)

What do you think about when you are alone?

In no particular order I pray, I think about how to improve my classes and engage this generation of students, I think about what I’m going to serve for dinner, and what the golden hour is going to look like today.

What would you like to be remembered for?

How I raised my three children, being a good wife to my husband Shawn, and doing my best to be kind to others.

Professional questions

Why photography?

My background is in Industrial Education primarily in the printing and publishing fields. Those skills are extremely technical and finite in their application. Photography is an escape to infinite possibilities of light and composition.

What is the greatest challenge you face teaching photography on a university level? Greatest reward?

My teaching philosophy for photography is a simple equation: Photography = Art + Science. Teaching students the relationship between light and composition (Art) plus the technical skills of Photoshop and digital output devices (Science) is my greatest challenge. My greatest reward comes when the students don’t realize that two hours have passed and they don’t want to leave for their next class.

What is your greatest professional achievement?

Professionally, my goal is to teach students the needed skills to find meaningful employment in the print publishing industry. Personally, my goal is to inspire each student to be the best person they can be. My greatest professional achievement is when both goals are reached and the student becomes the master.

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

If I could share a gallery show with anyone it would be Steve McCurry from National Geographic. I have been a fan of his for decades and when he came to campus for a lecture and showcase, I ask if he would speak to my students. He taught in my classroom for over an hour. His work with National Geographic has been awe-­‐inspiring and the documentary of the last roll of Kodachrome film is a crowd pleaser in my classroom.
(Joe: Great choice! I have checked out his work and it truly is awe-inspiring. How great it is that he agreed to speak with your students.)

Where do you draw inspiration from and what is your favorite part about the process?

Inspiration comes in all forms but to me it’s all about the light. I wait for light, I chase light, I think about how to manipulate light on my subjects, and then I capture it. Additionally, I’m a huge fan of Scott Kelby and Colin Smith as I follow both of them on the Internet. I’ve been using Photoshop since 1990 and recall how I anxiously awaited for the new addition of Photoshop User Magazine to arrive.
(Joe: It’s all about the light…. I follow Scott and Colin, too. In fact, I have interviewed Scott – check it out, here.)

What is your favorite location to photograph?

The easy answer is wherever I am at the moment. However, I tend to migrate to wide-­‐open spaces such as beaches, mountains, or anywhere near a water source.

What is your favorite piece of equipment?

My Canon Camera and my tripod, I don’t leave home without them.

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

I started as a yearbook/school paper photographer in high school and continued on that same path in college. I took photography classes throughout my undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate education while studying printing, publishing, instructional technology, and human resource development. My career goal was to be a trainer in the print/publishing industry. After graduating from Clemson University I went into industry as the manager of the film prep division of Jersey Printing. A year later I was asked to join the faculty at California University of PA in the digital media technology program. Each day I have the opportunity to inspire students, future educators, and future photographers, to reach their potential and achieve their career goal. My advice to any and all of them is to follow the light.
(Joe: Great advice!)

Bonus question:

What are your Top 5 "Deserted Island" albums?

  • Fleetwood Mac Rumours
  • Bruce Springsteen Born To Run
  • Chicago Greatest Hits
  • James Taylor Sweet Baby James
  • Jackson Browne Running on Empty

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Location: 250 University Ave, California, PA 15419, USA

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Backyard Discoveries

The "Project"

Today is May 31st and I have been working from home since mid-March. I mention that because it is the reason I started my "Backyard Boredom Project" and if anything good has come of this pandemic, this is it. During this time I also found the following quote:
The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer. - Unknown
This project has definitely had a positive affect on me as a photographer. You see, most of my photography over the past few years takes place on my way to the office, during lunchtime hikes at one of the parks by the office or on my way home from the office. I will also take a break during a stressful day to walk around the office building and parking lot looking for something to point the camera at. Can you see a pattern? Add to this the fact that the parks all over the state were closed down for a number of weeks and I was left with my yard. I have written a companion piece titled, My COVID-19 Backyard Boredom Project on my other blog.

My Yard

I have about a half acre of land at the end of a cul-de-sac with woods one two sides, it is nice and quiet with plenty of trees and wildlife. My wife enjoys gardening and has planted quite an assortment of trees, shrubs, flowers and plants over the years but I've never really explored them before now. I usually get a few good images of daffodils we have planted around the yard but not much more than that. The past couple of months have changed that and a whole new world has opened up right outside my door.

I find that just having the camera in my hand can help improve my mood, it often leads to random shutter clicks with no "keepers" but a dramatic uplift of spirit. I was having a particularly bad day "at the office" and grabbed my camera, determined to find something. That first afternoon didn't result in any good images but it did give me a lot of ideas and avenues to explore. I decided to make it a point to get outside with my camera at least once a day, challenging myself to find print-worthy images. The next day gave me this dandelion.

The Lily of the Valley image has started another aspect of discovery for me. This time I was sitting on the front porch steps, camera in hand, looking for something to catch my eye. We have flower beds on either side of the porch filled with Lily of the Valley, ferns, hostas, and verbena. In the twenty-six (26) years that we have lived here, I have never photographed a single one. That has changed (see my post Lily of the Valley) and all because of the Lily of the Valley shown here. Looking to my right, thru the porch railing, I saw this Lily of the Valley; I grabbed the camera, leaned towards the flower and made this image. Hmmm.... what if I sit on the steps - front and back - with a single lens, looking for compositions without moving? Sounds like a great exercise. I now do that several times a week.

When I am working at the computer, I can look out a nearby window at a holly tree that is often the host to a bird or two. That same window overlooks some wild roses and sweet briar roses, like those shown here. When I am working, the camera sits within a few feet - armed and ready to go. The screen in the window has been removed so that I can open the window and shoot at a moments notice. While this hasn't exactly gotten me any great bird images, I have gotten some of the flowers and bees that frequent them.

This time has also re-ignited my interest in macro photography. I have always enjoyed macro work but have never had a "true" macro lens - I still don't. What I do have is a Macrofier (see Still-Life Macro Photography with the Vello Macrofier and Product Review: Vello Macrofier for Canon EOS (UPDATED!)) and that allows me to get some really nice macro shots. This brings me to the first image at the top of this post - if I didn't caption it, would you know that it is a common weed called white clover? This image is cropped from a larger one but not too much. I now spend almost as much time shooting macro as I do my other work.

I've really enjoyed working on this project and will continue for as long as I am working from home. It has opened up a world of new possibilities and made me more aware of compositions around me. I am thinking about similar projects - maybe a seasonal one or shooting a particular subject throughout its growth stages during the year.

I hope this has inspired you to get out and explore your own backyard, flower bed, planter, whatever you have around you. If you do, I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post, please do me a small favor and share it with others. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

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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Location: Neptune Township, NJ, USA

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley

We have had Lily of the Valley growing in our front yard for as long as I can remember and for just as long I have made mental notes to shoot them. I finally got around to it this week.

I will often sit on my back steps, camera next to me, and watch whatever is going on. One thing I will do during this time is challenge myself to find compositions without getting off the steps; I don't often come away with much but it is a creativity building exercise. This past Sunday afternoon I found myself taking the bold step of sitting on the front porch! I have always wanted to travel.... 😉

After watching a rabbit and a few birds I looked around for something interesting to shoot. That's when I saw this little Lily of the Valley plant nestled among the big, green leaves. I liked the way they appeared to be peeking out of a hiding spot to see if it was safe to come out, with the one big leaf acting like a roof. The result was image #1. There were a few other reasonably good compositions from this exercise but I wanted to get closer. There was a slight breeze and the front of the house gets very little sunlight and since I was handholding, the ISO got bumped up to 1600 in order to get a shutter speed I was comfortable with and high enough to stop any movement of the flower.

The next afternoon I spent my lunch hour (I am working from home) looking to improve on the previous days' shoot. This time I was shooting macro and came armed with a tripod, extension tube and wired shutter release. It was a bit windier than the previous day so I was set at ISO 200 just to get a little more speed to stop the movement of the flowers; camera shake wasn't going to be a problem.

Images #2 thru #4 are the results of that macro shoot. Using a tripod for macro work in the field is great but can be a bit of a burden. When you are shooting macro, focus is often done by moving the camera but with the tripod you can't do that - unless, of course, you have a geared head that moves.

I am happy with the images, as a whole, and learned a lot from the experience. The next chance I get, I will be out front trying to get even closer and refining the compositions. I would love to get a frame-filling image of the inside of a flower; that is going to take a bit of ingenuity!

For further reading on my adventures in macrophotography, check out a couple of my previous blog posts: Still-Life Macro Photography with the Vello Macrofier and Product Review: Vello Macrofier for Canon EOS (UPDATED!)

If you enjoyed this post, please do me a small favor and share this post with others. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

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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Location: Neptune City, NJ, USA

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial

11 September 2001

"Are you ready? Okay. Let's roll." - Todd Beamer, passenger on Flight 93⁠

“If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.” - Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in 2002⁠

⁠“I will never forget seeing what hate can destroy… I will never forget seeing what love can heal…” - Steve Maraboli⁠

⁠“It was as if real life had been canceled for the day.” - Jennifer Weiner⁠

⁠These are just a few of the many quotes concerning the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The eagle in this image sits atop a marble base engraved with the names of the 147 men and women born, raised, or residing at the time in Monmouth County who lost their lives in the attack.⁠ You can read more about the memorial by visiting the web page - here.

The Memorial

When you arrive at the park, drive around the parking lot until you get to the staircase. When standing at the bottom of the stairs you can see the eagle perched atop the memorial and a part of the twisted beam in it's talons. The twisted beam came from one of the Twin Towers. When you get to the top of the stairs you will begin a walk along the timeline of the attacks, beginning at 7:30 AM and ending at 10:29 AM when the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses.

There are engraved stones in the sidewalk with times and engraved plaques along the side explaining the significance of the time. Unfortunately someone stole some of the plaques and, as of this writing, they haven't been replaced yet.

The park, itself, is rather small but quite beautiful. There are two seating areas where you can look out over the river to Sandy Hook and beyond to New York. If you wish to get "up close and personal" you can use the coin-operated binoculars situated in front of the benches. On a clear day, the view can be quite stunning.

If you are in the area, I encourage you to stop by and visit the park. It is quite a solemn place and a very nice tribute to those who lost their lives on that tragic morning.

Directions:

  • FROM GARDEN STATE PARKWAY: Exit 117, follow Hwy. 36 East (about 13 miles) to jughandle signs for "Red Bank/Scenic Road." Follow signs to Park.
  • FROM SANDY HOOK/SEA BRIGHT: Hwy. 36 (Ocean Ave) North over Highlands Bridge to Navesink Ave./Scenic Road. Stay to right and follow signs to Park.





    Please do me a small favor and share this post with others. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

    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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    Location: Mount Mitchill, Middletown, NJ 07716, USA

    Thursday, May 7, 2020

    Behind the Image: Leggett's Sand Bar

    For a full index of posts in this series, check out the "Behind the Images" page - here. Be sure to follow the hashtag #JoeValencia_BehindTheImage on Instagram and Twitter to learn of new installments.

    Leggett's Sand Bar

    Leggett's is a bar and restaurant about a block from the beach in Manasquan, New Jersey. It also was host of the AFSP Jersey Shore Out of the Darkness Walk for a number of years. I became involved with the walk in 2014 when I volunteered as an event photographer. I soon found myself on the committee.

    Since Leggett's was hosting the walk, we would have our committee meetings in the restaurant. The restaurant being a block from the beach gave me an excuse to spend time photographing the beach, boardwalk and whatever else caught my eye. I would also look around to see if there was a spot that I wanted to use on the day of the walk. The image shown here is from February 2016 and I had just finished shooting some light painting images on the walkway at the beach. (Note: the images were my first attempt - you will never see them....)

    The meeting was to begin at 8:00 PM, which in February is pretty dark, and it was only about 7:30 PM so I decided to play around with some images of the outside of the bar. I was attracted to the neon sign, the two "stripes" below it and the reflections on the parked cars. For some reason I was using the Nikon that I carry as a spare camera and I don't have a remote for that so I had to use a 2-second timer to trip the shutter. This was done to help reduce camera shake during the long exposure.

    I took five (5) or six (6) shots at various exposures, packed up the camera and headed inside for the meeting and pizza. I didn't get a chance to upload and look at the images until the next day. When I did I was reasonably happy until I got to this one. While the shutter was open a car drove by leaving an interesting streak across the bottom of the frame. Though this is a 15 second exposure, the people inside were reasonably stationary making the other images rather static; the car moving thru the frame made it more dynamic and gave it a little extra pop.

    I was still rather new to Lightroom so I was playing around with some of the presets that came installed with it. I don't remember the name of the one used for this image but it may have been "Hollywood" or something like that. It was supposed to give it a "cinematic" look. Once I applied the preset and made a few adjustments I was happy with the way it looked but there was something oddly familiar about it. It was almost like I had seen this before. It took a while but I realized that, to me, it had the same type of "feel" as Edward Hopper's Nighthawks. I know that they are not even close to similar but that is just the vibe I got from it.

    I have included the original image here to show the difference the preset made. I like the original, it is much more vibrant but the streak left by the moving car is not as prominent and is just somewhat lacking in some way. I also tightened up the crop just a little bit.

    2016 turned out to be the last year that the walk was hosted by Leggett's - it had just grown too big. The walk moved to Bar A in Lake Como in 2017 where it is still held each September. I last volunteered in 2018.

    If you are in the Manasquan area, check out Leggett's - I can personally attest to their pizza. Very good!

    Image made @ 7:38 PM on 25 February 2016

    Technical Information

    Exposure: 48mm - 15 seconds @ f/14 - ISO 100
      Equipment list
    • Nikon D60 body
    • Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
    • MeFOTO RoadTrip Classic tripod

    Please do me a little favor and share this post with others, for there’s a good chance that it will help them with their photography. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

    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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    Location: 217 1st Ave, Manasquan, NJ 08736, USA

    Monday, May 4, 2020

    Interview with NJspots Founder Virginia Buechel

    For more interviews, check out my page - The Interviews Collection.

    Virginia Buechel

    I discovered NJspots in the summer of 2019 when a tweet popped up in my feed one day. I checked out the site, loved what they were doing and applied to be a contributor. My first post, Smell the Roses at Deep Cut Gardens, was published not too long afterward. That is how I got to "know" Virginia, Abbey and the rest of the crew at NJspots.

    I spent some time looking thru Virginia's Instagram feed and wonder how she finds the time and energy! You can definitely tell she is a nature lover and adventurer, putting you right in the action at times. She does a nice job capturing the grand landscapes along with some of it's finer details but I think the images I enjoy most are the portraits.

    No, Virginia is not a "portrait photographer" but she does a really good job with "environmental" portraits. There is a certain playfulness in most of the images; you can tell the subject and photographer are both having fun and you wish you were there. Then there are the self-portraits (often with her wife) and the action shots.

    In addition to her photography, Virginia also writes articles for her website, NJspots. I think that is why many of her photographs could easily fall into the "travel photography" category. Virginia has a list of some of her favorite NJspots articles in the links below but she humbly left out hers. To rectify that, I will clue you in on some of her articles that I enjoyed.

    I picked these because I learned something in each - whether it was a new location to shoot, a great hike I've missed or an app to look into - I walked away with more than when I went in. That's what it is all about, right? I also think that is what draws people to the site over and over again. Virginia and her team are always looking for something new to bring to the table. I have learned things that I didn't even know I wanted to learn! 😉

    I am looking forward to attending my first Meet Up after this coronavirus pandemic subsides and meeting Virginia. I would encourage you to check out NJspots (after finishing this interview, of course!) and sign up for updates. If you're in the Tri-State Area and looking for a good group of people to hang out with, sign up for one of the Meet Ups and maybe I will see you there. If you do, say hello so I know who you are!

    So, now, without further ado.... I present to you, Virginia Buechel!

    The Interview

    Personal questions

    What is your favorite childhood memory?

    I think one of my favorite childhood memories was being at my summer camp. It was local in the town I grew up (Sparta, NJ) and was filled with over 100 kids around my age every week. I would go for 8 weeks because both of my parents worked, but it was the best time. I really enjoyed just being outside and adventuring with scavenger hunts and learning about nature. I think this has a lot to do with the important role nature has in my adult life for escape and solitude.

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

    Sour Patch Kids, Plain Pizza, my wife's hamburgers, New Jersey Bacon, Egg and Cheese on Plain Bagel and my mom's Carrot Souffle
    (Joe: That is an interesting list. While I cannot vouch for your wife’s hamburgers, I can say that a great burger reigns supreme with me. A good pizza, too! I can let you in on some of the best of both someday.)

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

    My mom has always preached, "Everything happens for a reason. You may not know why or ever find out why." - I have always lived by that especially when unspeakable or unexpected things happen, I always believe there is something bigger at play.

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

    Being outside. Whether that means I'm hiking during the warmer months or snowboard during the colder ones. Just being out in the fresh air is something I really do enjoy doing.

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

    I think I would choose to chat with Russell Wilson, the Quarterback of the Seahawks. I never had a football team until he entered the league and as a past college athlete myself, I identified with him and his leadership qualities. I have admired him for his leadership abilities, as well as overcoming the odds.
    (Joe: I think this is the first time a sports figure has come up – maybe he will read this and get in touch with you! 😉 )

    What is something that most people don’t know about you?

    I love my car being neat and clean inside. While I would love to have the time to wash it more myself, my busy schedule doesn't allow it, I do enjoy washing and detailing the inside myself.

    What do you think about when you are alone?

    I think about projects or ideas. My brain is constantly going and thinking of new ways to do things, be more efficient, or alter something to make it easier.

    What would you like to be remembered for?

    I would like to be remembered as a leader. Someone that set an example for others.
    (Joe: We certainly could use a few more good leaders these days.)

    Professional questions

    How and why did you start NJspots?

    I started NJspots back in 2015 as an idea to share more of the great places throughout our state. I had returned from a trip to the Southwest and noticed there were so many Instagram accounts that shared the views out there. I wanted to find one for New Jersey. So when I came back and searched for one, I felt that there was no real representation of what this great state has to offer. So then I started NJspots and it has blossomed ever since.

    What is your greatest achievement?

    I think my greatest achievement was when we hit 20,000 followers. That number really stood out in my mind. It was a LOT of people. That is when I realized this need I had for seeing and sharing amazing places around New Jersey, was something I shared with a lot more people. That is when I really started to notice there was something much bigger I had started.

    Where do you draw inspiration from?

    I would say, I draw inspiration from a variety of other brands I personally connect with. What I do and don't like about them and what their purpose is. I'm a deep thinker so I'm constantly thinking of what the deeper meaning or purpose is of different campaigns, products, or articles are. Most of them all have one thing in common: solutions. They all lead back to providing solutions to problems. So at NJspots we translate that into the articles, contests, meetups, and workshops we host to help people. Help connect them. Help them be more creative. Help them find new passions. Help them find new places to visit.

    What is your favorite location to hike?

    In New Jersey, I would have to say it's Mount Tammany. I know it's cliché but the view and challenging part of the hikes is what keeps bringing me back. Outside New Jersey, I love hiking anywhere in Utah. I think the land has such a wide variety of landscapes to discover.
    (Joe: I certainly agree with you about Mount Tammany. I finally got to the top last October, after two failed attempts, and was blown away. I did the Red Trail/Blue Blaze Trail loop with my son – it was great to share the experience with him. I hope to get there again, at least once a year.)

    What is your favorite location to shoot?

    I would say my favorite place is anywhere new. I love finding new views or vast open areas. I'm a big fan of minimal photos, so anywhere I can find big open spaces is where I like to be. In New Jersey, I have found a variety of those types of places at Duke Farms.
    (Joe: It’s always exciting to check out new landscapes to shoot.)

    What is your favorite piece of equipment?

    My favorite piece of equipment would have to be the JOBY GorillaPod I recently got. I previously had a no-name brand one that was a bit flimsy and unreliable. So when I upgraded to the JOBY one, I was excited to start traveling with it knowing it was sturdy enough for my camera anywhere I needed it.

    How did you get your start and what advice would you give to someone looking to build an on-line community?

    Like I said before, it all started with something that I "wanted" from New Jersey. Seeing amazing places in our state. So finding something that people may want or have a need to connect with is a good place to start. And it has to be fun. If you aren't having fun with it and making real connections it's not worth doing. If you are simply looking to be "popular" or grow numbers or likes, you are going to fail. People that are like that don't realize that no one else cares about those numbers, they care about how your community makes you feel.

    Bonus question:

      What are your Top 5 "Deserted Island" albums?
    • Imagine Dragons - Origin
    • Black Eyed Peas - The End
    • One Republic - Native
    • Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday Roman Reloaded
    • Bastille - Bad Blood

    Links

    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buewho/

    I hope you enjoyed my interview with Virginia and strongly encourage you to check out NJspots, sign up for updates and consider becoming a Patron. You should also show a little love to her Instagram account - she really has some great shots there.



    All photos are copyright Virginia Buechel.
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    Location: New Jersey, USA
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