Sunday, April 7, 2019

The Jersey Shore: Ocean Grove

This post was originally written as part of a series titled, The REAL New Jersey. After the series was cancelled I decided to re-write some of the previously published posts and republish them as time allows. I am beginning with Ocean Grove due to the "unofficial" start of summer this upcoming weekend.
The Great Auditorium

The Jersey Shore: Ocean Grove

Introduction

Ocean Grove is a small community nestled between Asbury Park and Bradley Beach. It was founded in 1869 by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Associations by Methodist clergymen, William B. Osborn and Ellwood H. Stokes. The statue in the first image is of Ellwood Stokes. The name, God's Square Mile has been given to Ocean Grove; each year tents are erected by the auditorium and are lived in, as they were more than 150 years ago. Church services are held in the auditorium, as well as shows and high school graduations.

When I was growing up the gates on Main Avenue were locked on Sundays - no cars were allowed. In the days before the invention of the automobile this prohibition applied to horse-drawn carriages. The ban was lifted by the New Jersey Supreme Court in June 1979 but the beaches are still closed on Sundays between the hours of 8:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Oh, and the town is "dry" - there is no alcohol sold within it's borders.

The town has been part of Neptune Township since 1921 but remained independently ruled until 1981 when their police department and court disbanded. You can read more about Ocean Grove here:

Ocean Grove

For me, there are only two (2) times of day to be in Ocean Grove - daytime and nighttime! Honestly, I can't think of any time when it isn't a good time to be there. I am quite partial to sunrise, though. Ocean Grove and the Fishing Pier were my go-to spot for sunrise. That was before Superstorm Sandy blew thru in October 2012 and destroyed the pier. They rebuilt most of the pier but stopped short of where the fishing shack used to sit. There is a plaque bolted to one of the pilings with Ralph sitting off to the side. Who's Ralph? He's the old fisherman "mascot" of the fishing club - he was a fixture at the end of the pier until he got carried away along with everything else. If you want to read more about Ralph, I have a few links below - he even has a Facebook page!

Ocean Grove is still my favorite sunrise, especially during the fall and winter when no one else is around. I've said it before and I will say it again - nothing beats the magic of a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. Now, sunrise isn't the only time Ocean Grove is photogenic; I have seen some wonderful sights during sunset, too. I have watched the setting sun disappear behind the Great Auditorium, creating a beautiful technicolor background to the steeple. If you are there for sunset (or sunrise for that matter) don't limit yourself to only watching where the sun is - sometimes the best show is off to the side or directly opposite. The golden glow can transform the ordinary into something truly spectacular.

The Beach

I did mention that Ocean Grove has a terrific beach, didn't I? It's true, I wouldn't lie to you about that. Whether you are chasing sunrises, striped bass, waves or rays, Ocean Grove is a place to enjoy a relaxing time by the sea. If you are going to be there during the summer months, I would suggest getting there quite early as parking fills up quickly and you may need to walk a considerable distance if you wait too long. Just don't get there too early on a Sunday, remember - the beaches are off limits between 8:30 AM and Noon.... There are restrooms and changing rooms located where the Ocean Grove Beach Office is at the end of Embury Avenue, where the pier is. There are several other entrances to the beach, including ones at Main Avenue and Ocean Pathway.

Bring a cooler (non-alcoholic beverages, please) and spend the day. If you don't want to haul food with you, you can easily walk to one of many restaurants and ice cream parlors within a few blocks of the beach. Until a few weeks ago, at the north end of Ocean Grove you don't even have to leave the beach for food, drink and ice cream. There was a nice group of restaurants called the Dunes Cafe, right on the beach but there was a fire this past April. The fire completed destroyed the building. There are a few different scenarios being discussed, including bringing in food trucks. Why would you go anywhere else?

The Great Auditorium

I briefly mentioned the auditorium at the beginning - it is a magnificent structure both inside and out. I only remember being inside once, for my daughter's high school graduation, but hope to get back again. The auditorium was built in 1894 and originally sat 10,000 people; today 7,000 people can be seated for everything from worship services to Beach Boys concerts to high school graduations. The first thing you will notice is the incredible pipe organ - it has 11,000 pipes and is one of the Top 20 in size in the United States.

The auditorium's acoustics rival the magnificence of the building and organ - built long before the days of amplification it was designed to carry the preachers voice to those furthest away. This makes the auditorium an excellent place for taking in some entertainment - some of the headliners have been:

Each spring since 1984 the auditorium hosts the "Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service". The service pays homage to those law enforcement offices who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past 12 months. Law enforcement agencies from all over the state come to Ocean Grove to remember and honor the fallen.

Architecture

If you take a drive, better yet a walk, thru town you can't help but be struck by the beautiful architecture, much reflecting the late Victorian era. The buildings may be somewhat small, like the Thornley Chapel shown here or grand displays like The Ocean Plaza Hotel. A walk up Ocean Pathway will be met with beautiful homes, hotels and gardens - not to mention a great view of either the Great Auditorium or the Gazebo and ocean. If you are in town during the encampment you will find more than 100 colorful tents, too.

The Boardwalk

I would guess that most, if not all, of you reading this know the song Under The Boardwalk by The Drifters. I have always liked the song and I was surprised to learn that there are some people who don't know what a boardwalk is! I couldn't imagine; the boardwalk is so much a part of life here and I have spent countless hours "walking the boards." The Ocean Grove boardwalk is about 2/3 mile long, connecting with the boardwalk in Asbury Park to the north and Bradley Beach in the south. You can get on the boardwalk in Ocean Grove and walk for miles before running out of boards. Of course, all of the boardwalks are new, courtesy of Sandy. In Ocean Grove, at the end of Ocean Pathway you will find a gazebo on the boardwalk. During the summer outdoor concerts are held here but you are always welcome to sit in the shade and enjoy the sites and sounds. The gazebo is also available for weddings and other celebrations.

Food

If you walk just a few blocks from the beach you can find just about anything you desire - from the basic burger & fries to more eclectic gourmet meals. A walk up Main Avenue offers more variety and wide price range - also ice cream.

Have you noticed ice cream shows up in my writing a bit often? That's because I believe it should be it's own food group and it should be consumed at every meal. Ocean Grove gives you two (2) wonderful options for your ice cream indulgence - Nagels and Day's. It wouldn't be fair to pick a favorite because I have only been to Day's once but I can tell you that you will find a line at both places so.... Nagels also serves a wide variety of food at the restaurant inside.

Hotels, Inns, Bed & Breafasts

There are a surprising number of places to stay for such a small area and each place has it's own charm. I haven't stayed at any of the places in town but did get a brief tour of the Majestic (on Main Avenue) earlier this year. It is a very nice place and the hostess/innkeeper was very helpful and friendly. If you like something with a view of the auditorium and beach, check out the Ocean Plaza Hotel, shown here.

Local Art & Shops

I will finish up with the local art gallery and shops along Main Avenue. The Main Avenue Galleria is owned by Norma Tolliver and features work from local painters and photographers, as well as jewelry, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, etc... If you get a chance, you have to stop in and take a look around. I interviewed one of the photographers from the gallery - Interview with Jersey Shore Photographer Dan Falvo. You can take home a little bit of Ocean Grove to hang on your wall.

Gift shops line both sides of Main Avenue, many offering one-of-a-kind handmade or vintage items and there are plenty of clothing store options to choose from. You can also rent a bicycle from Ocean Grove Hardware - that is a great way to travel around town, just be aware of the boardwalk restrictions for riding.

Sunrise, Fog and Surf Fishing
Long exposure @ 2.5 seconds

Links to websites and other information

Sunrise

How to get there

Ocean Grove is a 60-90 minute drive from both the New York City and Philadelphia areas. See right for public transportation options.
  • FROM NORTH JERSEY: Take the Garden State Parkway south to exit 100B and follow Route 33 East to Ocean Grove.
  • FROM SOUTH JERSEY: Take the NJ Turnpike North to exit 7A. Follow Rte 195 East to Rte 35 in Belmar. Take Rte 35 around Shark River & across the inlet. Travel north onto Memorial Drive (follow sign for Bradley Beach), parallel to the railroad tracks for 2 miles to Corlies Avenue. Turn right across the tracks and into Ocean Grove.
  • FROM THE WEST: Take Rte 18 South to the Rte 33 East exit in Neptune. Follow Rte 33 East (Corlies Ave) to the end. Or, take Rte 195 East from the Trenton area to Rte 35 in Belmar & follow directions from South Jersey.
  • FROM THE EAST: Get in a boat, set your GPS for 40°12'36.3"N 74°00'09.3"W and don't stop until you hit the beach. 😉 😃

The "Special Guest"

So! Did you figure out who the "special guest" is in the seascape at the top of this post? If you did, good eye! If you didn't, I will end the suspense. If you take a good look at the main cloud, towards the right of it you can see the shape of Wile E. Coyote! Do you see it now? I wasn't aware of it until after I got home and started processing the images.
All other 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
at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,
Location: Ocean Grove, Neptune Township, NJ 07756, USA

Sunday, March 31, 2019

The Jersey Shore: Sandy Hook

Sandy Hook Visitor Center
Before Superstorm Sandy

The Jersey Shore: Sandy Hook

Introduction

New Jersey has ten (10) areas under the direction of the National Park Service. While none are "national parks", they are National Scenic Trail, National Heritage Area, National Recreation Area, National Monument, National Historical Park, National Historic Trail and National Reserve. I will be writing about some but will start with Gateway National Recreation Area, aka Sandy Hook.
Sunset on the Bay
image courtesy Katherine Valencia
(my daughter)

Sandy Hook - Gateway National Recreation Area

Sandy Hook is probably the busiest place on the shore and it is also one of my favorites. It is a very diverse place, too; being a peninsula means there are plenty of beaches for sunbathing and the fishing is some of the best of the East Coast. There are also miles of hiking trails, old bunkers and munitions batteries, the Lighthouse and Coast Guard Station. The header image shows the original Visitor Center as seen from the beach. The building was once used as housing for lifeguards before being turned into a Visitor Center. The building is now closed due to damage suffered during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and the center has been moved to the Light Keeper's Quarters. This image is from March 2012.

I've been going to "the Hook" for as long as I can remember - I had an 8th grade class trip there and remember having a Boy Scout Jamboree back in the 70's. We camped on the beach, I remember rain.... This was also a place where we rode our bikes to a few times. I spent a lot of time surf fishing during the late 80's and early 90's and I can't tell you how many hours hiking along the beaches and trails, almost always with a camera in hand. I don't get up there too often anymore, it is now a 45 minute to an hour drive but I try to get there at least once a year.

The summer months find the park filling up early so if you want to go for a day at the beach, rise with the sun and head out. That's why this is one of my off-season destinations. If sunbathing is your thing, there are several ocean beaches but chose wisely - one of them is the "Nude Beach". There are trails to hike that bring you thru wooded areas and beaches - on both sides of the peninsula. The Hook is one of the few places where you can come early for a sunrise over the ocean and stay late to witness a sunset over the bay. Both are equally beautiful and distinctly different.

Wildlife

If you are a bird watcher, prepare yourself for a long day; the Hook is located along the Atlantic Flyway and is visited by more than 325 species of birds. The red-winged blackbird and great white egret are but two of the many different birds you will find here - some of the more common being glossy ibis, green heron, black-crowned night heron, piping clover and willet. Horseshoe Cove is a great place to find herons, egrets, osprey, geese and ducks; in fact, I spotted the egret shown here because a chevron of Brant (aka Brent Goose) caught my eye and the egret was feeding about 10 yards away. Of course, sea gulls are the dominant bird here and found on both ocean and bay sides. There are large poles with platforms sticking up in a number of locations - those are for osprey to nest. In all of the years I have been going to the Hook, I have only been able to capture an osprey on "film" once - it was shortly after I got the image of the blackbird shown here. Unfortunately, it caught me by surprise and it isn't a very good image.

Birds aren't the only wildlife you will find - if you are quiet and look real close, you may spot a red fox or two. You will also find Monarch butterfly and horseshoe crab, in addition to the aforementioned osprey. Muskrat can be found along the bay side but the real show-stopper might be the seals; you can find them playing in the surf or, between December and March, laying on the beach soaking up the rays.

Though I've not seen any in my travels, I understand you may come across an occasional snake along the way. The overwhelming majority of snakes in New Jersey are non-venomous and none of the venomous snakes are native to this area.

Flora

Warning: Poison ivy is prevalent - learn to recognize the plant and keep your distance.

The warning aside, poison ivy does play an important role - it's roots help secure the sand in place during storms. Milkweed is abundant and is vital to the well-being of the Monarch butterfly. The flowers, trees and plants found on the peninsula are many - mushrooms, cacti, Maple trees, flowering dogwood, beachgrass, sunflower and bayberry, to name a few. The Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) shown here was found growing out of the wall surrounding Mortar Battery. For more information, check out the Sandy Hook Herbarium run by the Marine Academy of Science and Technology. I would like to thank Ms. Cheryl McDonald for helping me to identify the plant. I would also like to thank Ms. McDonald for letting me know of the Holly Forest at the park. I'm certain that I have been thru there because I have explored the entire park at some point but I had forgotten. The Holly Forest is the largest on the East Coast and has trees that have been there since the British occupied the area - some reaching 70 feet high! The forest is also believed to be the largest virgin holly forest in the country. There used to be a nice pathway thru the forest but my understanding is that it is now closed to the public - there was a problem with people damaging the trees by taking clippings for Christmas decorations. The Park Rangers were conducting walks thru the forest but it would seem that has ended as I cannot find any information.

History

There is no way I can write about Sandy Hook and not talk about it's rich history and it's role in our military history, particularly the American Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War. You will find bunkers, ammunition batteries, and the lighthouse.

The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States, built in 1764 it was lit for the first time on 11 June 1764 - at the time it stood 500 feet from the tip of the hook, today is is nearly 1½ miles from the tip. The lighthouse was nearly destroyed in March 1776 by the Monmouth County Militia for fear it was aiding the British. They took most of the items essential for the lighthouse to function and broke the glass lens. The British ultimately took over the hook, repaired the lighthouse and remained there until the end of the war.

A wooden fort was constructed during the War of 1812 and named, Fort Gates. As an additional line of defense, a cannon was installed in the lighthouse. After the war, it was decided that a permanent structure should be built but it didn't start until 1859 when the Army began construction of Fort at Sandy Hook. The fort was never finished and was knocked down in the 1950's. The gun batteries didn't come into being until the end of the 19th Century. This is around the same time Fort Hancock came into being; designed to protect New York Harbor from invasion.

World War II saw a proliferation of aircraft being used for warfare and by the end of the war anti-aircraft guns played a key role in defending the fort, only to be replaced by Nike missiles during the Cold War. The fort was decommissioned at the end of 1974 and became part of the National Park Service.

The U.S. Coast Guard now occupies much of the land on the bay side, close to the tip.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Ms. Cheryl McDonald for identifying the plants shown here.

I would also like to thank my daughter, Katie, for allowing me to use her sunset image. It's hard to believe I have never shot a sunrise or sunset at Sandy Hook, I'm glad she has. You can check out more of her work at her Facebook page - Katie Valencia Photography.

Original Visitor Center
before Superstorm Sandy

Links to websites and other information

  • Download a "Multi-Use Pathway map" (PDF) - here
  • Download a "Trail map" (PDF) - here
  • Map of Sandy Hook (JPEG) - here
  • Fort Hancock Historic Walking Tour (brochure/map) - here
  • Birds of Gateway National Recreation Area (PDF) - here
  • Mammals of Gateway National Recreation Area (PDF) - here
The Twin Lights
As seen from the park entrance

How to get there

For GPS, use the following address: 128 South Hartshorne Drive, Highlands, NJ 07732
General directions (from the National Park Service website): https://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/sandyhookdirections.htm
  • From North Jersey and New York: - South on the New Jersey Turnpike - Exit 11 onto the Garden State Parkway (South) - Exit 117 (Keyport/Hazlet) - After toll, bear left and follow Route 36 East - 12 miles to park entrance (after crossing the Highlands Bridge)-Stay right to enter the park.
  • From South Jersey: - North on Garden State Parkway - Exit 105 (Eatontown), bear left for Route 36 East - Continue on Route 36 East, pass Monmouth Mall and across Route 35 through Eatontown and Long Branch (Route 36 is called Joline Avenue here). - Continue on Route 36, which turns left and follows north along ocean. (Route 36 is called Ocean Blvd. here) - North for six miles through the towns of Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright to park.
  • From Philadelphia & Camden, New Jersey: - New Jersey Turnpike north to Exit 7A (Shore Points) onto I-195 - East on I-195, to Garden State Parkway north. - GSP north to Exit 105 (Eatontown). - Then follow "From South Jersey" directions above.
For alternate transportation options - including public transportation - you can check out the website above.
"Sunset on the Bay" is copyright Katherine E. 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 k.e.v.photographynj@gmail.com
All other 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
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Location: Gateway National Recreation Area, 26 Hudson Rd, Highlands, NJ 07732, USA

Thursday, March 21, 2019

The REAL New Jersey - a new project and series (CANCELLED)

Due to a number of reasons, this project has been cancelled indefinitely. One of the biggest reasons is the inability to secure corporate sponsorship and secure the equipment needed to execute the project properly.
This post is part of a series - for more information about the series, as well as links to the other posts, check out The REAL New Jersey Project Page
I recently submitted a series of images to a magazine for consideration. The magazine selects a single artist each month and devotes the issue to them - they publish 11 images and conduct an interview. I wasn't selected but received a nice email from the publisher who spoke highly of a couple images in particular - he said I was one of three finalists and he encouraged me to submit again at a later date.

I decided to take those 11 images and use them as the seeds for a new project on Behance - The Real New Jersey. The project will be "live" and updated throughout 2019; I will also be creating a companion series here on the blog. You can check out the project here - https://www.behance.net/gallery/77865857/The-Real-New-Jersey.

The blue hour image of the beach at Spring Lake is one of the many Jersey Shore images you will find - seascapes, sunrise, sunset, beach, waves, etc.... I will also be traveling outside of the Jersey Shore to bring you to the Appalachian Trail, Sandy Hook and other parks and natural wonders the state offers.

I hope you enjoy the project as much as I do.

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
at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, March 18, 2019

Shooting the New York City Skyline

The Iconic New York City Skyline

I was sitting in my office the other afternoon counting the minutes until quitting time (I started at about 250!) and trying to decide if, and where, to shoot on my way home. I wasn't expecting a spectacular sunset but indications were that it would be at least worth checking out. I decided on driving to Atlantic Highlands, specifically Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, and shooting the New York City Skyline, with Sandy Hook in the foreground.

Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook

Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook is a small park in the Monmouth County Park System; also part of the park is the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial - more on that in another post. The website for the park states -
At 266 feet, this overlook in Atlantic Highlands sits on the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard (excluding islands) from Maine to the Yucatan providing beautiful views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline.
This makes it a great spot to check out Sandy Hook, the Atlantic Ocean and New York City. On a clear day you can see for miles! The horizon would be about 20 miles out to sea! There are two (2) covered seating areas, each with a couple benches and the large, pay-per-view, binoculars that get you up close to the Hook and City for 25¢. It's a great place to sit and unwind after a day at the office.

Setting up

I arrived at the park about 5:45 PM, about an hour before sunset. This gave me plenty of time to decide on a composition and take a few shots of the scenery before it started getting dark; with that much time there was no pressure. The downside of being there that early was that it was quite cold and a bit windy. The saving grace being that the wind wasn't constant but it did seem to gust pretty good just as I was clicking the shutter.... The sky was clear and I had a good view, the problem was that the sky was clear - a sign that sunset wasn't going to be all that great. There were a couple clouds out over Queens that were slowly making their way west but they pretty much dissipated by the time the sun set.

Sunset

It was fun watching the sky gradually turn orange and the city lights start to come alive. I wanted to smooth out the water as much as I could so I stopped down to f/11 to get as slow a shutter as I could. I decided not to get out the ND filters because I was having trouble with the wind and didn't want to add to the problem. While I didn't get the dramatic sunset sky that I like, I did get a nice warm sky and a slight glow on the buildings.

Darkness Descends

The color image at the top of the page and the black & white image shown here are the same image - taken about 30 minutes after the sun set and the sky got dark. The wind had begun gusting harder by this time and, of course, it was considerable colder but I didn't want to waste an opportunity. I waited until the wind stopped, then tripped the shutter with the cable release but invariably the wind would blow at some time during the long exposure; I even tried blocking the wind with my body but it only helped a little.

The park closed at 8:00 PM and by now it was 7:50 so I packed up and headed for home - excited to see what I had captured.

The Results

The images shown here are the only ones I did any editing for as I felt they were the strongest compositions. I deleted the others. I am happy with the compositions presented here but, upon close inspection, find that they aren't as sharp as they should be and there is a lot of noise in the dark areas of the images. The lack of sharpness is due to camera shake during the exposure; the noise a function of the camera. I am disappointed but also armed now with some knowledge I didn't have prior to that shoot. I will be going back again - more than once - and shooting during sunset and twilight.

You can download a park brochure for Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook here.

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
at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Friday, March 8, 2019

Interview with Scottish Photographer & Vlogger Kim Grant

Author note: It's been well over a year since I interviewed Kelly Czupkiewicz for this blog and I thought it was time to resurrect the series. I am beginning with Scottish photographer Kim Grant. I am lining up more for the months to come. Stay tuned.
I found Kim on YouTube a while back and subscribed to her channel before I was even halfway thru the first video. I'm not even sure how I discovered her channel - I was following guys like Thomas Heaton, Brendan van Son and Serge Ramelli; one of her videos may have shown up on the "Up Next" suggestion list while watching one of their videos or when I did a search for "female photographer." I doesn't matter how I found her, I'm just very happy I did.

If you watch her videos you will soon learn how much she loves nature and her homeland, Scotland. She is genuinely enthusiastic about each place she visits, as well as quite knowledgeable. Most of the photographers/vloggers I follow are producing videos for one or more of the following reasons:

  1. Show off their photography skills and images
  2. Teach you how to do something
  3. To sell you something - a piece of equipment, calendar, workshop, Lightroom presets, etc....
My experience with Kim is that her main objective is to share her love of nature and country, displaying her skill as a photographer is just icing on the cake (and what a sweet icing it is.) It is a refreshing change and I think this is one thing that contributes to her success; watching her videos is like being on vacation with a friend as a tour guide. This year Kim ventured into the world of workshops and now you can experience Scotland with your very own guide. The workshops are single-day and, as-of this writing, cost £50 (about $65 USD). You get an opportunity to shoot side-by-side with Kim and see some of her favorite locations. It is a great way to discover new places, meet new people and learn to see things differently. She also offers private, one-on-one sessions; check the "Workshops" section of her website.

I have been re-watching some of her videos, particularly her earlier ones, in preparation for this interview. Snowy Adventure and What My Youtube Channel is Really About! is the video in which I "connected" with Kim and really gives us a good understanding of who she is. If you watch the video, just about 4:30 in she starts to talk about her channel and what it is all about; at one point she states "...landscape photography is something which I use to connect with the natural world...". I feel exactly the same way, sometimes when I am out I wonder if my hiking is an excuse for photography or if photography is an excuse to go out hiking. In the end, it doesn't matter - right? I don't want to put words in Kim's mouth but, for us, the experience is more important than the image. The act of squeezing the shutter is an attempt to capture not only the beauty of the scene but also the feeling and character of the landscape.

Okay - enough of my ramblings, let's get to "Kim Grant in her own words!" I hope you check out her links below and consider supporting her work via her Patreon page.

The Interview

Personal questions

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Camping in Aviemore with my dad. Loved spending the summers in the Highlands enjoying all things outdoorsy from kayaking to cycling. There was nothing better than spending a day down by a loch and cooking food on a stove.

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

  • Spaghetti Bolognese
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Ice Cream
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Freshly Made Baguette

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

"You always have a choice". I was told this by a midwife when I was training to be a nurse just after I left school. It's always stuck with me and is something I always repeat in my mind when I feel my life is steering in the wrong direction.
(Joe: Great advice! I have never been disappointed with the answers to this question. I’m beginning to wonder if I asked it for the advice…. 😉)

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

Getting stuck into a really good book. There's nothing better than immersing yourself into a fantasy world and letting your mind run wild. Anything with a good message or a page turning thriller. It's a great way to detach from the stresses of real life for an hour or two.

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

They say never to meet your heros. I would therefore probably pick someone who had an interesting life with a lot of interesting stories to tell. Maybe someone like George Michael. His music inspired so many but he battled a lot of things behind the camera. It would have been interesting to hear his personal accounts of fame and the pressures that come with it.
(Joe: This is interesting…. I have heard the same advice; I’ve been fortunate to meet some whom I have admired, all where good encounters. I have been lucky.)

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

I was almost a black belt in kick-boxing when I was a kid (one belt away from black belt - almost a martial arts expert hehe).
(Joe: I always hope that my interviewees are happy with the final interview but this answer makes me nervous…)🤣

What would you like to be remembered for?

Allowing people to see the natural world in a more positive light and being able to inspire people to get outdoors and embrace it.

Professional questions

Why photography?

It allows me to connect with nature in a more meaningful way. I find it relaxing and it gets me out the house to see stunning times of day which so many of us miss.

How and why did you start vlogging?

I started it as a bit of fun. I thought it would be good to share my trips around Scotland and teach people a few positive messages along the way. I genuinely only expected a few hundred people to see and follow my adventures. It still shocks me how well my YouTube channel has done and how many people enjoy watching the content that I create.
(Joe: As I am writing this, Kim has more than 11,000 subscribers!)

Can you explain your photography in 10 words or less?

A connection with the landscape and it's true natural beauty.

What is your greatest achievement in photography?

Before YouTube I made a small local calendar showcasing my best images from around the Moray Coast. Seeing my images in print for the first time made me feel incredibly proud. I only managed to sell half of them (barely making the money I spent on printing them back) but the fact that almost 100 people wanted one, made me feel very proud of my images and work!

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

There is an English photographer called Ollie Taylor who shoots astrophotography. His work always blows me away! Sharing a gallery with him would be fun (me showcasing locations at golden hours and him showcasing the same locations after dark). I think it would be a great contrasting visual representation of the landscape throughout the day.
(Joe: That sounds like a great exhibit! Hey, Ollie! What about it?)

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

Watching inspiring videos and vlogs. Nothing inspires me more than seeing somewhere stunning on film with epic music and light. I often feel my most inspired when I see a really good YouTube video and I begin to plan my own trip to that location (or one similar) to have my own adventure. Seeing other people have a happy experience in a location, inspires me to get there and shoot it for myself.
(Joe: I’m sure you have done your share of inspiring others thru your videos!)

What is your favorite location to shoot?

The coast. It's too difficult to pick one specific location. I love standing on towering clifftops and shooting the sunset or sunrise with the ocean and waves crashing around me. I always feel most alive when shooting seascapes. Just take me to the coast and I'm happy!
(Joe: I would agree with you. There is something magical about a sunrise over the ocean – I would do it every day if it wasn’t so early in the morning!) 😉

What is your favorite piece of equipment?

Probably my tripod. while I enjoy shooting without it from time to time, it allows me to get creative with long shutter speeds and explore the world of astrophotography.

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

I feel like I'm still starting out in the photography world myself. It's a challenge to get into it in the modern day world but plenty of practice and sharing your work online can really boost your chances. On a local level, my Facebook page was very popular when I first started (as local people could relate to the locations I was shooting). In my current photography journey, it's youtube that has opened up the doors for me. I guess social media is your friend. If you're more into portraits, weddings or events, networking and marketing yourself is the best way. You need to get your service and name out there to get the work in.

Bonus question:

What are your Top 5 "Deserted Island" albums?

  • Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
  • Elton John - Captain Fantastic
  • Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials
  • Kygo - Cloud Nine
  • Sia - This Is Acting

Links

All images are © Kim Grant and may not be used without written permission. You may contact Kim at kimgrantphotography@gmail.com
at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Saturday, February 23, 2019

A Foggy Winter Morning

Ah, Fog

I love a good, foggy morning. Don't you? I don't particularly like driving thru "pea soup" but when it comes to photography, few weather conditions can get me as excited as a good fog. We got a good deal of snow on Wednesday afternoon (about 2 1/2 inches) and then it turned to rain in the early evening; by morning it was an ugly slush more than anything. The conditions were perfect for fog and I knew exactly where I wanted to shoot, I just had to hope it didn't dissipate before I got there.

I headed straight for Durand Park in Freehold, a place I have been to many times before, in all types of weather. I have even shot there in the fog a time or two. I would normally head straight to the lake but this time I had a completely different part of the park in mind. The last time I was there I walked along a trail that runs more or less parallel to the road. This part of the park has quite a few small to medium sized trees of all types. I saw one in particular that I noted would make a good composition when the conditions were right - this was the time. The trail was slushy and my feet got wet soon after I started out - it isn't the first time I got wet feet and it won't be the last - but I was on a mission. I actually found a few other trees that looked good with the fog as a backdrop, some of which are shown here.

I walked around for about 30 minutes, looking at different trees from different angles and found that low-angle shots worked the best. I wasn't about to get down on my belly in the slush and I had left my tripod in the car (don't ask me why, I have no idea) so I flipped open the screen, turned it up and held the camera close to the ground. One of the features of the Canon Rebel EOS T3i is the flip-out Vari-angle 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor which allows me to hold the camera low (or high) and still see the composition.

After I walked around for a while and looked at every tree I decided to stop by the lake to see if the fog was giving anything interesting there. Sadly, by the time I got to the lake much of the fog had dissipated and there was nothing to see. I headed back to the car, got all of the slush and mud off of my shoes and headed to the office. I knew I had at least one or two solid images and couldn't wait until I was able to process them.

I did a preliminary edit of the smartphone image on my phone using Photoshop Express but knew it wasn't quite "there" yet. I uploaded to Photoshop and got it to where you see it now. This is the only smartphone image of the morning - the other three (3) shown here were made with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i and my Canon EF-S 18-135mm lens. The RAW images were edited in Lightroom and finished in Photoshop.

I am happy with these images but they have me craving for another foggy morning. While editing these (and some of the other images that didn't make the cut) I played with some compositions that I want to try. I also want to get there when the trees have leaves and at peak foliage. I found some interesting trees and other features in this section of the park that deserve some attention in the future. You wouldn't think there were a lot of opportunities in such a small area but you would be wrong.

I hope you enjoyed these images as much as I enjoyed making them and bringing them to you. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below and tell me about your experiences shooting in fog. Until next time!

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
at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

DAMN, IT'S COLD! It's Time To Hit The Beach For A Sunrise!

Sunrise - Spring Lake, New Jersey

Disclaimer: I mention a local hotel and some equipment in the following blog post. This post is not endorsed by them in any way nor am I being paid for writing this or mentioning them. If you purchase something, I receive absolutely nothing.
My wife and I went away for a long weekend with our good friends, Danny & Debbie. We stayed at the Hewitt Wellington Hotel in Spring Lake. I had photographed the hotel one night - I was there to photograph St. Catharine and the park across the street but after the sun went down I was drawn to the hotel reflecting in the lake. You can view that image on my Instagram feed in black & white and in color. I posted a couple of the images on Facebook and a friend commented on how nice the hotel was. When we were looking for a place to stay for the weekend, I suggested we check it out. It is quite nice and I would recommend it to anyone looking to stay in the Spring Lake area. The hotel was booked solid for the weekend - in February! - so I would think it might be wise to book well in advance if you plan to stay when the weather is nice. The hotel is about two (2) blocks from the beach so I planned to catch the sunrise on Sunday, if I was awake. I knew it was going to be cold and the weather forecast was "iffy" so I wasn't going to set an alarm and wake up my wife. As luck would have it, I barely slept all night and at 6:00 decided to get dressed and walk to the beach. The Weather Channel said it was 27°F with 18°F windchill but they weren't at the beach! I swear the windchill was more like 0°F standing at the edge of the ocean.

I no longer own a pair of gloves, I lost mine (driving gloves) a couple years ago while out on a hike and just never bought another pair. The winters in New Jersey have been somewhat mild with occasional "arctic blasts" so I haven't been able to justify spending $70 or more for a good pair of photographer's gloves. This sunrise excursion had me questioning my decision.... Fortunately I have a Canon cable release for my camera (a Canon Rebel EOS T3i) and I was able to keep my hands in my jacket pocket much of the time; even with this, my hands were bright red and barely functional when I was putting my gear away after about an hour. I think I might break down and buy a pair of Vallerret photography gloves next fall and a good balaclava to keep my head and neck warm. If you own Vallerret gloves - how do you like them? Are they really as good as they say they are? If you have other gloves, which ones and would you recommend them? I am also open to recommendations for a balaclava - I've never owned one.

Now on to the sunrise! The official sunrise time was 6:45 and I arrived at the beach just before 6:15, plenty of time to find a composition and set up. I had the added advantage of having been to this exact spot on the beach a week or two earlier so I had a composition in mind before I got there. I wanted to use the jetty as a mid-ground and the scattered rocks on the beach as foreground. The tide was coming in and much higher than the last time I was there - the foreground rocks were almost entirely swallowed up by the incoming waves. You can see the clouds in the first image - those were the only clouds in the sky that morning and they never moved. Well.... later that morning the clouds rolled in - plenty of high, wispy clouds with a nice mix of low, puffy clouds. Had they come a few hours earlier the story would have been a whole lot different. I guess if the conditions were always the way you wanted them to be, landscape photography would get pretty boring - huh? 😉

I set up the tripod about as close to the water as I dared and fired off a couple test shots. I wanted to get a fairly long exposure to help smooth out the water and stopping down to f/11 gave me a 10 second exposure for the first image. I would like to have gone with a 25 or 30 second exposure but didn't want to stop down any more than f/11 or f/13 and the thought of fooling around with ND filters in the cold was not appealing to me. If the conditions were better, sure, but not this day. Overall I'm happy with the first image but I may have been able to add a stop or so to the exposure and open up the shadows a little more; maybe even a little "light painting" with my headlamp or flashlight.

As I was waiting for the sun to rise, I turned the camera south and made an image of the beach before turning the camera to the north and doing the same. The second image shown here is the north-pointing image. I stopped down to f/13 to get a 30 second exposure. When I checked this shot on the back of the camera I was quite happy with this image - the lamps on the boardwalk gave me a nice star and the water looked nice; it wasn't until I got home on Monday and started processing it did I notice the Belmar Fishing Pier in the distance. I think it adds a great touch, what do you think?

Lastly, once the sun started peeking over the clouds I grabbed a few more of the jetty but the sun was too harsh and I wasn't thrilled. I was about to put the camera away when I looked down and saw the sun starting to creep into the reflection on the wet sand. I liked the way the water was reflecting the sun and color in the sky so I composed the frame and starting shooting. I wanted to make sure I got it right - not too much water but enough. The exposure for the image I settled on was 1/25th @ f/11. It was taken within 8 or 10 minutes of sunrise. Once I thought I had what I needed I headed up to the boardwalk to put my gear away. There is a pavilion to provide at least some relief from the wind. By this time my hands were bright red and I was barely able to work the clips on my backpack to get it open but there was no way I was carrying the camera on the tripod all the way back to the hotel. I got everything put away, put the pack on my back and headed for the hotel and coffee maker! It took about an hour before I was completely warm....

I hope you enjoyed this post and the images. I would love to hear what you think and also hear about your experiences shooting sunrise. What were the most difficult conditions you have had to fight? This past Sunday weren't the worst I have endured but they are in the Top Ten. Until next time - get out and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer while we still have a chance!

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
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Location: Spring Lake, NJ 07762, USA

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Some of my Favorite Lakes in Monmouth County

A few of my favorite lakes

My wife was looking thru her Facebook feed the other night and came across some pictures that a friend posted. There were some swans on a lake (but it wasn't Swan Lake.... 😂 .) She showed them to me and asked if I knew where the lake was, she seemed to think it was Belmar. I looked and it seemed more like a small lake in Ocean Township - after we guessed a couple times she asked her friend; we were both way off! The lake is in Brick. My wife then asked if I had written any blog posts about lakes; realizing that I had not, I silently vowed to write one.

I don't know why I haven't done this before, I have shot around many lakes - some of which are very special places to me. Looking over my previous 76 posts I realized I haven't written about a single lake, their images have appeared in posts but I've never written about the lake or highlighted it specifically.

Lake Topanemus

Lake Topanemus is located in Lake Topanemus Park in Freehold. I have done a lot of hiking and shooting in this park over the last few years. It used to be my "go to" spot for lunchtime hikes but don't go there as much anymore, seems like there are more people there now. I will go on the occasional hike there on my way to the office in the morning when the deer outnumber the people 15 or 20 to 1. The image here was made a few years ago during one of my lunchtime excursions. This particular image was taken with my smartphone and then edited with Photoshop. If you can get there during peak foliage, do it. This is just one of many foliage images I have of the lake.

In the warmer weather you will find a wide variety of birds using the lake - ducks, geese, egrets and herons are just a few. If you are quiet and pay close attention around the edge of the lake you may get lucky and see turtles sunning themselves on fallen logs in the water. They are even more skittish than the deer so don't try to get too close.

There are many benches along the trail where you can just sit and watch the world go by - many of them have "memorial" plaques on them, dedicating the bench to a friend or loved one. There is one in particular that caught my eye - I wrote about it on my other blog; Mayor of the Park. If you look up in the trees you will also find quite a few decorated bird houses, there are many varieties of birds for bird watching.

Divine Lake

Divine Lake can be found in Divine Park in Spring Lake. I discovered this lake when I went to shoot a sunset at St. Catharine Church. A friend suggested the church as a great subject for a sunset so I set out one night last summer, I like shooting sunrise/sunset when I can include water and Dave suggested I check it out. I knew I was going to come away with some pretty good images if I could decide on a composition. The image shown here was shot from the bank, opposite the church and facing north. You will notice - St. Catharine is nowhere to be seen. The fountain caught my attention, as did the footbridge beyond it. This is a fairly long exposure to get the fluidity of the fountain and to smooth out the lake as much as possible.

The lake is reasonably large and there is a second footbridge behind and to the left of the one in this image. I made a mental note to go back during peak foliage but 2018 was a disappointing year for color around here and I never got there. There's always next year and the year after that and the year after that, etc.... At the north end of the park you will find tennis courts and a playground. There is a sidewalk that runs the full perimeter of the park and is a great place to go for a leisurely walk. I would suggest, however, a good bug spray for the summer months.

Manasquan Reservoir

The Manasquan Reservoir in Howell is quite large and offers unlimited opportunities for a photographer. There are a few trails that provide nice opportunities for hiking and photography, including one that traverses the 5 mile perimeter of the reservoir. The image shown here is a panorama taken along the perimeter trail, standing on one of the footbridges. If I were to turn 180° I would have been looking out over the reservoir and another beautiful view. I always thought this spot would be great to shoot the setting sun but the sun never sets within this frame....

The reservoir offers many activities such as boating, fishing, birding, hiking, bike riding, etc.... or you can stop by the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center. The Center provides many free programs that change regularly or you can get a "Safari Backpack" and go on a self-guided adventure. Check out the website to see what is happening (click here) or just stop by. I see something new every time I go.

Turkey Swamp

I don't know the name of the lake, if it even has one, but I sure do love to shoot it. The lake, and park, hold my interest year-round. The panorama shown here was shot late afternoon on a summer's day. I like to look at this image and imagine it is my personal dock on a private lake somewhere in the mountains. How perfect would that be? I don't think I will ever live that scenario so I some to this spot whenever I can and pretend it to be so.

In autumn this lake and the island in the middle (to the left of the dock) come alive with color; particularly beautiful are the aspen trees that dot the shoreline. The white bark stands as a great contract to the vibrant colors - if you are lucky enough to be there on a calm day, the reflections in the lake make for some spectacular images!

Durand Park Lake

There is a small park in Freehold named Durand Park, just off the parking lot is a small lake filled with possibilities. The image here was made on my way to the office one morning. This is a great place to shoot in the snow and I didn't want to waste an opportunity. When I arrived I was a bit disappointed that the lake wasn't completely frozen over but then I realized how lucky I was. While this is a nice image, I think the reflection is the crowning touch. I have edited this image a few different ways - color, black & white and a mild sepia tone - but always like black & white when it comes to snow scenes like this.

This lake was probably the most difficult of all to select a single image for because I have so many that I like. If you are here during peak foliage, the lake comes alive with color. I have been here when there was a low-lying fog over the lake that gave a great atmosphere to the image. There are also aspen trees that are arcing over the lake that make a great subject at varying times of year. The lake also has a lot of lily pads at are quite photogenic all on their own. This is a great little park that doesn't seem to get nearly as much attention as it deserves and, maybe, that's a good thing!

Lily Pad Lake

Lily Pad Lake is the name I gave to a small lake hidden away at Allaire State Park. This is where I go if I absolutely want to be alone as very few people venture this far along the trail. The image here is an older one that I made with my Motorola smartphone a few years ago. The lily pads were not out when this image was made but if you are there at the right time you will see them cover much of the west end (nearest the camera) of the lake. What really attracts me to this lake, other than the seclusion, are all of the dead trees sticking out of the lake surface. You can see, this day was rather calm and the reflections of the trees add another dimension to the image.

There is a single bench on the edge of the lake where I can, and have, sit undisturbed for a long time just watching the birds, waiting for a turtle to pop up or even catch a deer on the far shore. I come to this spot when I have the need for some quiet time to reflect on life's events, decompress from a rough day or even write letters and blog posts.

These are just a small number of beautiful lakes to be found in Monmouth County and around New Jersey. I hope I have inspired you to go out and explore these lakes for yourself or to go out and find your own. If you know a place that isn't here - please comment below and tell me about it. If you have been to one of these lakes, let me know your experiences there - I'm always interested in hearing from 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
at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, February 4, 2019

Product Review: Kelty Redwing 32 Backpack

Kelty Redwing 32 Backpack

If you are a regular reader on this blog you may remember the reviews I did on the Tamrac Hoodoo 20 Camera Daypack (Product Review: Tamrac Hoodoo 20 Camera Daypack and UPDATED: Product Review - Tamrac Hoodoo 20 Camera Daypack) and that, while a nice bag, it did not suit my needs. I soon discovered that most of the camera bags/backpacks were lacking some of the basics - such as water bottle pockets. I did find them on the higher-end bags but they were priced outside my budget. I started looking at hiking backpacks and found the Kelty Redwing series. I decided on the Redwing 32 (pictured here with Kelty Range 2.0 trekking poles) in "twilight blue." For more information and specifications, follow the link to the Kelty website below.

First Impression

When I first opened the box I was quite happy - it is a good-looking bag with a lot of pockets for storage. There are two (2) outside pockets for carrying water which already put it head-and-shoulders above the Tamrac bag. The back is well padded, as are the shoulder straps but I would like to see the waist belt and sternum strap a bit more robust. The bag is well made, has plenty of pockets - inside and out - and the zippers work smoothly. There are "hidden" straps in the front of the bag for hanging miscellaneous items. One thing that is noticeably missing is the presence of "D"-rings on the shoulder straps. They aren't absolutely necessary but it is something I would like to have had, it makes it easier to have some things "at hand" when you need them - like a compass, emergency whistle, etc....

In The Field

I have been using the pack for a few months and love it. When I got the pack, I also got a medium storage box (Kelty) to hold my filters, filter holder and some small accessories. In the beginning, I put a folded sweatshirt in the bottom for padding and then used bubble wrap around my lenses and camera body to protect them. This worked but was rather awkward. I then searched B&H for inserts and found the Ape Case Cubeze QB39 Flexible Storage Cube (see link below.) This was perfect for holding two lenses and camera body.

The pack feels good on my back and allows me to carry everything I need for an afternoon out - including the tripod! There is not a dedicated "tripod holder", after all this pack isn't designed as a camera bag, but I am able to carry is on the side. I slide two legs behind of of the outside pockets and into one of the water bottle pockets. It isn't ideal but it works quite well. There are two (2) loops at the bottom of the pack, they are designed to hold trekking poles, and I think I can use one or both for the tripod. I will have to play around and will let you know in a follow-up if I have any success.

Final Thoughts

All in all, I love the pack. As I mentioned, a couple "D"-rings would be nice and better waist/sternum straps would help but there really isn't anything else I could think to improve on it's design. I do have some trouble getting my water bottles to stay but I am using bottles that it wasn't really designed for. I have Takeya 24oz and 32oz bottles - they fit nicely but they are a bit tall and since they are aluminum they slide out easily. They stay just fine while I am hiking but sometimes fall out when taking the pack off.

There is more than enough room for all of my gear, water, extra clothes and some food - everything I need for a full day of adventure and shooting. The bottom line is - I would highly recommend this bag to hikers and photographers alike! There are other sizes available if you need a smaller or larger bag.

Note: I receive no money from the sale or promotion of any of the items written about in this review. The opinions are mine and mine alone. I have not been paid to write this review or to endorse any of the products or companies.

For More Information & Where to Buy

Kelty Redwing 32 backpack - https://www.kelty.com/redwing-32/

Ape Case Cubeze QB39 Flexible Storage Cube @ B&H - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/903032-REG/Cubeze_QB39_Flexible_Storage_Cube_Yellow

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
at 3 comments:
Labels: , , ,

Monday, January 21, 2019

It's Cold. It's Windy. It's Time For The Beach!

I went out to lunch with my wife yesterday and we decided to take the long way home, driving along the ocean. When we got to Bradley Beach I could see some spray peeking over the top of the dunes so, of course, I had to stop. I didn't have my DSLR with me but had my phone and thought I would be able to get a good shot for my "365 Project" (see 2019 and my 365 Project.)

The wind was quite wicked, really whipping up the waves and blowing spray - in other words; perfect! I found a group of rocks being pounded by waves and then a small group scattered in the sand. I could tell they were still being hit by water at times but it appeared the tide was receding so I figured I was safe. I was, for the most part, right about that except I almost got wet when a couple larger waves came in at once, pushing the water further up the beach than I had previously seen. Luckily I noticed the oncoming water before it was too late - the result was this black & white image.

I was able to stay on the beach for about 10 minutes and shoot about 15 or so images before it got too cold. I was not dressed properly - this was a last minute decision so I only had a lightweight, insulated jacket and no hood. I haven't been able to find a pair of gloves suitable for photography that were warm and reasonably priced so I don't wear them when I am out - in fact, right now I don't even own a pair of gloves. I guess some day I will have to break down and buy a pair but it's hard to justify because we don't really get that many days when I absolutely need them.

I'm keeping this post short, just wanted to share a few of my images from the beach. Hopefully I have encouraged you to get out and shoot, cold, wind, rain, snow; doesn't matter, there is never a bad day to be outside shooting. Each type of weather system brings challenges - facing and conquering those challenges is what makes us better photographers.

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
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Featured Post

Macro (and Close-Up) Photography - A Whole New World

Macro (and Close-Up) Photography - A Whole New World All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia, All Rights Rese...