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.)

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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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I Am Taking a Break

Storm Clouds & Tree
Maclearie Park, Belmar

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.

Deep Cut Gardens

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/

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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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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.

Sue Urbine

Introduction

I met Sue when she was in 9^th 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.

image by Shawn Urbine

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

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!

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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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Backyard Discoveries

White Clover
who knew a weed could be so beautiful

The "Project"

Today is May 31^st 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.

Dandelion
I've been told it looks like fireworks

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.

Lily of the Valley

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.

Rosa rubiginosa (sweet briar rose)

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.

Bee and White Wild Rose

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!

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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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Lily of the Valley #1
250mm - 1/400 @ f/8 - ISO 1600

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.... 😉

Lily of the Valley #2
96mm - 1/100 @ f/8 - ISO 200

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.

Lily of the Valley #3
70mm - 1/80 @ f/9 - ISO 200

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.

Lily of the Valley #4
74mm - 1/640 @ f/4.5 - ISO 200

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!

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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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Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial

Eagle - 9/11 Memorial
Mount Mitchill, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

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.

Eagle with Sandy Hook and New York City skyline under it's wing.
Mount Mitchill, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
(focus stacked image)

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.

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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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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 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.

Leggett's Sand Bar - original image

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!

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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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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.

• The Best Places For Sunrise & Sunset Photos in New Jersey
• Top 11 Hikes in New Jersey This Labor Day
• 3 Tools for Planning Your Photos on Vacation
• 3 Things I’ve Learned From NJspots
• 9 Best Photos of Lighthouses in New Jersey

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/

Favorite NJspots Articles:
• Hiking the Pochuck Boardwalk on the Appalachian Trail
• A Stroll Through Neshanic Station
• Explore Popular New Jersey Waterfall Spots

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.

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All photos are copyright Virginia Buechel.

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Behind the Image: Lilac Bush

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.

Lilac Bush

Lilac Bush

So.... What happens when the world around you is shut down and you cannot go anywhere? I don't know about you but I will often just sit on my back steps and look at what nature is doing in my back yard and neighboring woods. I've been known to watch squirrels, rabbits, deer and birds for long periods of time. It can be both relaxing and quite tiring at the same time - they never stop!

One day while sitting on the steps, my eyes followed a bird into the lilac bush in the back yard. "I wonder what the world looks like from inside the lilac bush?", I said to no one. The photograph here is just one of the answers.

Believe it or not, this is the first time I put a camera inside of a bush - for any reason. I really didn't know what to expect or if a "usable" image would come from this but time is one commodity I have a lot of these days. The setup was simple - put the camera on the tripod, set the camera as low to the ground as possible, and point it straight up. The camera was set on full manual, including focus, so that each image was exposed the same. I started with the lens set to it's closest focus distance and then changed the focus slightly after each of the first few shots. The wind was fairly still so the possibility of focus stacking existed, if necessary. There was no way to see the flip out screen on the camera once it was inside the bush so I was, literally, shooting blindly.

Once I had a few shots done at the initial focal length (18mm) I took a series of images at longer focal lengths, just for kicks. This wasn't the easiest setup and I suffered numerous scratches so it probably wasn't something that was going to be attempted more than once. After all, the inspiration came from a somewhat silly thought borne out of boredom. Expectations were not very high.

When the images where uploaded and imported to Lightroom I was pleasantly surprised to find some interesting images. The longer focal length images were quite out of focus and, honestly, not very interesting - just a grouping of leaves with some blue sky. The best of the bunch is the one I chose to show here, though there were maybe two or three others that were pretty close. What immediately draws me to the image is the perception of being in the woods and looking up among trees. The two foreground trunks lead you right up and into the canopy and sky above, with just enough of the sky and clouds peeking thru.

I am quite pleased with this image and think I may put the camera into the bush again once the flowers on the bush are in full bloom. In the meantime I am going to try to find a way to see the screen so I can take a more active role in composing and focusing. A long sleeve shirt will help with the scratches.

In the end, what started out as a silly thought turned into a pleasing image and a lesson learned. I am thinking about other suitable subjects for similar shots and have been eyeing a large holly tree in the back. I've never been "inside" of it before and not really sure what might be awaiting me but it might be worth finding out.

Have you ever done anything like this before? If so, how did they turn out? What did you learn from it? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

Technical information

Exposure: 18mm - 1/125 @ f/16 - ISO 100
Note: The Canon EOS Rebel T3i is a crop-sensor camera with a magnification of 1.6 - the full-frame equivalent is approximately 29mm.

Equipment List
• Canon EOS Rebel T3i body
• Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
• Canon RS-60E3 wired remote
• MeFOTO RoadTrip Classic tripod
• 3 Legged Thing QR11-LC Universal L-Bracket (Orange)

Note: As I publish this I am ending Week Seven (7) of working from home and social distancing. It is a scary time and I hope everyone is staying safe and in good health. Until next time!

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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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Behind the Image: Manasquan Reservoir Sunset in Black and White

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.

Sunset in black & white
Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, New Jersey

Manasquan Reservoir Sunset

Manasquan Reservoir is quickly becoming my go-to location for sunrise and sunset, especially around Chestnut Point. I was about 300 yards from the parking lot for this image, about a week before New Jersey starting shutting down due to COVID-19. It turns out to be the last sunset I got at the reservoir and the second to last before we completely shut down.

As is usually the case, I made a last minute decision to stop at the reservoir on my way home from the office. Normally, I would not have stopped because the conditions weren't really what I look for in a sunset but we had been told earlier in the day that we could start working from home, at our discretion, and I had planned to start doing so on Monday. Once I started that, I knew I wasn't going to have much chance to get to the reservoir; as it turns out, I was right.

I arrived at the park right about 5:00 PM for a 5:53 PM sunset and had a pretty good idea of where I was going to set up. Why get there an hour early? There are a number of reasons but the primary being that it gives me plenty of time to leisurely look around to find my composition. I do this even if I have been to the same location many times as there is always something different to find. When it comes to the reservoir, you may also have to show up early to find a spot. It is a rather popular location and I have seen as many as ten photographers setting up tripods.

As luck would have it, there were a half-dozen cars in the lot but no other photographers so I had my pick of spots. I chose to stay at the top of the rocks, right next to the trail mainly because I didn't have a headlamp with me and the rocks can be a bit treacherous. This final composition was actually the third one that I tried that afternoon, another reason for showing up as early as I do.

There was enough of a breeze to make small ripples in the water so I decided to put my 10-stop ND filter on and go for long exposures. I was also hoping that some clouds would come in to add a bit of drama to the sky. When I arrived there were almost none. I finally settled on this composition for a number of reasons. The sun was setting directly behind me which I hoped would give me some nice Golden Hour light (it didn't) and I liked this grouping of dead trees. The tree that drew my attention initially is the tall one on the left of the frame.

Sunset in color
Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, New Jersey

The idea of the long exposure was to smooth out the water and get some interesting reflections of the trees and clouds. We have all heard of the "Rule of Thirds" and I'm sure you have been told to "never put the horizon in the middle of the frame." I know that I have more times that I can count. When I am shooting something like this I purposely compose the image with the horizon right in the middle of the frame; the idea is that I want to accomplish a "mirror image." I knew that was not going to happen here because of the wind but I also knew I would get some nice reflections so - middle it was. I also find it more appealing when the reflections aren't getting cut off at the bottom or the object cut off at the top.

The decision to convert this to black & white was a matter of, "I wonder if this would work in black & white?" I was watching television while casually looking thru images on my tablet looking for something I could upload to Instagram the next afternoon. I had already done some preliminary editing to this image - see the color image - and, though I liked it, it didn't really captivate me. The more I worked on the monochrome, the more excited I got. Darkening the foreground and clouds gave it a moody, almost foreboding, feel to it. I cropped the image to a 5:4 (close but not exactly) ratio for make it look good for Instagram and to crop out some distracting elements in the background. The color image is the original 100% crop.

I think the black & white image is a bit more powerful than the color one. Do you agree? Which do you like best? I would love to hear your thoughts - leave me a comment below.

I hope you enjoyed this first installment in my Behind the Image series. Stay tuned for more.

Technical information

Exposure: 21mm - 65 seconds @ f/11 - ISO 100 - 10-stop ND filter
The black & white conversion was done with Lightroom for Mobile on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 tablet.

Equipment List
• Canon EOS Rebel T3i body
• Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
• Canon RS-60E3 wired remote
• MeFOTO RoadTrip Classic tripod
• 3 Legged Thing QR11-LC Universal L-Bracket (Orange)
• ICE 10-stop Neutral Density filter

Links and Further Reading

To learn more about Manasquan Reservoir, check out some of my earlier posts, Manasquan Reservoir - A Sunrise & Sunset Weekend and Parks of Monmouth County - Manasquan Reservoir and from the parks official website, Monmouth County Park System - Manasquan Reservoir

The Canon EOS Rebel T3i is no longer available but the line continues with the T7i. Check it out, and the full line of Canon gear, at Canon Shop.

I did reviews for the MeFOTO RoadTrip Classic on my blog and YouTube channel - Product Review: MeFOTO RoadTrip tripod and Equipment Review: MeFOTO RoadTrip, respectively. To view the entire line of MeFOTO products, check out their website - here

The 3 Legged Thing universal bracket is one of the best investments I have made. Check it out - here

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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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A New Series - "Behind the Image"

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.

Self-portrait

Behind the Image

The COVID-19 pandemic is still dominating the news and our lives; I am beginning my fifth (sixth?) week of working from home. It's been almost as long since I have been to a park or photographed a sunset, instead venturing out to my yard looking for something to catch my eye. This has given me time to go thru some of my older (some forgotten) images and look at them thru "new eyes." I have also decided to use this time to work on my black and white processing skills.

As I go thru the images I am reminded of the circumstances that lead up to making it - it's funny, I find it difficult some days to remember why I got up from the couch or even the name of someone I've known for a long time. When I look at a photograph it is like I was there just yesterday. Art, like music, can evoke memories lost since forgotten. That is one of the things that is so attractive about the medium of photography to me; there is no better "high" than when when someone says that one of my images brought back fond memories.

I decided to create a new series titled, Behind the Image. Each post will be a single image (well... maybe two or three in a series) with the story of "what", "why", and "where" with a little bit of "how" thrown in now and again. I will create an index page with links to all of the posts in the series for easy reference - look for it in the tabs with the other pages.

Behind the self-portrait

The image I used here is a self-portrait that I shot a number of years ago when I had my original blog. I used to participate in challenges where a theme was presented and we were to post images representing it. The theme for this particular challenge, if you haven't guessed, was orange. We had a good amount of fresh snow in the back yard so I put on my orange fleece jacket and orange backpack before heading out. The camera I am holding is my old Canon A1 35mm film camera fitted with a Sigma 400mm f/5.6 lens. I used a selective color technique to turn the background monochrome and help accentuate the orange.

I was happy with the image, overall, except for the prominence of the fence. I would have liked to have a clean background to make it look like I was "in the field" instead of the back yard but I wasn't. Could I clone to fence out? That's possible I suppose but I don't have that kind of patience. I am also not that good with Photoshop, yet.

I hope you will enjoy the series as much as I enjoy reliving the experience of making the images. The first post should be ready in a few days, I hope. The image will be a recent black and white conversion of the last sunset I shot at Manasquan Reservoir, just prior to the state shutdown. Stay tuned!

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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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