Photography Today

What We're Missing

2012-01-25T09:40:00.012-05:00

Our modern civilization has literally obliterated our night skies with light pollution and most people don't know what they are missing. Where does one go to escape the multitude of outdoor lights in order to have a clearer view of the night sky? Night lights are everywhere. Shopping mall parking lots, car dealers, grocery stores, streetlights, night-lighted billboards, security lighting around our homes, business signs, stadium lights, decorative lights, car headlights and traffic lights. If you drive around at night, unfortunately you will need your headlights and will need to heed traffic lights. However, it does not take long to see the lights.

What we're missing are the aurora borealis (northern lights), planets, the milky way, comets, constellations, meteor showers, and bright moonlit nights as they can, and should, appear to us. One can only imagine what our ancestors, before the proliferation of night lighting, saw when they gazed at the night sky full of stars.

There have been a few times in my life when I looked up at the night sky and stared in amazement at the stars above. It took my breath away the first time I looked skyward while in the remote mountains of New Mexico. The same feeling of awe and wonder overcame me in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Where did all of those stars come from, I wondered? True, viewing the stars at low elevations, as I had done most of my life, is not the same as the view from the mountains. However, even at lower elevations, in a remote area of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, I have experienced some amazing night skies.

As the sun enters a period of increased activity in 2012 and 2013 which will lead to more frequent and intense outbreaks of the northern lights, I cannot help but ask the question: How far do I have to go to escape the bright lights in order to more clearly see the aurora dance across the night sky? Where can we go to gaze at the multitude of stars in a truly dark night sky to look into the universe beyond our small world?

We just keep our heads down as we venture outdoors at night. Why bother to look skyward, because although we may think that we see the stars and night sky as they should be, we cannot because the skies are no longer dark and starry.

My one wish is that for one night of the year all of the unneeded night lights would be turned off. Then, we would only have to step outside of our homes and look up into the night sky to see what we've been missing.

December Newsletter

2011-11-30T17:52:00.002-05:00

My December Newsletter is now online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/December_2011_Newsletter.htm

Exhibit at Traverse Area District Library

2011-11-01T18:40:00.002-05:00

I will be exhibiting at the Traverse Area District Library beginning on November 4th. Here is the full announcement http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/News_Bulletins/library_exhibit.htm

November Newsletter Now Online

2011-11-01T18:38:00.002-05:00

My November Newsletter is now available online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/November_2011_Newsletter.htm

More From Alaska

2011-10-16T11:06:00.005-05:00

Just a few more images from Alaska. It may take awhile to process some of these images. At least something to do over the winter.

Michgan's Upper Peninsula

2011-10-03T20:11:00.005-05:00

I have just returned from a quick trip to the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan. Fall has made its appearance there. The area around Munising, including the Pictured Rocks has a dazzling display of fall color. Here are just a few of the images:

September 2011 Newsletter Available

2011-09-25T11:37:00.001-05:00

My September Newsletter is now available online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/September_2011_Newsletter.htm This is my first newsletter since this past May, due to my busy summer art show schedule.

Heading North In Alaska

2011-09-10T18:06:00.006-05:00

After 6 days on the Kenai Peninsula including the trip to Katmai National Park, I headed north towards Denali National Park. The skies did not quite cooperate once I got to Talkeetna, so I did a little work with some macro of the beautiful fall colors on the forest floor. There were a few other shots along the way. Yes, one of the photos is supposed to be blurry. It is my artistic side.

Katmai Bears

2011-09-10T18:01:00.004-05:00

The Alaska adventure continues. I took a seaplane to Katmai National Park to photograph brown (grizzly) bears on the Brooks River. It was an amazing trip and experience. There were bears everywhere. We were safe though. Here are some of the pics.

SeaView Cafe and Bar

2011-09-04T16:43:00.007-05:00

Well, I finally made it to the end of the road. Quite literally. The town of Hope, Alaska is on the Kenai Peninsula and up against the rugged Alaskan Coast. Saturday night in this small community was spent at the Seaview Cafe and Bar. The music was lively and the crowd was loving it.

ALASKA

2011-09-03T12:08:00.007-05:00

I have been on my first ever trip to Alaska and these are just a few of the photos that I can share at this time. The weather started out very sunny and warm. It has changed to spotty showers and a little cooler. My brother-in-law, Steve and I have gone from Anchorage to Glenallen to Paxson to Chena to Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage. The rest of my trip will be solo and will probably include the Kenai Peninsula. We have been traveling by RV which is probably the best way to go. However, Internet coverage is spotty. We have seen the northern lights, rainbows, grizzlies, dall sheep, moose. Yes, I had a close encounter with a moose early one morning. I think that I woke her up. More later when I have Internet access and hopefully more photos.

May 2011 Newsletter

2011-06-13T17:51:00.001-05:00

My May Newsletter is online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/May_2011_Newsletter.htm. The June Newsletter will soon be posted with some really amazing photos.

April 2011 Newsletter

2011-04-17T10:49:00.002-05:00

Here is my April 2011 Newsletter. http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/April_2011_Newsletter.htm It contains photos, a listing of my upcoming art shows, exhibits in galleries and a link to my "How To Guide" for photography.

Older Image

2011-04-10T19:58:00.003-05:00

This is an older image from Bond Falls. This was taken in the fall and normally this is a great fall scenic. However, that year there was very little color. So, I changed this to a B&W.

March Newsletter

2011-03-04T13:00:00.001-05:00

My March Newsletter is now available online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/February-March_2011_Newsletter.htm

UP200

2011-02-18T23:20:00.005-05:00

These are a few of the images from my first visit to the UP200 Sled Dog Race.

2011 Vasa Ski Race

2011-02-13T09:53:00.005-05:00

It was a beautiful day for the Vasa Ski Race. Almost no wind, temps in the 20s and nice sunshine. I got a few images of the skiers.

Then out to ski myself on the Muncie Lakes Pathway.

Sleeping Bear Dunes Images

2011-01-24T20:17:00.005-05:00

Here are a few images that I probably have not published before. These were all taken in September at Good Harbor Beach in the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

January 2011 Newsletter

2011-01-15T18:08:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to my January 2011 Newsletter http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/January_2011_Newsletter.htm

Winter Sunshine

2011-01-08T11:24:00.003-05:00

This is the same tree I photographed last fall. This time there was wonderful frost and sunshine. Me thumbs got a little cold, but it was worth it.

Moon Over Brown Bridge Pond

2010-12-25T16:12:00.003-05:00

It was a rare nearly cloudless morning as I headed out to a frozen pond for sunrise. Fortunately, there were a couple of ice fishermen cutting their first hole in the ice and reported that the ice was 7" thick. Nice to have guinea pigs on the ice before I went out.

Anyhow, this is what I got.

The pre-dawn sky here is the most amazing color in the winter when it is not cloudy. Having a full moon going down is was a real bonus.

Enjoy!!!

Greeting Cards Available

2010-11-25T21:15:00.002-05:00

Here is another greeting card that is now available online http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/galleries/PostersHTML/A%20Note%20of%20Thanks%20Card.html

New Calendar and Greeting Cards Available

2010-11-25T12:40:00.003-05:00

My 2011 Calendar is available online through my website at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/galleries/PostersHTML/Calendar_2011.html . It features some of my best images from throughout Michigan. Here is the back cover which shows the thumbnails for the monthly images.

Also, greeting cards are also available online. This holiday card featuring a winter image of the Manistee River http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/galleries/PostersHTML/Peace%20on%20Earth%20Card.html . Here is the card front

October-November 2010 Newsletter

2010-10-24T20:31:00.001-05:00

Here is my latest newsletter for October-November 2010 http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/October-November_2010_Newsletter.htm

Bird's Eye View

2010-10-06T20:16:00.004-05:00

This was taken from a hot air balloon thanks to Grand Traverse Balloons . This was quite the adventure and a difficult photo expedition. Really like the fall colors - they are not enhanced, and the blue water with the hint of reflected clouds. I would encourage anyone to take the opportunity to go up in a hot air balloon, especially now with the fall colors.

Red Jack Lake

2010-10-03T19:32:00.003-05:00

This image was taken on perhaps on one of those days that will stand out for a long time. Rainbows, fantastic sunsets, wild weather on Lake Superior, fall colors - this day had it all. This stunning scene on the Hiawatha National Forest was captured after several hours and was after I was almost ready to pack it in for the morning.
Spent part of the morning along side two other photographers whom I know, Nick Bristol from Wisconsin and Dean Pennala from Kalamazoo, Michigan. We had a blast watching the rainbows magically appear over the lake.

Scout Lake

2010-10-02T13:29:00.003-05:00

Taken this morning on Scout Lake. Wow, what an awesome sight. The rainbow seemed to last forever. That, and in a later image the rainbow can be seen coming down all of the way to the ground.

Fall in the UP

2010-10-01T20:59:00.003-05:00

Spending some time in the UP this weekend for the fall colors. Good in some places. This was on Miner's Beach this evening.

High Banks in Winter

2010-09-27T19:58:00.003-05:00

In a few months this is what our landscape will look like.

Another Chickadee Photo

2010-09-26T20:57:00.004-05:00

Well, today I had chickadees whizzing around my head. The hard part was not flinching. A couple of the images are keepers, and here is one. The ISO was bumped up to about 1,000 and I used a flash to add a little sparkle to the eyes - well at least the eye that is visible.

Foggy Dream

2010-09-17T19:42:00.002-05:00

This was taken on the last day of July. Unusually foggy morning as the fog lasted until well after 11:00 a.m. Lots of dust on my sensor though and it too some cleaning up. This maple tree will be the subject of many more images.

Schooner Festival

2010-09-12T20:12:00.004-05:00

I had the pleasure of photographing at the Second Annual Traverse City Schooner Festival. Friday I got a few shots from the shoreline on West Bay. Saturday it rained most of the day and Sunday it was sunny and bright. Here are 2 that I got on Sunday. Wish this event would happen more often and that there were more schooners.

Two Images from the UP

2010-09-02T20:22:00.004-05:00

I made a quick trip to the UP this week and came away with a couple of new images. The first is from the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Amazing coloration in the rocks from mineral deposits. The second is of the Manistique Lighthouse and an amazing sunset.

NANPA Article

2010-09-02T20:08:00.002-05:00

Included in this newsletter from the North American Nature Photographers Association is an article that I wrote with photos of my participation in the Smoky Mountains Regional Photo Event. Ripples Newsletter.

July-August Newsletter Online

2010-07-31T19:21:00.002-05:00

My July-August Newsletter is now online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/July-August_2010_Newsletter.htm Next week (August 7&8) is the Sutton's Bay Art Show.

Navy Blue Angels

2010-07-11T19:57:00.007-05:00

The Navy Blue Angels visited the National Cherry Festival on the 4th of July for the annual air show.

Wow, what a splendid day for an airshow. It must be something to pilot those babies. You cannot have an "off day" with the kind of flying these guys do.

Photographed with a Nikon 500 mm F4 lens. It was great at getting really sharp images.

Moonrise over Traverse City

2010-05-29T15:01:00.003-05:00

On the second night of the full moon, I captured this image of the moonrise over Traverse City. There were some high clouds partially obscuring the view of the moon.

May Newsletter Online

2010-05-29T14:58:00.001-05:00

My May Newsletter is now available online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/May_2010_Newsletter.htm

Columbine

2010-05-20T20:34:00.007-05:00

I have been planting native wildflowers in my yard for a few years now. Some are doing quite well. Who needs to mow grass when you can grow flowers? Of course they become models for my camera when they look their best. This columbine was just outside of my back door. The dark background was part the dark area under my deck and part a few tweaks in Photoshop©.

More Pickney Birds

2010-05-19T19:22:00.003-05:00

My father was the one who lead me to Pickney Wildlife Refuge. Thanks dad. Fantastic place for nesting birds. Here is another from there - a tricolor heron. Shot early in the day while the light was still soft.

Pickney Wildlife Refuge Birds

2010-05-19T18:51:00.006-05:00

If it weren't for some excess vegetation I would really like the image of a tricolor heron at the Pickney Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina. Quite an amazing place. Next up is a green heron. Beautiful bird striking a good pose for the camera. The last is a great egret carrying a stick for a nest building project.

Another from Big Creek

2010-05-07T20:41:00.003-05:00

Here is another from one of my favorite places in the Smokies the day after a night of heavy rainfall. What a great place.

Pickney Wildlife Refuge

2010-05-07T19:40:00.004-05:00

Went to the Pickney Wildlife Refuge on the South Carolina coast yesterday. There were so many birds and one gator. The gator kinda startled me as I did not see it at first and it was close to the trail. Kinda makes you nervous being about 25 feet away from an alligator. Many of the birds were nesting and some had young birds. Unfortunately, I could not get a photo of the young birds.

Spring Flood on Big Creek

2010-05-04T09:27:00.003-05:00

I was in the Smoky Mountains when the flooding hit Memphis and Nashville, TN, and the Smokies fortunately did not get the flooding rains. However, we did get a lot of rain and it was quite dramatic on one of the streams.

Cataloochee Cove

2010-05-01T21:04:00.004-05:00

Thanks to our NANPA leader, Bill Lea, our group at Cataloochee Cove in the Smokies captured this image. I have even learned a couple of new techniques. One more Smokies shoot tomorrow morning. With our leader Donna Eaton, we found some amazing trilliums, and with Bell Campbell we found the painted trillum to be posted later. Some light does not faze me any more.

Day 2 Great Smoky Mountains

2010-04-29T16:26:00.002-05:00

Two photos from the Smoky Mountains today. The photo of the trees was taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Nice that it shows that spring is on it's way, even in the higher elevations. The flower is a crested dwarf iris.

Great Smoky Mountains

2010-04-28T15:39:00.004-05:00

Taken this afternoon in the Great Smoky Mountains. Yes, that is snow on the high peaks of Mt. LeConte. Gatlinburg is just to the left of the image. It is spring in the lower elevations and looks like the last of winter at the high elevations. Am here for a few days for a North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) workshop. Hope that I can get some good images.

April Newsletter Available

2010-04-24T08:29:00.002-05:00

My April 2010 newsletter is just about ready to be sent out. However, it is available here http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/April_2010_Newsletter.htm

Unfortunately, it did not get out until today and this is the day that I am presenting the first of my two seminars on photography at the AuSable River Expo.

Beyond the Basics Guide

2010-04-18T07:36:00.001-05:00

I have produced a guide which goes along with a photo presentation for taking better photographs. It is available for download in a .pdf format here http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/Beyond_the_Basics_3.pdf

Spring Has Arrived

2010-03-27T09:34:00.003-05:00

Finally, well kinda sorta, spring has arrived. This really was a short winter, as November was mild and March has been warm and dry. However, the longer daylight hours and the warmer temperatures have finally made me want to go out and shoot photos. Here are a couple from Sleeping Bear Dunes:

Balancing Ibis

2010-03-23T20:39:00.002-05:00

This photo of an Ibis was taken from a kayak last fall in Florida. Sure wish I were down there again for the spring breeding and nesting season.

Spring Fling

2010-03-15T20:57:00.001-05:00

It was a mild and sunny day so off to the lakeshore we went. The camera and me that is. It was too bright and there were no great clouds, but it was good to get out.

March Newsletter

2010-03-15T07:23:00.002-05:00

My March Newsletter is now online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/March_2010_Newsletter.htm . If you wish to receive the e-mail version of the newsletter please e-mail me at thaxby02@yahoo.com.

Light Painting Guitars

2010-03-07T22:06:00.004-05:00

A friend is really into collecting guitars and he and I worked on photographing some of them. Using only a penlight for light. There are a few other images which are still a work in progress.

2010-02-28T09:56:00.002-05:00

Here is another from the Vasa Ski Race. A happy winner.

Snow Fun

2010-02-28T09:05:00.008-05:00

Big city folks in the northeast should learn to enjoy the snow they've gotten this year. At least in places like Northern Michigan there are winter sports. Case in point, the Vasa Ski Race held every February in Traverse City, Michigan. Th
is year was perfect, except for those who do not like fresh snow and temperatures in the 20's. Here are some of the photos from the race.

Two Cover Photos

2010-02-27T16:50:00.002-05:00

In February, two of my photos have appeared on covers of publications. The first was a photo taken of the tall ships at the Schooner Festival in Traverse City and appeared on the cover of the Traverse Community Directory http://www.pdspages.com/ . The second image was a photo that I took of a group of showy lady slippers which appeared on the cover of Michigan Blue Magazine . Kind of nice getting the exposure - no pun intended.

2010-01-31T21:04:00.008-05:00

There is good news. I may have 2 cover pages and one other image being published soon. The first is on the cover of the PDS pages, a community directory in the Traverse City Area. This is the tall ship the Sullivan, which was part of the first Tall Ships event in Traverse City in September 2009.

In that publication there is also an image of grapes that I took on Old Mission Peninsula.

And finally, this image may appear on the cover of Michigan Blue Magazine in late February.

Sunshine

2010-01-03T19:31:00.001-05:00

It is so rare to see any color in the landscape these days. Even seeing the sun for more than a few minutes is cause for celebration. So, here is an image that I took just before Halloween. Yes, that is a bee in the sunflower.

Old Apple Tree

2009-12-20T11:57:00.002-05:00

I found this old apple tree loaded with apples and no leaves. I saw this as a unique scene and was thinking all along of a black and white image, except for the red apples. This was edited using Photoshop©. The red in the barn just happened to be about the same red as the apples. BTW I did not spend a lot of time in Photoshop and perhaps more could be done to this image. To me, this is more of a mood piece. The red really stands out in the late fall landscape which is devoid of bright colors. Any thoughts on this?

December Newsletter Now Online

2009-12-19T11:51:00.001-05:00

Here is the link for the December 2009 Newsletter.

Best wishes to all for a Happy and Safe Holiday Season.

Wading Birds on the Waccissa River

2009-11-29T18:06:00.004-05:00

I took the chance to photograph wading birds on one of the most scenic rivers I have ever had the chance to paddle. The Waccissa River is a spring-fed river located in the Big Bend Area of Florida. There is very little current and it is easy to find wading birds that are not overly shy. This Little Blue Heron was capturing and consuming crawfish at a rapid rate. Fortunately, it did not gulp them down quickly. Instead, it gave me the opportunity to photograph the mid-day meal. I found an Ibis walking a log much like a gymnast on a balance beam.

Grinding and Boiling Sugar Cane

2009-11-27T21:45:00.004-05:00

I had the opportunity to join my friend Buddy Gunn and others in cane syrup making near Havana, Florida. They started with mules turning the press, but making a mule making actually work was a chore. So, they used a diesel mule - 4 X 4. Very old time process and a tradition kept alive in some parts of the South. After extracting the sugar solution out of the cane, it is boiled down. It will take more than 20 gallons of solution to make approximately 1 to 2 gallons of cane syrup. This is much like making maple syrup in Michigan. This was a good way to wrap up the trip to Florida.

Last Day in Florida

2009-11-27T07:40:00.005-05:00

This looks to be my last day in Florida and it has been a good trip. I have been able to capture a couple of good images, mostly on the beach at St. George Island. The weather has been o.k., but not great. Two days of camping and two days of visiting with friends for the Thanksgiving Holiday. In some ways this has been a special trip - re-connecting with friends and the time spent outdoors.

In the Dunes

2009-11-26T22:09:00.002-05:00

Another from the series on St. George Island in Florida. The skies were very overcast and I was looking for the great light. That came a little while later.

Greetings from Sunny Florida

2009-11-26T10:02:00.004-05:00

Finally, after two days of clouds and cool temps some sunshine. Here is the sunset that I captured along the beach last evening. This may get more processing later. There are many more images to be posted later too.

Finally Updating Western Gallery

2009-11-17T21:21:00.002-05:00

I have been putting off updating one of my galleries that has had some coding issues. Finally determined to get it done tonight and it worked. If anyone is interested here is one of the new/old images from White Sands http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/galleries/WestHTML/WestGalleryHTML_4.html What an awesome place!!!

2009-11-15T10:42:00.002-05:00

I have been feeding the birds in the woods for a couple of weeks now. Mostly chickadees, but sometimes a brave nuthatch when I am nearby with my camera. I will have to go replenish the seed stock today. Will probably get shot as this is opening day of deer season. I should put a big bulls-eye on my back and place my tripod upside down on my head. Then someone can bag a three-pointer to stuff and then mount me on their wall.

Places For Photography

2009-11-13T20:05:00.003-05:00

If I did not have a day job, and therefore the time to travel with camera, here are the top ten places that I would like to visit, but not necessarily in order:

1.Redwoods in California - One of the most mystical places in all of the world.
2. Anywhere in Oregon - They have spectacular mountains, wildflowers, waterfalls, deserts and coasts. What more could a nature photographer want?
3. The Badlands of the Dakotas - Have never been there and few have really, really taken the time to capture the spirit of the Badlands.
4. The Smoky Mountains - I think I could wander there forever with a smile on my face.
5. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan - Have never had the good fortune to photograph a wolf, not that it would be easy.
6. A cypress swamp anywhere in the Southeastern US. Preferably during the cooler bug-free months.
7. Alaska in the Fall - Big game wildlife, fall colors on the tundra, northern lights, mountains such as Denali, Wonder Lake. Better in the fall than the summer with the crowds, lack of a night sky, mosquitoes on the tundra and the expensive prices.
8. Zion National Park - I have seen so many fantastic photos from there. All iconic and maybe over done, but still beautiful.
9. The Deserts of the Southwest - Getting off of the beaten path to find the hidden beauty.
10. White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Pure gypsum sand dunes surrounded by mountains and amazing skies.
10 a. So, I have to add one more which is close to home. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A little piece of natural beauty.

Starry, Starry Night

2009-11-10T23:31:00.003-05:00

Who would have ever thought that November along the Great Lakes would see a clear night for viewing stars. The normal pattern is for stormy weather as the season's change - think Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which occurred in November on Lake Superior. So, I tried a star trail photo and here is what I came up with: This was a one hour exposure and it took an hour to write to the flash card. This was taken on the jack pine plains of Central Michigan as far away from city lights as I could get. The only better place might be the UP of Michigan. The tough part about this, besides the cold temperature, was being able to see through the viewfinder. It was that dark. I waited in the vehicle and read a good book while waiting for the one hour exposure. It took another hour to drive home and I waited for the image to finally load to the card. I may try this again some other time when the skies are clear.

October Newsletter

2009-10-24T18:12:00.001-05:00

This month's newsletter is now online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/October_2009_Newsletter.htm

At Home

2009-10-08T20:14:00.007-05:00

What a trip it was to the UP! Six days and over 1,300 miles and hundreds of photos. Here are two several that did not get posted earlier. Another take on Miner's Castle and Lake of the Clouds. Unfortunately, the colors were not yet in evidence at the Lake of the Clouds and I had to head back towards home. Also, a more intimate landscape shot of aspen in a rainstorm. This was tough trying to keep myself and the equipment dry.

Wet Aspen in a rainstorm on the Keweenaw.

Another shot of Lake of the Clouds.

Still in the UP

2009-10-07T20:38:00.004-05:00

There was a rainstorm of biblical proportions in the Upper Peninsula yesterday. So, I made it a travel day. This morning the waterfalls were really running. Here is one from Munising Falls. Unfortunately, I ran into a photo group. Not much fun jostling for position to get the same photo as the rest of the group.

Unlike the Munising Falls in the morning, I pretty much had the view of Miner's Castle to myself. What a glorious sight. One of the turrets fell into Lake Superior in April 2008. Most geologic events such as this happen at a less than glacial speed. This was very unusual. Here is the photo:

Miner's Castle on Lake Superior. Wonderful light and a beautiful scene.

It Does Not Get Any Better

2009-10-05T20:10:00.002-05:00

This post is not about photos, it is about life. There was a young couple that I met at a campground in the Porcupine Mountains. They had their two young children with them. Yes, it was a little chilly, however their daughter was bundled in mom's lap and being read a bedtime story by the campfire. I found out later that their daughter appreciated the marshmallows the most. That's what it is all about. Spending quality time with children and passing something along to the next generation - the love of the great outdoors and the willingness to spend quality time with the children. Thanks Pete, and take good care of your family.

Fall in the UP

2009-10-05T15:47:00.010-05:00

One last chance before winter sets in..... So, I had to head to the UP for some fall color. Here is some of what I found:

Sturgeon River Gorge

Lake of the Clouds

Presque Isle River

Iconic Bond Falls

Something Different

Model Shoot

2009-09-20T12:26:00.004-05:00

Trying something different cannot hurt, can it? With the held of Todd with the Traverse Area Camera Club a photo session was set up with models. This is Sierra who was graceful enough to put up with my awkwardness in photographing people. Here are a couple more:

Sleeping Bear Dunes

2009-09-20T12:11:00.005-05:00

One of the magical places to photograph in Northern Michigan is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This morning I headed out early to catch the sunrise above the well known "Dune Climb" This was another in a string of marvelous September days we
have had.

Comments are always welcomed.

September Newsletter

2009-08-30T12:41:00.001-05:00

Here is a link for my September Newsletter http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/September_2009_Newsletter2.htm

Reflections and My Hometown

2009-08-29T20:08:00.006-05:00

This reflection was taken on my trip to the Porcupine Mountains in June 2009. This is an image that I have perhaps overlooked. Yes, I did throw a pebble into the water to get a small ring, just to make it apparent that this is a reflection.

The photo of Cincinnati, Ohio, my hometown, was taken in August 2009 from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. I do not usually do a lot of photos of man-made objects, but exceptions can be made.

Freedom Concert

2009-08-22T11:34:00.008-05:00

I attended a Freedom Concert in Cincinnati, Ohio which features Sean Hannity, Charlie Daniels, Lee Greenwood, Michael W. Smith, Billy Ray Cyrus and others. Here are some of the images.

Close to home

2009-08-11T18:53:00.005-05:00

Sometimes you do not have to go very far to find great photos. In this case, these two images were taken in my yard. The first was from a seed mixture that I planted and the second is from my native wildflower area.

Photos from the past

2009-08-05T20:18:00.005-05:00

This was taken in New Mexico in February at the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Funny, how I never did anything with it until now. What I love besides the lines of the sandhill crane is the great color palette in the background.

This was also taken in New Mexico at White Sands National Monument. One of the most scenic and iconic places in all of the country to photograph landscapes.

More Summertime Photos

2009-07-31T15:23:00.004-05:00

The Point Betsie Lighthouse at sunset. This lighthouse is photographed often, even in winter. I do wish that they would get rid of the Lombardy Poplars that really do not help with the composition.

This next image is an experiment, though not original. A piece of glass treated with Rain-X and sprayed with water was suspended over some flowers. The goal was to get the flowers to show in the water droplets. Very shallow depth of field made it tough to get the bigger drops and the smaller drops in focus. Comments are welcomed.

Gordon Lightfoot Concert

2009-07-22T22:15:00.005-05:00

Went to the Gordon Lightfoot Concert at the Interlochen School of Arts on July 22, 2009. Really good show. Here are a few of the pics

July 2009 Newsletter

2009-07-12T16:21:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to the July 2009 Newsletter http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/July_2009_Newsletter2.htm

July Images

2009-07-10T21:11:00.004-05:00

Here are a few images that are from the height of summer. Hope it is a good one. The one on the left I will call "Last Light" because it really was the last light.

So ends another Cherry Festival in Traverse City. The weather was fantastic all week and the crowds were huge. Fireworks are one of the most difficult things to photograph. They are unpredictable, unless you are one of the technicians setting up the show.

From the Porkies

2009-06-22T15:44:00.008-05:00

Have been spending some time in the Porcupine Mountains in the UP of Michigan. This area is also known as the Porkies. It has been a very interesting couple of days. I saw one bear butt - that is the rump of a bear crossing the road. Later I saw the whole bear. No pics unfortunately. I did get this image of the Presque Isle River. This has to be one of the most scenic rivers.

The next image is a sunset on Lake Superior. The weather was often foggy, but fortunately the fog cleared for an evening sunset on Lake Superior. Am still trying to get used to a new camera and new software for processing. It will be a struggle for awhile - especially the software. Unfortunately, the new photos from this trip will not be ready for the Elk Rapids Show this Saturday, June 27th. This is more a matter of being around to print in time to have them ready by Saturday.

Speaking of fog. Here is an image of thimbleberries (too bad they are not ripe yet, they are delicious) in a foggy pine stand. This was shot with the Nikon D700 set on a vivid color setting which mimics traditional Velvia Film.

There are at least two varieties of lupine. In Michigan there is the native lupine which is critical to the Karner Blue Butterfly. The other is an escapee from gardens. These escapees were all over the UP. Regardless, they are very photogenic.

June Newsletter Now Online

2009-06-10T14:17:00.001-05:00

The June issue of my newsletter is now online at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/June_2009_Newsletter.htm

Thanks for visiting.

Irises

2009-06-07T11:19:00.004-05:00

Here are a couple of photos of irises taken yesterday. Fortunately, the wind was not too bad and the light was pretty good. If you have noticed, there are a lot fewer landscape images of late. The lower peninsula of Michigan is a difficult place for landscapes. Lots of private property, development, powerlines, buildings and in general difficult places to shoot. There is of course the lakeshore around Sleeping Bear Dunes and forest areas which shine in the fall. Light and skies become the keys then. Often it seems that the skies are all blue or all clouds - not good. Light in the fall is the best. Soft and colorful along with the fog and dewey mornings. Thanks for checking the blog. Comments are always welcomed.

2009-05-29T04:59:00.004-05:00

Still trying out the Orton Effect which I really like as a artistic rendering of a photograph. I believe that it works best with a lighter color that can becomes the glow in the image. Comments are always welcomed.

Straits of Mackinac

2009-05-25T13:13:00.007-05:00

This Memorial Day Weekend I took a trip to the Straits of Mackinac. I passed many cemetaries on during the trip. It is was nice to see that so many have taken the time to honor our heroes who have sacrificed so that we may live in freedom, by placing flags on graves and paying their respects. Thank you to those who have served and to those who continue to serve.

The skies were mostly void of clouds, which is a killer for landscape photography. I did what I could and got a few good images. The Mackinac Bridge has probably been photographed millions of times. However, I have only had several chances and took the chance that there would be dramatic light. This is actually a 25 second exposure. I wanted to show the motion of the cars coming over the brige.

The second image is an abstract close-up of a tulip. This was taken with a macro lens and 3 extension tubes to allow an extreme close up. Feeling more comfortable with the camera and equipment allows me to try different things. Any thoughts on this????

The next image is a small field of Indian Paintbrush wildflowers. This was difficult because I was laying on my stomach and the black flies were swarming. Try concentrating with black flies on your ears, in your eyes and trying to fly up your nose!!

Finally, in another attempt at the Orton Process, these trilliums lining this road are not out of focus or dancing in the wind. This is a photographic effect that I am really liking.

May Newsletter Now Available

2009-05-17T10:08:00.002-05:00

My May Newsletter is now available at http://www.tomhaxbyphotos.com/Newsletter/May_2009_Newsletter2.htm

Marsh Life

2009-05-12T20:57:00.002-05:00

This is more of a naturalistic look at life in a marsh rather than another photogenic image. I was on my belly taking this photograph - trying something different.

Birds and Marsh Marigolds

2009-05-10T12:55:00.010-05:00

Just a couple of new images to share. This morning I did my usual trip to the marsh. The marsh marigolds were at peak - on a weekend which is nice. Then after lunch, I climbed into my blind on the back deck. Nice that I have not had to travel far today for photos.

I have been wanting to photograph the visitors to my bird feeders. A bashful indigo bunting feeding would not show itself for the camera, hiding in the vegetation. Then, a male goldfinch and later a male Rose Breasted Grosbeak. I am very close, and although I am in a blind, the birds seem to sense my presence.

Yellow Tulip Re-Work

2009-05-05T20:34:00.004-05:00

I have decided to spend more time on the yellow tulip image from Holland. Yes, it is flipped and the background has been darkened. I like the image in an artistic way. This will actually be a Mother's Day gift for my mom.

Grand Haven Light and Pier & Holland Light

2009-05-03T16:23:00.006-05:00

Here is another from the trip to the Holland-Grand Haven Area. This photo of the Grand Haven Pier has probably been done many times. However, I have not successfully captured a photo into the sun like this before. There were lots of people on the pier, but perhaps this adds to the image.

The Holland Lighthouse known as "Big Red" is no slouch either. This was a cat and mouse between the clouds that were rapidly dissipating as a front moved through and a contractor scurrying about. Seemed like he was doing some inside repair work, painting maybe, but he was carrying ladders, tarps and other things. I did not want him in the image. So, I waited and waited and waited. Then it started to get really cold. Finally, the contractor was gone and I had a few clouds left.

Tulip Time in Holland

2009-05-03T14:22:00.014-05:00

Just returned from a trip to Holland, Michigan for the annual "Tulip Time". I had a great time, and I think I got a few good images to share. The first is the yellow tulip with dew. The dark background was mostly courtesy of the sun only catching the tulip on the top of the tulip beds. I should thank the folks at the Veldheer Tulip Gardens. They let me in early on Saturday, before the wind picked up, the dew dried and the crowds arrived. They were super friendly and their gardens are beautiful.

The sunset was taken at the Grand Haven Pier. Not much in the way of clouds while I was there. I was hurrying to change lenses as the sun went down. Yes, those are birds in the image to the lower right. It was really cold out by the water, even though it is now May.

The next image is a 13-lined ground squirrel with which I shared a campsite for 2 nights. I don't think that the squirrel was screaming. I think it was belching because I fed it a few peanuts. People must have thought I was nuts sitting there photographing the grass. There were 2 squirrels in the area and one almost ran right over my leg.

Finally, for this first blog post from Holland, is another tulip close-up. I did not put any water on these as the photos were taken very early in the morning. I will hopefully be posting more of these images on the blog. Eventually, they will make their way to my galleries on my website.

A Few More From the Smokies

2009-04-30T20:44:00.007-05:00

Here are a few more images from the Smokies in April:

The first is a waterfall near Tremont Creek. It was really flowing from the recent rains. I really wanted to show the double falls at the top. There were trees blocking on the sides and the angles were difficult.

The next is a group of trilliums taken near the Chimney Tops Picnic Area.

It was very, very windy that day and I am surprised that the image is as sharp as it is.

Finally, in a play on words, this one I call "Old Fronds and New Fronds"

Another Batch of Smokies Images

2009-04-19T19:21:00.004-05:00

Here are more of the images from my recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. The image on the left is Big Creek taken through the dogwood and trees. The trail starts out well above the creek, but eventually ends up next to the creek. There are very few dogwood in this area, but I liked the light and the feeling of being in the woods above the creek. The other image is of fern fiddle heads which I find to be fascinating.

More Smokies Images

2009-04-19T11:44:00.009-05:00

I will eventually get around to actually adding some of my images from the Smokies to my website. Until then the blog will be the best place to see some of the new images. The large flowered trillium pictured here was one of the best specimens that I found. The difficulty was waiting for the wind to stop blowing. There was no such problem with the morel. The columbine was also captured on the windy day.