Tag Archives: Connecticut

Sunday January 15, 2012

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MORRIS CONNECTICUT – I drove over to Morris this morning to catch the Morris Congregational Church in good morning light. I got a late start – we had house guests so I needed to attend to breakfast. By time I got to Morris it was too late – the light was flat and dull – but I saw these school buses on the way back and they seemed unusually vivid. Taken with my Alpa Max and 72mm Schneider.

School Buses, Morris CT

School Buses, Morris CT

On this day last year: a snow covered barn in Milton CT.

Barn Milton Connecticut

Barn Milton Connecticut

Sunday January 8, 2012

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – So . . . . still relying on my little bitty Ricoh GRD 4. There was some splendid light this afternoon. This image (and some others) prove that good light trumps poor equipment choice. Three frames stitched.

Good light

Good light

On this day one year ago: winter in Warren. Another tree line, no more than 200 yards from where this year’s image was taken, but with a radically different angle and lens choice, and radically different light.

Warren Connecticut

Warren Connecticut

Saturday January 7, 2011

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KENT CONNECTICUT – We took a walk today along a segment of the Appalachian Trail that runs through here. I thought that I had left my Alpa in Connecticut; it turns out that it was in New York, so I only had the camera that travels in my pocket, my Ricoh GRD 4. Not the best tool for landscape. Here’s a branch off of Ten Mile River taken with the GRD 4, three frames stitched.

Ten Mile River

Ten Mile River

On this day one year ago: a really crappy day.

1185 Park Avenue in snow storm

1185 Park Avenue in snow storm

Monday December 26, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – Boxing Day. Curiously I shot the same subject one year ago. This time I selected a different angle and camera, my Alpa Max with a short-mount 120 mm Schneider lens and a tilt adapter. Tilting is a view camera feature that is available for longer Alpa lenses. It permits tilting the lens and thus the focus plane, to either extend or shorten apparent depth of field. Here I have used it to keep the top of the sundial and the wall and the trees in the background in focus. It can be a tedious iterative process to get focus right with this technique; there are rules of thumb that help; there’s also an iPhone app that gives you a very good starting point. What I don’t like about this image is a mental mistake on my part: cutting off the bottom of the sundial.

Sundial

Sundial

On this day last year: Sundial.

Blizzard

Blizzard

Saturday December 24, 2011

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WASHINGTON CONNECTICUT – I went out with my Alpa Max today to add to my collection of Litchfield County churches. In reviewing my progress to day I realized that I hadn’t yet taken a full frontal image of the iconic Washington Congregational Church with high res medium format gear. I wasn’t satisfied with the image that I captured so I’m not showing it today – I’ll have to go back to try again – but I caught this as a set up the tripod and did a test image to assure that all was in order.

Washington Congregational Church

Washington Congregational Church

On this day one year ago: Frnacesca trimming the tree.

Francesca trimming a tree

Francesca trimming a tree

Saturday December 10, 2011

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TORRINGTON CONNECTICUT – This afternoon I drove to this former mill town on the Naugatuck River to photograph churches. The light was right to collect two of the large Catholic Churches in town, St. Peter Church and St. Francis Assisi Church. The light was wrong for the Central Congregational Church – I’ll be back tomorrow morning for it. The large Episcopal Church, Trinity Church, is very tight to a narrow street and accordingly very hard to photograph. Anyway here are St. Peter and St. Francis Assisi, taken with my Alpa Max and an 80 meg Phase One back. These subjects require full use of the camera’s rise and shift features. The St. Francis Assis (the second image) is two frames stitched.

St. Peter Church Torrington

St. Peter Church Torrington

St. Francis Assisi Torrington

St. Francis Assisi Torrington

On this day last year: Marty gives us a sinister look.

Game time

Sunday November 27, 2011

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NEW PRESTON and WAREN CONNECTICUT – So here’s another one of the buildings in New Preston Connecticut, shot with my Alpa Max, a 47mm Schneider Digitar lens and a Phase One IQ 180 back. I caught our friend Dorothee Grisebach and Maria with my Leica after we packed the car up to come back to New York.

New Preston

New Preston

Dorothee and Maria

Dorothee and Maria

On this day one year ago: Dog treats.

Privet House

Friday November 25, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – So if the day after Christmas is Boxing Day, what’s the day after Thanksgiving? Purging Day? Leftovers Day? Cold Turkey Day. Try to Get Some Exercise Day? Get the Hell Out of the Kitchen Day? We’ll have to work on this.

My disposition has dramatically improved, foto-wise. I got out in good morning light with a tripod, my Alpa Max and the usual suspects in terms of lenses, filters and so on.

Frost

Frost

Pond

Pond

On this day one year ago: Thanksgiving 2010.

Thnksgiving 2010

Saturday November 19, 2011

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NORTHVILLE CONNECTICUT – Back to Connecticut at last. No hurricane. No blizzard. No problems. A rare relief.

I had a chance to explore a de-commissioned church that I’ve seen many times from a distance in gentle, late afternoon light. This is two exposures with my Alpa Max, stitched in Photoshop. Whatever information there may have been about this structure appears to be lost, at least on the web.

On this day last year: Citicorp Center at night.

Citcorp Center at night

November 19, 2010

Sunday October 30, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – It finally stopped snowing around noon. We got a devastating 21 inches of wet, heavy snow. Most of the trees still had all of their leaves so the snow collected on them, breaking or uprooting trees in absolutely record number. Power, telephone and cable and internet are out over most of the state. This is been called the most damaging storm in Connecticut’s history. We have a backup generator for occasions like this (we loose power several times each winter; without power the heating system doesn’t work; if the house gets below freezing there is massive damage to the plumbing). Anyway, I took my Alpa (with the 35mm Schneider) out after the storm cleared. Here’s what it looked like – a typical January scene on October 30.

These images exploit the amazing dynamic range of the Phase One IQ 180 back.

After the blizzard

After the blizzard

Fall colors after the blizzard

Fall colors after the blizzard

It’s me again, this time at 6:03 on February 14, 1999. As I’ve said quite a few times now this is one of a series of hourly self-portraits shot with an Arca Swiss 8×10 view camera.

6:03 AM February 14, 2011

6:03 AM February 14, 2011

Sunday October 23, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – I went out hunting for late fall landscape today, mostly in the garden. I used my Leica M9 and 24mm Summilux, which if you follow these posts closely you will have noted is my most used camera/lens combination by far. But I also found a new tool, a new iPhone 4S. The camera is surprisingly good. Dynamic range is only so-so – highlights tend to get blown, and prints are marred by jpeg weirdness (white fringes is the like) but this thing is surprisingly usable and always at hand. It’s quite serviceable for web resolution.

First the Leica and then some iPhones.

Fall is still here

Fall is still here

The iPhones, with a little help with post-processing in Lightroom.

Warren fall

Warren fall

Sundial

Sundial

Finally, what post would be complete without a self-portrait from the 24 hour series. If you think that you’re getting tired of these, image how I felt sitting for them and pushing the cable release, then processing the film, etc. Part of what I’m doing with these ix exploring repetition and the passage of time. Anyway 11:05 PM on February 13, 1999 with an Arca Swiss view camera.

11:05 PM February 13, 1999

11:05 PM February 13, 1999

Monday October 10, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – I got a bit confused writing the posts for October 9 and today. Today’s pictures were originally published as October 9 – probably because I forgot that I was in Warren (rather than New York) today, which is Columbus Day. (I typical write these posts about a week after the fact.) Columbus Day really isn’t a national holiday, but what the hell, I’m an adopted Italian so so it’s a good excuse not to go to the office. Anyway, here are two pictures from a walk around our Warren property, taken with my Leica M9 and a 24mm Summilux lens (I’ve stated elsewhere that this is my best friend ever, lens-wise.) Back lit ornamental grasses, and a Balinese Garuda.

Ornamental Grass

Ornamental Grass

Garuda

Garuda

On this day one year ago: Waterfall, New Preston.

Waterfall, New Preston Connecticut

Saturday October 8, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – Twelve or so years ago I did a series of projects where i set a camera up on a tripod and took an image each hour over a 24-hour period. I generally used a 4×5 view camera, but also an 8×19 view camera and a 35mm (generally my Leica M7). I typically shot images that were set up to mimic a well known piece of art, “appropriating” the organization and subject matter. For example I did a 24 hour series at our pool in Connecticut and a Balinese statue after Jennifer Bartlett’s study of her pool in Italy. (See Jennifer Bartlett pool for example.) I stopped doing the 24 hour sequences after I went digital. The fact that you can put a digital camera on a tripod and set it to take a picture every hour made it too easy and took the life out of these projects;

Enter the Alpa and the Phase One IQ 180 back. The aesthetic is similar to 4×5 or 8×10 and it’s entirely manual – you really can’t automate taking a 24 hour sequence. So I decided to give a 24-hour project a try. No reference to any only other works of art – just a shot of a tree line at our place in Connecticut. I shot 24 images, one each hour from late afternoon October 8 through late afternoon October 9. I’m please with the results and have resolved a couple of technical issues, so I’m starting work on a serious series, again borrowing from a well-known work. Here’s the image from 5:57 PM (local time). My self-imposed rule is that all images need to be taken within 10 minutes plus or minus the hour. Precision (i.e. exactly on the hour) really isn’t possible because of the vagaries of cat napping and so on. I’m pleased with the results so I’m searching for a project with a fine arts referent. By the way, I’ve also included an image of the Alpa set up to capture the tree line.

Fall arrives in Connecticut

Fall arrives in Connecticut

Alpa Max

Alpa Max

On this day one year ago: Seagrams.

Seagrans Building

Sunday September 11, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – Well here we are, 9/11 ten years on. We decided to ride this out in Connecticut. Our son was on the street outside of his office two blocks from the WTC when the first plane hit and was one of those running to escape the dust cloud as the first tower collapsed. We’re all lucky that he got through it alive and unhurt. We watched the ceremonies on television. The whole thing was done with great dignity, a relief given the circus atmosphere that has surrounded some aspects of 9/11. Photography tasted stale so I discharged my obligation to take a picture by shooting a hallway in our house with m Alpa TC. Four images focus stacked.

Hallway

Hallway

On this day one year ago: Ornamental grasses.

Ornamental Grass

Ornamental Grass

Saturday September 10, 2011

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KENT CONNECTICUT – We visited our friend Greg, the owner of R T Facts, an antiques store in Kent that specializes in industrial and architectural stuff. We’ve been looking for a large fire pot for our terrace – these are now the vogue in these parts – you bundle up and light a roaring fire, extending the season for using the terrace a month or two. We found a large steel pot that was used in a steel mill in India. Here’s the inside shot with my Alpa TC and 35mm Schneider XL lens.

Pire pit

Fire pit

More from RT Facts:

Table

Table

On this day one year ago: Wake at the Colony.

Wake at the Colony

Wake at the Colony

Sunday September 4, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – It was rainy and foggy today. The fog provides an opportunity to isolate elements of the landscape that might otherwise be lost in clutter. Here are three trees at the top of Tanner Hill Road in Warren. Taken with my Alpa TC and 72mm Schneider XL. Three frames stitched. I was unfortunately in flip flops (I was just on my way to buy a paper when I saw this) and there was poison ivy underfoot.

Rainy day on Tanner Hill Road

Rainy day on Tanner Hill Road

Sunset in Warren

Warren Connecticut sunset

Friday September 2, 2011

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LITCHFIELD CONNECTICUT – I spent the late afternoon giving myself a walking tour of North Street in Litchfield. Here’s a link to the Wikipedia article on the Litchfield Historic District. Shot with my Alpa TC and 47mm Schneider XL lens. Two frames stitched.

North Street Litchfield

North Street Litchfield

On this day one year ago: Infrared image. One of the better examples of these.

Park Avenue

Monday August 29, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – As noted yesterday we rode out tropical storm Irene in Connecticut. It rained 8 inches in a few hours, causing minor erosion damage – but no other problems. Amazingly good luck. Here’s what things looked like post storm. Taken with my Alpa TC and a 35mm Schneider XL lens.

August 28, 2011

Basil surveys Irene damage

On this day last year: Our last day in Nairobi.

An indian pastry shop

Friday August 26, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – I puttered around our Connecticut place working with my tech camera stuff. This was taken with my Alpa Max and a 120 mm Schneider Digitar.

August 26, 2011

irch

This with my Alpa TC and a 35mm Schneider.

August 26, 2011

Bedroom

On this day last year: Hippos. These guys are seriously dangerous, “Killed by a hippo” is the most common bad human-wildlife encounter in Kenya.

Hippos

Saturday July 9, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – Back in bed battling the flu from hell. We cancelled a dinner party. I spent the weekend trying to prepare for meetings next week through the fog of flu. I got out with my tech camera for a few minutes in the late afternoon:

Warren Connecticut

Warren Connecticut

On this day one year ago: Riverside Boulevard.

100 Riverside Boulevard

Sunday June 26, 2011

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KENT and WARREN CONNECTICUT – Well the IQ 180 (see my posts from the previous two days) is starting to sing. I went for a hike today carrying my Alpa TC with the 36mm Schneider Digitar and the Phase One IQ 180. This is a compact, hand holdable combination. The form factor and functionality are very similar to the legendary Hasselblad Superwide C (one of my favorite film cameras ever), but the 80 meg digital back delivers much higher resolution than medium format film. The trick is mastering this oddball combination of exotic stuff to the point where I can stop thinking about it and start really shooting.

I joined my old friend John Novogrod for a hike on the the Appalachian trail.. I’m posting three images from the hike.

Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail

Earlier in the day I shot the Warren Congregational Church again.

Warren Congregational Church

Warren Congregational Church

On this day last year: Hacienda Zuleta

Chicken offering

Sunday June 19, 2011

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WASHINGTON CONNECTICUT – Well here it is, Fathers Day again. This is a stupid ersatz “holiday” made up by greeting card publishers, but my public position on it is that it’s the most important holiday on the calendar. At least that’s what I tell my children.

Alexander and I celebrated by playing a round of golf. When asked if I play I can truthfully say “no”, but I do own a set of clubs and maintain a golf membership at our local club in Connecticut. Anyway, here’s Alexander doing what he does best on the golf course, which is pounding the hell out of the ball off the tee – he outdrives me by about the length of Central Park.

Alexander tees off

Alexander tees off

On this day one year ago: a shot (which no one much liked) of a perennial boarder in Connecticut.

Perennial boarder

Saturday June 18, 2011

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WEST CORNWALL CONNECTICUT – We had dinner at the Wandering Moose cafe here in West Cornwall. Alexander, my son, observed that West Cornwall feels more like New York state than Connecticut – it has a slightly funky Adirondack vibe. This with my Leica M9 and a 28mm Summicron lens. Local businesses consist of the Wandering Moose Cafe, a simple place that we rather like, Ian Ingersoll, a brilliant cabinet maker who specializes in Shaker-inspired designs, and RSVP, a restaurant that offers French bistro food – Zagat gives the food a 28 but that’s nowhere near correct – we’ve been fairly underwhelmed there.

Wandering Moose Cafe

Wandering Moose Cafe

On this day last year: Out my window.

Out my window

Out my window

Friday June 17, 2011

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NEW PRESTON CONNECTICUT – I’ve developed a rule of thumb for landscape photography. There are rare moments when the light is absolutely magical. It may be the “golden hour” or the moment when the sun breaks through after a storm. Some days and places are better than others, but really great magic light moments are fairly rare. Here’s my rule of thumb: If you experience a magic light moment stop whatever you are doing and photograph whatever is at hand with whatever equipment you have available. Even if the subject is mundane the light transforms it – perhaps turning it into a serious statement.

After endless rain we finally had a few moments of late afternoon sun creating a brief magic moment. Fortunately I had my Alpa TC and 60 meg back in the car and managed to find a place to stop in New Preston.

9 Main, New Preston Connecticut

9 Main, New Preston Connecticut

On this day last year: Seagrams Building.

Seagram Building New York

Sunday June 12, 2011

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WARREN CONNECTICUT – It poured all day. These are actually pretty good conditions for intimate details of the Northeastern landscape. I captured this in our garden with my Alpa TC and a 35mm Schneider Digitar lens. That’s Basil, our Norwich Terrier, putting his nose in the picture.

Summer Rain

Summer Rain

On this day one year ago: Friends in Mustique.

Judy and Doug