MAINE MORNING

A sign of the times here in southern Maine....

SEEN AROUND TOWN

I'm glad I decided to act on the resolution to take my camera with me when I go out.   At this time of year, there are lots of decorations to photograph.    At the mall, there is a large train display set up to amuse the kids while they're waiting to see Santa:

 Thomas was even there:

At L.L. Bean, there are ice sculptures all over the grounds, including (of course) a fisherman:

Catching a fish:

And a bear in a tree!

 

 

CHRISTMAS TREE (PORTLAND, MAINE)

Here's the tree from the November 19th post, all lit up in Monument Square:

The full view of the Square:

 

Monument Way, leading off the square:

Store windows have enticing indications of what's inside:

 Other stores have pretty decorations in the windows:

Oh, yes, 'tis the season in Maine - now if we could just have some snow.....

DEAR SANTA

 
Kids all over the world are asking themselves this question right about now:

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS (HOLIDAY SHOPPING)

It's that time again. You'd think, after all these years, I'd have a handle on what this all entails, and plan accordingly. But no........I'll be the last one out of the store on Christmas Eve.....

IT'S UP (PORTLAND, MAINE CHRISTMAS TREE)

Yesterday the big flatbed truck came rolling down Congress Street to Monument Square, where, for the next month at least, the Civil War monument will be eclipsed by this 50-foot tall Christmas tree. During the coming week, the lights will be put on, and the grand lighting celebration will take place the day after Thanksgiving.

Let the shopping begin!

WAITING FOR WINTER

We've had some great weather the last few days, but the landscape is starting to look a little dreary, especially in the very early morning.  Recent rains have left puddles, and the grass in the front field is turning brown: 

Some of our residents are leaving for their winter homes.  I hope they get there; in this photograph they were flying north:

MORE DOGGIES

I had the opportunity to photograph some more dogs. My thanks to those who took the time out of their day to get the dogs ready.

This American Bulldog, a sweet girl who had been rescued from a very hard life as a puppy-mill Mama, still didn't completely trust strangers and had eyes only for her owner/rescuer:

My Boxer friend wanted nothing more than to play, as all Boxers do, but he did manage to stand still for just a few moments:

FALL IN THE BERKSHIRES

Last weekend I attended a wedding at the Seven Hills Inn, in Lenox, MA. The original inn was built in the 1700's. The day after the wedding, I had a chance to stroll the grounds on an early-morning search for photographs:

The front door of the Inn

There was still some foliage left

A statue at one corner of the patio

A table with a Victorian flower arrangement. The wedding couple was married in front of this window.

The staircase leading up to the rooms on the second floor

THIS IS WHAT I THINK OF YOUR PHOTO SESSION!

I am trying to do more pet photography, and with the gracious consent of (almost) all concerned, I have been adding to my dog portfolio. This little lady was not particularly impressed:

SACO HEATH

What a neat little place! The heath is a bog, actually, and the Nature Conservancy has thoughtfully put up a boardwalk so that we can walk across. That's a good thing, because one step off the boardwalk means you're knee-deep in mud:

There is color everywhere, including lots of wild blueberry bushes:

  

Even in the deep woods approaching the bog:

For more information about Saco Heath, go to the Nature Conservancy website.

PHOTOGRAPHING AT HIGH NOON

It's a well-known axiom that photographers shouldn't photograph in the middle of the day: the light is too harsh, the sun casts dark shadows, etc. However, there are times when this works out  to your advantage, such as when the subject is lit from straight above and slightly behind.....

WALKING AROUND PORTLAND, MAINE

I thought I'd take an early morning walk around Portland, starting at Commercial Street on the waterfront, where I found more pleasure boats than I expected to see:

 

The resident sea gulls were out enjoying the sun and planning which fishing boats to attack next:

And when I got back to the parking lot where I'd left my car, I found one of my favorite subjects: fall foliage -

MORE ABSTRACTS

Fun with macro - this one could be turned any which-way and still look intriguing:

Any guesses as to what this is?

Well, since to post the pullback later would be to spoil the whole thing, here it is:

Some Post-It notes taped into position, light shining through a colored glass (I used several different colors, but liked the blue best).

LADY WITH LACE

I was going through all the files I took this month, looking for candidates for culling. I had almost forgotten that I'd taken this at the Professional Photographers of New England convention in Springfield, during an evening session started by the incredible Arthur Rainville:

 

A little playing got me this (and there's lots more to be done...):

HORSES IN INFRARED

Just a quick shot from a field trip yesterday:

These horses reside at the Morris Farm in Wiscasset, Maine, which is open to the public and offers gardening and husbandry classes.  For more information, click here.

VIEW FROM MY WINDOW

I just got back from the Professional Photographers of New England convention in Springfield, MA. I had a very nice room at the Sheraton, and I could see City Hall Tower (I hope that's what it was!) in one direction:

Looking the other way, I could see the tower reflected in another building:

I wish I'd had time to explore the neighborhood a little more...

EARLY MORNING, PORTLAND MAINE

Early every Wednesday morning, in Monument Square in Portland, vendors from surrounding farming communities set up their stands for the weekly farmer's market:

THANK GOODNESS FOR FENCES !

They're bigger in real life than storybooks would have you believe.......

ROSE HIPS

Another "find" from my little excursion last night:

 

A PROMISE

This evening I decided to take some pictures just for me. While wandering around Portland Head Light, I saw, hidden in the sumac bushes, a hint of what's to come. This has been a good summer as far as not getting rained out, give or take a tornado or two, but it's been pretty warm with a lot more humidity than I feel is fair! Anyway, these turning leaves reminded me that the next season - the BEST season - is right around the corner:

SUMMER SUPPER

This little guy was (almost) completely oblivious to the photo session going on around him. He kept eating his supper until we got a little too close for comfort:

SOFT LIGHT THROUGH THE TREES

More from Mackworth Island:

IT WAS A SUNNY DAY

......until the fog rolled in.  The sailboats were headed back in:

...and this could have been a scene from the Civil War, when Fort Gorges in the background was built:

AHHHH........SUMMER!

Two cousins going for a paddle on the lake.....talking about what only teenage girls talk about...