FALL FOLIAGE :: MAINE PHOTOGRAPHER

It's coming - some of the leaves have begun to turn. Can't wait for my trip to Rangeley!

EARLY MORNING :: MAINE PHOTOGRAPHER

It pays to get up early. This shot was taken just after sunrise, before the wind had a chance to blow the flowers around and break the spider's web:

MOTHER NATURE WINS! :: MAINE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

It's amazing how fast Mother Nature can reclaim what's hers. This was a hayfield two years ago:

FALL IS COMING::MAINE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER

It's almost here - I can feel it! Nights are cooler; days are less humid; and the light is starting to develop that golden glow only associated with autumn. The bees are busy in the goldenrod:

and grasses which managed to escape being cut are flowering:

Pretty soon the leaves will start to turn - can't wait.

MOTORCYCLE JUMPING : MAINE PHOTOGRAPHER

Some people are just too adventurous for me - but I like to photograph them. I wouldn't be caught doing this for all  the tea in China! I wonder what his mother thinks.......does she nag him about his hobby.....does she watch him when he does this?

PUFFINS :: MAINE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER

Geez, there are only about 40,000 other rocks on the island - plenty of room for everybody!

Last weekend I had the privilege of going out to Machias Seal Island (courtesy of Bold Coast Charter Co.) to photograph puffins. What a neat experience; if you get a chance to go, take it!

SUMMER IN MAINE :: MAINE PHOTOGRAPHER

Although the calendar says that summer is no shorter than any other season, in Maine it sure seems to be. (Some of us have been caught wearing down on the first day of summer.) So it stands to reason that when we do get good weather, we have to make the most of it. Road repairs are one of those ubiquitous sights along Maine highways in the summer, because that's the only time we can get anything done for sure without being interrupted by snow. And sometimes, if a project runs long, it does get snowed on a little bit. But, along with rising temperatures, these are the signs of summer in Maine:

BEECH HILL :: MAINE SUNSET

Here's another one from my trip to Beech Hill. I love the way the setting sun lit up the grasses in the field:

BEECH HILL :: MAINE LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

Last night I ventured up Beech Hill with some friends to photograph the sunset. I love the stone hut at the top of the hill; there are always some interesting angles to make photographs. A photograph I took last year at Beech Hill won a blue ribbon at the Maine Professional Photographers' Association print competition, so you can see why this is one of my favorite places!

FIREWORKS :: MAINE PHOTOGRAPHER

It's that time of year again, and once again I'm out photographing fireworks. I was lucky this year to be able to photograph a few shows. Here's a couple of shots:

 I also have my own way of looking at fireworks:

 

This technique is unpredictable, and you never know what you're going to get::

DAHLIA WITH VISITOR :: MAINE FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHS

This is a dwarf dahlia, one of the easiest flowers to grow. Which is good, because my philosophy is once they're planted, they're on their own! Those who know me and my bee-sting allergy probably think I didn't take this picture, but I'm not so intimidated by tiny bees. I don't even know if this is a real bee, it's so small. That flower is only a couple of inches across. But I didn't stay around any longer than necessary...

SIGNS: DO THEY MEAN IT?:: MAINE PHOTOGRAPHER

While out walking the other day, I ran across this sign in a field that borders my land. Did it mean what it says? Does he mean to keep ME out, or just people he doesn't know? Does he even really mean it at all, since the sign is rather neglected? I kept to the edge of the field, since it hadn't been hayed yet (he'd better get to it; time's a-wasting). No one suddenly appeared to chase me away, so I will continue to cross the field - carefully - until I'm told otherwise.....

MORE INDOOR STUFF - POSEIDON'S ALTAR

That's what this mirror montage brought to mind........

BRRRRR.......

It's cold! Time to stay inside and do "stuff" that can be done indoors. I decided to go through some of my pictures (from a warmer time) and try a little digital watercolor:

OH, WELL......

Looks like the grass will just have to wait a while!

REPRIEVE

Yes, it's only January. But it seems so nice to have the temperature hovering near 60°, with a warm-ish wind. The grass is just waiting until it's a little warmer (unfortunately, it will probably have to suffer through more snow and below-zero weather before then) to start growing again, well in advance of the lawnmower tune-up. But we'll take it for now....