28 February 2010: Home Sweet Home

It is nice to be home for a few days. I went out to get the Sunday paper this morning and our beautiful house looked lovely in it's winter coat so I got the camera to shoot an HDR version of it!

27 February 2010: Delaware Water Gap

We made a quick stop at the Delaware Water Gap on the way home from NYC. It was not quite as picturesque as I remember but then again there was a lot of snow to impede our ability to get around!

26 February 2010: Hot, Cold and Extinct

Snowmageddon stranded us in NYC for an extra day! We enjoyed the extra time we had in the city by visiting the Natural History Museum and building some mini snow people! Building the snow people was so fun both because I felt like a kid again (with these aches and pains since I turned 40 that is saying a lot) and it was so amazing to watch the reactions of the people who walked by us in the park. Everyone, old and young, loved the little snow family. Several people stopped to take pictures of our creations (you can see one of them taking their own picture while protecting herself with an umbrella). The little kids quickly said they wanted to make some too (sorry to those parents). We were happy and sad when we went back through the park several hours later. Our snow family was no longer standing - I don't know if they were murdered by vandals or poor construction by the help. However, we did notice several other snow people have been erected in various states and sizes throughout the park. We were happy to see that we were an inspiration to some!

We also went into the Museum of Natural History. We went in the the butterfly house. It was so hot in there especially when coming from snowmageddon. We had on turtlenecks, sweaters, fleece. I was a bit overheated by the time we left our new butterfly friends. Luckily nothing else was "alive" in the museum but then again, we were NOT there at night!

25 February 2010: Slushy...Snowy...Stuck

Stuck in NYC because of the weather...I guess there are worse places to be stuck!

24 February 2010: It's Only Natural

My hotel in NYC is right across the street from the Natural History Museum. I haven't been in yet but this is from the back entrance!

23 February 2010: Snowicane

Rumor has it there is a snowicane (snow+hurricane) coming to NYC on Thursday night...thank goodness I can be here for that! I am hoping for another snow fraud. It was a long, rainy drive into the city so this picture is actually a fraud...it was taken last year. Sorry to all my faithful fans but I am hoping for some good NYC photos later this week especially if there is a snowicane HAHAHA. I love then names they make up for these nor'easter - so far this year we've had "snowmageddon" and "snowpocalypse" and now "snowicane"!

22 February 2010: Spring Tease

It was 45 degrees today in Tiverton, RI when I drove through...it felt like Spring, smelled like summer at the water and I was dreaming of kayaking. It was just a tease - a Nor'easter is coming up the coast!

21 February 2010: Cazenovia Meet Up

The Syracuse Photographers Association had a meet up today in Cazenovia. Bill came with me to wander around and take some photos. Today's photos include a creepy clown, 2 blind mice and a headless debutante all found in the window displays in the village!

20 February 2010: Drip Drip Drip

This building must not have very good insulation with all these drips hanging around!

19 February 2010: A Taste Of What's To Come

SPRING!!! Coming soon I hope!

18 February 2010: A Diamond In The Rough

If you have ever been to Trinity College in Hartford, CT, you know that it is a beautiful campus surrounded but a pretty rough and gritty neighborhood. Here are a few shots of some of the campus buildings - a very old world feel!

17 February 2010: An Evil Plot In Our Midst

Not a great picture because I did not want to get too close to the "United Cookies" for fear of being recruited into their evil plot. I spent 4 hours sitting across from these cute cookie cartoons and the Girl Scouts yelling about cookies and giving out free samples! Really!?!? Is it necessary to taunt me with peanut butter patties (now called tagalongs for some reason). I did not succumb to buying any but I did get a free sample as I was leaving the building! HA! HA! HA! I beat you EVIL cookies slingers!

16 February 2010: Are You Sick Of HDR Yet?

Hope not...here's another one of the Quabbin Reservoir!

15 February 2010: The Happy Valley

I am back in the Happy Valley doing some visits to the local colleges. The sun was shining and it was almost 40 degrees - almost a summer day! :) Wandered around Amherst College and Mount Holyoke College to take some HDR shots.

14 February 2010: My Funny Valentine

Hopefully taking my flowers for a photo shoot in the snow will not harm them. Happy VD to you and yours!

13 February 2010: A Little Chilly for Chili

Bill and I took a ride downtown to check out the Syracuse Winterfest. The only thing really going on today was the chili cook-off. We tried most of them and I have to say, most were very UNDERwhelming! We also met the abominable snowman - at least I think that's what he was but who knows. We didn't hang around for too long as it was a little too chilly...even for chili! Next Saturday is the human "dog"sled race. I am sure it will be a bunch of drunk SU students competing but we'll see!

12 February 2010: Home Bound

Friday at home after a long week out on the road. I never left my house today so today's photo is brought to you by my twisted sistah!

11 February 2010: Snow Fraud!

So you may have heard, the storm of the year was a fraud! Total fall in the area I was (Foxboro/North Easton, MA) was only 4-6 inches. That is nothing compared to the 12-18 inches they were predicting. It was a beautiful morning on my way to my meeting so I stopped along the way at Borderland Park and took some pictures (HDR) of the wet heavy snow that did fall.

The mid-Atlantic region was not so lucky. There is record snow in DC and Philly. I am glad I live in Syracuse - "the snow capital" :)

10 Feb 2010: Snowmageddon?

There was a lot of hype about the snow storm that was supposed to hit New England. It didn't happen. It was pretty but not "snowmageddon" - at least where I was!

9 February 2010: Providence Pride

I was back in Providence today for a visit to Brown again. Still no Emma Watson/Hermione sighting but I did get some shots of campus and downtown. Below is a fun fact about the Brown Main Gates.

The Van Wickle Gates at Brown University are the ornamental entrance to the main campus area at the corners of College Street and Prospect Street in College Hill. The gates were built with donations by Augustus Stout Van Wickle (Class of 1876), who was the president of a bank and several coal corporations. Dedicated on June 18, 1901, the gates stand as a symbol for the campus and its long history.

The gates are made of rod iron, with brick and stone piers. The larger main gate is flanked by two smaller side gates. The top of the gate is crowned with the Brown University shield. The sides of the gates include inscriptions by Cicero. The side gates remain open throughout the year, while the center gates remain closed except for two occasions each year. At the beginning of the academic year, the center gates open inward to admit students during Convocation. At the end of the second semester, the gates open outward for the Commencement Day procession.

8 February 2010: Bean Town in HDR

I had a quick trip to Boston today for a visit and on my way out of town, I stopped to take a few photos that I again made into HDR photos.

7 February 2010: Still Playing

Yes, I am still playing with HDR. I will take "regular" photographs again soon but for now I am enjoying doing something new.

6 February 2010: Pretty Puppy

OK...the last one was done with photos I took last week that I just by chance had multiple exposures of but today's HDR was taken this morning. I learned how to automatically bracket on my camera and Mona was my test subject. She would not stay still at first and then Bill suggested peanut butter. Whenever Bill has a peanut butter sandwich, Mona sits perfectly still hoping for him to share it. Here is my pretty puppy in all her HDR glory!

5 February 2010: My First HDR

So I am sort of cheating on this photo since it was not technically taken today. I took 3 pictures last week using bracketing for the exposure so that I could try a photography technique called HDR (High Dynamic Range). I just downloaded the program needed to do this technique in my mind it is a "new" picture. Either way this is what I have for you today...like it or leave it! The second picture is the non HDR version so you can see the difference. Pretty cool, huh?

If you want to know more about HDR, here are couple of the best sites I found that explains it: http://www.tkrphoto.com/hdr/hdr-faq/ or http://www.digitalphotopro.com/technique/software-technique/xdr-part-iv.html.

4 February 2010: Go Red For Women

I went to the Go Red For Women Photo and Art Exhibit last night. Several of my Syracuse Photo Association members put pieces in the show. It was a nice event to raise awareness about heart disease.

If you are in the Syracuse area and want to check it out at The Red House from February 4-10, 2010.

Go Red For Women celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke.

http://www.goredforwomen.org/about_the_movement.aspx

3 February 2010: New England Charm

I spend much of my life driving around New England. The quintessential clock tower and weather vane are are found in many towns and cities. This typical site, along with the old stone walls are a few of my favorite New England things.