The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

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I haven’t been posting much over the past week or so. This was because of Hurricane Sandy. I couldn’t get out for a while. Two trees fell down very near to our driveway and took out the power cables. They also blocked the road on the right side of the driveway. Farther away, but on the other side of the driveway, some lines were down (I didn’t know if they were active, or if they were even power lines but I didn’t want to take the chance). These effectively blocked the way out on the other side. Neither of the houses had power for about six days. The power in the lake house came back last Saturday evening and I believe the power in Briarcliff came back Sunday evening (going back today to check).

These pictures came from the “The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze” at Van Cordlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. It’s an annual event featuring over 5,000 pumpkins arranged in all kinds of complex shapes. Knowing that there would be little light I had taken along a monopod. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t let me bring it in. So these were hand held with predictable results: muddy, blurred, camera shake, noise. Still I like them as a record of an interesting night out with our friends June and Diane.
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Weekly picks 10-23-2012 – A Day in NY City

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Once again I didn’t get out as much as I would have liked. Too many other things going on. I did manage to go into the city for a day though and the pictures here are from that day. I have quite a few more, many of which I plan to convert to black and white. I still feel that I have a better feel for black and white than I do for colour. This day also gave me the chance to try out a new lens (Canon 50 1.4 FD Ssc Breech dating from 1975), which cost me about $80. I must say that I really like it and you can’t beat the cost. It’s also much easier (at least in my opinion) to take pictures of people in the city. I’m still not that comfortable photographing people in the street. I’m nervous about pointing a camera at someone I don’t know and people in the street tend to move quicker than my reaction times can handle. Still – practice makes perfect. I’m sure that if I keep it up I’ll get better. Cartier-Bresson look out.
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Weekly picks 10-14-2012 – Around Roaring Brook Lake

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Last week was rather busy. Work (mostly electrical) continued at the house so I wasn’t able to get out much. In any case it was a rather rainy gloomy week. I did manage to get in a few walks around the lake with the dog. Eirah’s a member of the Roaring Brook Lake gardeners club. They’re looking for some pictures for their annual calendar so I thought I’d try to pull some together. I already have some older ones, but these are a few taken last week during my walks.
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At the Brasserie Le Bouchon

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This was taken at the Brasserie le Bouchon in Cold Spring NY. We’ve been going there for some time and I like it a lot. It has a nice French ambience – reminds me of when we were living in France. I’d taken refuge from the ongoing work on the kitchen and thought I’d go there for a pleasant lunch. I ended up with a sage and butternut soup followed frisee salad and a baba au rhum. Very nice. While I was eating I noticed the large mirror opposite and the nice checkered pattern on the tablecloths. Just as I was taking the picture the waiter walked into the view as seen through the mirror. Added a slight touch of mystery. Not the sharpest of pictures, but there’s something about it I like.