162/203 + 1

Aside from all the different avian seen at the refuge, there is abundance of flora. Year after year I find myself drawn to this musk thistle.

109/256 + 1

Thanks, Phriend for letting me borrow the fisheye. But it could be trouble, what a fun lens!

73/292 + 1

Inside the General Store at Batsto Village, sat this can.

Who could resist a Cocoa Lunch!

71/294 + 1

It’s been nearly two months since Phriend and I went on a photo adventure. With the weather promising to be cooperative (not that we really care what the weather is), we once again, gathered up camera gear and headed out. Our travels took us to Batsto Village, an 1800s ore mining town complete with general store, post office, grist mill, blacksmith and wheel shop, barns, ice houses, sawmill, and the mansion. All of the buildings remain intact and displayed as they would have been during the many years of activity. To our disappointment, no photography was permitted in the mansion but all other buildings were free game.

Admittedly, some of the building were old and more than a bit creepy but true to our sense of adventure, Phriend and I left no building unexplored. I found the Grist Mill offered lots of old time shots.

11/354 + 1

Yup, I am posting one more photo of Phriend. There are several reasons for this; I was really thrilled to have a model, I was really happy with the lighting in this shot, Phriend is just too darn cute and well honestly, I just didn’t have a POD.

10/355 +1

Last year while participating in Project 365, I was inspired to visit all of the New Jersey land based Lighthouses. Phriend and I traveled the coast line making certain to stop off and, of course, photograph each of these guiding lights. I was able to check each one off my list. Phriend had been to all but one. We thought it only fitting to celebrate the start of this year’s Project 365 + 1 by concluding her list of lighthouses.

Hereford Lighthouse (circa 1874) has been guiding sailors through the waters of the Hereford Inlet, which leads from the Atlantic Ocean to the famed Intra-Coastal Waterway linking Maine to Florida.

9/356 + 1

One of my new year resolutions is to practice more portrait photography. Only problem is I have no one to practice on. Oh, sure B will play around but for only so long then I have to start promising to go to the sporting good shop while he looks for new lures and reels. That's too high a price for me to pay. So I was thrilled when Phriend offered to model for me yesterday. We were at a boardwalk we don't often frequent and the newness offered many awesome backdrops.

8/357 + 1

Phriend Noir ~

As the year was ending, Phriend and I discussed how pleased we both were with the process we had made through the year, how we were glad we had successful completed Project 365 and how we were thrilled to have participated but were glad it was done. Well, by the end of the first day of the new year, we had both decided to continue on with Project 365 +1.

It has been a very long time since we have had the chance to get out on a photo adventure. Today with the weather, once again feeling more like Spring than Winter, we traveled to a boardwalk at the southern end of the state. One we don’t often visit. One which would offer new photo opportunities.

This year I am hoping to learn more about and practice more portrait photography. Phriend was gracious enough to be my model while I practice several more “film noir” images.

312/53

As we journey farther and farther into the depths of the cold, dark months of winter, comes the annual turning back of the clocks. While we do get an extra hour in the day to do with what we wish, I do not care for the sun setting at 5:00. In past years I would just cave in, put my jammies on, in what seems like the middle of the afternoon, and mope about the house turning on all the lights.

This year I decided to take a different approach and try to embrace the day instead of dreading it. I called Phriend and as always she was ready for an adventure. With cameras packed, we crossed the bridge, parked ourselves in the sand and waited for the sun to set. I can now take comfort in knowing we are one day closer to Spring.

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Due to a conflict in our work schedules, it has been nearly two weeks since Phriend and I have had a chance to get out together and explore the world through our lenses. Phriend was off yesterday, I was not. So using my charming personality a bag of M&Ms, I begged my boss to allow me to leave work early. Success!

After little debate over our destination, we ended up in Asbury Park. The last time we visited, it was while bundled up in our winter gear and knew we would be back during the warmer days. We strolled around the town, window shopping the small shops but we could hear the sound of the ocean calling us.

229/136

You're never to old to splash in rain puddles.

Happy  Birthday Phriend !!

167/198

Last evening Phriend and I had the opportunity to take a portrait class. It was instructed by a photographer  who has over 200 magazine covers to his credit. We spent time inside while he explained a few important facts to keep in mind while adjusting white balance and advice on preventing shadowing. We headed over to the beach with two barely dressed young ladies, who were professional models. We were shown how to set flash for use in the bright sunlight, how to angle the subject, and practiced the techniques for setting white balance. It was informative, but the best part was the Tamron reprehensive who was there lending out (yes free of charge) any and all lenses for use during the shoot.

I have been pining over their 60mm, f/2, marco for awhile now and could not wait to get my hands on one.  It was a beautiful thing.  I found I was having more fun taking marco shots of all things around me. In fact I wandered off in search of subjects and ended up taking only a few photos of the young ladies.

I am purchasing the lens by the end of the week.

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Today's highlights; "Phriend" gets a new camera, I start to shot in RAW, and we go to the beach.

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I admit to it, I’m being a rule breaker. This photo was taken on May 11 and I’m posting it today but since Blogger was being a bugger, I have given myself permission. I really wanted to share at least one other statuette from my photo field trip to Ground for Sculpture. Here a young lady, in the early morning mist, sits by a lily pond. What is she dreaming, wondering, thinking about?

132/233

Blogger has been a bugger and stated they needed to remove any post dated after 5/11. They deleted my posts from 5/12 & 5/13. I will repost ~

Phriend and I have been waiting for the weather to warm before taking a photo field trip to "Grounds for Sculpture", home to over 250 life size recreations of famous paintings and other abstract art pieces. The sculptures are scattered about and as you tour the grounds these masterpieces are placed in areas which make them appear to be "live" people. Several times we were taken by surprise and thought we had stumbled upon a young couple in a loving embrace.  A couple dines among the outside tables in the dining area, a young couple kisses good-bye at the lake, an older couple, under the cover of an umbrella, strolling about, there's a party happening at the yacht club. What a interesting but more importantly fun place. Pictured ~ Renoir's "Boating Party".

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B was out for the evening, which left me home alone and we all know what that can lead to. . . a text to Phriend, cameras in tow and a ride over to my favorite boardwalk. We were hoping the piers would be open and the amusement rides would be showing their full rainbow of colors, but it is still a little to early in the season. Those photos will have to wait. Instead, we practiced some panning. I have tried this before and found it to be one of the most difficult photograph challenges yet. We spent about 30 minutes taking many photos, all while the carousel went round and round and up and down. I still have much practicing to do before perfecting this skill. I found this was the best of the bunch.

119/246

One of the many things I enjoy about Spring is being able to get out on the water. Today was glorious, filled with a bright and warming sun. After texting Phriend, grabbing the camera and strapping the kayaks to the roof of the car, we were off to one of the many local waterways.  We found the wind was strong and for awhile we had to paddle against it and the current. This is not easy.  After three hours, Phriend's arms tired and mine were feeling weak and numb, we turned about.  Now the wind to our back and traveling with the current, we sailed along. We were suprised at just how quickly the water was moving.  At times it was difficult to maintan control of the kayak.  And was we laughed ourselves silly, we both ended up head on in the trees and under brush. I did take several photos of Phriend with branches in her hair and leaves in her face and I am certain she got plenty of me.  What we wouldn't do for a picture of the day!

116/249

B had some business to take care of outside town, a three hour trip.  He asked Phriend and I if we were interested in traveling with him. With the chance of finding something new to photograph, we jumped at the opportunity.
We had to pass through a little town. With cameras in hand we walked the narrow European style streets. They were no wider than a car width and lined with pastel colored row homes. It was a charming mountain town.

111/254

I am not really certain how exactly this happened. B has enlisted Phriend and I to take photos of the local area and portraits of the jocks for his radio station‘s website. I am confident, we can handle the scenery. Photographs of the schools, buildings, parks, all the places of interest in the station’s listening area.

The portraits are a totally different story. I have tried to beg out, explaining portraits are an entire different type of photography. Just because I can take a good shot of a flower, dog or a non-living object, doesn’t mean I can take a internet worthy portrait of the on air talent. B says he will be thrilled with what we get and is sure Phriend and I will do an amazing job. Me, I not so sure.

This being the case, I have been doing a bit of research on “actions” for portraits. I have seen some awesome shots which you all have taken and applied actions to, creating blue ribbon photographs in which skin tones are smooth and even and eye are crystal clear.

Question? What “action” or “actions” can you recommend? Thank you in advance.





110/255

While we were on the University campus, we stopped by their bowling alley. This university is located on the grounds which were originally the winter home of a millionaire railroad tycoon. During the early 19th century, bowling was a sport which belonged to the social elite. This historic alley, built in 1899, was recently restored to it’s original state. Today, it is the nation’s oldest operational bowling alley.