Midtown AC Outdoor Pool [Sky Watch Friday]

   Temperature was in the low 20s F last Sunday A.M., but the water at the Midtown Athletic Club pool was an inviting 82 F. Here are some cell phone shots I took before stripping down and hitting the water. During the course of my workout, every lane was occupied by one or more swimmers! Can you believe it, the pool will be kept open until Dec.15th -- I’d hate to see the heating bills. Since the pool season began on March 15, I have logged 287,000 yds [ca. 152 miles]. I think I'm a chlorine addict --lol--

Urban [Orange] Photography 2 [Orange You Glad It's Friday]

  While the grandkids are out playing in the snow, I’ll sneak in here and do my posting. Although part of my ‘Urban [Orange] Photography’ series, these images are not what one might generally expect to find in an urban setting. However, all three were taken on three independent photo-outings this month. They serve as a last reminder, to those of us in the northern hemisphere, of the colors we enjoyed this Fall. 

Rochester Wall Art 4

  I'm a little late with this posting -- family all here for Thanksgiving/Hanukkah, so our concerns about their travel through bad weather were unfounded, thank goodness. OK -- here I add to the series of wall art/grafitti around Rochester. These are quite an eye-full. Enjoy!

Urban [Orange] Photography 1 [Orange You Glad It's Friday & Sky Watch Friday]

    I noted in an earlier OYGIF posting that I’ve suddenly begun seeing orange everywhere. In fact, during several recent photo-shoots, I’ve acquired several dozen new images that I will post over time.  So, today marks the start of my ‘Urban [Orange] Photography’ series. West of downtown Rochester are several side street with turn of the century [19th-20th] buildings. Some of these structures are under renovation for conversion to living space. Along Cascade Street, we came across some heavy equipment that was probably used in work on the windows. The top two images are what I saw and photographed first for OYGIF. 

    As I walked down the block, I turned back. The sight just about ‘knocked my socks off’. I saw the heads and necks of two dinosaurs spanning the street and silhouetted against the sky. Wow! What a find -- which only reinforces the principle to LOOK AROUND. The image below is what I saw. I am using it as the thumb-nail in the link to Sky Watch Friday, too.

Rochester Wall Art 3

   There is not much more I have to to say about the images in this series. I know that I do not tire of looking at them because they abound with movement and explosive color. It is mind blowing to realize that the artists performed their wall transformations in all sorts of environments, including back alleys, besides railroad tracks, on railroad cars, on commercial buildings, etc. The three images below were on abandoned and run down buildings.

Fall Colors at Durand Eastman Park [Sky Watch Friday & Orange You Glad It's Friday]

The Fall colors have come and gone, but they have been duly recorded in digital. Today’s posts were shot [after the peak colors had passed] in and around the Durand-Eastman Park, located about 9 miles to the north of Rochester [NY] and very close to Lake Ontario. About a mile before reaching the park, along Lakeshore Blvd, there was a marvelous group of trees flanking the road. I had to stop and shoot this scene. Notwithstanding the limited amount of sky, this image afforded me a ‘twofer’ image; i.e. one that I could post on both SWF and OYGIF.

Reaching the park ‘entrance’ area, one had to be careful to find the correct access path, as there were are no signs [on a separate occasion my wife and I entered at the wrong place and ended up lost].  This time we got it right and took a wonderful walk along the shore of Eastman Lake. The image below was shot across the narrow lake. Unfortunately, almost all the bright red leaves were gone.

On the other hand, some consolation could be taken in that there were plenty of colorful leaves on the ground. That had the added advantage of not having to shoot against a bright background sky.

In addition, there were leaves afloat on the water’s surface, and these made for some interesting shots.

Finally, we were fortunate to come across a family of swans. The one below came within range of my 18-135mm zoom lens. Either he did not notice my presence or did not care, as he was busy dipping his neck below the surface looking for food. I like this image because of the colored reflections of the trees on the opposite shore. 

Harley Davidson details

 I am not into motorcycling, but find the machines fascinating objects for photography. So, as a brief change of pace, I thought I'd post some images from shots I took several years ago. I revisited them today, made a few edits, and then posted them here and on Flickr [with the Rochester Urban Photographers group].

Rochester Wall Art 2

 Here are a few more examples of the wall art to be found around Rochester.

Arlie's Tree Revisited [Orange You Glad It's Friday]

I decided to heed some sound advice and revisit Arlie’s Tree [see my OYGIF post from Fri. Oct. 25]. I was wrong about being able to frame the tree in its current size. My new camera (lens) afforded that capability -- thank you Canon. I’ve also learned how to get the ‘star burst’ effect, so severe back-lighting is not always a deterrent for shooting. Just be sure you stop the aperture down sufficiently and have the lowest possible ISO; this image was shot at ISO 100, at f/13 for 1/60 sec. 

This was shot at a different time and location to include the Japanese maple tree near the front entrance of our house. 

These lovely leaves have all come down now -- and, as I am typing this [on Tues. morning], my neighbor Arlie’s lawn guy is in the process of blowing them off her lawn. 

These leaves were on our front lawn earlier this week. They are still there (somewhere), which reminds me that I have to get in gear and start raking --sigh--.  

Another Beautiful Rochester Sky [Sky Watch Friday]

  I repeat a comment made by a Rochester professional photographer, whom I admire and respect. “The best camera you own is the one you have with you at the time.” Too often one happens to see something that is crying out to be photographed; and, alas, no camera is at hand. Other times, only one’s cell phone camera is available. The image below is a case where only my smart phone was handy [maybe that’s why the German word for the cell phone is a Handy]. 

Rochester Wall Art 1

After several urban photo-shoots, the presence around Rochester of a substantial number of building wall murals has become a source of interest. For some, it is graffiti, for others an expression of hip art. I make no judgment except to say that, in general, I like it. So, today I will start a mini-series of images I've captured over the last months. There is not a whole lot of explanation to offer, so I hope that you will enjoy them.