Tag Archives: New Jersey Nature Photography

New Jersey Nature Photography: Sweetgum Leaves

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When shooting nature photography, it would seem that the best opportunities occur as far off the beaten path as possible.  However, with a lens with closeup functions it is possible to eliminate all context from a photograph.  Also, a telephoto lens can draw in far away scenery with no relation to where the photographer positioned his/her feet.  The photo in this post was actually taken in a Target parking lot in New Jersey… but who have guessed it?

NJ Art Photo

Drooping yellow and red leaves on a Sweetgum tree indicates oncoming cold weather. Photo taken with the Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One Lens and Canon EOS 50D.

Above photo taken with the Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One Lens and the tripod-mounted Canon EOS 50D DSLR.  Exposure settings: 1/8 F/10 ISO 100

New Tamron Lens Samples

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I’ve created a new Flickr album for sample from my Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One lens for Canon APS-C cameras – https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidraymond/sets/72157649150979422/

Other albums for recent Tamron lenses –
Tamron 14-150mm All-In-One for micro four thirds – https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidraymond/sets/72157645892119636/

Tamron SP 150-600mm VC lens for Canon (Full frame or Crop sensor) – https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidraymond/sets/72157642268568645/

I get asked my opinion on these lenses from time to time, and am always glad to share a candid review.  However, as the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding.

New Jersey Art Photo

An angled trail weaves through some of the last colorful foliage of Autumn. A long exposure renders the leaves as essences of color. Photographed with the Tamron 16-300mm VC lens + Canon 60D.

Above photo was taken yesterday with the Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One lens + Canon 60D.  Exposure settings: 30s F/8 ISO 200

New Jersey Landscape Photography: Muriel Hepner Park; Autumn

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I’ve just gotten home from a local photography art meeting at the time of this posting.  We engaged in critiques of photos from the traditional artist viewpoints of mood, composition, and uniqueness.  Quite a different mentality than looking for “likes on Facebook”.  I do think the photo I am posting here is a very straightforward composition, but at the same time the texture of the rocks and the wooden bridge provide character and personality to the scene.

NJ Nature Photo

The midday sun and vibrant Fall foliage provide a warm glow around a pond. Taken with the Tamron 14-150mm DI III Lens for m43.

Above photo was taken in Denville, New Jersey on October 18, 2014.  Exposure settings: 1/50th F/10 ISO 200

New Jersey Bird Photography: American Robin

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When we think of wildlife photography, and especially bird photography, we imagine filling the frame as tightly as possible with the subject and getting maximum detail on the subject.  There is certainly great challenge and also visual rewards in such an image.  Conversely, we may have pigeon-holed ourselves as artists by not giving the bird “space to breathe” within the frame, and also neglected to think of the greater commercial value of a more subdued composition.

NJ Nature Photo

A maze of barren tree branches and a featureless sky reveal an American Robin surveying its surroundings. Photographed with the Tamron SP 150-600mm VC lens and the Canon EOS 60D DSLR.

The above composition relies on the negative space of the sky, as well as several of points alignments to the rule of thirds.  Exposure settings: 1/320 F/10 ISO 200.  Taken with the tripod-mounted Tamron SP 150-600mm VC Lens and the Canon EOS 60D DSLR.

New Jersey Landscape Photography: Sunrise in Ocean City

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Not all sunrises are created even.  Before I began doing photography, I didn’t pay all that much attention to weather patterns and cloud conditions.  Slightly into my photographic venture, I assumed that no clouds = bright light = sharp shots = best shooting conditions.  Nowadays, I look forward to storm clouds and uncommon atmospheric conditions as I’ve begun to understand that compelling landscape photographs usually require dramatic light.

NJ Fine Art Photography

Intense crimson red colors briefly fill the early morning sky over the Atlantic Ocean in Ocean City, NJ. Photo taken with the Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One lens and the Canon 7D DSLR.

The above photo was taken 10/29/2014 at 7:04 AM looking eastward from the beach at Ocean City, New Jersey.  Exposure settings: 30s F/7.1 ISO 200

New Jersey Nature Photography: Settings Sun and London Plane Tree

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I do often find myself seeking uncluttered and distinctive shapes when preparing to photograph sunset.  To move beyond a basic sunset snapshot, one generally needs to avoid the urge to make a telephoto picture of just a “flaming fireball” sinking on the horizon.  Under certain conditions, a close-up view of the sun can be interesting, but often times it lacks a noticeable mood.

Conversely, too broad of a shot containing a lot of “visual chaos” or a horizon that has not be leveled will also look like an amateur snapshot.  While I am not sure that I have yet created any epic sunrise or sunset photos, I do feel like I’ve progressed in my compositions over the past 2 years.

New Jersey Fine Art

The late afternoon sun silhouettes an old gnarled Plane Tree at Fort Hancock, New Jersey. Photo taken with the Tamron SP 150-600mm VC lens and the Canon EOS 7D.

Exposure settings: 1/2000 F/8 ISO 100

New Jersey Landscape Photo: Rainbow Over Reservoir

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We had dramatic clouds earlier this afternoon, and I’d previsualized photographing in such conditions at the very scenic Splitrock Reservoir.  So off I drove with my Tamron zoom lens and Olympus compact camera to “see what I could see”.  Unsurprisingly a light rain began midway through my short drive, not an issue for me because I try to keep camera rainsleeves in my car at all times.

The rain broke just as I parked my car for the hiking trail.  Initially my view of the horizon was obscured but as I walked towards the slope of the reservoir a vivid rainbow did present itself on the opposite shore.  Frustratingly, my view of the rainbow was intersected by many trees and when I made my way to my first clear vantage point the rainbow had all but disappeared.  Feeling dejected that the opportunity seemed lost, I pressed on towards my favorite vantage point along the shore.

Alas, a new refractive arch of colors presented itself…

NJ fine art photo

After a rain shower a rainbow pierces through the clouds above Splitrock Reservoir. Taken with the Tamron 14-150mm All-In-One lens for micro four thirds cameras.

Above photo taken with my tripod mounted Olympus PEN E-PL3 m43 camera and the Tamron 14-150mm Di III zoom lens. Exposure settings: 1/125 F/11 ISO 200

Autumn at Lake Ames

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Below is a panoramic landscape photo taken yesterday morning in Morris County, New Jersey.  My initial photo was a single capture of the prominent yellow tree (near center of the frame).  Having read recently that “the best time to shoot a vertical shot is right after shooting a horizontal one” I have started thinking that “the best time shoot a panoramic image is right after shooting a single image”.  In other words… just do it!

New Jersey Fine Art Panorama Art

A sweeping view of the lake’s shore shows us the gentle slopes of changing trees at Lake Ames. A distant hill is also reflected in the still water. Taken with the Tamron 14-150mm Di III All-In-One lens and Olympus PEN E-PL3 micro four thirds camera.

The above panoramic art measure over 17,000pixels of leafy goodness.  Taken with the tripod mounted Tamron 14-150mm Di III All-In-One lens and the Olympus PEN E-PL3 m43 camera.

Reflections of Rockaway

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This morning was another overcast day in Northern New Jersey, so I thought I would visit some of nearest natural bodies of water and see what Mother Nature was offering up for landscape photography.  The two trees shown below were the most vivid on Lake Hudsonia and I chose a vantage point where their reflections would be uninterrupted from lily pads and other vegetation.

New Jersey Fine Art Photo

Reds and yellows of Autumn reflect on a still lake in New Jersey. Taken with the Tamron 14-150mm Di III lens and the Olympus PEN EPL3

Exposure settings: 1/20th F/9 ISO 200

New Jersey Panoramic Photography: Forest and Old Foundation

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Today was not so much a photography day for me, more of a hiking day but I did take along my compact shooting equipment because… The best camera is certainly always the one you have with you.  My Olympus PEN coupled with Tamron’s 14-150mm all-in-one lens easily tackled the five photos stitched below.

New Jersey Fine Art Nature Photoraphy

Five shots stitch. Taken in New Jersey with the Tamron 14-150mm Di III lens and the Olympus PEN E-PL3 micro four thirds camera.

A 52mm circular polarizing filter was used to make this image and my Manfrotto 055x ProB tripod provided the stability needed on an overcast day in shaded conditions.  I didn’t find that a single photo would have done this scene justice, and it does seem that the width of my panorama gives this stone foundation “plenty of room to breathe”.

Exposure settings: 1/8 F/7.1 ISO 200