View from Craigmeur Cliffs
Newfoundland, New Jersey
February 2022
A winter hike up the rugged Four Birds Trail lead to a brief view of sunbeams above Green Pond.
Sony A7R3 + Tokina 20mm
View from Craigmeur Cliffs
Tag Archives: New Jersey Photography
Upcoming Library Presentation
I am drafting NJ photography program descriptions for later in 2018. I always enjoy interacting with new photography or nature enthusiasts. Let me know if your camera club, library, or community center is interested in a presentation and I will try to accommodate.
Landscape photograph taken in 2018 by Dave Blinder in Parsippany, New Jersey.
Landscapes of New Jersey presentation by Dave Blinder
August 2018
Warren Township Library
Join us as local photographer Dave Blinder walks us through his images for his comprehensive “Landscapes of New Jersey” exhibit. Dave will present 1 nature photograph for each of New Jersey’s 21 counties. We will learn how, where, and why each image was captured and we will discuss the challenges of taking on a large state-wide project. Camera settings will be revealed, compositional techniques will be discussed, and personal anecdotes of Dave’s photographic journey will be provided.
Dave Blinder is a career photographer with specializations in clinical imaging, architectural photography, and fine art sales and exhibitions. Dave volunteers in his spare time for outdoor education and land conservation purposes. He is a proud board member of the Denville-based 501(c)(3) Protect Our Wetlands, Water, and Woods organization. Find Dave’s photographs on the web at facebook.com/daveblinderphotography
Landscape Photograph – Jonathan’s Woods in Autumn
This image is one of my favorite recent photographs. It was taken on November 4th 2017 mid-morning on a bright overcast day. This Autumn was not a colorful foliage season in my area but I was fortunate to come across a picket of golden hued Beech Trees whilst walking a wooded trail. The trail is situated within Jonathan’s Woods in Rockaway NJ.
Jonathan’s Woods in Autumn. A wooded trail meanders through a pocket of vivid American Beech trees in November. New Jersey Fine Art Landscape Photograph from Rockaway Township by Dave Blinder.
My goal with this image was to capture a frame which a viewer could easily place themselves into. I had quite an immersive nature experience on this pleasant walk with the fragrant smells of the deciduous forest, the earthy palette of the woodlands, and the slightest breeze on my face. If this image is successful the viewer should also have an engaging exploration within the frame with no coaxing of words or other cues. We shall find out when I print and exhibit the piece!
I should easily be able to make a 20″ x 30″ print from this full frame capture. This wide angle perspective is brought to you by the Tamron USA SP 15-30mm VC lens. A lens this wide gives an extremely broad perspective and will also make objects nearer to the camera appear larger. This characteristic can be utilized by the landscape photographer to simulate three-dimensional space in a two-dimensional capture. It helps the the Tamron 15-30mm is also exceedingly sharp. Camera utilized was the Sony A7R which produces highly detailed and vivid images of my treks.
Thank you for stopping by and be sure to get out and appreciate your local nature. Purchase the lens through my Amazon Affiliate link helps support my art.
Do you have any thoughts or questions about the image? Leave a comment on this post or send me an email to dave@daveblinder.com
Kayaking with the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
Kayaking in NJ with the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
I brought the new Tamron USA 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD all-in-one lens out on the water with me for kayaking this past weekend.
Kayaking at Monksville Reservoir in NJ with the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
All shots taken handheld along with the Canon Rebel SL2.
Kayaking at Monksville Reservoir in NJ with the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
The location is Monksville Reservoir which is an incredible natural resource situated in Northern New Jersey.
Kayaking at Monksville Reservoir in NJ with the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
The compact lens + camera combo fit easily into my dry bag.
Kayaking at Monksville Reservoir in NJ with the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
It is important to me to be able to photograph both scenery and wildlife when I am out on the water.
Kayaking at Monksville Reservoir in NJ with the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
The 18-400mm is a great versatile tool for outdoor adventures.
Kayaking at Monksville Reservoir in NJ with the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
Purchase the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD all-in one now lens through my Amazon affiliate links and I get a small commission to fund future adventures.
Have any questions on camera gear or settings? Ask in the comments and I will do my best to answer.
2016 Maple Sugar Fest photos
I volunteered for a few hours of photography and also videography yesterday with the Morris County Park Commission at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in Chatham New Jersey. The event, 2016 Maple Sugar Fest, drew out hundreds of local families and got them involved in fun stories, hikes, and even tastings of local Maple products. Maple Syrup use dates back to at least the Lenape natives and is an important part of our local heritage.
My favorite part of the event? Seeing so many happy faces of all ages and colors involved in high quality outdoor education. I could see the faces of future conservationists and environmentalists in the children that attended.
Leica Lifestyle Photography – Ice Fishing
I am continuing my rental evaluation of the Leica X Typ 113 compact mirrorless digital camera. I had an opportunity to take some snapshots of some local outdoorsmen today, and hopefully I’ve captured some of the spirit of these friendly guys.
The tradition of #icefishing brings together some old friends in New Jersey. Handheld #photo with the #Leica X Typ 113.
Hauling in a #Pickerel on a sunny February day in #NewJersey . Handheld #photo with the #Leica X Typ 113.
A couple of locals taking in some sun and conversation while ice fishing in #NewJersey . Handheld #photo with the #Leica X Typ 113.
Nature Photography – Organizing the Chaos
A typical nature scene, especially woodlands and meadows include a lot of visual clutter and overlap when seen from the typical human angle of view. When we press the camera’s shutter button from that perspective, everything is permanently recorded into our digital image. We are frequently disappointed when the photo “doesn’t look like what we saw”. Plenty of studies have been done on comparing human perception to a camera’s imaging system. Moral of the story is that we focus differently and our optical systems have different dynamic ranges than cameras currently in existence.
How to compensate for the ever all-seeing camera lens? “Organize the chaos.” A well known phrase to experienced photographers. How to organize? One of the many techniques is to seek symmetry in nature photography. Absolute symmetry is rarely going to present itself, but we will still seek it…
In my photo below I’ve aligned my angle of view to have two nearly parallel trees create a natural rectangle (or is that a rhombus?) around the sun.
New Jersey nature photo of an overcast sky as framed by two large trees and their gnarled branches. Handheld capture from the #Tamron 16-300mm VC PZD lens and #Canon EOS T5 #DSLR
New Jersey Photography: Electrical Towers
Below is a conceptual art photograph I took outdoors today in Essex County, New Jersey. I think we all interpret electrical towers as looming and seemingly dangerous objects. One can’t help but ignore their unmistakeable hums and huge physical dimensions. To my eyes, this multiple exposure photo adds extra drama to create a menacing industrial scene.
Conceptual art photo of a vivid mid-day sun and large looming electrical towers in New Jersey. Photo taken with the Tamron 16300mm VC AllInOne lens and the Canon EOS M mirrorless camera.
Photo taken with the Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One lens and the Canon EOS M mirrorless camera. Exposure settings: 30s F/22 ISO 100, 50mm
New Jersey Photography: Prius
I was trying to make some creative blur photos of trees in a parking lot yesterday, but was frustrated when a lone driver began making his way through my frame. What’s a photographer to do? Pan with the action and try to take an action shot of the Prius in motion. I like the contrast between the car and the leaves in the photo, and I was able to capture the Prius in a nice rule of thirds composition.
A creative motion photo of a Toyota Prius set against woodland trees. Photo taken handheld with a Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One lens and a Canon EOS M Mirrorless camera.
New Jersey Art Photography: Bridge Pentaptych
I will admit that I didn’t know Pentaptych was a word until I researched the terminology tonight. I still struggle to spell the word correctly after reading its definition online. I’d tried to to shoot with the intentions of creating a triptych in the past, but the images lacked enough continuity for me to piece them together. The photos shown below were taken in a sequence, and the exposure and focal length are constant. The variable is the focusing of the lens, which I changed manually between each shot. All five individual images were taken with the Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One lens and the tripod-mounted Canon EOS M mirrorless camera.
Five frame sequence displayed together to form a cohesive pentaptych. Closeup views of a bridge at midday. All photographs taken with the Tamron 16-300mm VC All-In-One lens and the Canon EOS M mirrorless camera.
Exposure settings: 4s F/9.0 ISO 100, 300mm.
Dave Blinder Nature Photography 