Several times when I have been in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the predawn sky has put on a spectacular light show. I am always pleased and thankful to witness this natural display of beauty, but I have yet to capture what I consider an equally dazzling image of the city skyline set against a dramatic morning twilight sky.
When my daughters were little I loved watching Sesame Street with them, and Sammy the Snake was one of my favorite characters (Did I type that out loud? I meant their favorite, their favorite). Sammy helped to teach the alphabet because he looked and sounded just like the letter S, oh yessssssss!
Earlier this week, I returned home from teaching a weekend photo workshop in magnificent Talbot County, Maryland. Nestled in the tidewaters of the Chesapeake Bay, Talbot County has over 600 miles of shoreline, including five rivers and their tributaries. As they have done here for generations, watermen ply the waters of the Bay. Their boats, harbors, fishing gear, crab pots, and fresh catches provide an endless array of photo opportunities.
Students and clients of mine learn one will develop and expand their photography skills by shooting locally. Moreover, one will produce some of her/his best work in and around one’s hometown. In addition to capturing and creating images near home, I also recommend my students have fun with their cameras. Over the July 4th weekend I had the opportunity to follow my own advice … and I want to share the results with you. Continue Reading…
About two weeks ago I returned home from teaching a spring workshop in West Virginia. Our group stayed in the comfortable Canaan Valley Resort and spent four days photographing waterfalls, spring wildflowers, old barns, a number of critters, and the spectacular West Virginia landscape. Continue Reading…
Earlier this week I arrived home from attending Jeff Wendorff’s excellent Spring in Texas Hill Country Workshop. Continue Reading…
When I sat down to tell you about my photo adventure that began last summer, I got hung up on the title. My Year with the Hon is descriptive, but I was looking for something either as literary as A Year in Provence or as quantitative as Two Years Before the Mast. Then it struck me. I spent the year with Baltimore’s Best HON. Who needs literary or quantity when you already have the best, the superlative, the supreme? Phew, now I can get along with my story. Continue Reading…
A few years ago, I had an ah-ha moment while visiting Baltimore. On this late spring day my wife and I were strolling around the Inner Harbor. This is the touristy area of downtown Baltimore, full of fine restaurants, wonderful shops and things to see including the well-known National Aquarium and the historic Maritime Museum fleet. We were enjoying the balmy weather and the warm glow of the light the setting sun cast across the sky. Near the Maryland Science Center we stopped to watch the city skyline as it began to sparkle against the evening sky and its clear reflection as it shimmered on the water before us. The sight reminded us of an evening twilight view we had seen across the Bay on our one and only trip to San Francisco. Suddenly, it dawned on me (considering the time of day it would be more accurate to say it twilighted on me) that I coulda, shoulda photograph Baltimore, too. Continue Reading…
For all urban photography and for most nature and outdoor photography I use the Lowepro Mini Trekker AW backpack. For extended photo trips I generally bring the Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II, because it provides ample space for all my gear and complies fully with airline carry-on regulations. Continue Reading…
