Oct 24, 2016

New England Sunset Photography Locations: Mount Greylock State Reservation - New Ashford Overlook

http://juergenroth.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Massachusetts/G0000uFrJYrQlk.M/I0000knT7pHKAGgs

Mount Greylock State Reservation in Berkshires County is a prime destination for hiking and outdoor adventures. I frequently travel there also for great Nature Photography opportunities. Autumn is when thousands flock to the area to experience the famous New England fall foliage and often referred to as Indian Summer. The top attraction in this nature preserve is the summit of Mount Greylock that can be reached easily by car or a more strenuous hike up the mountain which is the highest natural point in Massachusetts. The summit itself provides sweeping views on a clear day all the way into the Green Mountains of Vermont. It's a busy and entertaining spot for sunset photography.

After photographing the Mount Greylock Summit View I traveled back down to the New Ashford overlook. This pullout on the Summit Road makes for great sunset photography. Upon arrival I set up my Gitzo tripod and Canon camera equipped with a 28-70 Canon wide-angle lens. I used a split neutral density filter to overcome the high contrast between the darker foreground of fall foliage and mountain range and the brighter background of the sunset sky. The aperture in this Landscape Photography image was set at f/22 resulting in an exposure time of 5 seconds at ISO100.

Routine post processing involved adjustments to lighting, contrast and color saturation before removing of imperfections and dust spots. Image sharpening of the final image of New Ashford Overlook was the final step.

Good light and happy photo making!

Juergen

Oct 22, 2016

Scenic View from Massachusetts highest Point: Mount Greylock

http://www.rothgalleries.com/archive

Last week my photographic adventure brought me to Western Massachusetts. I visited Mount Greylock State Reservation in Berkshires County and only a short drive from Pittsfield, MA. The top of Mount Greylock is the highest natural point in Massachusetts and provides sweeping views all the way to the Green Mountains of Vermont on a clear day. The Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial Tower is currently under construction but it looked like it would be opened soon. I would love to set up on top of the tower on a clear day and photograph a whopping 360 degree Gigapixel Panorama Image that viewers can interactively explore! Upon arrival parking was a major issue. Crowd flocked to the summit that day to see the fall foliage but eventually I found my spot. The second challenge was composing an image without any people in the picture. Ones I found my spot I patiently waited for the right moment when nobody walked through or stood in the frame. Patience always pays off and usually there is always a moment that works. I used the rocks in the foreground as an leading element and to crop out some of the crowd admiring the Scenic New England mountain view. It was already kind of late in the day and the low sun painted the scene in beautiful warm hues. On the way down I found a cool spot for sunset photography where I chatted it up with a few other travelers and a fellow German who followed the fall foliage from Maine all the way down to Massachusetts - but this is a story for another time.   

Good light and happy photo making!

Juergen

Oct 17, 2016

Massachusetts Fall Foliage: South Natick Sargent Footbridge

http://juergenroth.photoshelter.com/gallery/Massachusetts/G0000uFrJYrQlk.M/

Central Massachusetts and the Greater Boston Area has many attractions that travelers are drawn to. New England fall foliage in this neck of the woods arrives mid to late October. No difference this year. I finally explored the possibilities of a wooden arch bridge that spans the Charles River. This footbridge is known as Sargent Footbridge and was built in the 1920's on the foundation of the Sawin Dam. This Natick historic landmark makes for fine photography in itself. Upon arrival however, I noticed a Great Blue Heron adding to the composition. The bird was quietly hunting for his dinner allowing me to set up tripod and Canon 5d Mark IV, equipped with a 70-200mm lens and 1.4 telezoom converter. The peaceful urban wildlife scenery did not last long as a bunch of kayaks came to close for the birds comfort.

Good light and happy photo making!

Juergen

Oct 9, 2016

How to Glue a Viewer to a Photo and Keeping him/her Interested

http://juergenroth.photoshelter.com/gallery/Maine-and-Acadia-National-Park/G0000DectqkOMEv4/

Morning fog is a common ingredient in photography when Visiting Acadia National Park (Part 1) in summer. It usually burns off within the first hours of the day and adds great atmosphere to your seascape photography. On one of my visits to Northeast Harbor fog provided a quiet backdrop to this picturesque New England harbor. I composed this image by visually connecting three objects: fishing boat, sail boat and boats and pier in the background. The viewers attention is naturally drawn to the color accent of the moored lobster boat, buoys and fishing equipment in the foreground. It provides the anker where the eye of the viewer returns after exploring the picture. The pier in the foreground provides a leading line that is inviting to the art lover's eye and leads him/her to the sail boat. From here the eye wonders across to the additional boats and the second pier to further examine the Photo Print. Ones a viewer completes the viewing of the background in the photograph, it returns to its starting point where there is enough detail and color that keeps the admirer interested.        

Good light and happy photo making!

Juergen