I find lighthouses to be a fascinating part of history, when they were often the only means that seafaring vessels had to keep from crashing into dangers near the coastline.
On a visit to Cape Cod on a beautiful summer morning we stopped in Chatham (near the elbow of Cape Cod) to do a bit of exploring and visit the Chatham lighthouse.
Chatham Lighthouse
Chatham lighthouse stands on the site that originally held two lighthouses built in 1808. These two brick towers were used to distinguish this area of the coast from the single tower further up the coast. Erosion on the coast is often a danger to lighthouse stability and it eventually claimed these two towers. They were replace in 1877 by two new cast iron towers. In 1923 one of these towers was moved to Eastham and the remaining tower is what you see in the photo above. The current Chatham lighthouse is still active and sits on Coast Guard grounds. I was able to walk around the perimeter of the fence to take photos.
Stage Harbor Lighthouse
When we left the Chatham lighthouse we went exploring along the coast. I had heard there was another lighthouse off the coast but wasn't sure how to get to it. After several wrong turns, I turned down a gravel road that led to the coast and asked a fisherman about the other lighthouse. He pointed out in the distance and I was able to see Stage Harbor Lighthouse.
This lighthouse was operational from 1880 to 1933 when it was replaced by a 60 meter high skeleton tower. The original lighthouse and keepers house now serves as a private residence. It is not accessible by road but I was able to photograph it from the beach area.
More than Just Lighthouses
While I was photographing the lighthouse, my husband was watching the activity along the beach and pointed out several photo opportunities to me, like the bird and it's reflection in the water and the boats in the bay.
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Review of Photography Tips for Photographing Sunflowers
In Midwestern USA, July is the time that we have beautiful sunflowers blooming. Their beauty lasts just a short time, so if you have sunflowers near you be sure to take the opportunity to photograph them while they are in full bloom.
I saw some photos that friends had taken and posted online so I got directions to the sunflower field and was so glad that I did! The flowers were beautiful. I went just before sunset and was able to capture the beauty of the flowers as the sun went down. This seemed like a perfect time and the setting sun seemed to light up the backs of the blooms. Here are a couple of tips I have for you.
Look for fresh blooms. Raggedy blooms don't show good on photos.
Turn your flash off.
Watch you background. A bright blue sky works well but I have also seen flowers against brick or wood that look great.
Choose your focus point. Do you want everything in focus or just one flower?
Take some photos of the entire field and then zoom in to take that close up bloom. You will be glad you got both.
Here are a few of my photos.
Sunflowers Come in a Variety of Colors
I always thought sunflowers were yellow, but did you know they come in a variety of colors. My neighbor is growing some pretty maroon ones this year. I took this photo in the early evening.
A sunflower field is a great place for family photos. I took my granddaughter with me and here are a couple of the photos I took of her. I love the look of the first photo. The sun over the hill behind the field lit up the backs of the flowers and her hair.
Zazzle Products are Great Showcases for Sunflowers
Here are a few of the Zazzle products I have made from my sunflower photos.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
On our latest roadtrip we were traveling up highway 90 on our way from St. Louis, Missouri to Manchester, New Hampshire. We have traveled that way several times as our son lives in NH. I have noticed signs for the town of Conneaut, Ohio but never have stopped in the past. This time I was needing a respite from the drive so we decided to stop for the afternoon. I knew it was a small town so I was pleasantly surprised with all there was to see. Here is a review of the sights we saw in Conneaut.
Lighthouse in Bay
In the photo at the top of this post you will see the unique lighthouse I photographed in Conneaut. The walk out to the lighthouse was quite a hike, so instead I got out my tripod and long lens to photograph the lighthouse.
History
Conneaut is located on Lake Erie in the Northeast corner of Ohio. As the town grew in the 19th century it became a point for shipping grain, whiskey and forest products. In 1835 a lighthouse was built to facilitate ships coming into and out of the harbor. Various improvements and changes were made to the lighthouse over the years. In 1920 the old lighthouse was removed and the modern cement light we see today was built. This light called the Conneaut West Breakwater Lighthouse, can be seen for 17 miles into Lake Erie.
Fun Watching Eagles
While I was photographing the lighthouse my husband got into a conversation with a local resident who was out on the harbor enjoying the beautiful day. She saw my camera with my long lens (600mm) and told him about a place on the other end of the harbor where there was an eagles nest in an old tree. We went over to that area and had a wonderful afternoon watching the eagles. There were several juvenile eagles along with the adults. In the third photo below, I captured an adult eagle pulling a fish from the water.
Covered Bridge
The map of Conneaut that I picked up showed a trail of covered bridges. There were four in the area and we took a drive and found one that I stopped to photograph. The covered bridge that I photographed is called State Road bridge and it spans the Conneaut creek. This bridge is 157 feet long and is a single span Town Truss bridge according to the sign on the bridge. It was built in 1983.
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The Salinas River was not part of my life until 1995, when my mother moved to a part of Paso Robles California only three blocks from river access. It was the first time I had lived near a real river. I grew up in Los Angeles County, and the only rivers I saw were mostly empty cement waterways that only filled after heavy rains. When we lived near Seattle for four months I was delighted to see some real rivers. I had always wanted to live near one, and now I live in Mom's house where the Salinas River is a short walk away. I love to watch it.
An Ideal Place to Sit and Watch the Salinas River in Paso Robles, taken with Nikon Coolpix S9300
Getting to Know and Photograph the River
Once I had such easy access to the Salinas River, I began to study it and observe and photograph it on a regular basis. The Salinas is a subterranean river. That means I don't see it most of the year because it's flowing underground. If we get heavy rains, it becomes visible again for a few weeks and then disappears from sight. I try to make the most of the weeks when I'm able to photograph the flowing river. I have put many of my Salinas River photographs on puzzles, greeting cards, posters, postcards, and other print-on-demand products at Zazzle. You can see most of those products here. Among them are a poster and greeting card of the bench photo above.
I just made a new poster of my favorite river shot. The river always makes me feel peaceful as it flows by me. So I added a bit of text that reminds me of one of my favorite hymns: "Like a River Glorious"
Here is my new poster. For ordering information, please click the photo. If you'd prefer to have the poster without the words or if you want to change the words, it's easy to do once you click through to Zazzle and click to customize.
One January day I had been walking in the dry riverbed after some recent rains, hoping the river was visible again. I didn't see much more than a few puddles. I was walking away with my camera to return to the riverbank when suddenly the river first trickled and then rushed toward me. I was able to capture it on video. I also got some still shots. You can see the video and the photographs I was able to capture that day and also learn more about the river in this article: The Salinas River: Now You See It. Some of my products also feature photos you will see on that page.
What I Like about Photographing the Salinas River
Access to the river from Larry Moore Park is easy. It's also easy to find a parking place beside or very near this neighborhood park. I get some interesting sunset shots over the river if I walk the river trail at dusk. Here are a couple of them.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
I can also find a wide variety of native plants, weeds, and trees to photograph beside or even in the river. I also see a lot of driftwood. I especially like this shot of a log in the river.
Taken with Nikon Coolpix S8200
The sand on the bank also provides some interesting shots. In the photo below, you see footprints leading down to the river.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
Sometimes one may see some unexpected wildlife. Birds are common, but hard for me to shoot. Rabbits, though, appear quite often at dusk. I almost didn't see this one. Do you see it?
Rabbit Blending with River Sand, taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
After the winter rains, the riverbank can come alive with color, as in the shot below. I was looking down from the trail when I took this photo.
Taken with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS
No matter when I visit the river, whether it's flowing or dry, there is always something new to discover and photograph. My shots aren't as professional as my friend Mary Beth Granger's who gives us some tips in Challenge Yourself to Take Better Photographs, but I have fun.
My Photography Equipment
Photography is my hobby, and I get along fine with a point and shoot camera. My favorite was a Nikon Coolpix that fit in my purse or pocket, but somehow I lost it when I went out one day with friends and we made a number of stops.
Some of these photos were taken with my Canon PowerShot, another point and shoot. It has a longer zoom than the Nikon did. The zoom helped me capture that almost hidden rabbit above. The Canon won't fit in my pocket, but I got a nifty case for it that will also hold my cell phone and extra battery packs and San Disks. Nothing is worse than finding out that your battery is dead just as you find the perfect shot you'd been searching for.
The case below is the one I chose to go with my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS. It's light and the strap is so comfortable that I don't mind having to carry the larger camera. When I still had my Nikon, I could even fit it in the slot next to my Canon, though I think it was really meant for a lens. Now the PowerShot and the case go with me everywhere because every time I leave them home I find a shot I wanted to take and couldn't.
Did You Enjoy this Brief Look at the Salinas River?
If you would like to photograph the Salinas River from Larry Moore Park, here's a map to help you find it. My directions are from the Paso Robles Walmart parking lot. You can drive to the park from the southeast exit and park along Riverbank Lane. Or you can park just west of J. C. Penny, that white building on the map closest to the river. That diagonal path you see next to Penny's leads to a park entrance. When you reach that entrance, go straight toward the river. You can't miss it.
I'll leave you with one last photo with a bit of wildlife. I couldn't get close enough, even with my zoom, to bring the ducks closer, but occasionally they do get to the river. This shot was taken with my Coolpix S8200 and it didn't have as long a zoom as my Canon, which I did not yet own back in 2013 when this was taken. I didn't want to crop the photo to make the ducks show up better because it would diminish the view of the river.
Ducks Swimming in Salinas River
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In this article I will review tips I have passed on in the past and offer a new tip to challenge yourself to increase your skills. Whether you like taking photos for yourself and your friends or you want to take them professionally there are several things you can do to enhance your skills. Of course the first is practice, practice, practice. But besides using your camera regularly there are many things you can do to become a better photographer. Here are a few of my favorites.
Take a class on photography or attend a photography seminar.
No matter how many times I take classes or seminars, I always come away with something useful. I try to take at least one class or seminar each year. There are many different places to find classes or seminars. Just type "Local Photography classes" into your search engine and you will find lots of choices. If you are short for time you might try some of the online classes that are listed, but I always try to take one in person at least every other year. I think sharing with other people you meet at the seminars and classes is a great part of the learning experience.
Study the work of Photographers you Admire.
A great way to become a better photographer is to study the photos that you enjoy. There are photographs all around us. Look in books, check out photos of your friends or look at the many sources online. I'm sure you've looked before, but have you looked at the photographs critically. Take the time to examine a photograph.
What makes it appealing to you?
Is the lighting good for the subject?
What can you learn from the photo?
What would you do differently?
Here is a photo I took of a bird in my backyard. Take your time and examine this photo and answer the four questions above.
Baltimore Oriole on Hummingbird Feeder
Now try the same four questions on this pot of flowers.
Backyard Flowers
Take a 52 week Photography Challenge.
This year I am taking a photography challenge. The particular challenge I am taking is on Facebook in a group called 2 Lil Owls Photography Project. You can find lots of similar challenges online or you and some friends could start your own. Here is how the challenge works. We have a list of words, one for each week in the year. The challenge is to create a photograph using the word. How you interpret the word is entirely up to you. This challenge has you getting out your camera each week and finding creative ways to use the weeks word. Here are a few of the words we've had this year and some of my photos.
Window
Path
In a Distance
Shadows A few of the other words for the challenge include: large, small, scattered, up close, looking out, red, flowers, fill the frame and daily habit. Of course there are many more but this gives you an idea of how it works.
Zazzle
Stop by my Zazzle stores to see my photos on products.Zazzle/mbgphoto
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
On a recent April morning a group from our photography club visited Boonesfield Village on the grounds of the Daniel Boone Home in Defiance Missouri. This area includes the area where Daniel Boone lived his final days and a village of shops, a church, schoolhouse and homes all built in the 1800's in mid- Missouri and moved to the Daniel Boone site. The buildings are set up to give us a peek into what frontier life was like in 19th century Missouri.
A Bit of History
Daniel Boone was born in Pennsylvania in 1734, into a family who made their living from hunting. When things became too crowded in the northeast, they moved to North Carolina and then to Kentucky. In Kentucky Daniel Boone made his reputation as a great hunter and explorer. He also held several government jobs and he flourished living in Kentucky. By 1799 Kentucky was becoming too crowded so Daniel Boone and his family moved to Missouri. Daniel Boone was 65 when he moved to Missouri. He lived their until his death in 1820.
Peace Chapel
Peace Chapel
The Old Peace Chapel was built in the 1800's as a dance hall and general store in New Melle, Missouri. At the turn of the century a German Evangelical church purchased the building and remodeled it into a church in 1983 it was moved to the Daniel Boone site. Today it is a focal point in the village of 1800's buildings. It is often used for weddings and renewing of vows.
Here are a few photos I took inside the chapel.
One Room Schoolhouse
I found the one room schoolhouse to be very interesting. My father attended school in a one room school house in rural mid Missouri and I imagine it was much like this one.
Inside there is a chalkboard that goes across the front of the classroom. Across the back of the room is a wood burning fireplace, which is the only heat for the building.
Can you imagine going to school in this tiny schoolhouse where all grades were educated in one room?
Sites around the Village
Here are photos of several of the other buildings in the village. An old covered bridge is on the property.
Here is one of the barns.
How would you like to use this washing machine on laundry day?
This is the Newton Howell Home
Beautiful Spring Flowers
I loved all the spring flowers that brightened up the village. The vase of wildflowers in the last photo was sitting in the window in the general store.
For more information on the Daniel Boone Historic site and directions to the property go to The-Historic-Daniel-Boone-Home
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
