Graduation Weekend

Well my youngest son, Evan graduated from junior high last night. Tuckahoe, our school district is a small kindergarten to eight-grade district. It has less than 350 students than come from an area about 11.5square miles in Southampton NY. From here he’ll go to Southampton High School, where my wife works.
It’s typical small town, in a good way. Everyone knows everyone. When we moved to this school district nine years ago, I visited my son’s class early in his first school year. As I left the classroom and walked down the hall, a teacher said, “Hello Mr. Gravano.” I didn’t know this person but she new the new student’s parent was in the building and I was the only person this teacher did not know. That’s small town to me.
Our superintendent, Linda Rossi, is also the school principal. She truly is all about children and their education. She knows every parent.
This school district was the reason we moved to this area, and in my opinion, it’s the best thing Southampton has to offer.
Today’s picture is an update on the Snow peas. The plants were blown over by the wind and the rain last week, but they’re coming back just fine.
Tomorrow, Adam graduates high school, and we’ll host most of my wife’s family. My family lives to far or are not in good health to travel. Their thoughts are with the boys, I’m sure.

Just relaxing

This is Shasa our cat.
I had to crop out all the nonsense in the frame. She only held the pose for two frames before she high-tailed it out of there. She hates being photographed.

Dancing Daisies

Pulled out the tripod and used a slow shutter speed to create this image for today’s post. Post processing in photoshop and ARC helped with the color and contrast.

Saturday Night, Southampton Village

I made this image Saturday night in Southampton Village. The rain has really put a damper on things. Usually at this time of year with better weather the streets would be crowded with people.
When I pick up Adam from his job at the candy store it’s hard to find a parking spot. I don’t know if it’s the weather or the economy, but lately I’ve been able to park right on Main Street.
This was made with the G10 at 1/5 sec at 2.8 ISO200. I’m amazed at the lack of noise this sensor in the camera has.

Pop Contradiction

I found this next to yesterday’s picture in Brookhaven. The American flag, the symbol of freedom on a chain link fence and the Antique store open seven days but all boarded up. Contradictions.
Heavy post production in Adobe Raw Converter to achieve the pop look.

Not the sunny side of the street.

I drove past this shack earlier in the week and went back Friday when we had a spot of sun and blue sky. At first, I was drawn to the chair and the disrepair of the shack; on closer inspection I thought I might include it in my series on numbers.
My bother is home and resting. It looks like the flu with a reaction to an increase in his diabetes meds that made him so sick. He sounds better today that yesterday. Thanks for your prayers, and a happy fathers day to all the fathers out there!

John

It’s hard for me to think today. My mom called and told me my younger bother John was hospitalized last night. He has flu-like symptoms, along with his hepatitis and diabetes; they wanted to keep him for observations. I called him this morning and he didn’t sound well. I fell so helpless being here in New York and him in Florida.
Today’s photo is for my bother. Like these flowers, I look up to God for his help; it is all I can do.

Peak-a-boo

On my walk this morning I came across this Eastern Box Turtle. We played peak-a-boo before I left and went on my merry way.
It poured down rain yesterday, and I couldn’t motivate myself to make any pictures. Today is overcast and all the green looks pretty. I have a campaign photo job mid-day, and maybe I’ll have time for some personal photography.

27

Here’s another image for my number series. This is the highway sign for the road I live on. Actually I live on County Road 39 which is New York State Road 27 to the east about six miles and to the west about a thousand feet. That little stretch in-between is called County road 39.
This old sign is pealing and has a lot of character. I made this image today on the way home and used the G10. I thought I’d have enough time to make another frame or two tonight, but I ran out of time.
This image wad processed in Photomatrix Tone Mapping.

Milk Thistle

I found this Thistle on my way to the bus stop with Evan yesterday. They grow all over the place but mostly I’ve only seen them with purple flowers, commonly called Milk Thistle.
This was processed with ARC and Photomatix Tone Mapping. I also cropped it vertical.

Pinecones

I’ve walked past these little pinecones for two weeks or so and keep saying I need to photograph them. Well, today was the day. Processed in ACR and Photomatix Tone Mapping program.

Lily

Today’s photo is of a Lily my wife planted in our flower box. I used the G10 again in the macro setting and processed the image with Photomatix Tonal pro. I can’t believe the sharpness in that little camera.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Busy day today. I’m taking a civil service test for a medical photography position with the county and then it off to do campaign photos for the Islip Town board slate.
The weather forecast was partly sunny but I’m calling it overcast. Twice this week people were talking about how depressed they are feeling due to the constant rain and overcast days. I’m not seeing the weather as such a depressant, I’ve worked hard to make my lawn look good, and the cooler weather and the rain has made my lawn look fantastic.
Today’s photo is a small mushroom I found on a walk I took yesterday. Possibly Astraeus pteridis, but I’m not sure. I don’t have a macro lens for my 5D, so I made this in the macro mode on the G10, not bad. I used Photomatix, Tonal mapping to process this image.

Dancing in the forest.

I went for a short walk along the Peconic River yesterday. There was a short spell in the afternoon that the rain let up. I saw this patch of grass under the pine trees and was drawn to the reflection of the sky on the two blades. I made images from a couple of angles, but this was the last image I made. I felt it showed the grace and delicacy of what was there.
I raised the contrast in post production to bright the highlights.

Snap Pea

This is the first flower on the snap peas I planted. The cool spring has got to have some affect on them; they have grown to over four feet tall. In all my years of gardening I’ve never had such large snap pea plants.
I’m sure the coolness will have an adverse affect on my peppers, which could mean no homemade salsa this year. If that’s the case, I will have to buy some Jalapeno peppers for Adam to have my salsa for his first year at college.

Rainy night drive home

While driving home from a scholarship awards ceremony last night I was looking for subject for my sorely neglected blog. With the inspiration of Patti Griffin’s “When it don’t come easy,” I made this image.
There’s a stretch of highway between that travels through the Pine Barrens that a bit scary, especially back in the days before mobile and cell phones. This image was made there with a Canon G10.
There was some reflection at the bottom of the frame from taillights reflection in my windshield that I cloned out. No other post production was used.
Thanks Patti for the inspiration. Impossible dream is an excellent CD.

Field of ferns

I came across this field of ferns along a dirt path in Manorville. I love this image for the busyness and random design patterns of the leaves. All the shades of green make me want to jump right into it and relax under the shade of the surrounding trees.
Post production included minor adjustment to contrast and brightness.

Sunny Saturday

After a week of overcast gray days and rain the sun is shinning today. I took my coffee and walked around the wet yard this morning. The garden looks good if I may say so myself. The snow peas are the tallest I’ve ever seen. I’m assuming this is due to the cool spring we are having a not something I’m doing.
Today’s photo post I made yesterday while looking out the window. It was processed using ARC and Photomatix Tonal Mapping program. Now it’s time to get some yard work.

June 4, 2009

Today’s photo was made in Lindenhurst New York, a working class neighborhood that touts the largest village in the state. Unlike any past recession, Long Island is feeling the pain this time, and Lindenhurst is no exception. The village is dealing with empty stores along the main drag and the only car dealership is closing.
I do feel bad for anyone who is loosing his or her job. I wouldn’t know what I’d do at this stage in my life.
I do disagree with their sign though. It’s not the fault of the government that Island Jeep is closing. Corporate greed and poor planning are the start of the problem. While Toyota is advertising their third generation of hybrid cars Chrysler has yet to offer their first to consumers.
But the sign wouldn’t sell cars if it told the truth…. Because of the lack of innovation and a stale product line the corporation is forcing us to close……..
It’s always easier to blame someone else.

Gazania

I found these pretty flowers at the Lynch’s Garden Center here in Southampton. The tag says they like hot, sandy soil, which I have plenty of. I made this image this morning right after I watered and right before it rained.
Postproduction includes Adobe Raw Converter, and Photomatix Tonal mapping.

Digging for Soft Shell Clams

Here’s another image form the Men Who Work the Bay project. This is one of my favorite images. A man’s dog a true best friend.