As the sun sets on 2010,

I hope and pray all the

fences that keep us from

peace and happiness

come tumbling down.

 

Health, peace and happiness

to all for the new year.

 

Fire Island

I took a ride to Fire Island mainly because there's usually a lot of deer roaming around. I wasn't disappointed, I just didn't get what I was looking for.

This is the Fire Island National Seashore Lighthouse and two deer from among maybe twenty or so grazing in the grass. There's plenty of signs telling people not to feed the deer. It's a New York State Law, but it doesn't stop many people. It not healthy for the deer to eat human food, there's plenty of natural things for them to eat, and deer are big carriers of ticks.

I found it funny that deer would walk up to cars, but they were afraid of me on foot. Maybe next time, maybe I'll drive up to the deer in my car.

That time of year

Resolutions

to be more healthy

to exercise more

to be faster, stronger, better

reach for the sky

or

maybe

just 

be the missing light in someone's

life.

Snowed in, dug out.

We didn't get as much snow as New York City. Everything west of here was a lot worse, we only had eight to ten inches with tremendous winds and erosion. There's a house in Montauk that's only feet from falling into the ocean.

Today's photo was made yesterday before all the wind blow the snow off the branches.

Our first ral snow

We got the storm that was moving up the east cost. It covered us here on the east end of Long Island with six or eight inches today. They say more is on the way.

The wind stirred up the unfrozen bay and whipped the snow against the house.

The weather is untamable.

Cheistmas 2010

I'm waiting for my oldest son to take his shower. He just finished a bike ride, then we'll join my wife over the in-law’s house for Christmas. Christmas is all about family and friends, whatever family and friends you have.

Part of me says I should post something today, because the regulars that stop here are family and friends in the blog world. I look forward to reading your posts and comments and seeing your photos. I hope you are blessed with a happy and healthy Holiday Season & a prosperous New Year.

Sunset on Shinnecock Bay

 

I think the best part of living on Long Island is the fresh seafood. I ordered what we need for Christmas Eve dinner at the seafood market and made this photo a few feet from their parking lot. I would have made it from their lot, but the place was hopping busy. I couldn't even park in their lot.

It was cold at the waters edge, and the wind off the water made it feel colder.

Bundle-up and stay warm!

 

New York City Reflection

Just a reflection in a glass building in New York City. I'm in a good mood, our internet problems are fixed (dare I say that). The new router is working fine and everyone is happy... for now.

Holiday Blues

There's a large part of the population that get depressed during the holiday season. For one reason or another it's just not a happy time of the year for some folks.

Sometimes I feel that I'm on the borderline, I know I suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). But sometimes the Christmas season is just not all that ho, ho, ho, for me.

Stress from the physical and financial demands as well as the added stress of clients who need things right away all help work me up.

Mostly, it's the pure commercialism of the whole thing. Our pastor gave a sermon two Sunday's ago and came right out and said he wished that Christ had nothing to do with Christmas. It sounded weird, but I understood what he was talking about. It's at the point where the birth of Christ and Christmas have little in common and maybe they should be separate. Santa, snowmen and the leg lamp have all replaced the Nativity, and don't get me started on “...good will towards men...” it just not that easy to find.

Don't get me wrong, every year I need my dose of Miracle on 34^th Street, It's A Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol. I sometimes visit houses decked out in lights, like the one I photographed tonight, get the holiday spirit moving. I try really hard to: wish people a Merry Christmas, be extra patience and thank sales help. I try to remember the less fortunate and contribute to Toys for Tots, the Coat and gloves Drive and a food pantry. It's not perfect but it all helps.

Graffiti Art

On my travels today I saw this blue corrugated building with red graffiti. I had to make a detail of the art.

On the internet front, the new modem arrives tomorrow. Today, it's working.

Made with the Canon G10 and processed with ACR.

Clear as frosted glass

The internet is still not working and I'm waiting for a new wireless router to come. Figures, this would happen at the busy time of the year for the fed-ex people. Frustration is a mild description for what I've been feeling these past few days.

I shouldn't compliant the router is seven years old, it's had a good life. Can't expect it to last forever.

We were given a fancy coffee machine for Christmas three or four years ago. I've seen this brand sell for $80 to $120. It stopped brewing. I called customer service and they told me there's no service available, I'd have to buy a new one. The $30 coffee machine the gift replaced is back in service and doing fine.

Coffee and internet, the only two vices I have left.

This window is as clear as internet protocol is to me.

At the Parrish Art Museum

 

I had a job yesterday to photograph two pieces of art at the Parish Art Museum here in the town. It's nice to work locally. While I was there. I came across this statute in yard and I liked how the snow contrasted with the gray stone,and also how ths hands were holding the madalion.

This was one of the photos I couldn't find yesterday. The camera's date was reset and so the photos didn’t download into the folder for yesterday's date. Such a silly thing, to drive one crazy.

While at the Parish, I did learn that they have a petition going to get a William Merrett Chase postage stamp. Chase was an Impressionist painter (1849-1916) and resident of the Shinnecock Hills section of Southampton, right where I live. Sometimes I look at a painting of his and feel like I've been there.

I signed the petition.

Today's photo was made with the Canon 5d and processed with ACR.

Internet Problems

So, for the past few days I've had problems with our internet. I had to replace the modem supplied by the cable company. Last night, the cable company had me on hold for over two hours before someone answered. Now, the router is acting funny. Technology is driving me crazy. We had our first snow today. Not much, just enough to make the roads slippery. I made a few snaps of the snow, but I can't find them right now. Today's post is the last of the series from the walk in the field. I like these things.

Canon 5d mkII and ACR.

Another from the field

 

Weeds

come alive

in the morning sun.

 

A walk in a field.

 

 

It's hunting season and I can't go walking through the woods. Today I took a short walk through an open field along side a wooded area. I was caught off guard as a white-tailed deer bolted from the field into the woods. Naturally I jumped out of my skin! I did manage to make this HDR photo.

I love the way the background looks.

Made with the Canon 5d mkII and processed with Photomatix Pro and ACR.

 

Art on the beach.

 

Sometimes all I have to do is have my eyes open and my camera in hand, nature does the rest. Yet, some people just walk on by never looking or never stopping to smell the rose.

Today's photo is of a skate egg casing, it's about three inches long and made from the same material human finger nails are made of. The contrast between the speckled sand and the black body caught my eye.

Made with the Canon G10 and processed with ACR.

 

Sasha

 

It's not often Sasha lets me photograph her. She's a typical anti-social cat that only needs me when she's hungry. She let me make four or five frames today, all with a little attitude. This was my favorite.

Made with the Canon G10 and processed with ACR. I used photoshop to take some dust off her nose.

 

Dance in the wind

Beach grass

leaves it footprint 

as it dances in the wind.

The Santa Parade

 

This is my night photo for Carmi's Thematic Photographic, night. I'm not a big night photography guy. Buy, I was going to see the annual Southampton Holiday Parade and the arrival of Santa, (Santa's helper).

The various towns decorate a fire truck and parade down Jobs Lane, our Main Street. There's a committee that gives a trophy for the best decorations. This year Hampton Bays won with a truck decorated as The Polar Express, it was very good, but not my favorite.

The North Sea Fire Department decorated a truck as Snoopy's dog house and all the department members had big round heads like the Peanuts characters. I thought the Seanuts (for North Sea) crew should have won. But alas, it's about the lights not the costumes.

So this was the best out of the bunch. I leaned against the street sign to steady the camera the best I could.

This was made with the Canon 5d mkII and processed with ACR.

 

Patchogue Ally

 

Long Island has quite a few places with Indian names, Patchogue is one of my favorites. It's so miss- pronounced. There's a lake on the north shore that has an Indian sounding name. Lake Panamoka, it not a tribe or an Indian, it just a made-up name, not Indian at all. I always found that funny.

Today's photo I made this morning while in Patchogue for work. It the ally next to the Pachogue theater. The theater is what saved this village from becoming a slum, that ans some smart planning.

This is a HDR photo made with the Canon 5dmkII and processed with both Photomatix Pro and Photoshop.

A puddle of leaves and me.

Yea, that black triangular blob at the bottom of the frame is me. I know I don't have to point out the leaves to anyone.

I'm getting ready to photograph a tree lighting ceremony and the arrival of Santa Claus, naturally by fire truck. It's an annual gig, what can I say.

Today was one of those days...

Today was one of those days. I felt more like the top wall than the bottom.

Maybe tomorrow will be brighter.

Both photos were made last week with the Canon G10 and processed with ACR.