A cascade of colors are coming fast and furious

The fall colors are definitely here, albeit a bit earlier than they usually are. I am fortunate enough to have a job where I am not always stuck in an office, so I get my chances to go shooting. Nothing elaborate, this afternoon, just grabbed the D60 and 70-300mm VR and found my spots. Modern techology allows such dangerous slow hand-held shutter speeds of 1/30th second with a telephoto zoom - who would have thought this could happen 25 years ago?

Follow the light, the colors will come.....

Although we aren't quite into the fall season with its associated glorious splendor, I can easily nail the best of the colors. A local farmer in West Northfield always creates this amazing display of pumpkins and gourds as he peddles his wares on his property. Even though the full display is not complete and many more pumpkins are yet unharvested, it sure is eye-catching as you drive by.

I shot some of these files in the morning when the sun was out and the rest as the day's light was waning. The 16-85mm VR works perfectly and I even had some help from an SB-800 for fill-flash light.

Missed the sunrise but nailed the great colors!

I had anticipated a nice sunrise in the harbour area of Mahone Bay, with the orange ball coming up over the horizon out by the boats. Well, it comes up over Indian Point way, and the vantage point from the parking lot at the churches is pointless for a sunrise at this time of the year - however, the warm rays still have plenty of magic as they dance of windows and buildings.

Although I did not capture what I was hoping to, my knowledge of early-morning light was able to net me some pleasing captures - dawn isn't so early in late September that you have to get up too early.

To boot, many leaves are getting a jump to an early fall, the Bay has tons of colors to satisfy anyone..........D60 and both VR zooms.

Black and white - always a nice change

I have shot thousands of b/w images over the last 25 years, it just command attention. With the advent of digital imaging, there is no longer the need of a wet darkroom - our new domain features ingenious software and quality ink-jet prints.

Not every photograph lends itself to black and white, but the ones that do are good on their own merits - lighting, composition, and tones. For this very reason, I feel such images are better since the impact they have is based on its sheer quality. Phography started as a black and white medium and, thankfully, many still prefer its look even in this day and age of digital and color.

These are not dramatic images, I shot them on the Bridgewater Centennial Trail with the D60 and 16-85mm VR. The Trail should be more interesting for color captures on a couple weeks.

A short but productive stroll

I can spend literally hours trying to find good images when the light is right but sometimes it's to no avail. This morning, I took a 10-minute saunter around the small block near my home with the D60 and 16-85mm VR during the foggy start of the day and got lucky. With cooler mornings, we can expect more of this type of drama almost every day.

Color can make a difference

While I was chasing down some disappearing light as Earl was approaching the Maritimes Friday night, I found some interesting moody light at Blue Rocks. I am a big fan of black and white tones, but there are times when only color will do. The beauty of post-processing (although it consumes an enormous amount of time!) is you can add drama to an existing situation with some touches.

I am finding that the colors I get from third-party lenses is a bit cold and not as vibrant as the Nikkor glass, so adding warmth and color actually is very practical.

D60 and Tamron 17-50.