A rose is a rose…

With the summer winding down I thought photographs of a rose would be a nice touch on the blog. I recently took a few photos of a beautiful, yellow rose, but I wasn't at all happy with how the background came out. Definitely time to use some effects that can be created with Adobe Lightroom. For both photographs I have included a before and after. The before photos were worked on in my "digital darkroom," but still in full color. The after photo show the added effects.

Right in my own front yard…

I think the bird in these photographs is a Tufted_Titmouse. I did not see the slightly orange coloration on the chest, but everything else seems to check out. I captured these shots on the bird bath in my front garden. The birdbath is right outside my studio window, but usually the birds fly away before I can get outside with my camera. This time I was in luck.

Another old house…

A photograph taken on the back porch of another old house on Bayview Avenue in Northport.  The textures of the torn curtain offered  an open invitation to photographers, and more than one of the Photo Walkers on the July 24 Photo Walk accepted the invite. Other interpretations of the scene can be found on the Northport Photo Walk Flickr site at www.flickr.com/groups/northport2010.

The first photo below shows the larger context of the porch; the second isolates the window with the torn curtain.

Looking old…

This charming house in Northport Village has been around since sometime in the nineteenth century. I wanted a photo to feature the beautiful grape arbor in front of the house, and adding the old-time photo effect seemed just right for this photographs.

The house in the photo has a beautiful garden, and when I was there last the Phlox were in bloom. I especially liked this photo of a single bloom taken in the backyard.

Photos from the Worldwide Photo Walk – Northport edition…

Last Saturday was a blistering hot day, and the Worldwide Photo Walk. Walks took place in over 1,000 locations around the world — including Northport. We had about 40 photographers and they had a great time, despite the heat. To see photos by the other photographers, visit www.flickr.com/groups/northport2010. Click on an image to see a larger version, and use the arrows at the bottom right of any photo see scroll through the images.

Before setting out we took a group shot (I was behind the camera) and after the walk there was a raffle for some really nice camera bags, thanks to Diane, one of your walkers.

Friends on Bayview Avenue opened their garden to the photographers, and when two other homeowners saw the group, they invited them in also!

And to round out this set of photos, a few closeups.

Worldwide Photo Walk Comes to Northport

Saturday, July 24, will be a busy day in Northport. The Northport Arts Coalition is hosting Art in the Park, featuring Art & Craft Vendors, Musician, Poets, and Interactive Art Installations

AND it is the day of the Worldwide Photo Walk. I am the organizer of the Northport Photo Walk, being held from 1 - 3 PM, and is almost full!

The Photo Walkers will meet at the gazebo by the harbor (facing the harbor it is on the left) and spend the next two hours wandering around picturesque Northport. At 3 PM everyone is invited to grab a snack and gather on the lawn near the Bandstand to meet, greet, and share photos. After the walk everyone who participates is invited to post photos in a Flickr group.

On Monday and friend and I walked around Northport and took some photos with my point and shoot to give Photo Walkers and idea of what there is to photograph. Click to see a larger version of the thumbnail photos.

The meeting place is the gazebo, located next to the parking lot on the left, at the foot of Main Street. On Saturdays there is a Farmer's Market in the parking lot that ends at 1 PM, so photographers who arrive early my want to take some pictures of the vendors and their wares.

Across the street from the gazebo is Copenhagen Bakery at 75 Woodbine Avenue. For the second year in a row the bakery will be offering a 10% discount to Photo Walk participants. Just identity yourself when making your purchase. In addition to baked goods the bakery features sandwiches and salads, and there are picnic tables for public use.

Across Main Street from the gazebo is Northport Harbor and the park where the Arts Festival will be held.

The street that runs parallel to the Park is Bayview Avenue, lined with stately homes and beautiful gardens — many of the homes date from Northport's seafaring past.

Judy and Peter Gorevic, who live at 127 Bayview Avenue, have graciously invited Photo Walk participants to take photos of their gardens and waterview.

The heart of Northport is Main Street with its many shops and restaurants, complete with outdoor dining.

It is going to be a great day and I am looking forward to meeting all of the Photo Walkers who will be coming to Northport with their cameras.

World Wide Photo Walk on July 24…

Once again I am organizing a Photo Walk in Northport as part of the WorldWide Photo Walk on Saturday, July 24. A purely social event, up to 50 photo enthusiasts will meet at the park in Northport and spend two hours taking photos as they wander around the village. July 24 is also the date of the Northport Arts Coalition's Art in the Park, featuring art, music, dance and peotry — and plenty of "Kodak" moments. To sign up for the walk, visit the NORTHPORT PAGE of the Worldwide Photo Walk website. Twenty-eight photographers have already signed up, and there is room for twenty-two more! Join Us.