Creative Photography Contest, #15-4

Is it me or are the weeks just flying right on by? I know they tend to do that this time of the year but it seems to me that as soon as I've posted an entry for Roger's Creative Photography Contest that it's time to post another! Oh well, it's a good excuse to try to get out and take some pictures from time to time and I've got to say that there are some truly great photos in the contest every week and it's a real pleasure to not only enter a photo of my own but to see what everyone else has posted, too.

This week's picture comes courtesy of my photo-hunting trip around parts of Norwich last Monday when I was experimenting with the new D60 a little bit. This is a shot of the railroad bridge over the Yantic River between the upper and lower falls that is still in use today though I've never been lucky enough to have a train go by while I was out there. Maybe one of these days? Though I'd rather not be standing where I was when I took this picture if one comes along!

Now make tracks over to check out some of the other entries at the Creative Photography Contest #15 Week 4 - I'm sure you'll see something you just love!

Creative Photography Contest, #15-3

My entry into Roger's Creative Photography Contest this week isn't really very creative as it's a straight-out-of-the-camera shot but I still thought it was pretty darned cool as I simply love the contrast between the dark clouds above and the bright landscape below.

One of the advantages of working in "The Ivory Tower" of dispatch at American Ambulance is that I get a great view of Norwich - or at least parts of it! This picture was taken this past Sunday afternoon when I happened to look outside and noticed that the sun was shining over the city but there were dark clouds - very dark clouds - coming in from the East. Luckily for me I had my camera with me and I was able to get a few pictures - this was one of my favorites.

Be sure to check out the other entries at the Creative Photography Contest and if you've got a picture that you'd like to enter yourself - what are you waiting for? The contest is open to everyone with submissions taken weekly and winners announced at the end of the month. It's a great way to see some great pictures and get some feedback on your photography - something that I always look forward to.

Oh, and speaking of blogs and winners ... I got this great award from Dianne at Forks Off the Moment yesterday and I've got to tell you that I am honored to pieces as Dianne is an excellent photographer and for little ole' me to get a photography award from her is just amazing and a true honor! I think that Dianne gave me the award because of my tendencies to skulk around dark places at night taking pictures as she wrote "I really want to go photo hunting with this lady. She roams around cemeteries at night and scans the skies. She is a photographic adventurer and a really good person." but either way, it's wicked awesome and I am wicked honored! Thank you again, Dianne!

Creative Photography Contest #15-2

Time once again for an entry into Roger's Creative Photography Contest and, as I did last week, I chose a picture taken here in Norwich. Last week's picture was taken at the Howard T. Brown Park on the Thames River while this picture comes from a little further up the road in the downtown area.

Yesterday I posted pictures of the Chelsea Savings Bank building that I had taken with my new Nikon D60 and my entry into this week's contest is taken from that series of pictures.

This lamp is one of two that flanks the front entrance to the bank and definitely adds to the character and solidity of the building as well as the overall feeling of security for one's money in an institution that has withstood 150 years of time.

I'd like to thank Amanda for lending me her eyes and helping me with the 'tweaking' of this picture!

Creative Photography Contest #15-1

On my way back from having lunch with my mom last Friday, I stopped by the Norwich waterfront at Chelsea Landing to take a few pictures of the surrounding area. It was a beautiful day with the sun brightly shining and moderate temperatures - a great day for fishing it seemed as there were lots of folks doing so off the rocks and docks at Howard T. Brown Park. I'm pretty sure I'd never want to eat anything that came out of the Thames River but there are probably those brave souls who actually do eat what they catch; however, I think that more likely it's a nice relaxing way to spend the afternoon and wile away some of the remaining hours of good weather before Old Man Winter sets up camp and settles in for the season.

I choose this picture for Roger's Creative Photography Contest as I liked the way the people in the foreground were simply in shadow while the river gleamed in the sun behind them; I rather like the sparkles on the water! Except for cropping the shot, I didn't do anything else with it but I think it could tell a story if you wanted it to.

Speaking of stories - while I was taking pictures, these two handsome fishermen told me that if I became famous from their picture that they'd want to be cut in on the take! What a couple of sweeties though I don't think they should start counting their millions just yet!

Don't forget to pop by the Creative Photography Contest blog and see what other great pictures have been caught!

Creative Photography, Contest Week #14-4

I went on vacation back in September and haven't entered Roger's Creative Photography Contest since then but thought I'd give it a go again this week with a picture that I took this past Saturday at the old Norwich State Hospital grounds (formerly the Norwich Insane Asylum). I know I've posted pictures from here before but the place is quite creepy and even more so around this time of year when the leaves are down and bare branches abound. I attempted to make this picture look closer to 1904 when the facility was first built rather than how it looks now in 2008 but I'm unsure if I succeeded or not.

I'd love to be able to explore the grounds a little more in-depth but it's posted all over the place with "State Property No Trespassing" signs and even if that wasn't enough of a deterrent to a normally law-abiding person like myself, there are security officers in little white SUVs that drive all over the place ready to pounce on anyone who steps a toe over the line. Unfortunately they are quite enthusiastic in their job performance.

It's aggravating because I'm sure there are some great photo opportunities if one could just sneak onto the property get a little bit closer to the buildings. Add on the fact that there's no way on God's Green Earth that I'd go exploring over there by myself due to the major league "creep factor" and for now I'm stuck just taking pictures from the side of the road. Let me find a big, brave accomplice partner in crime person willing to break the law with me adventurer, though, and maybe someday that will change!

In the meantime, be sure to check out the other entries at the Creative Photography blog where you can see some truly creative pictures from some truly creative people! While you do that, I'll try to think of some way to thwart divert sneak past persuade the security guards so that I can get some closer pictures of the State Hospital grounds! I wonder if chocolate chip cookies are good bribe??

Creative Photography #12

For regular readers of my blog, that tree on the left is going to look familiar to you as it was featured previously in my Creative Photography #10 post. A few people had mentioned that it looked rather "haunting" in that photo and I suspect that it looks a bit that way in this one, too, especially when you throw in the iron gate and moon peeking through the clouds.

I took this picture with my Kodak Z712 IS at night using a tripod. The only adjustments I made were to crop it a bit and convert it to black and white - other than that, it's untouched. You can see the original here if you'd like.

I decided to use this photo as my submission for Roger's Creativity Photography Contest #12 for several reasons with the first and foremost being that I like it! The other reason is that I will be doing a post this coming Saturday on exactly where this place is and what part it played in the history of our country. In that post, you'll get to see this tree and the surrounding area in the daylight rather than by the glow of the moon and then you can tell me whether you still think it's "haunting" or not!

For more creative photos, be sure to check out not only Roger's Creative Photography blog but also his own blog, Idaho Daily Photo. Oh, and lest I forget, be sure to go over to visit Patti at Late Bloomer Boomer and congratulate her on winning last week's Creative Photography contest with this poignant and precious picture of parenthood. Congratulations again, Patti!