Joshua Tree National Park © Steven Willard
One of the most interesting places I’ve ever visited, Joshua Tree is about as different from the green, tree covered Connecticut where I have lived for more than twenty years as Mars is from Earth. Everywhere I pointed the camera there were more images to be had than time to make them. I could easily spend a week there.
Olympus EM-5 with the Olympus 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 II R kit zoom. Processed in Snapseed.
My Side Garden © Steven Willard
I have always liked the English country garden. Do you know what I’m talking about? Not the formal prissy things that need a full time gardener. No, I’m talking about the sort of garden one might find in front of a thatch roofed little place in some Cotswold village. The flowers would all be old fashioned, not something you are likely to find in the front pages of popular catalogs. The gardens always look just a bit disheveled, maybe “casual” is nearer the mark. I picture Miss Marple with an ancient trug* on her arm gathering blossoms for her table. The light is soft, just a slight breeze and the sound of a few bees working late as the sun starts to set on a late Spring evening.
*No, that is not a misspelling.
Olympus OMD EM5 with 15mm body cap lens. I processed the in camera black and white jpeg in PS EXpress and Snapseed. Can you tell I paid less than $20 for the lens? The gardeners among you will no doubt recognize that everything growing in my little patch is a weed, but aren’t they lovely?
River Pothole, Kent Connecticut © Steven Willard
Just upstream of Bull’s Bridge, a covered bridge across the Housatonic River a few miles south of Kent, Connecticut, is a diversion dam operated by one of the electric companies. When the need arises they can virtually shut off water to the natural riverbed, and in the process, reveal a number of river potholes to the curious photographer. This is one of those locations that could keep a photographer coming back over and over, finding more potholes and perspectives, the limit being the alarm that sounds when they open the sluice gates and the sudden rush of water.
Pentax K10D with kit zoom.
Leftovers, Woodbury, Connecticut
Cleaning up around the place and happened upon these remains from last year. I thought about rearranging them, but in the end I simply made a couple of exposures which I tried to develop to look like a platinum/palladium print using Snapseed on my iPad.
Pentax KIIs with 50mm f1.4 lens.
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Small Town, Indiana © Steven Willard
Not much more than an hour’s drive from here is a huge, modern Toyota assembly plant. Sadly, that was just too far away to save this small town.
Panasonic G3 with 20mm f1.7 lens, processed in Snapseed.
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The Opportunist
I was cooling my heels outside a store while my friend shopped. Not wanting to stray too far while waiting, I explored the immediate surroundings with my camera and that’s when I noticed this little gem that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I love the way the vine has snaked it’s way through the rusted flagpole bracket. I took a moment to make three exposures, and right on time, out she came.
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Olympus OMD-EM1 with 12-40mm f2.8 zoom lens.
Where once there were flowers © Steven Willard
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Cabin in the woods © Steven Willard
Wouldn’t you like to have a quiet spot just big enough for one comfortable chair and a lamp to read by? Close enough to walk to easily, but far enough that you won’t be distracted by everyday stuff. No phone alllowed!
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Didn’t get the memo © Steven Willard
Seems like there is always one guy who didn’t get the memo.
Fort Ticonderoga, New York.
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How we work today © Steven Willard
I remember when a scene like this was unusual. The lone individual sitting at a restaurant table might read the newspaper (remember those?) or sometimes a book (remember those?) but rarely did you see someone working. Now we think nothing of it.
The fellow in this photograph didn’t know I was taking his picture, but we did strike up a conversation and have since become friends. He likes the picture because it doesn’t reveal too much of him. I disagree, I think it tells quite a lot.
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