Paul Howe 7/28/24 Paul Howe 7/28/24

Being There

I could say I was at the right place at the right time the other evening, but I new that a full moon rise photo was a possibility that night.

After pizza on the beach with my wife Natasha and daughter Heather we were walking the beach and I was taking photos of the clouds illuminated by the setting sun.

Clouds on the eastern horizon did not bode well for seeing the moon rise and I was not really looking for it concentrating on the colorful clouds. All of sudden we all saw the full moon peak above the ocean .I had a wide angle lens on and had to quickly change to a telephoto to capture the shots I wanted.

I also wanted to photograph the moon light reflecting on the ocean so I switched to a shorter telephoto wide angle lens and took a few more moon photos before it disappeared behind the clouds.

I thought later that maybe I should have had a tripod to steady the camera and this, would have allowed me to photograph at a lower ISO , but that might have taken longer to set up and I could not have shot as quickly. Maybe technically the photos could’ve been better.The experience and sharing with Natasha and Heather was more important than getting a perfect image.

Paul Howe 7/15/24 Paul Howe 7/15/24

Reflecting on Reflections

Capturing the reflected image in the water is aways fun. Finding still water with the trees, sky or other objects showing twice in the same image can be almost magical. Water isn’t always, still and to be there to capture that moment is special. I have stopped the car quickly on occasions and pulled over to take reflection photos in the water because I know the image may only last moments if there’s the slightest breeze.

Moving water can also make for an interesting reflected images from a recognizable object, to an abstract photos that just shows form and color.

Paul Howe 6/18/24 Paul Howe 6/18/24

Calendar Contest

About three or four months ago I entered 3 photos to a contest for the Wells Reserve at Laudholm 40 anniversary calendar. Months passed and I never heard if any of my photos had been chosen for the calendar. I had not even received confirmation that they had received my photos. I had basically forgotten about it.

Well, last week an envelope came in the mail and inside was the calendar. Looking through the 18 month calendar I was not expecting to see a photo of mine but on the September 2024 page was a fall shot I had captured of an orange leafed tree and the Little River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean!

I remember seeing this tree and taking multiple shots before capturing an image that I was satisfied with.

Below is the original image and other photos I have taken at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. Here also is a link to the website where you can look at other images from other artists who had there images in the calendar. If you want you can also purchase a calendar. All proceeds go to the Wells Reserve.

https://www.wellsreserve.org/wall-calendar

Fall Little River Wells Reserve at Laudholm, Wells Maine

Reflection in pond Wells Reserve at Laudholm, Wells Maine

Storm clouds in estuary Wells Reserve at Laudholm, Wells Maine

Little River Wells Reserve at Laudholm, Wells Maine

Barn at Wells Reserve at Laudholm, Wells Maine

Paul Howe 6/10/24 Paul Howe 6/10/24

Rainbows

I was in the supermarket parking lot last week and realized that a rainbow might appear soon. The rain was ending, I could see some clearing sky and the sun would be lower in the sky because it was late afternoon, early evening. I went to Harbor Beach in York Maine where you look out east over the ocean and I waited. I could see the sun trying to break through clouds but the clouds were persistent. Finally I started to see some color forming in the sky out over the water. I was rewarded with a partial rainbow, more like a ribbon. I was happy that my efforts paid off.

Other times I have been in the right place at the right time and captured rainbows after being caught in a downpour or it has been raining out on the ocean and the suns rays shine through the rain drops.

Beach at Wells Reserve at Laudholm, Wells Maine

When I lived back in Goshen NH, I was fortunate to live in a place that after an afternoon shower many times there would be rainbows over Mt Sunapee.

Photographing rainbows has its challenges, from getting the right exposure to getting water drops on the lens, but capturing one of natures fleeting gifts is always satisfying.

Paul Howe 6/7/24 Paul Howe 6/7/24

News Event Photography

I photographed the Pride event last Saturday for the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce. I enjoy capturing images of an event again like I did for a long time as a photographer for local newspapers back in NH.

Inflating hot air balloon, Ogunquit Maine

Waiting to take a balloon ride, Ogunquit Maine

From hot air balloon rides in the morning, a pride flag raising to the parade down Shore Road in Ogunquit I had fun running literally at times, photographing different parts of the event, trying to capture the fleeting moments that tell the story in a photograph.

Applauding at Pride flag raising, Ogunquit Maine

Photographing events like this are important, they record local, regional, national, or international history. Covering news and telling peoples stories is an art and a challenge and is always, for me, exciting.

Paul Howe 5/30/24 Paul Howe 5/30/24

Nubble Light

I sometimes wonder why I take photographs of the same scene over and over? Especially places that many, many people photograph every day of the year. Nubble Lighthouse, in Cape Neddick Maine is one those places. Hundreds maybe thousands of people on a single day take photos of Nubble Light. From professional photographers, too tourists taking photos of this iconic place.

There is no doubt that it is great subject to capture whether it’s at sunrise, sunset, dusk, summer, winter or in the fog the lighthouse sitting on that rock surrounded by the ocean just calls to be photographed, sketched or painted; but over and over again?

Sunrise Nubble Light, Cape Neddick Maine

My father was an artist, he painted landscapes. He painted winter scenes over and over many times, all beautiful. Still he kept painting those winter scenes, why?

I guess photographers, artist, myself included are inspired by a place like Nubble Light and try to capture and see the place like no one else has. Is it possible? I know I will keep trying, but I really hope I never succeed.

Moon over Nubble Light, Cape Neddick Maine

Surfs up Nubble Light, Cape Neddick Maine

Nubble Light foggy day, Cape Neddick Maine

Paul Howe 5/22/24 Paul Howe 5/22/24

Black and White

I still like images in black and white. Maybe it is because I took my first photos with a Polaroid Swinger, and they were in black and white, or maybe that I learned to develop and print black and white photographs.

New Hampshire 1966? Poloriod Swinger camera

Photographing in black and white is a different way of seeing. I could be shooting with an 35mm or 4x5 with black and white film or converting a color image today from color to black and white the computer. I still look at color for contrast in a photo and of course lighting and composition . Some potential photographs are mostly black and white, like winter scenes, black and white animals picket fences and rocks and water.

I am going to reconnect with black and white going forward. Get back to my roots. I dug out my Nikon FM2 35mm camera the other day and found it had a roll of black and white film it it ready to shoot. I have begun taking photos with it and have also looked at my 4x5 view camera.

I know shooting black and white film again will help me creatively going forward with what ever camera I choose, film or digital.

Paul Howe 5/18/24 Paul Howe 5/18/24

Back to “The Cape”

I was back on Cape Cod in Massachusetts with family last week and took many images from morning until night. I have been shooting a lot of sports for a yearbook company the last few weeks, and I do enjoy the challenge of capturing the sports action moments, but it was nice to slow down take one frame at a time and enjoy Cape Cod.

Marconie sight,Wellfleet, Cape Cod Massachusetts

I photograph sunrises, sunsets, photos from atop the Pilgrim Monument, a few wild life photos and many others scenic images around Cape Cod. The light on Cape Cod never seems to disappoint me.

Sunrise North Truro beach, Cape Cod Massachusetts

From the top of the Pilgrim Monument, Provincetown Massachusetts

Piping Plover North Truro, Massachusetts

Rock Harbor, Orleans Massachusetts
Prints can be purchased of any of the images on this blog. Just contact me by text or email to discuss size and price.

Paul Howe 4/26/24 Paul Howe 4/26/24

Spring Color

Spring is blooming in the area now. Natasha and I were at a small park in Durham NH the other day enjoying the warmer weather and the spring colors. The flowering trees and bushes made for a welcome change from the subdued colors of winter. Color though, can be distracting and I have to keep in mind the composition while taking photos. The light was kind of harsh but I worked with it to try and get a few early spring images.

Paul Howe 4/8/24 Paul Howe 4/8/24

Nature Close Ups

Whenever I am out photographing, close ups of nature are always fun to find. I can be photographing an expansive landscape one moment and then I will see a still life that nature has created.

Recently I saw these crocus still showing their colors despite the snow. The contrast between the color of the flowers and the snow and showing two seasons always makes for some interesting images for me.

Walking on the ocean beach you would think the big expanse of the ocean is what I would be photographing but, sometime I will see what a blade of grass and the wind has drawn in the sand. The sun setting, lighting up a leaf on the beach or rocks, sand and light creating interesting patterns. Looking and capturing the small landscapes is always exciting and unexpected for me.

Paul Howe 4/2/24 Paul Howe 4/2/24

Wildlife

I do not pretend to be a wildlife photographer, but once in a while I like to capture animals in their natural setting.

Lighting is what caught my attention as I was photographing ducks on the Lamprey river in Newmarket last weekend. The female duck was preening herself and the sun falling on the duck made for a nice image. Later at the same location I saw some sparrows in a bush. I was able, with a long lens, to get close enough and when the bird cocked its head to look at me I snapped a photo.

Sometimes wildlife like this deer just appear while I am out photographing the landscape. I was able to change lenses and get a few shots before the deer just meandered on it way. Another time as I was walking around York Harbor looking for photo possibilities I saw this heron. I had the right lens with me and was able to take a few photos.

It is good to be prepared for these moments because sometimes I travel light and do not bring all my photo gear and have been caught quit a few times without the right lens with me.

I don’t always go far to take a few wildlife photos like the one of the squirrel . I saw it running around in the yard at home so I got my camera went outside and waited until the squirrel came out of the woods and I took a few photographs. A little patients is sometime what you need to capture the image.

Paul Howe 3/29/24 Paul Howe 3/29/24

A Nature surprise

Sometimes I get an unexpected visual gift when I am out taking photos of something else.This was the case last Sunday when Natasha I were out on Maple weekend in Maine. As we traveled inland from York Maine ice began to form on the trees all around us. Though the ice storm caused a lot of damage to the area with many thousands of people in Maine without power it was still beautiful.

When there seems to be a great photo everywhere I look I feel like I have to capture everything I see. I have to calm down from the visual overload and really look at what I am photographing so I don’t just take random photos. The world has been transformed by a weather event like an ice storm. Everything looks new. I have the same problem when I travel to a visually stunning new place.

As we walk to one of the sugarhouses the sun came out and the ice sparkled in the sunlight which made for some spectacular scenery that I hope I could capture and convey what I saw and was feeling at that moment walking on a road in Maine.

Paul Howe 3/26/24 Paul Howe 3/26/24

Maple Sugaring Time

I have photographed maple sugaring season many times and I am always challenged to find and new way to capture an image of making syrup from sap every year.

North Berwick Maine at the Chase farm is where I took my first photos. Steam coming from the vent in the roof snd ice on the trees made for a new and slightly different photo. The one thing that really stood out from a picture prospective was all light from all the windows in the sugar house that made photographing indoors a breeze.

Giles Farm in Alfred Maine was the next stop. Natasha and I had been here the year before and was not sure what kind of image I could make. I ended up with a few shots outside and inside the sugar house and basically did a standard shot of syrup being drawn off the evaporator. Nothing new but a record of what was going on that day, month and year.

We walked about a half mile to our next sugarhouse. The sun was warm and the ice storm the day before made for many nice photos before we arrived there. (Future blog post?)

Look-up at the ceiling of the sugarhouse at the 207 Tappers in Biddeford Maine, I saw the contrasts of the ceiling steam and light and captured some images. The walk back to the car was equally inspiring to take photos.

A couple of photos at our last stop at Harris Farm in Dayton, of people enjoying Maple weekend in Maine and I was good for the day and another year of a spring tradition in New England.

Paul Howe 3/22/24 Paul Howe 3/22/24

“The Cape”

Photographing on Cape Cod is always a different experience. The light is softer not as harsh, you can see into the shadows. Full sun, cloudy day, or somewhere in-between the light is more diffused. My guess is there is more moisture in the air and the light scatters.

The light was the same when my wife Natasha and I visited her aunt and uncle in West Dennis on Cape Cod a week ago. Friday Aunt Martha drove us to the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuse on Morris Island in Chatham. We walked on a trail that took us first through the woods that then opened up to a salt marsh. The trail went passed small ponds and grasses and we end at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

Atlantic Ocean, Monomoy Island,Chatham MA

I captured many images in the salt mash area watching the sun light come and go on the landscape before me on this partly cloudy day.

Later Natasha and I walked, and I took more photos, at the beach at Chatham light. The water was calm here, protected from the full force of the ocean by barrier islands, which made for some nice calming pictures.

The last photos I took were at the Chatham Pier. Everyone comes to the pier looking for seals, but the were no fishing boats unloading there catch for the day so the seals were absent. No seal photos that day but I did take a few photos of Turn Island Sanctuary just off shore.

Even though it was close to noon the light was still favorable capturing a few more images before lunch.

Paul Howe 3/19/24 Paul Howe 3/19/24

Beginning

I begin my first blog post on my adventures with my camera on the first day of spring 2024. Rising early to capture the sunrise at Sohiel Park in Cape Neddick home to the Nubble Lighthouse.

Arriving before the sun peaked above the horizon the first thing that caught my eye was a cloud already lit by the morning sun. After taking photos of the cloud I Moved to the other side of the park, where I waited with cold hands,(my gloves were back in the car),for the sun to rise in the East. I took many photos of the colorful sky before the sun rose above the rocks to light the day.

After many more sunrise photos and some of Nubble Lighthouse I then headed to Long Sands Beach in York for more photos of the sunshine lighting up another day.

I spotted and photographed a piece of driftwood on the beach lit up by the spring sun then headed home with new photos and new memories on a new day just beginning.