Crane's Estate in Ipswich

On a bright, sunny day earlier this week we took a walk around Crane's Estate in Ipswich, MA.  

The sharp shadows caused by the bright sun made for some nice B&W photos.

Downtown Shadows at Twilight

Oxford, Maine

Oddities in the Woods: Amesbury, MA

It's the beginning of the New Year and winter feels as if it has just begun here in Amesbury. On a few wintry walks I took some photographs which could be summed up as oddities in the woods.

We are all used to seeing vertical trees standing strong and tall. What I like about this first image is that it bends our expectations. This fallen pine tree brought the earth with it and challenges our perception of which way the trees should be reaching.

Although the snow crystals and the mushrooms have similar forms, you can sense their difference in texture. While the mushrooms are organic, vibrant and soft, the snow is geometric and lifeless. The beauty of the winter woods often lies in the small bits of colorful life that can be found in unexpected places.

As the daylight turns to delicate gold, the snow melts slowly off of mossy bark.

In the shadow of a snowstorm, a vine climbs up this tree like a snake, stopping the snowy wind in its tracks.

Near the Tidal Pools at Low Tide

Sand Dunes: Spring In Cape Cod

I took these photos on Mother's Day in Cape Cod. The sand dunes were uncharacteristically devoid of people and the ecosystem looked strangely alien. 

Bridge Underside: Saint John, NB Canada

Maudslay State Park in January

Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, MA is generally known for its beauty during the warm summer months. It is home to hundreds of rhododendron bushes, overlooks the Merrimac River and was once the home of the Maudslay family's manicured gardens.

On a day in January I took a walk off the beaten path and came across some interesting artifacts. I enjoyed editing these photos with a darker atmosphere than one would normally associate with Maudslay State Park. 

A Brook in Southern Maine

Surry Dam - Keene, NH

 Ashuelot River coming out of Surry Dam

Surry Mountain Lake from the top of the dam

Portrait of our Cat

This is one of my favorite photographs of our cat. She loves sitting in the sunny window as most cats do.

Outdoors in November

I didn't take a whole lot of pictures this fall but managed to get out for a few short photo shoots. These first two photographs were taken in Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, MA.

On a cold November day we went for a walk in Maudslay State Park. I managed to get Mike to stop and take one photo with me on the condition that I wouldn't take any more pictures of him for the rest of the walk.

This photo was shot on the trail near the Maudslay homestead. Lucky for me the sun was setting over the Merrimac River.

On another quick walk to the Waterfront Park in Newburyport, I stopped to take a photo of the cormorants which adorn the docks. Across the bay are the buildings in Salisbury, MA. 

Just as we left my mother's house after our Thanksgiving visit we saw a band of wild turkeys crossing a neighbor's yard. Such a pleasant sight to see on Thanksgiving weekend. This was taken in Stoddard, NH. 

I continued my photographs of Black and White wet stones with this one at Goose Pond in Keene, NH on Thanksgiving Day. 

Whale Watch

 Mike took me on a whale watch for my birthday. We took a boat out of Gloucester, MA to the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. We were fortunate to see two pairs of humpback whales.

By far my favorite photo from the day! The whales came quite close to the boat and were amazingly large. 

Not only are the whales very large but they are also very majestic.

Another whale watching boat also came to visit the whales. 

I was interested in the way that these wild animals have become a spectacle and event for humans to watch. 

Little Purgatory

These photos were taken on a wintry walk at Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, MA.

We are teetering between the time of ice and water. Running water rolls uncovered into ponds that are ringed with ice.

In a small enclave at Little Purgatory... 

Nearby a message awaits those who take the time to look around.