Here in Maryland we have been enjoying a warm and beautiful fall season. The inviting weather has lured me outside to enjoy the last of these temps before winter descends. It is time to plant those spring bulbs, rake those leaves, and enjoy local fall fairs and festivals. It is also an excellent time to take a good walk with your camera in hand.
While the colorful leaves still cling to our trees, I grabbed the camera and set off on an early morning photo safari. Driving the back roads is fun, scouting for vistas. That early morning low light is great. It causes the leaves to literally glow. I also discovered a great little bridge over a large creek. I just stood on the bridge, zooming in on floating leaves of every shape and color, blissfully traveling along. Every second brought a new composition into my camera. It was delightful!
This morning I’m off to photograph my horse friends that ride in the local fox hunting group. I’ve been “Hilltopping” with them for years. I’m on foot or in my SUV, photographing the hounds, horses, riders and the occasional fox. I frequently will snap a small grouping of deer that are flushed from the woods by all that activity. In all my years photographing them, I’ve never seen them catch a fox. It is just a great outdoor activity in a beautiful environment. A field full of horses, hounds, and their colorfully turned out riders is a beautiful sight. Couple that with autumn foliage and you have a fabulous photo opportunity.
Now for a few photo musings. Last week I was in New York City at Photo Plus Expo at the Javits Center. Thousands of photographers gather to hear lectures, panel discussions, engage in hands-on classes, view exhibits and walk the exhibition floor. The floor was full of over 300 vendors of camera gear. The big camera manufacturers were there, of course.
If there was a trend this year, I would say that there were more companies that make photo books and albums, more paper manufacturers, and lots of companies creating gallery wraps using canvas. Gallery wraps are prints that are printed on an ink-jet coated canvas and then are stretched onto wooden stretcher bars, like an oil painting. The edges frequently show, so the imagery continues around the stretcher bar edges.
If you live in the NYC area, it is a definite “must-do”. You get to see and touch all the new photo gizmos. You get to ask questions of the experts (something that is lacking in this internet-driven market). It is a great celebration of this art form.
I would encourage you to get outdoors and enjoy the remaining days of this glorious time of year. Grab a camera buddy and go out there together or go it alone for a little solitude and a peaceful photo wandering.
Please view my website at www.suebloom.com
