The Lone Leaf, Mt. Equinox Vermont

While hiking to the top of Mt. Equinox, this past summer, I came across this lone leaf, holding on for dear life, before succumbing to its inevitable fall to the ground. It was bathed in the most beautiful light amidst the darkness of the thick woods, and I couldn't help but stop to shoot.

That day and that hike stand out in my mind as one of the last times I truly challenged myself physically. After herniating a disc in my back this past fall I have had a long road to recovery, that included the most horrific dibilitating pain I had ever experienced, and emotional challenges as I tried to remain positive at a really difficult time in my life. Being an extremely active person (and die hard skiier), and finding myself barely able to walk around on a daily basis (during ski season nonetheless!) was truly challenging. Yet, this photo and the strength of the leaf to "hold on" is so inspiring to me. I am at a point now where I have made tremendous strides and although Im not 100% back to my pre-injury self just yet, I know I am almost there. Seeing this photo and remembering that day, and my strength in climbing the mountain that day, continue to inspire my recovery and give me strength. I hope upon seeing this photo, it somehow gives you strength as well!

Train Tracks to NYC, Hoboken

In my opinion, the most beautiful aspect of New York City is the view of it from the outside. Although I grew up near the city and lived there for a number of years after college, my true apprecitation for NYC came when I finally moved away from it. Granted, I only moved to the other side of the Hudson River, yet I finally gained an appreciation for the beauty of NYC, from the perspective of one living across the water.

At this stage of my life, when I spend time in the city I find it noisy, polluted, congested, frustrating and I find myself feeling claustrophobic, whereas I once embraced every aspect of the "city that never sleeps." There was a time when I couldn't imagine any other place I would rather live. I thought the city was so exciting and fast-paced and I soaked it all up like a sponge. Yet, I'm still able to enjoy everything the city has to offer and can escape it in a heartbeat by crossing back to "my side" of the Hudson. However, from "my side" it is possible to see the true beauty of the city, with views one could never obtain from the inside. From my perspective, I am able to see the city's tranquil and peaceful side, as well as its magesty.

I took this shot from an old pier in "uptown" Hoboken. The tracks were once used to unload shipping freight onto the railroads. Today, the pier lies empty and in partial ruin, an example for all to see of the massive changes in industry and technology. It seems like a lonely place, that was once probably bustling much like the city itself. From this vantage point, I tried to capture the feeling of the tracks leading into the city, or perhaps reaching out to the city. I tried to capture the feeling of connecting with the city, as if the tracks could bridge the gap of the Hudson between them. However, I left a little bit of water in the photo to remind us of their disconnect and to highlight the changes in our infrastructure and industry.

The Guardians, Hoboken New Jersey

This shot was taken on one of Hoboken's many beautiful streets lined with magnificent brownstones; some old and worn down with peeling paint, like this one, and others extremely modern. What makes Hoboken so unique is the diversity of the architecture, all intermingled on the same block and within one square mile.

Here, I was trying to play with angles and shooting these Guardians (as I like to think of them) from the front, sides, straight on, from above, level, etc. I liked this one most of all in the series because it is taken from the side looking up to them as if they are guardian-like with the power to grant or deny access to the brownstone they guard. From this angle, it seems to make them more important and thus, their "job" as guardians more apparent, thereby allowing the viewer to forget for a moment that they are guarding entry into an old, worn down home that has clearly seen better days. By looking up at them, I hope to elevate their status and make the home they guard seem even more attractive and prestigious.

The Quarry in Dorset, Vt

I love this shot for the simplicity of the composition and the calming feeling it creates. I took this shot from so far away and with the benefit of my lens and editing features I was able to zoom in much closer, which saved me the trouble of having to get the shot from in the frozen water (jk). :) The quarry is a cold, stark place at this time of year; such a contrast to the beauty and livelihood of the summertime when dozens of people sunbathe, swim and jump off the ledges. However, there is something so peaceful about the deserted quarry in wintertime. The shadow in the water is my favorite part of this photo - the way the ice seems to melt right down into it. For me, this is so peaceful and soothing, and I try to think of this photo when I need to center myself and take a deep breath from the chaos of everyday life.

The Bedford Oak

There is something to be said for sepia. Sometimes a photo just looks better, or evokes more emotion in sepia or black and white. Thanks to my camera, I have the privilege to edit my pics on the camera itself, even before transferring the images to the computer. So, I played around with the shots and the coloring for awhile and found this particular one to be the most evocative in the series. I came across this tree while driving around in Bedford, NY, and thankfully got my husband to pull over so I could shoot. I love the medusa-like branches and the incredible strength and sturdiness of this old tree. (The Bedford Oak is over three hundred years old!)

This photograph also reminds me of the essence of "tree pose" in yoga (vrksasana), how onc can ground his/herself by rooting both upwards to the sky and simultaneouly down to the ground to improve balance, concentration and control. Next time you're in yoga class, I hope you'll think of this image to help you balance in tree pose! :)

Tractor in Dorset, Vermont

In Dorset, Vermont, near my in-laws house, there is a place we jokingly refer to as the "Dorset Missile Defense System." It is a museum or homage or sorts to all types of old/used machinery, from tractors to old school buses and fire trucks and even something that looks like a missile. Someone (I have yet to find out whom) has dedicated his/her time to collecting the various old machines and displaying them for the public to enjoy.

Its quite the photographer's heaven, and while I have taken many shots there already, I'm already looking forward to the next time I can shoot there- there's just so much to capture!

Most people I have shown the pics to seem to gravitate to this photo in particular, and it happens to be my personal favorite from the series, because it leaves so much to the imagination. One aspect of photography that I am trying to explore at the moment is capturing only a piece of something in order to enable the viewer to decide the rest for him/herself. Its not as easy as it sounds, since when I come across something I want to photograph, I instinctively try to capture the entire image, or everything that I can see, even though sometimes just a portion of an object or scene will leave a much larger impression.

Baby Bull in Vermont

I loved how incredibly sweet this six month old baby bull was when we stumbled upon his home - a barn at Hildene, the former homestead of Abe Lincoln's son in Manchester, Vermont. It was a beautiful day and we were snow shoeing at Hildene, which is now open to the public and has a beautiful and extensive set of cross country skiing and snow shoeing trails. As we approached the barn this baby bull came over immediately and loved being pet; he was just so gentle and sweet, a stark contrast from the prevailing image we have of bulls.



While living abroad in Seville, Spain during college, I learned about the art and history of bullfighting. In fact, one of my professors had been married to a lengendary bull-fighter, so I was fortunate to get a unique insider-perspective on the national pasttime. I went to two bullfights and gained a great respect and appreciation for the art-form. The bulls, although respected, are often portrayed in popular media as blood-thirsty, savage, wild animals that we humans must avoid at all costs. Indeed, one of the first images that is likely to come to mind when one hears the word "bull" is of a waving red cape, used to provoke the bull. (Interesting aside: They don't run towards the cape due to its color; bulls are apparently color blind). However, when this baby bull approached us that day, he was incredibly docile and loveable.



I love this picture because it hopefully encourages the viewer to reconsider the notion of this animal, and to think about the ways in which popular media provide us with images and information that may not necessarily be true.

Longtail Boat in Ko Phi Phi

This shot is taken from the water off the shore of Ko Ph Phi Island, Thailand. (A short distance from where the movie "The Beach" was filmed). The longtail boats, like the one seen here, are extremely versatile and help the thai people navigate through the smaller canals and inlets. They are also used as dive boats, water taxis and even aid in the fishing industry.

The front of the longtail boat typically has an offering, like this one, of flowers, cloth and other materials (ie shells). The thai people are deeply religious (buddhist) and superstitious, and believe in giving offerings to appease the gods.

Phi Phi Island is a magnificent and tranquil place off the coast of Phuket. Its remoteness is a large part of its appeal- we arrived via speedboat from Phuket, a trip that took about two and a half hours.

The longtail boats that dot the coastline of this small island provide such beauty as they float on the water and emphasize the calm tranquil atmosphere. However, when they gear up to move, they are extremely noisy and in fact disrupt the local ecosystem, in that their engine emmisions emit a lot of fumes into the air and water. Therefore, as one often finds in Thailand, thay are a huge contrast in and of themselves: they are at once beautiful/peaceful, and loud/contaminating. I choose to see their beauty...

In a Garage in Hoboken, NJ

One of my favorite aspects of photography is trying to capture something that would otherwise be deemed "ugly," and trying to make it beautiful, or an object of art worth noticing. I hope to shoot something that most people would normally walk by and disregard or not even notice, and have them take a moment to look at the picuture as a work of art and consider the scene or object. Whether the viewer still walks away from the photo thinking the scene or object is dirty, ugly, or something to disregard is his/her personal choice; I simply want the viewer to pause, look at the picture and consider/notice it.

Here, I was outside a dirty/dusty old garage on the outskirts of Hoboken, NJ, waiting for my car to go through the car wash. While waiting I noticed these three old and rusting trash cans and wanted to capture them in a way which might make them beautiful or appealing - to show them in a different light, if you will.

The Floating Market Outside Bangkok

I took probably dozens of shots at the Floating Market just outide Bangkok, Thailand while we were there for our Honeymoon, and this aerial one is one of my favorties because it captures serenity and a calm, fluid motion that is the complete antithesis of what this place is in actuality.

The Floating Market is a chaotic hubub which literally assaults all your senses, where people come to buy and sell all types of food grown locally. Consumers eat on small stools on the side of the river, and merchants also buy the food in bulk to transport to restaurants and stores in Bangkok.

They also sell flowers, tsotchkes, spices, etc., but the main purpose here is the food. Everything from local fruits, vegetables, meats and dishes such as soups, dumplings, curried entres and intricately created desserts can be bought and consumed.

Unfortunatelty for the American tourist, all of the food is cooked and all the dishes/utencils washed with river water, which we can't drink due to our body's lack of antibiodies for some of the diseases found in the water. (About a quarter mile upstream I saw people bathing and using the river as a restroom, so even though I was hungry and the food smelled incredible, I was fine not partaking in the eating frenzy).

I love this shot because it captures some of the essence of the Thai people who live their lives simply and are bound by time-honored traditions. They are the most warm and welcoming people I have come across in my travels and I can't recommend a trip to Thailand highly enough.

Bicycles by a Church in Paris

This is as good a place to start as any...

I took this shot while in Paris with Brian last year. We were wandering about exploring the city and had just come out of a beautiful church we stumbled upon when I spied these bicycles just resting outside.

I love the peacefulness of this shot. Normally, when we think of cycling, we think of movement, of getting from one place to another, or in my life, I think of trying to keep up with my husband as he races by me on his road bike (I can't keep up!). However, there is something to be said for viewing an object in a different light than we normally see it in. Hence, the bicycles at rest.

Perhaps the owners are inside the church...perhaps they are wandering about as we were...perhaps they have abandoned their bikes for a different mode of transportation. I like that we get to envision and decide for ourselves where/who the riders are and what will happen to these bicycles as the day continues....

Finding Inspiration

I am an avid reader of other people's blogs, but never thought to start my own, so I must give credit where it is due. Thanks to my cousin Barbara who gave me the idea that I could do this!
(Barbara recently started a blog to chronicle a amazing journey she is about to embark on to raise awareness and honor the life of someone close to her that was lost to breast cancer. I encourage you to take some time to explore her blog, http://www.trailsfordale.blogspot.com/, as she is an incredibly insightful person and her journey is truly inspiring.)

In the past year, I have developed what I thought was a new-found love for photography, however upon closer examination, I believe it was something I had inside me all my life. As a teenager my parents sent me on a summer travel programs and while most other kids came home with a roll or two of film, I can home with twenty. Similarly, after spending a semester in college studying abroad in Seville, Spain, I returned home with about forty rolls of film. So, while I was clearly good at excess, and snapped away to my heart's content, I didn't take the time to realize that photography was something I truly enjoyed.

However, in the past year or so I have become more aware of my life, my surroundings, and have essentially tried to "slow down" and appreciate every moment. In doing so, I realized I have a passion for photography and for trying to capture certain moments, scenes, and feelings.

This past November, for my one-year wedding anniversary, my wonderful husband noticed my love for photography and bought me a Nikon D40X digital SLR. I have never owned this type of camera and have set out to teach myself all about it through experimenting and having FUN with it. While others have recommended that I take some photography courses to learn the essentials, I don't believe I'm ready to take the "fun" out of the learning process, and feel (at the moment) that taking a course on photography will make it something too structured and formal for me. As a prior over-achiever in the school department, I think I will try too hard to please the instructors that I might lose sight of my personal love for taking pictures. So, for the time being, I'm experimenting with the camera, and trying to capture whatever strikes my fancy. Who knows what the future holds....perhaps I will someday be inspired to take classes to learn more about this art form, or perhaps I will simply be self-taught. Either way, I hope to have fun and enjoy it all!

One of my favorite types of photography is travel photography and taking pictures of all the incredible places I am so fortunate to go. And for that, I must thank my favorite travel companion and best friend, my husband Brian. He is constantly taking me on exciting adventures and vacations, wonderful day trips and scenic drives. He is always willing to pull off the road any time for me to snap away, and for that I am always grateful. I also believe he is one of my biggest inspirations; I take pictures to enable him to see the world through my eyes.

Now I have decided to share my journey through the lens with you, dear reader, whomever and wherever you may be. I hope you find something here for you... perhaps a photo will spark a memory for you, enable you to recall a particular place or feeling, or even simply bring a smile to your face. Ultimately, all of the photos I have taken and continue to take are of things that inspire me in one way or another. I believe we can find insipration anywhere. We don't have to go to a specific place or person to feel inspired. So, as the blogging portion of my journey kicks off, I hope you are able to find something you may take away with you from these photos, and I hope you'll come back and visit from time to time as the journey continues.