Last weekend Craig and I picked up sandwiches and headed up to Topsmead State Park for a walk and to enjoy the sunset. The last time we were up there, I drove my car through a good foot+ of mud and there was snow/ice mounds.

Now the grass a luscious green, the plantings haven’t come in yet, but the trees were in full green leaves. We explored a section of the park we hadn’t been to. I can’t wait to go back with my bike, and ride this never ending road.

There is a beautiful stone wall that runs the length of this road on either side. I loved the old trees.

We headed back to the main house to enjoy the sunset from the back porch. There were people playing frisbee and families enjoying the grounds. As the sun started to set, I realized there was this beautiful glow off the windows.

I’m finding it very hard to capture a sunset straight on, I need to read up and experiment more. Before we left I walked up to the big apple tree and noticed the silhouette it’s branches made. I like how the branches resemble a printed pattern.

We walked back to the car in the dusk light, and I snapped this one last shot from the parking lot.

If you live in the area, I can not recommend enough visiting this park.

Several weeks back my photography friend’s, Shanna and Kelly, decided it had been too long since our last photography field class. Sadly enough, Shanna couldn’t make it today, but Kelly and I headed over to Harkness Memorial State Park to shoot photos. I went to college on this side of the state and discovered this park with Craig while driving around and exploring the area. Since that time I love to come over and visit. There’s a mansion on the property, gardens, a long stretch of lawn and ocean front.

We decided to head over a little later and let the morning storm clouds pass. When we arrived it was sunny and a light breeze. Perfect for our photo walk. Craig kindly came along and allowed me to shoot photos of him. I am very happy with how the photos came out today.

Slideshow available here.

The technical:
I shot all of today’s photos with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi, Canon 50mm 1.8f, Canon 100-300mm, Canon 18-55mm kit lense and tripod. I used primarily for the sky photos a graduated neutral density filter. I also shot, but not shown here, 120mm format black and white film with a Diana F+ camera. I’m hoping to work on those soon. I post-processed in Adobe Lightroom 2.0.

Processed with a Lithograph preset in Lightroom.

HDR of the park from the ocean side.

Craig coming to get me.

I’m not sure what the internet etiquette is for piggybacking on ideas. Sometimes I feel like I’ve lived two lives, and when I read someone’s post it triggers that memory and then I want to share it. But I don’t want to seem like I’m always just saying, “oh yah I’ve done that too”. Even though that is basically what I’m doing.

I think the root of the issue is me forgetting that I have all sorts of things to share from the insanely busy past 15 years of my life.

Do you find yourself doing this as well? Is it considered “uncool” to post right away your own story? or am I just being worried for no reason?

I really enjoy HDR photography and I’m a sucker for clouds. So this video meets two of my loves. It is unquestionably beautiful.

This reminds of A-Ha’s Take On Me video.

Today is one of these days…

I feel the same. (Illustration by Alex Noriega)

(Via swissmiss.)

I can definitely relate to this and have certainly felt this many a day.

This is one of several amazing pieces of photography via, Light Art Performance Photography’s website. Their work is beautiful and inspiring. I love long exposure photography. Please go visit their site to see all their incredible work.

On a side note, I liked the music so much I bought it as well. It’s by James D. Stark, called “Ready” [iTunes link].

I found all of this via Colin Devroe’s post.

This video is a little late. Back in November we headed up to the White Mountains of New Hampshire for Thanksgiving. It also coincided with being 10 years to the day we got engaged while up there.

This year, I ended up getting very sick after only one day up there and spent most of the trip attached to tissues, DayQuil/NyQuil and chapstick.

Craig drove me around and I shot video. We first headed up the Kancamagus Highway out of Lincoln. Oh, I just remembered we also got to see the Venus, Jupiter and Moon alignment very clearly from up in the mountains.

The next day we drove through Franconia Notch, where my parents used to vacation for 20 years. The area feels like a second home to me.

I snapped this photo in New York City in 2005. I was shooting with a Canon Powershot G6. We were waiting for the subway to take us to see the Gates installation in Central Park. I found the man standing next to the pillar so still and unaffected by the fast moving train, amazing, since to me this was still a new experience.

The flag being caught as well was not intended but I like it’s addition. I also like how his reflection even showed up in the blurred train.

I am truly looking forward to the next month or so when pictures like these will be more prevalent. I’m waiting patiently for the trails to finish thawing and turn from mud to packed dirt again. My bike is in my office waiting for a prognosis on the fork which has some rust on it, but otherwise just needs a check of all systems.

While the visuals of Spring are amazing in their own respect, I’m looking forward to the scents. Fresh grass, flowers, budding trees, a warm breeze. (I’m choosing to forget pollen which will have me sneezing shortly).

What is your favorite parts of Spring? or is this just that in between season to Summer for you?