Hole in the Wall

Niantic, CT  2017

We had our first really major snowstorm of the year yesterday followed by a sunny but very cold day. The Hole in the Wall is a tunnel beneath the Amtrak railroad which runs along the shoreline in Niantic.  The tunnel provides access to our Boardwalk and the Hole in the Wall Beach.

My Summer Project

Like many of my generation, we grew up using film for photography and more than likely one of the many simple "point and shoot" cameras of the day made by the Kodak company.  If one really developed an interest in photography back then, and had the resources you might be able shoot with a Nikon, Olympus or Pentax 35 mm film camera.  Digital photography has changed everything, allowing just about everyone with a phone to take high quality photographs which are instantly viewable and shared around the world.  Still there is a market for analog film photography and many photographers prefer film to digital.  I'm not going to argue the merits of either, or which is better.  They both are just ways to produce images and after all, it's the photograph that's important, not how it was captured.  Having learned a lot more about photography using my Nikon D90, I thought it was time to try my hand at some film photography.  I had an old Pentax ME Super sitting around for about 30 years in a case and thought I'd break it out again to see first of all if it would still work, and then try to take some images.   I bought a reconditioned 50 mm lens from Ebay, some Kodak Tmax 400 film from B&H, loaded the camera with fresh batteries and the film and off I went.

Surprisingly, with fresh batteries, the light meter appeared to work.  The Pentax ME Super allows for Automatic shooting or manual shooting.  One sets the aperture and then adjusts the shutter speed by pressing one of two buttons on top until the light meter in the view finder is green.  After I shot my first roll of film, I sent it off to be processed.  The negatives were scanned digitally and within I week I received the negatives, and a CD containing the scanned images.  The results of my first efforts were less than spectacular and to me, a little disappointing.  Below is perhaps the best shot from that first roll.

North Stonington, CT  2015

Without the aid of all the metadata that's stored in today's digital files, it was hard to determine what went wrong with a lot of the pictures on this roll.  I neglected to write down things like aperture, shutter speed, etc.  So after one roll of film I wasn't sure if the camera was working properly or not.  In addition, perhaps I was so used to looking at digital black and white photos, that I wasn't really sure what to expect.  Clearly some troubleshooting was in order.  I'll be posting some more examples this week of my film work.

Interesting Sculpture II

Kent, CT  2015

There seems to be a theme here with some of the sculptures on display in Kent.

Interesting Sculpture

Kent, CT  2015

There are a number of public art works on display in Kent, CT, including the one pictured here.  There are also a number of art galleries.  I found no name for this piece nor its creator.  

Hidden Valley

Washington Depot, CT  2015

There is indeed a hidden valley at the Hidden Valley B&B.  This is the view from the back patio over looking the valley.  I must get back here in the summer to see this place when it's warmer and green.  

Hidden Valley B&B

Washington Depot, CT  2015

This beautiful home was built by current inn-keeper, Regine Laverge-Schade for her family and definitely has a European flair to it.  The home is beautiful, spacious, and a perfect Bed and Breakfast at which to spend a quiet weekend.  Regine and her assistant, Sam are gracious hosts, and took good care of us.  I felt like I was on a European holiday, and not in Litchfield County, CT.  I highly recommend the Hidden Valley Bed and Breakfast.  

Snow Covered Grave

 Mystic, CT  2015

There are many small cemeteries scattered around Connecticut, and the rest of New England for that matter.  Often the plots are small and contain perhaps a dozen or so headstones, dating from the 1700's and 1800's.  Most are family plots and at one time were probably part of the family homestead.    Some are well taken care of while others are slowly returning to nature.  I could not get close enough to this particular headstone  to make out the inscriptions, but I figure it dates from the late 1700's.  I know that this particular cemetery is where a number of early settlers of Mystic are buried. 

Painted Bow

Mystic, CT  2015

I guess once boats have served a long life they can retire and become roadside signs beckoning passer-byes to eat at the nearby restaurant.  Only in Connecticut.....

Mystic River Scene

Mystic, CT  2015

This is a view of Mystic Seaport, taken from across the Mystic River.  There was still a lot of ice on the river when this shot was taken, last Sunday.  

Cove

Mystic, CT  2015

Winter at the Winery II

North Stonington, CT  2015

Winter at the Winery

North Stonington, CT  2015

Winter at the Seaport

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT  2015

I've always enjoyed this particular view at the Seaport... not so much with the snow.  

Benches in Snow

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT  2015

Whale Boats in Winter

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT  2015

After a morning of light snow, the sun finally came out and the temperatures actually went above freezing.  The Seaport officially opened under their winter schedule last weekend however the weather has kept the crowds away, not that there are ever huge crowds in the middle of winter here. I'll be featuring some more winter scenes at the Seaport this week.

Snow, Sand, Sea and Sky

Madison, CT

Snowy Beach

Madison, CT

I had the chance recently to visit Hammonassett State Park in Madison, CT, the afternoon after a major snow storm hit our area.  The temperature was about 15ºF with steady wind blowing, so I didn't stay out too long.   It always seems that the clearest, brightest skies always occur on the coldest days.

Pardon the Interruption...

Niantic, CT

I'll return to posting some more pictures from Yale, but thought I'd get the requisite winter snow pictures posted today.  The first picture is my patio as I found it this morning after the latest big storm to hit our area of Connecticut.  I think we got about 8" of snow, perhaps more.  The predictions were pretty accurate this time.  I've heard the storm was worse near Boston and Cape Cod was especially hard hit.  The snow was followed by some bitterly cold temperatures.  Tonight it's predicted to get down to the single digits near the shoreline. Spring cannot come fast enough. 

First Snow III

You might get the feeling that I like snow from some of these pictures.  I'm not really a big fan of winter, cold weather or snow, but it does look pretty for a short period of time.  A couple of days after this picture was taken, the temperatures around here rose into the low 50's, and most of of the snow is now gone.  I don't think we've seen the last of it for this winter though.

First Snow II

I've photographed this bench before from different angles and in somewhat nicer weather conditions.  Park benches in the winter time look lonely and less inviting, even with a light coating of snow.