2011-11-30: In search of Christmas Cards..

One thing I sell at my Art fair showings is greeting cards. And I must admit they are quite popular. I might add that it is handy to have a full stock around the house whenever a holiday or birthday comes around. I rarely buy a store bought card anymore. For the last month, I've been trying to find a Christmas card to 1) send out to my family and friends, and 2) to sell at the fair. I guess I wasn't thinking ahead last year and didn't take any card-worthy shots for this year. Darn. So I've been looking forward to seeing something while I've been out and about. Something I could print in time for the fair. I went out at lunch time today and saw a grungy tree lot at the out of business gas station..Saw lots of decorations at Home Depot...Nothing card worthy...With 3 days til the fair, I think I'm going to be out of luck. There's no snow and houses aren't decorated yet. Well, there probably are some where people haven't taken them down from last year. Nah... Maybe I'll have to decorate the house tonite...Nah. Hate to say it...But we need some snow...Well, at least till I get some good shots. In the meantime, my buddy John set up his desk tree yesterday, and that has put me in the Christmas spirit.

Hopefully I'll get some winter scenes soon, or you may be getting some pictures of boats and flowers for your Christmas card. Or maybe I'll skip this year and mail them out for next year. We'll see!
Cheers!
Em

p.s. 1 more month of Project 365! Woo hoo!

2011-11-29: The one that got away.. A fish story

Oh man... Yesterday morning I went out to get the newspaper out of the paper slot, and saw the most beautiful sunrise! Gorgeous pinks and reds. I quickly turned on my heals and ran inside to get my camera, tripod and shutter release. I was back in about 10 seconds and *wuh*wuh*wuhhhhhhhh* (sad trombone sound), the sky was a dismal dirty grey. Where'd it go???? This was a prize-winning sunrise and I just wanted to capture it and share it with you all. But. Pfttt*....gone. This should be a lesson to me. Sometimes you just gotta stop and enjoy things while they're in front of your face. Forget the camera and just take it in... So that's my fish story..The one that got away...
But anyway, can't leave you without any pics. So here's one from the Parade on Saturday. It is Kathy Salanitro, who together with her husband Ron, raise Oxen in Gilford. She was also voted Ms. NH Senior this year. One of my shots, similar shot to this, made the front page of the Citizen today.

So, what else is happening? I created a Fan page on Facebook for Emerys Island, so get out and 'Like' that for me. You know you want to! And 4 days till the GHS art fair.
Have a great day!
Em

2011-11-28: It's a Sign...

Sign, Sign, everywhere a sign. Blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind....
Down at Saltmarsh pond yesterday, as I was done with my hike and started to put my equipment away, I turned back towards the pond. I'm usually trying to capture something beautiful, and must admit that I have my blinders on sometimes. But this scene kind of slapped me in the face. I really hadn't even noticed it before. All the signs by the water. And this is only a portion of them. There were another 10 behind me.

No parking. No dogs. No cans, no bottles.. Yada yada yada. It's sad what we have to put on signs to remind or encourage people to do to be considerate. It's amazing what a photographer can do to put some spin on things and make them either uglier or prettier. I lean towards the prettier side of things. Here's the same pond from a different angle. Posted on Sept 24th on the other side of the signs with a zoom.

Yeah, I prefer this one.
Ah, me and my fog.....The fog was great this morning...Of course, stopped and got some shots. Will review tonite and see if anything worthwhile to show you.
Have a good one
Em

p.s. Be sure to tell your friends about the GHS Art fair this Saturday Dec 3rd! I'll be there

2011-11-27: Out for a morning stroll

This morning's plan was to sleep late and try to recharge the batteries before heading back to work tomorrow...or get up and head over to Saltmarsh pond for an early morning shoot. Well I woke up at 7 (which is late), and it was foggy out with the snow on the ground and warmish weather. So...off to the pond I went. Once I got there, I decided to take a hike around it and get some new views. And, ever wary of hunters, I whistled while I walked. Which spoiled any chances of seeing any wildlife. But, I did get some shots of the water and fog and trees. Some ducks...Some canoes... Some rowboats...Some little water falls. but my favorite shot was of my wet boots after I crossed a stream. What I thought was a moss-covered rock was just...moss. Took this with my iPhone.

Doesn't look too bad here, and looked a lot worse by the time I got home.
This is the shot I was crossing the stream to get. Nothing too exciting but I saw the green in the water and wanted to use my macro lens. (F/11, 2s, ISO-100, 90mm)

Anyway, it was a good relaxing morning. Guess I'll be ready to head back to work tomorrow after 5 days off. And now 6 days till the art fair!
Talk tomorrow. GO PATS!
Em

2011-11-26: Helping Out a friend

Went to the Laconia Christmas parade today. Something I haven't done in a long time. No, I didn't have an official assignment, but just wanted to help out a friend. My buddy John, introduced his company's mascot, "Snitch" to the world today at the parade and he asked if I could take some shots for the paper. I gladly accepted. His company invented the card game Bag-O-Loot which is taking the country by storm. Here's Snitch with some adoring fans...

This is what the game is all about...families smiling and having fun.
Go John!

Alright, a late post I know, but gotta go now. Having one of our daughters over for dinner..See you tomorrow.
Em

2011-11-25: Day Off!

Hooray! The website has been published and announced on Twitter and Facebook! So now I can relax for a couple of days. *Knock on Wood*. I know I've been crazy busy this past month, and I've been neglecting everyone around me for the past month. Sorry everyone...So, today I think Sue and I will just get out and go for a ride. Maybe around the lake. That's always fun. (Right Taylor?) It's a beautiful sunny day, so a ride and a stop at our favorite watering hole in Wolfeboro (Garwoods) is just what the Dr. ordered. Then this weekend, have the some of the kids over for dinner, watch the Pats, and recharge the batteries. Next week I'll be spending my free time organizing and packing up of the art fair on Dec 3rd. Anyway, the sun is shining and the ice is melting..Here's some wild berries Sue picked and put in the planter by our front door.

Have a beautiful day everyone...
Em

2011-11-24: Happy Thanksgiving!

It was a beautiful sunny day today. A far cry from the sleet and clouds we had yesterday. I have friends who love it when it snows, but I guess I'm getting to a point in my life where I just want sun and sand and warmth. I just groan when it gets this cold and the snow makes travel annoying. Today gave me a fresh outlook. The sun glistening off the ice and snow made me smile.  Hope this shot perks you up too.

I have so many blessings in my life. Wonderful wife, children, family. Everyone is healthy, and happy, and everyone has jobs. Although I wasn't with everyone today, they are all in my thoughts. Hope you had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving too.

Hey! I almost forgot as I rush to get thru this Turkey day post... The website has finally been redesigned SO check it out at http://www.emerysisland.com/, and enjoy the galleries. And buy some art if you are so inclined. I know you want to "Hang an Emery" on your wall. And at least check it out. I know some of it will make you smile. That's what my shots were designed to do.
Until tomorrow,
Peace
Emery

2011-11-23: Snow! *Groan*...

Lowes was coming this morning to deliver our new fridge. But we had a winter storm due overnight, so I planned on getting up early and shovelling. Well, I woke up at 6:30 to find that the power was out. Ug. So I went outside to start working in the sleet. Birch branches were bent all over the driveway. So I didn't think Lowes would get in today...Well by 8:30, the driveway was clear, and by 9:00 the power was back on! And the fridge came at 9:05.Perfect timing! I ended up just taking a vacation day. The weather was lousy and I didn't feel like going to the office. So I stayed home and puttered. Turned out to be a good day. Sue and I watched Horrible Bosses. Funnnnny! I got my photography club newsletter done, finished a rough draft of my slideshow for youtube, and even managed to get out and takes some pics. This one was of a hay wagon up the street with Belknap mountain the the clouds.

What else...Oh Sue made some delicious apple crisp. Yup, a great day. Glad it stormed after all!
Have a great night everybody, and a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Em

2011-11-22: Stocked up

11 More days until the GHS Art fair. And I've been busting my hump to get ready. The new website is days away from going live.  And my stock is all ready to go also. Next week will just be packing everything up and putting the finishing touches on things. I'm really looking forward to the fair. Then I can take a little break when that is over and concentrate on some new photo projects. Anyway, here's a shot of some of my stock.

I know you want one of these in your house! Or 2 or 3!...Come on down to GHS on Dec 3rd and buy all this so I can start from scratch! Take an original "Emery" home with you.
Ok, break over...back to the fun and games!
Em

2011-11-21: Webinar time.

Been a crazy busy day, and I've got a ton to do in only a few hours. As a matter of fact, I'm listening to a webinar ("Confessions of a so-called Pro")  right now by David DuChemin. I read a bunch of inspirational photography books of his (From Craft And Vision), and it is wonderful stuff. That's today's lesson for you. Check him out. Anyway, today's image is just from a red weedy shrub that grows around in the woods around our house. Not sure what it is, haven't been able to find it in books, but I like it just the same. I thought it's leaves would never fall, but they came off yesterday. Any idea what it is?

Ok, back to my show, and then PATS tonite.
Keep shooting!
Em

2011-11-20: My Wild Life...

So I planned on hiking Belknap mountain today. I've been wanting to get up to the Fire tower and get some shots of the mountains before the snow flies. Then I woke up early this morning and I was thinking that 1) My knee has been tweaking lately, and 2) it's hunting season...Then Sue was thinking the same thing that it probably wouldn't be a great idea. A photographer was shot and killed by a hunter a couple of weeks ago in NH. Well I was going to Walmart to see if I could find some blaze orange clothes, and happened to drive by Pheasant Ridge...There were cars there! So I stopped in and spoke to Jim the pro, and he said "Of course we're open". So...I made a 1:20 T Time and opted to do that instead of hiking. I mean I've already been hit in the head by a golf ball. What are the chances it could happen again? Safer to be golfing I figured. Made Sue happy...And I haven't golfed in a couple of months so it made me happy too. Called my buddy John, and he was happy to get out there too. Beautiful day. Nov. 20th and in the high 50's!
Anyway, we were out on the 5th hole, and there was a porcupine just sombering around the fairway. I happened to have my camera :-)  and got some shots.

Those are John's feet in the shot. He sacrificed himself and got on the other side of the little guy so it would turn to face me. We were only about 6 ft away from it. Anyway, great afternoon with my buddy, and it was great to be out. Didn't get shot...Didn't get hit int the head with a golf ball...And didn't get stuck with Porcupine quills!
Talk to you on Monday
Em

2011-11-19 An Evening with Groucho...

...And Sue, and Ellie, and Ernie... Went to the free Putnam Fund show last night at Laconia HS with Sue and my In-laws. The Putnam Fund hosts "Arts" shows using funds from a long ago bequeath. Last night, they hosted the show "An Evening WIth Groucho". This is a 1 man award winning show (Well, one plus a piano player) that has toured around the world. From the time Frank Ferrante sat behind the mirror while talking to the audience, and adorned trademark moustache, eyebrows, cigar, and floofed up his hair, I thought I was watching an old Marx brothers movie. He was fantastic! And being a Marx brothers fan, I was impressed. The one liners, the histroy of the Marx brothers, the scenes from movies, the dialog with audience members...it was fantastic. And his director/piano player Jim Furmston was a wonderful player (of old Marx Bros movie music) and added perfect subtle humor to the show. Here are some shots:

 If you ever get a chance to see Mr. Ferrante (on PBS sometimes), I recommend it! But only if you want to laugh!
What else is happing with me...I took shots yesterday of the NH Volleyball Player of the year. The shot took up about 60% of the front page of the sports section today. Above and over the fold! Luckily no new assignments scheduled for this weekend, so I hope it stays that way. Gotta finish battening down the hatches before the impending snow...I know its bound to come eventually. :-(
See ya
Em

2011-11-18: Plymouth State/Framingham State Hockey

Covered my first hockey game last night. Went quite well I thought. See the Citizen Online for the story. Plymouth won 4 to 2. I had some pretty good shots, after reading up on hockey photography the night before. Toughest part was getting the guy's numbers in the picture so I could clearly label them. And then of course, you have to deal with the speed of the action, the horrible lighting in an arena, getting somewhere where the netting or safety glass isn't obstructing your view. For those who might try it, I set my ISO on Auto, which really ran at 800. Had my camera on Shutter priority and set primarily at 1/200. That seemed to work. And white balance was Flourescent.
I met one of the player's mom (Richie Zobak's), so I promised her I'd try to get some pics of her son in the paper, or at least on the blog. He got the first goal, which was very cool as he got it in while he was tripped up. At the time, Plymouth was down 2-zip.  His pic didn't make the paper, but I've got some shots below. Mrs. Zobak, contact me if you want me to send you some pics. Here are some shots from the game.

 Brian Johnson digging it out

 Jack Astedt Glove Save

 Phil Arnone anticipating the pass

Richie Zobak

 Richie Zobak

 Alex Cottle (I believe)

 Richie Zobak

 Richie Zobak Shoots and Scores!

 Tim Visich  This shot made the paper

 Tim Visich

 Alex Cottle (this also made the paper)

 Alex Cottle

 Phil Moore (Phil scored also)

I had to race out after the 2nd period in order to drive the 45 mins home, review my shots, and get them to the newspaper in time for printing. Deadlines! It was a great game, sorry I missed the last period, but no one scored in that period anyway. Oh, one of my shot is above the fold in the printed paper today.

So what's next for Em? Football. Check.. Soccer..Check. Volleyball..Check...Guess we have basketball coming up I imagine. Oh, took shots today of the Gilford HS Div II volleyball champion player of the year. Check out Saturday's Citizen for that.

Hopefully next year, I'll be down in the end zone in Foxboro, or along the ice at the Boston Garden..And it would be nice if the NBA got going again and the Celts called. That's my new dream...to get trampled by a player while I'm getting that Sports Illustrated shot. We'll see!

Em

2011-11-17: A Clean Hit

I'm on the road today. Down in Manchester with access to only a few of my pics. So here are a couple of shots from the Plymouth HS/Trinity HS football championships last Saturday. I'm really enjoying these sports assignments.

 A Clean Hit

 I knew I saw a facemask

 This one made the paper

I was covering Plymouth, but with kids who went to Laconia, I was silently rooting for Plymouth to lose, which they did 30-14.
Tonite after work, I'm heading up to Plymouth State College to cover the Mens hockey vs Framingham state. Should be exciting. Maybe I'll have some shots for tomorrow. Hopefully lots of clean hits.
See ya
Em

2011-11-16: A quickie

Busy schedule today, but I've got to squeeze in this post...Remember that snow storm that happened in Gilford a couple of weeks ago? You know, the 18 incher that stranded my son in the driveway while I was 4 hours north in St. Albans, Maine (aka Lower Arctic Circle). Well, this is a farm on Indian Head Lake after the storm..Justadustin'.

In all fairness, this is what it looked like last December 1st.

And if you have my 2011 calendar, you'll see this scene in a couple of weeks.
Speaking of calendars, the 2012 calendars are all designed..Get your orders in. ;-)
Ok, gotta go! Busy Busy Busy
Em

2011-11-15: Here and Gone

I've been trying to get some decent pictures of the Japanese Maple in my yard before the leaves fall. But I left my good tripod in Maine, and I can't find the attachment for my lousy tripod. So I haven't got any great shots of it this year. But over night, most of the leaves fell, so let me show you yesterday...and today...

Here

And Gone

What a difference a day makes, huh? 
Have a good one
Em

2011-11-14: The Tilton Arch

No, not the Golden arches in Tilton, but the Tilton Arch...It was supposed to be the final resting place of Charles Tilton over a century ago, but never happened for him. I went for a ride at lunch to clear my head. Rough day at the orifice as they say. Anyway, I went to check out the arch. (You can read some history on that here)  I heard you can get some good pics at sunset. Well, it wasn't sunset, and was rather gloomy out, but I did what I could.

Wanted to get a shot up close and personal with the lion on the empty sarcophagus, but didn't have any rope or climbing shoes. So I thought outside of the box. I put my camera on the monopod, set the timer to 10 second delay and reached up for the shot. Only took about 3 tries to get it right.

Left my camera bag in this shot for perspective.



Afterwards, I walked over to the Arch Hill cemetary and took some shots. A gentlemen from the historical society (Jim Lamanuzzi -same guy from the linked article) happened to be at the town hall, saw me and walked over. He has been trying to get the cemetaries photographed and mapped out with a GPS. So we talked about that for awhile. Maybe that is something I can help with sometime..(Yeah, I know...In my spare time).

Anyway, it was a good lunch. Came back to the office, and found out someone moved my box again...Always have to think outside the box because you never can tell where it will be tomorrow. Poor Charles never made it to his box... Sigh.
On another note....WHAT A GREAT PATS GAME LAST NIGHT. 37-16 over the miserable Jets.
See you tomorrow. And please leave my box where it belongs.
Em.

2011-11-13: That old wooden fence

Another busy day today. It was a beautiful fall day. Organized my office a bit, tuned up the snowblower, and raked up leaves. Grumble grumble. Anyway, got all my chores done so I can watch the Pats game tonite. Playing the Jets. They're both tied for first so it's a big game. Anyway, no time to process any pics today. Took some, but I spent enough time yesterday reviewing shots. So here is one from a couple of weeks ago in Maine. We were taking a ride around St. Albans, when I jumped out of the car because I saw a shot worthy scene. Don't worry, I wasn't driving. It was just an old rotting fence. I thought it looked great. Everyone else shook their heads.



What do you think? Anyway, game time now, so must pay attention to the game. Check the Citizen tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have some shots from the Plymouth game.
Go Pats.
Em

2011-11-12: Long day...

Long day today..And I only took 500 pictures. Let's see, I started out this morning at 9:30. Hit the bank, stopped at the Fire department to get a burning permit, went to BJ's, then went to Manchester to a Camera Flea market...Happy to say that I didn't see anything I wanted. And then covered the Plymouth/Trinity Division 4 football championship. Plymouth lost 30 to 14. Didn't stand a chance. Hopefully that is a consolation for my Laconia friends.What's next...Stopped on the way home to look for a Christmas present, and then went home. And had a fire. Had lots of stuff we wanted to burn before the snows come. So I sat by the fire with a bottle of wine and started to review my 500 pictures of the game. I really think I over did it. Gee ya think? And then I proceeded to take another 100 of the fire.

Well fire is out, pics have been submitted to the paper, wine is gone, and now blog is done. Think I'm going to hit the hay. Been a loonnng day, but I got a lot done.
Take care
em