Tag: Photo Essay

32nd Annual QuickChek Festival of Ballooning pre-festival Media Launch

When Scott Wyden posted a Google invite event for a press event at the 32nd annual New Jersey Festival of Ballooning I said yes immediately.

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Although I had to be at my client's office at 8AM, I decided that I could arrive just before 6:30AM, snap some photos, and be back on the road by 7AM.

But as the date approached, I realized that attending would mean getting up at 5AM. This is 1 hour earlier than I normally get up.  It also meant I wouldn’t have any time to eat a proper breakfast or do my normal coffee ritual.  I almost backed out.  I am glad I did not.

I got some great photos.

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Ken Lockwood Gorge

If you live in New Jersey or are just travelling through and have some time, drop by the Ken Lockwood Gorge.

Loren Fisher setup a meetup at the Ken Lockwood Gorge through the Somerset Photography meetup. I had never been to the gorge. I didn't know what a Gorge was. Loren explained it to me.

Ed, Prasanna and I carpooled from Skillman. We stopped in Somerville and had a leisurely lunch at Hurry Chutney.

While Saturday -- the day before -- was warmer and sunny, today, Winter came back. We were all dressed in layers from head to toe. Some photographers forgot to bring gloves, but fortunately, Loren had some extras in his truck.

Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ken Lockwood Gorge · Sunday 23 March 2014 · Nikon D5100 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ken Lockwood Gorge · Sunday 23 March 2014 · Nikon D5100 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

The sky was all grey. Soft lighting would prevail. I had rented a Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5 expecting I would get many wide-angle shots. However, this area still had snow and ice and minimal greenery. Most of the other photographers decided to do long-exposure photography. Ed had brought his neutral density filters with him. He was able to get some very long exposure images. Prasanna and I were a lot less prepared for that sort of photography.

Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ken Lockwood Gorge · Sunday 23 March 2014 · Nikon D5100 · AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

The most prolonged exposure we could do without blowing out the image was ¼ second at f/29. I still think we got some great shots. I tried to extract more colour from the images. I wanted to make them look warmer and more "spring" like than the weather indicated.

Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ken Lockwood Gorge · Sunday 23 March 2014 · Nikon D5100 · Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM

I didn't use the Sigma 8-16mm as much as I thought I would. At one point, I took it off and shot exclusively with my Nikkor 35mm f1/.8. Maybe it was my familiarity with this lens, but I feel the images are sharper and livelier.

Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ken Lockwood Gorge · Sunday 23 March 2014 · Nikon D5100 · Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM

I enjoyed the hike, and I expect to return in the spring when the trees have some leaves, and the air is warmer. If you live in New Jersey or are just travelling through and have some time, drop by the gorge.

Ben, Khürt, Loren, Prasanna, and Ed at Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ben, Khürt, Loren, Prasanna, and Ed at Ken Lockwood Gorge · Sunday 23 March 2014 · Nikon D5100 · Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM

Sunday in Montgomery Veterans Park with Godelieve Babey

Last Sunday I "exercised" my way through Montgomery Park. Godelieve Babey, a local personal fitness trainer, led a group of local residents on a fun fitness romp through the walking trails of the Montgomery Park Arboretum. Godelieve led us through a series of warm-up exercises before leading up down the path to fitness. Bhavana and Shaan were with me as well as my good friend Prasanna. Prasanna had brought his camera hoping to find something interesting in the arboretum. My camera was focused on capturing the event as part of my volunteer efforts to help Montgomery Friends of Open Space with social media. Bhavana had fun but Shaan looked exhausted after just twenty minutes.

Godelieve Babey possesses over 12 years in the exercise industry providing personal training and fitness services to those who prefer to exercise in a non-gym environment. Godelieve is well versed in training clients to get them moving especially to survive the physical and sedentary demands of one’s daily routine.

The workout was not intense but I did feel it in my thighs and calves. Godelieve showed us how to get exercise doing the Monster Walk while combining arm movements designed to increase our range of motion. Godelieve core belief is that you can be fit and exercise anywhere.

Godelieve Babey
Godelieve Babey

Doing the "Monster Walk"