Learning Curve

Posted on January 11, 2014January 11, 2014 by Dusty Roads

“They” say that if you want to be considered a good photographer , only show your best photos. I have a friend that I consider an awesome photographer and I knew him for several years before he ever let me see any of his “mistakes”. When he finally opened up his files to me I was so relieved to see that he has his blurred , out of focus, bad exposure pictures too. That little bit of sharing did wonders for my confidence.

But even more was what he said about them. He said unless you are making mistakes you aren’t stretching and learning. Your photography (or anything else) will get stale and boring. If you are an artist you always need to keep pushing your limits so of course you’ll have some misses.

Last year I was pretty comfortable with where I was with my photography. I’d gotten more confident with my portraits, even taking pictures of people as well as their pets and looking forward to taking more. My landscapes were well composed, in fact I began to miss that WOW I used to get when one of them really stood out.

I wasn’t quite sure where to head next. I began to leave the camera at home because it was bulky to lug around and since I didn’t have it with me I missed opportunities for shots. It was time to shake things up again.

That’s why I decided to try another 365 photo challenge. These are hard, believe me. I did one when I first got the camera. Everything was new and bright and photo ops jumped out at me everywhere and even then I had a tough time some weeks. This time it will be even harder because I don’t want to just take the same old same old.

That being said, expect to see some blunders and misses and mistakes. I’m going to try some new things, mess them up, study them some and then try them again and I expect some of these mistakes (like Bubbles-First Try) will make it into the 365 pictures I will take over the course of this challenge.

Please look and laugh at them and don’t judge me to harshly. I am trying to “stretch and learn” and you’re just along for the ride. Let’s have some fun 🙂

When is a Bridge more than a Bridge?

Posted on January 10, 2014January 10, 2014 by Dusty Roads

When is a Bridge more than a bridge? When it’s covered , of course.

Pennsylvania is supposed to have the most covered bridges. It is also supposed to have had the most covered bridges of any state throughout history. Estimates say there was at least 1500 during the height of bridge building. But don’t forget Vermont.

Vermont has the most covered bridges per square mile or at least it did have before the bad weather in recent years started taking them out and turning them into matchsticks. I’m not sure where the count stands now.

New Hampshire has bunch and I got to see some of them on my vacation to Waterville Valley.

The one I want to talk about here is the one in Rhode Island. Up until I started researching this bridge I thought it was the only one in Rhode Island. Most articles say Rhode Island has just the one but there’s a rumor that there’s a newer bridge in Lincoln Woods State Park. I may have to check that out.

But back to the bridge of the day, little Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge in Foster , RI. This little bridge was a real labor of love. A replica of an early 19th-century structure, it was built by volunteers back in 1994. The timber was logged from nearby forests and the 40-foot-long bridge straddles Hemlock Brook, north of the small town of Foster, just off Route 94. It uses the lattice-truss method of construction and was rebuilt in 1994.

It’s officially listed as part of the “leaf-peeper trail. A true treasure to see.

I saw a documentary on covered bridges on PBS and that show mentioned that the Swamp Meadow bridge had burned down. It was determined it was arson and the cuplrits, 3 village youths, eventually were identified and apprehended. But that wasn’t the end of the story. The community banded together to rebuild the bridge. The bridge burned on September 11, 1993 and was rededicated in November 1994 and stands to this day.

Where Oh Where Has the Warm Weather Gone

Posted on January 9, 2014January 9, 2014 by Dusty Roads

It’s freezing everywhere! Even Florida is reporting record cold. Watch the price of orange juice soar now!

I thought maybe it was time for a little daydreaming. Warm sand, balmy breezes, glorious sunshine…believe me, I’d be headed south right now if I could – but I guess that wouldn’t save me since it’s cold there too. Anyway the next best thing is thinking about the warm and remembering.

There was Arizona. It was warm when I went horseback riding in Sedona.

Florida. It was warm when I visited with the Mouse at Disney

and when I rode the airboat at Holiday Park and hob-nobbed with the alligators in Shark Valley (Everglades).

And of course, Hawaii. It was nice there too. The first trip the native Hawaiians told us how hot and humid it was but to us northerners it was beautiful.

And the 2nd trip to Oahu was just as nice, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, exploring the Polynesian villages, and getting blown around in the trade winds.

We nearly melted away climbing Makapu’u Point! But boy what a view!

I’m starting to warm up just thinking about these trips.

Swamp Meadow Bridge

Posted on January 8, 2014January 8, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Let’s Keep It On Ice

Posted on January 7, 2014January 7, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I’m sure I’ve been telling you how much I hate the cold. Now I learn that by hating the cold I’m not “socially acceptable”.

The “In” place to be these days is the Minus5 Ice Bar in New York. From what I’ve read the entire facility is carved from ice! Every bit including the walls, bar, glasses and even the seats. I guess you don’t have to worry about being on the “hot seat” if you hang at Minus5. I remember sitting in a walk-in freezer to drink a “yard” glass of beer once. I didn’t want the beer to get warm before I finished. Guess that’s not a problem here!

Now I’ve just heard that you don’t have to go all the way to New York if you live in Massachusetts. Not to be out done Boston has opened the Frost Ice Bar in Faneuil Hall. The Frost Bar keeps the temps at a brisk 21 degrees and for the low, low price of $18.99 per person you can enjoy the frosty ambiance. Drinks not included but they will give you a cape. 🙂

As if that wasn’t enough to keep Jack Frost happy there are several Ice Hotels. The closest one to the US is in located in our friendly neighbor to the north, Canada. The Hotel de Glace in Quebec City, Quebec is made of 500 tons of ice and 15,000 tons of snow and unlike Minus5 and the Frost Bar, this icy structure only lasts until it warms up. Once the temps start to rise the building melts away.

But before it turns into a puddle it could be an interesting place to stay. The hotel has about 3 dozen rooms, a Nordic area with tubs and sauna, an ice bar and a grand ice slide. Room temperatures range from 23 degrees to a balmy 27. But don’t worry about staying warm. Each guest is provided with a sleeping bag. The hotel is open from January to Mid-March depending, of course, upon the weather.

More ice hotels can be found in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Romania. I think I see a trend here.