Author Archive

Ice Sculptures   1 comment

I discovered these ice formations during a walk through the Vermont woods yesterday morning:

Icicles in front of waterfall

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Ice in tunnel

Posted December 16, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Macro

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Art Walk in the Backyard   1 comment

I shot these while walking our dog on a crisp morning. Even in black&white, nature is gorgeous:

Thorny Frost

 

Frost detail

 

Frost on Leaf

Canon EOS 7D, 24-7omm EF f/2.8, B&W conversion with SilverEfex

Posted December 15, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Landscapes, Macro

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My Favorite Bookshelf   Leave a comment

My favorite bookshelf is the one in my house — like good friends, these surround me and remind me of good times. And right next to it is my reading chair, making for a lovely spot to spend a rainy day. What’s your favorite reading spot? On to the next book….

Bookshelf

iphone, edited with Snapseed app

Posted December 14, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, Things

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Nighttime stroll in Manhattan   2 comments

At night, and away from the tourist attractions, there are plenty of good photo opportunities in New York. Click on any picture to see the photos in slideshow format (trying out some new WordPress features).

Posted December 12, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, New York, Travel

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Winter Beach Walk   2 comments

Even in the cold, wet weather, the local beach provides some good photo opportunities – you just have to get close to your subject.

Dew drop up close

Shell in beach sand

Shell buried in sand

All shot with iPhone, edited with Snapseed

Posted December 10, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Landscapes, Things, US

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Calling Batman   1 comment

Well, he certainly didn’t answer the call last week when I walked through Manhattan:

Searchlights in Manhattan

And while the Batmobile is cool, this ride is waaaay cooler!Vespa Scooter in Manhattan

Canon EOS 7D
ISO 200
18mm
f/8
30 sec

Posted December 8, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, New York, Things, US

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Christmas Season in Manhattan   3 comments

I love the festive mood that all of New York gets into before the holidays. It’s especially nice on a crisp, cold fall night. Here are a few of my favorite spots in mid-town. Happy Holidays!

Christmas Ornaments on 6th Ave

Cartier store in New York

Holiday Decorations in New York

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections   2 comments

I was inspired by The Strobist, a great blog about lighting that I recently discovered, to try some of my own lighting experiments. Ingredients: Objects in my house (shell found on the beach today, an antique spur from a flea market in Buenos Aires, and a Buddha head I picked up in Taiwan), a piece of glass, a sheet of white paper, a sheet of black paper, and two lights. And my camera, with a macro lens. And 2 hours to spare.

Reflection of shell on glass

Antique Spur

Antique Spur, Sepia

Buddha head, copper

Posted December 3, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Macro, Things

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Times Square Memories (part 3)   1 comment

Despite the cold weather, Times Square is teeming with tourists during the holiday season. These pictures are part of an ongoing project I’m having fun with: all the various ways people memorialize their visit to New York, and to Times Square specifically. The full series is in a gallery on my  photography site.


Central Park at Night   3 comments

Had some fun with Black&White while wandering through Central Park at night:

Wollman Rink

Resting in Central Park

Park bench in Central Park

Central Park bench

 

Faster, Higher, Bigger   3 comments

I had the privilege of seeing last week, from my window, three icons of modern day transportation lined up next to each other: The Concorde (fastest passenger jet ever), the  Space Shuttle (highest altitude orbital space craft ever), and the Queen Mary 2 (largest Ocean Liner* ever built):

Concorde, Space Shuttle and Queen Mary 2 next to each other on Manhattan's Hudson River bank

The Space Shuttle is on the deck of the aircraft carrier (now museum) Intrepid, while the Concorde is on a pier right next to it, in between the Space Shuttle and the Queen Mary 2.

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Canon EOS 7D, EF-S 10-22mm
ISO 400
18mm
f/4.5

*There are now some cruise ships that are bigger than the Queen Mary 2, but she remains the largest Ocean Liner (a vessel that has a set route between two ports – in this case Southampton and New York – and is built to withstand rough seas).

 

Posted November 29, 2012 by Lutz Braum in New York, Things, US

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Shooting the Sun   3 comments

I know that the rule is to keep the sun out of the picture, and preferably behind you, but this time I thought I’d experiment doing the opposite.

Sunset over Clinton MarinaISO 100, 60mm, f/22, 10 sec, using 10x ND filter

 

Winter SunISO 100, 24mm, f/20, 1/250sec

Sun over beach reedsISO 100, 24mm, f/22, 1/160 sec

All photos taken with Canon EOS 7D, 24-70mm EF lens

 

 

Posted November 25, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes

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Cold is Here   6 comments

Early morning weather in CT today. ‘Stick season,’ as the locals call it, is here. Still, there’s beauty in it, especially in early morning and evening light. Reminds me of the moody paintings of the romantic German painter Caspar David Friedrich, one of my favorites.

Sunrise over meadow in CT

Canon EOS 7D, 50mm f/1.4
ISO 200
f/22
1/800 sec

Here are two paintings of Caspar David Friedrich:

Caspar David Friedrich: Oakwood Abbey

Caspar David Friedrich: The lonely tree

Posted November 23, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Travel, US

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Welcome Skylark   2 comments

Ok, it didn’t take long before I took our new dog, Skylark, to the beach for a photo session. She’s a 10-year old retired Guide Dog for the Blind from California, who is now getting used to Connecticut weather and the notion that it’s OK to chase bunnies and squirrels. She already took control of the backyard, which she patrols diligently. Soon this sweet and well-mannered German Shepherd will think she owns the whole neighborhood..

Skylark, retired Guide Dog for the Blind

 

German Shepherd, smiling

Posted November 20, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Animals

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Playing With Fire   Leave a comment

With nature providing fewer opportunities for color photography, I decided to do some indoor photography, experimenting with ‘macro pyro photography'(my personal technical term):

Match ignition

 

ISO 2000, -4 ev, f/2.8, 1/8000

 

Match burning brightly

 

ISO 2000, f/2.8, 1/100

Match after burning, with smoke

ISO 2000, f/2.8, 1/20, add’l lighting from flashlight

All photos taken with Canon EOS 7D, EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM

Posted November 18, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Macro, Things

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Veteran’s Day Remains   1 comment

The town of Branford, CT, honored all men and women killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq with flags. One for each casualty. A powerful reminder of the futility of war.

US flags covering a lawn in Branford, CT

iphone, edited with Snapseed

Posted November 18, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Things, US

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Explosion On The Tracks   2 comments

No, just a train arriving, taking me to New York on a dark Sunday night…

Train arriving at Guilford Station, CT

Posted November 15, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Things, Travel, US

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Beloved Kearney   5 comments

This is Kearney, a retired Guide Dog for the Blind who had enjoyed her retirement with us for the last 4 1/2 years before passing away last month. This is how I’ll always remember her – slightly leaning from a stroke (which she recovered from almost fully), attentive, and super sweet. And next week, we’ll get a new addition to the family, yet another retired Guide Dog that needs a home, named Skylark (and also a German Shepherd). I’m VERY excited!

Kearney, retired Guide Dog

Posted November 10, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Animals

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The Last Burst of Color   5 comments

Now that the leaves are down, I just need to post one more shot that reflects how I felt when watching the leaves turn in Vermont: a veritable EXPLOSION of color!

Burst of Fall Colors

Canon EOS 7D, 24-70mm
ISO 100
f/20
1/15
multiple focal lengths

Posted November 10, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes

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Fall Silhouettes   Leave a comment

Taken a few days before hurricane Sandy, when the weather was still nice enough to wander to the beach without a heavy jacket.

Sunset silhouette

 

Swan at sunset

Canon EOS 7D, EF 24-70mm
Top: ISO 100, 70mm, f/2.8, 1/2500 sec
Bottom:  ISO 100, 66mm, f/3.2, 1/320 sec

Posted November 8, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Animals, Landscapes, US

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Forest Oddities   Leave a comment

Only in the fall, when all the leaves are down, do you start noticing some of the other, equally beautiful things of the forest: mushrooms, bark, fungi.

Fungi on tree trunk

 

Forest Mushrooms

 

Birch bark

Fun Fair   2 comments

First of all, I’m very excited about having more than 100 followers as of yesterday! Thank you all for making my day!

Here is a shot that kids would get very excited about:

Ferris Wheel at Fun Fair

This was a fun fair setting up at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The staff had fun testing the equipment prior to opening night.

Shot with Canon Powershot G12

Posted October 31, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, Things, US

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Georgia Country Roads   2 comments

On a drive through rural Georgia, I felt transported back to the 1950s.

Small town view in Georgia

 

I loved this old vault in a Wells Fargo Branch in Americus:Bank Lobby with Vault

 

 

I only captured the service station part of this establishment. I’ll leave the grocery store to your imagination:

Old Gas Station

All shots taken with Canon PowerShot G12

Posted October 27, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, Black&White, Travel, US

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I Love Bakeries!   3 comments

And sometimes I can’t help myself and I just HAVE to pull out my camera and take a picture of these mouth-watering delights. The first one is my favorite bakery in New York: Amy’s Bread on 9th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen. Their Miche is to die for! The second one is a market in Stowe, VT. What’s your favorite bakery?

Amy's Bread in New York City

Fresh Market, Stowe, VT

Posted October 24, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Things

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Roadside Delights in Vermont   5 comments

Found this one alongside a road in Vermont:

Purple flowers and red trees

Then I saw this road, and the entire road was surrounded by color, lit up by the sunrise:

Foliage Road

But nothing surpassed the flame red foliage surrounding this pond:

Vermont pond surrounded by foliage

Posted October 20, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Travel

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Moonset over Fall Foliage   1 comment

Smuggler’s Notch, VTMoonset over Fall Foliage

 

 

Canon EOS 7D, EF24-70mm f/2.8L
ISO 160
f/13
1/80 sec

Posted October 18, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes

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First Frost   7 comments

Fall is definitely here: we had the first frost in CT, and that provided some nice photo opportunities:

Frosted Leaf

 

Frosted Flower

 

 

First Icicles of 2012

All images shot with Canon EOS 7D, 100mm Macro lens f/2.8

Posted October 13, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Macro

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Fall Waterfalls   6 comments

Found these waterfalls in Vermont while hiking:

Small waterfall in Vermont

Near Smuggler’s Notch

 

Glenn Moss Creek, Vermont

Glenn Moss Creek Falls

 

Glen Moss Falls, Vermont

Glenn Moss Falls, near Stowe, VT

All taken with Canon EOS 7D, 24-70mm lens, various apertures

Posted October 12, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, US

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Vermont Colors – Last Day: Panoramas   6 comments

A week in Vermont during peak foliage season was simply magical. Here are some parting shots, all taken near Stowe:

Horses in the mist

Foliage Panorama

Waterfall Panorama

Riders in Vermont

Sunset in Vermont

Posted October 7, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, US

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Vermont Colors – Day 7: Up Close   2 comments

This time I enjoyed getting very very close to my subject. Fortunately, the mushrooms didn’t move much. The frog was a bit more challenging – took about 3 minutes to get close enough for this macro shot.

Fairy Tale Mushroom

Frog Eye - Macro

Forest Mushrooms

Mushroom

Canon EOS 7D, 100mm EF-L f2/8

Posted October 6, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Animals, Landscapes, Macro, Travel, US

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Vermont Colors – Day 6: Foliage and Water   Leave a comment

Glen Moss Creek near Stowe provided some great photo opportunities:

Leaves on Rock in Vermont Creek

Leaf on Rock in Creek

Vermont creek vista with leaves

Posted October 4, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Travel, US

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Vermont Colors – Day 5: Early Morning   4 comments

Finally had a day featuring a sunrise, and I was amply rewarded with beautiful light. Mixed with the early morning dew, it created some great photo opportunities:

Spiderweb in the morning light

Fern Detail

Lazy Susan Leftover

Fern in Morning Light

Posted October 3, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Macro, Travel, US

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Vermont Colors – Day 4: Black and White   3 comments

After the overdose of vibrant colors my eyes were subjected to during the first few days in Vermont, I decided to take a break from the colors. Instead,  I focused on textures and contrasts to come up with some black & white photographs:

Mushroom in Vermont

Forest Mushroom

Birch Bark in Vermont

Birch Bark

Pond Reflections in Vermont

Pond Reflections

Vermont Colors – Day 3: Panoramas/Vistas   1 comment

Driving along Highway 100 in Vermont, I came across too many photo opportunities to ask my wife to stop for every single one of them. Still, I managed to take advantage of a few, catching the peak season of the famous Vermont Foliage:

Vermont Road Panorama

 

Vermont Foliage Panorama

 

Vermont Pond with Foliage

 

Vermont Brook and Birch

Posted October 1, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, US

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Vermont Colors – Day 1   5 comments

I haven’t even been here for 24 hours, and already my camera is bursting with colorful shots of the fall foliage. And according to the foliage report, this isn’t even peak season yet! Stay tuned for more.

Colorful ferns in Vermont

Colorful leaf in Vermont

Deer in Vermont

Canon EOS 7D, 70-200mm
ISO 200

Posted September 29, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Travel, US

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Reflections at 9/11 Memorial   1 comment

Although surrounded by ear-numbing construction on all sides, the 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan is an oasis of peace and quiet. Even the fountains didn’t seem to make any noise.

9-11 Memorial in New York

 

 

911 Memorial, New York

 

Names on 911 Memorial

 

 

Pentagon Names on 911 Memorial

All photographs taken with Canon EOS 7D, 24-77mm EFL f/2.8

Posted September 26, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, US

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Man’s Best Friend   11 comments

Well, at least THIS man’s best friend.  Caught this man and his dog while walking through Brooklyn – both were completely content sitting on the doorstep of their house and pursing their favorite activity – reading and people watching.

Man and Dog sitting on Doorstep

Shot with Canon EOS 7D, 100mm f/2.8L Macro
ISO 800
100mm
f/3.2
1/80 sec

Posted September 21, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, New York, People

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Mr. Blue Sky   Leave a comment

Today the sky was so blue I just had to post some pictures of it. And the fall blooms provided a nice contrast.  It was the kind of gorgeous day that made me think of one of my favorite songs that always gets my feet tapping: ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ by ELO (“Sun is shining in the sky, there ain’t a cloud in sight…”).

Red flower against blue sky

Red Flower

Red Fruit against Blue Sky

Yellow Flower against Blue Sky

All photos shot with iphone Hipstamatic.

Posted September 15, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Macro, US

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The Spirit of Ecstasy   1 comment

On a walk through Brooklyn I found a parked Rolls Royce (yes, parked and unattended!) and had fun experimenting with some close-up photography of the hood ornament, called ‘Spirit of Ecstacy’ , designed in 1911. Here are a few of my favorite takes.

Rolls Royce Hood Ornament in Antique B&W

High Contrast version of Rolls Royce Hood Ornament

Rolls Royce Hood Ornament in Green

Frontal image of Rolls Royce Ornament

Original of Rolls Royce Hood Ornament

All images shot with Canon EOS 7D, 100mm macro lens

Posted September 9, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Things

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Bridges of Brooklyn   7 comments

On a recent walk through Brooklyn’s DUMBO district (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), I found lots of interesting views of both the Brooklyn Bridge as well as the Williamsburg Bridge. The district is New York’s 90th historic district.

Empire State Building seen through the Williamsburg Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge Detail

Brooklyn Bridge as seen from Jay Street

Brooklyn Bridge, Detail of Tower

Tower of Williamsburg Bridge

Williams Bridge view, from Brooklyn Bridge

Tower, Brooklyn Bridge

Williamsburg Bridge Tower with Manhattan Skyline

All photos taken with Canon EOS 7D, 24-70mm EF

Jane’s Carousel   2 comments

This is Jane’s Carousel, an antique carousel (built in 1922) lovingly restored by Jane Walentas in her studio in Brooklyn. It now sits in a dedicated structure at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, is open year-round, and enjoyed by kids of all ages.

Jane's carousel underneath the Brooklyn Bridge

Up close photo of Jane's Carousel in Brooklyn, NY

Detail of Jane's Carousel in Brooklyn, NY

Canon EOS 7D, 24-70mm
ISO 100
f/4
1/30 sec

Posted September 5, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, New York, Travel

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New York’s Finest is also New York’s Nicest   3 comments

Who would have thought that the New York Police Department has time for photo opportunities? But they do, and they endure the onslaught of tourists in Times Square gracefully. This is a continuation of my Times Square series I started a few weeks ago.

NYPD Cop in Times Square with Tourists

NYC cop taking a family's picture in Times Square

Captured with Canon Powershot G12, modified with Silver Efex 2

Lightning on the Plains   4 comments

I captured this while driving through South Dakota on a warm summer night.

 

 

Shot in South Dakota, with Canon EOS 7D, EFS 15-85mm lens
ISO 200
f/5
64 sec

Posted August 12, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Travel, US

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Burning Man Sculpture   Leave a comment

Burning Man 2012 is coming up at the end of the month. Here’s a photo I took there in 2006.

burning man 2007 sculpture of two trucks welded together

Posted August 8, 2012 by Lutz Braum in America, Landscapes, Things, US

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Retired tunnel equipment   Leave a comment

Driving by New Haven’s port facility, I spotted these rusting pieces of equipment.

Canon EOS 7D

Posted August 6, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Black&White, Things, US

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Night in New York City   Leave a comment

This city provides great photo opportunities at any time of day. Here’s the NY Public Library:

 

Here’s Grand Central Terminal:

 

Times Square:

 

Ogilvy Building in Hell’s Kitchen:

All photos taken with Canon Powershot G12 and tripod

Posted August 3, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, New York, US

Times Square Memories (part 2)   3 comments

I found these moments of vacation snapshots more interesting than the actual splendor (or squalor, depending on your point of view) of Times Square. Check out the first post in this series.

Photo of tourists taking each other's photo in Times Square, New York

Photo of tourists taking each other's photo in Times Square, New York

Photo of tourists taking each other's photo in Times Square, New York

Photo of tourists taking each other's photo in Times Square, New York

Photo of tourists taking each other's photo in Times Square, New York

Photo of tourists taking each other's photo in Times Square, New York

father taking snapshot of son in Times Square

All photos taken with Canon Powershot G12, modified with SilverEfex 2.

Seagull’s view of beach   1 comment

Another gorgeous day at the local beach – as seen by the many seagulls walking around.

20120721-154640.jpg

Posted July 21, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Landscapes, Macro, US

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New York’s most beautiful building   Leave a comment

The Flatiron Building will always be my favorite building in New York:

Here are a few other views:

Posted July 15, 2012 by Lutz Braum in Architecture, New York, Travel

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Manhattan Solstice   7 comments

Manhattan Solstice or ‘Manhattanhenge’ is one of two days every year when the sun sets exactly in line with the crosstown streets of Manhattan. Because New York’s grid isn’t aligned exactly along East/West, this phenomenon doesn’t occur on June 21 (like in Stonehenge), but on two days spaced evenly around summer solstice (this shot was taken on July 11, 2012).

Canon EOS 7D, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L
ISO 250
200mm
f/5
1/125 sec