Glorious West Meadow Sunset

Last night’s West Meadow Beach sunset was INSANE! (To quote the 80's Crazy Eddie Announcer- am I dating myself?!).

Low tide created lots of sand bars and tidal pools which acted like glass reflecting the crazy clouds above. It reminded me of those images from the Utah Salt Flats, where the ground perfectly mirrors the sky thanks to an inch or two of water on the surface- makes for spectacular images.

Loved the “wave ripples” in the sand- they catch that sun glow and warmth and add another dimension to the scene... they also act as a leading line into the scene- lots going on here- Mother Nature strutting her beautiful stuff.

Funny, when I was driving down to the beach I was watching the sky and I was thinking “maybe a 50/50” shot of this being a decent sunset... glad I followed my gut which said something special was brewing...

I must have a dozen beauties to go through!

#sunset #sunsetphotography #sunsetvibes #landscapephotography #color #ocean

Mother Nature showing up next level at West Meadow Beach on the North Shore of Long Island

St George Golf Course

For those of you that live in the Setauket-Stony Brook section of town you are familiar with St. George's Country Club and Golf Course. Sometimes the light on this course is spectacular and usually I'll turn around and head up the entrance to grab an iphone shot of the fantastic light on the fairways and greens.

Last night heading back from West Meadow the light was pretty "okay"- not awe-inspiring WOW type stuff, but pretty... so having my Nikon z9 with me, I snapped this shot- not sure of the hole here (maybe someone days), but I love this tree in the middle- I do wish there was a better sky, I am sure one day there will be, and I hope to be there when it is!

Chasing Waterfalls

🥶 Icy Encounter: When Ricketts Glen's 21 Waterfalls Became a Winter Gauntlet

The Best-Laid Plans...

Ricketts Glen State Park is a pilgrimage site for waterfall enthusiasts. Its crown jewel? The Falls Trail, a legendary loop featuring 21 named waterfalls, cascading dramatically through a deep gorge. My plan was simple: spend the day capturing every single one. I had my gear ready, my lenses clean, and my tripod sturdy.

Mother Nature, however, had other ideas.

Snow in the Poconos

Driving through the Poconos on my way to the park, the weather quickly shifted from crisp autumn air to a surprise winter blanket. Three sudden inches of snow fell, turning the landscape—and my anticipation—into something far more challenging.

When I finally arrived on-site, the parking lot was completely covered, and I was the only car there. That's usually a photographer's dream for solitude, but combined with the snow, it was a massive red flag.

The Ranger's Warning

I headed straight into the Ranger Station. The ranger, seeing my intent and the conditions outside, cautioned me firmly. She advised me not to go past the fourth waterfall, Cayuga Falls, due to the very real possibility of hidden ice beneath the fresh snow.

Her warning was crucial, and upon hitting the trail, I understood why.

A Dance on Slippery Shale

The Falls Trail is notorious for its many ascents and descents via shale stairs. Shale, when wet, is already incredibly slippery. Add a fresh layer of snow concealing potential black ice, and the whole path transforms into a treacherous, icy gauntlet.

Every single step required absolute concentration. There are no fences or guardrails in many critical sections. A fall doesn't just mean a bruised ego—it means tumbling into the river, risking bodily injury against a tree, or worse, impacting the sharp rocks of the gorge.

I made the call to respect the ranger's warning and the conditions. The risk simply wasn't worth the reward of a few extra photos. I turned around after photographing the first three falls.

The Takeaway

While I was disappointed to only photograph four of the 21 waterfalls, this trip was a powerful reminder: The photograph is never worth risking your safety. Ricketts Glen is a wild place, and you have to respect its power, especially when winter begins to encroach.

I'll be back for the full 21—but next time, I'll be checking the weather forecast for sudden snow with a much keener eye!

Winter Frost at Oneida Falls (Landscape)

Rushing River at Oneida Falls

Icicles forming on a snow covered branch… a telling sign of just how cold it was!

“Cascade”

A simple sunset

One of my favorite haunts to shoot sunset is only a few miles from my home. West Meadow Beach is a rarity on Long Island as it faces due west- perfect for catching the setting sun. Last night was brrrrrrr…. chilly and blustery. Old Man Winter seems to be waking from his fall nap- the chill in the air had my hands numb and camera strap flappin’ away!

While this end of day wasn’t magnificent by any stretch- I find sunsets and sunrises are a lot like people- different personalities shine through. Loved the red that blazed on the underside of the clouds, I just wish there had been more airborne to catch this light… not complaining by any stretch, I’ll take any sunset with color!

Thanks for taking it in with me.

Sunset @ West Meadow Beach

Old images

Its neat to run through old Lightroom Catalogs of images I’ve taken.

Most of the time I’ll have a what was I thinking when I composed that shot narrative rambling around my head. And other times, I’ll ask myself how did I miss finishing an image, because it caught my eye and I go- hmmm, that one is worth something.

This is that image. Found it going through some shots I took at The Pond here in Stony Brook, maybe 2 miles from where I live. Sad story that it was destroyed in a massive rain event two years ago. Local politicians can’t seem to get their act together and sort it out, and rebuild this beautiful place. I sure hope they do, because I just love heading down to shoot the birds and other wildlife that call this place “home”

Moments before touchdown

Fallingwater

Got to visit another bucket list location today- the Frank Lloyd Wright designed home called “Fallingwater".” Up at 5:30 am to drive 2+ hours from Penn State to Mill Run, PA the home of Fallingwater. It was reeaaaly dark when we set out through the bucolic countryside of Pennsylvania where we were greeted with patches of intense fog and mist (my photographer mind was already wondering if it would remain in the woods by the time we arrived at Fallingwater)

Walking down the driveway to the residence… JUST WOW!

Fallingwater is the name given to Frank Lloyd Wright's amazing house on the Bear Run River. It's literally built into and on top of the falls from local stone, and concrete. While the house was partially under construction (the tarp on the left side of the image) and the water wasn't really running, it was awe-inspiring to see. Famous for its cantilevered terraces, the three story home was commissioned by Edgar Kaufmann of department store fame. It was finished in 1939, you have to remember, no computers, bulldozers, laser measuring devices were available- which makes this place mind bending to think it came from Wright's thoughts.

To me architecture is art. And Fallingwater is the epitome of architecture. From this famous spot, called the Overlook, it almost feels as though you are about to enter Rivendell, the mythical home of Tolkien's elves.

PS, I got lucky with the mist and fog this morning. Just right place at the right time. A lot more pics to come!

The “Foot Bath” used by guests to clean their feet after wandering the woods.