Worlds End

Walking the old carriage roads at World's End in Hingham Massachusetts, the rolling hills and the lines of trees  presented several arresting images.  The relationship of the clouds and sky patterns in relation to the trees created striking dynamics in the images.   The feathery birches were of particular visual interest.

We were always surrounded by water in walking the carriage roads, with views of the distant skyline of Boston.

Theses isolated small trees seemed to have a conversation with themselves.

While culling my collection of photo books, I browsed Ansel Adams’ book of the Southwest and was struck by his image of El Capitan Peak in Guadalupe National Park made in 1942. It seemed somehow familiar so I checked photos I made on a trip in 1998 through west Texas going north into NM. I found the two photos included here of the same area but with different viewpoints and lighting. Judging from the raking light in Ansel's image the photo was probably made in late afternoon. My photos were made earlier in the day as we approached from the south traveling north into NM. Mine were made with a Mamiaflex twin lens reflex medium format camera and Kodak color film. Of course Ansel used an 8x10 view camera (I presume) and BW film.

Ansel Adams image of El Capitan Peak in Guadalupe National Park 
from his book of photographs from the Southwest, 
presumably rather late in the afternoon as judged by the raking sunlight. 

El Capitan Peak from the south made in 1998 with a
Mamiaflex twin lens medium format camera.

El Capitan Peak from the south made in 1998 with a Mamiaflex twin lens medium format camera and rendered in greyscale image from a scanned color image.

Killington VT

We were staying at the motel in Killington, Vermont recently and the woods behind the motel were calling out to be photographed!  This image was made in an overcast day in the morning on Memorial Day.  The passage to the deep woods in the image is both intriguing and foreboding.  The white birch tree and the near field underbrush in middle grey tones provides a startling contrast with the woods in shadow.

MacDowell Lake Photos

Images from MacDowell Lake recently: fine delicate color as the trees start to leaf-out.

Moosehorn NWR, Calais Maine

From a recent trip to down east Maine and the Moosehorn NWR.  Misty and rainy weather.  Spring colors were spectacular against the green evergreens and white birch branches and trunks.

Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti, Norongoro with Chumbe Island and Stone Town Zanzibar

A summary of our trip to Tanzania in June/July 2016.  The occasion was the 13th birthday of our twin grandchildren, Toby and Micah.  We went on a 10 day safari in northern Tanzania where we were treated to great African animal sightings.  We also visited three Tanzanian tribes and finished the trip with a stay in Zanzibar including snorkeling in Chumbe Island and a spice farm tour.

Our trip was a tremendous success as we saw a huge number of different animals and birds and the landscape was spectacular. Credit is due our very knowledgeable guide and driver, Eugene Mrosso, whose deep experience in the African bush helped to locate the animals.

Tanzania Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti, Norongoro with Chumbe Island and Stone Town Zanzibar

Tanzania Safari: The Dotoga, Hadzabe and Maasai Tribes

During last summers safari in Tanzania we visited three indigenous tribes near the safari areas.  The following book was put together from the photographs made during our visits to the three villages.  Each tribe's way of life was markedly different:  

The Dotoga tribe had cattle and goat herds, some farming and an ongoing metallurgy activity producing arrow and spear points for other tribes and jewelry.  They could melt copper and aluminum, but not iron. They heated iron to a red hot temperature and then employed blacksmith techniques to shape the metal into useful items.

The Hadzabe were in a way the most interesting as they were hunter/gatherers as in pre farming and pre animal domestication times.  We were able to watch three of their young hunters go out to find some small animals.  They had killed a large animal recently so did not require food at the moment.

The Maasai are famous as cattle and goat herdsmen.  They range over a wide region of the Serengeti region and each man carries a spear by tradition for protection.  In past times they had the attitude that all cattle were given to them by God so they could take any cow they came across.  They have subsequently given up cattle rustling apparently. 

Tanzania Safari: The Dotoga, HaDzabe and Maasai Tribes