LIFE-STYLE | TRAVEL | AERIAL
Photographer/Videographer specializing in Life Style, Travel, and Aerial Imagery. FAA 107 Certified for sUAS flight operations throughout the US. Fully insured. Videography work is limited to Aerial productions.
Based in Maine (May-December) and SWFL (Jan - April). Available for travel year round.
Evening light shot with the Inspire 2/X7/16 combination. Right from the start I can see a dramatic difference in the capabilities of this camera. Looking forward to more time in the air with it as well as the arrival of my 35/2.8. I will be creating an Exposure story that will be updated with my X7 images. Links to follow.
I am still actively working to overhaul my site, so I apologize if their is missing information or links that just don't work. The impending arrival of my DJI Inspire 2 and good flying weather has kept me off of the computer a bit more than I would have desired. Looking forward to finalizing all of the changes as nobody likes to spend more time inside than out. In the meantime, here are a couple of recent shots from up in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes.
I am not sure what is in store for me in 2017, but I do know, this little pup will continue to be a huge part of my life. We spent January 2nd out on the beach, watching the waves crash and chasing a brightly colored little ball. I think there is much to be learned from the joy and jest for life that Rue brings to everything that she does.
So here is to 2017 and the life of a Border Collie. May the year bring you all much peace and happiness and all the love you desire.
Winter in Maine on a windswept beach. | Sony A7Rii - Zeiss 50/1.4
Meet Rue, my new partner in crime. Super excited to introduce this lovely Border Collie to the world of adventure biking. I purchased a B.O.B. trailer and a Roberts Axle upgrade so that she and I can begin to explore the backroads. My busy summer season is coming to an end which always means adventure travel is right around the corner. Stay tuned for more...
I had the privilege of meeting up with John Connelly as he transitioned out of the Canadian Maritimes and into the beautiful waters of Down East Maine. John is on an amazing trip, covering more than 1500 miles by Canoe and Kayak. It is worth checking out his site and his IG feed. Best of luck John and hopefully our paths will cross again.
Early fog blankets the Maritimes in Downeast Maine - Sony A7rii, 90/2.8
First Sunrise in the US, West Quoddy Head, Maine - Leica M240, 90APO
Happy New Year to you all. May 2016 bring you much joy and happiness. For me, today represents a renewed commitment to chase my dreams and live my life to the fullest. Stay tuned, it is gonna be a great ride!!
A winter ride into the woods at 29 degrees - The M240 battery is fantastic
I must admit, I am really starting to find a sweet spot with the M240, especially when paired with the Summilux-M 35m f/1.4 ASPH. Yesterday I had the chance to get out for a cold weather bike ride into the woods and take a few pictures and then that night, play with some long exposures. In both scenarios, I was incredibly pleased with how the camera and lens performed.
In a similar fashion to the way my MM pairs with the Summilux-M 50 f/1.4, I find a similar gorgeous pairing between the 35 and the M240. I don't know if it is the way my eye sees or the way those two cameras render the scene, but I do find myself more and more sticking to these pairings.
Downeast Maine, an old Smoke House barely stands tall -- ISO 1600, 8 seconds
My morning walk in Downeast Maine - Leica M240 + 50 Lux
Fresh Maine Lobster and California Chardonnay - Leica M240 + 50Lux
Seaside Rose Hips -- Leica M 240 50 1,4 Lux
After almost 9 months learning to shoot in B&W with the MM, I am now going to try and balance color back into the equation. It is certainly very interesting how one can train the mind to see one way and then challenge it to see in another.
No matter what is going on in my life, an opportunity to get out on the bike is guaranteed to clear my head and my soul. Yesterday I put down the Monochrome and grabbed the little Nikon AW1 for our afternoon/evening ride. Unseasonably warm temps made for a wonderful ride along the back roads and the rough shoreline of the Bold Coast.
The AW1 is not a bad camera, with some nice features, but some of the 'usability' decisions that Nikon made, largely for underwater use, can make it a frustrating camera at times. As with all things, it is about tradeoffs; does the camera and its capabilities out weigh any issues, whether those be IQ or Useability related. Still, for just taking snapshots in all types of conditions, it is a nice little camera. Because of its weather and shock proofing, I am able to carry the camera on the Black Rapid sling as I ride and simply swing it around when the shot is at hand. I have a review coming on that strap setup which I really enjoy for active pursuits.
Downeast winter requires folks to get together whenever they can
An evening walk and I am presented with a beautiful sunset highlighting Campobello Island and one of the old smoke house factories that refuses to go down. One morning we will come out and it will have floated away with one of the 20' tides.
Tucked away off the beaten path is one of my favorite little beach spots
One of the things I love most about the Salsa Mukluk is its ability to go anywhere at anytime. No other bike I have owned has offered me this kind of flexibility. On each of the long distance expeditions and tours where I have traveled by Mukluk, I have been able to cover an incredibly diverse set of terrain.
E and her purple Muk with Escalators ready to be studded
Locally, in Down East Maine, the story is no different. On any given ride, I can cover road, dirt trails, bogs, mud flats, beaches and whatever else mother nature throws my way. The fall weather has continued to be spectacular and yesterday was no different. Hopping on the bikes we did a spectacular 20 mile loop along the bold coast, choosing dirt where we could, some remote beaches and a finishing ride in the dark (and I mean dark...).
The beautiful fall blueberry barrens
An old abandoned smoke house sits back in a protected cove
As the high pressure system moved in, the rain passed us by and the winds continued to pick up. The setting sun this time of year is just spectacular giving you dramatic skylines and lighting up the rust colored blueberry barrens. We turned around as the light began to fade, stopped in to visit friends -- like all good guests, we arrived carrying with us two bottles of JK Scrumpy's, tucked neatly in my Porcelain Rocket Booster pack, to share with John and Lisa. The two are building a house right on the coast, on one of the most spectacular pieces of land I have ever seen.
What a spot for their new home
Bikes, friends, food and drink, agh life is good. With the dark rapidly approaching it was time to head off. My light had been destroyed by water, so with nothing more than flashing lights on the rear of my bike and a little camp headlamp, it was a race back to town. Heading out, while riding into a strong headwind, we were stoked that at least on the return leg, the wind would be at our back. Alas, as all good travelers know, the wind gods constantly conspire against you, and tonight would be no different. The front now passed, the winds had swung to the west and we had a full on slog at hand.
Fading light and the race back to town
This region of Maine is simply spectacular and difficult to describe with words alone. The coastal roads offer up a visual feast for the eyes and an endless array of paths to explore. While you could drive it in a car and get some sense of the beauty and complexity of the area, it really must be experienced on two wheels. The ability to stop, detour, explore, smell, see, and breathe in the majesty of the region is the only way to truly immerse yourself in Down East Maine.
