The Moonlit Falls
This is one of my favorite waterfalls in New Hampshire, Kinsman Falls. It's in Franconia Notch, part of the White Mountains, and not too far from The Basin, another beautiful waterfall.
It's a bit of a hike in, and can be treacherous to get down to the level of the falls, but it's well worth it. There's a few other interesting falls as well on the way in you can see from the trail.
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The Midnight Bridge
It was another long day in Paris when I decided to make it an even longer night. I made a rough plan and set out for the metro. I went around a few places, taking photos and enjoying the late hours of Paris, which I didn't get to do as much as I'd like. It's so much more beautiful at night.
I ended up by the Pont Alexandre III, which is one of my favorite bridges in all of Paris ! It was getting late, so I decided after this I'd hit Invalides and call it a night, as it was almost 3 in the morning at that time.
I set up my shot and waited for a few cars to head my way to add to the photo, in the meantime I was watching what seemed to be a wedding party or something on La Seine below, across from me.
I made sure I got the shots I wanted, packed up my bag and headed off for invalides.
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Explosions in the Sky
I'll start off by hoping everyone had a great 4th of July yesterday ! Mine was great, except for the mosquitos which I'll get into soon enough.
I had planned to go into Boston, but once I started reading the reports of the random security scans and them not allowing backpacks in public areas, I was bothered by that idea so I chose not to go and support that behavior. For I believe in the words of Benjamin Franklin when he said "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." But I digress.
So going in at night for the fireworks was still an option, but was it the one I wanted to choose ? Because I also had the idea of hiking a small local mountain, Horn Pond Mountain in Woburn, with a great view of Boston in the distance, and try to get some interesting shots from there. I decided to be lazy and skip the efforts of going into Boston, and made preparations for my night time hike, which included layers of bug spray (which did absolutely nothing).
Bags were packed, equipment was checked and it was off to the trail ! I got up there about 10 minutes early, and I could already see the massive amounts of mosquitos everywhere and contemplated if I wanted to stick it out for the whole 30 minutes. But once the fireworks started going off and I was shooting, it didn't matter.
So after the fireworks ended, I packed up my gear, took my flashlight out, and began my descent, away from the swarms of mosquitos. Even though I put about 3 layers of bug spray on, I must have gotten at least 10 bites. Who said photography is easy ?
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The Flag of the U.S.S Wasp
It was my first time on an Aircraft Carrier, and it was quite an experience ! The shear mass and size of these things is almost incomprehensible, let alone that it's sitting peacefully on top of the water, which seems like utter magic for something almost the size of a street !
I wandered around a bit checking out some of the tanks and other vehicles and weaponry and trying to imagine what it would be like to live and work on on this mammoth.
I ended up on the top deck and was checking out one of the war helicopters and I noticed a beautiful view of the city and skyline, as well as a large American Flag blowing in the wind. I felt drawn to wait for a good gust to come by to infuse both elements into one image.
I share this photo with you today, on the 4th of July, more in the honor and pride of what America was, more than what it is becoming, on the ideals, rather than the reality. This country was, and still is, one of the greatest on the planet, especially by comparison; but it could be, and should be much more, as it's founders had intended it to be.
On this day I would ask you to really think about what today is, what it stands for, and more so what it took to make it possible, not just summer fun and barbecuing, such as how President's day has become the day to get a good deal on a car.
I wish you and yours a very happy 4th of July !
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The Steampunk Underground
I passed by this station almost every day on my travels with the Metro in Paris. It was only on the one day that I actually got off to switch trains there that I found this awesome station, as the whole station isn't like this, such as the station my line went through.
It was beautiful ! The walls were all copper, and the lighting was reflecting off all the metallic surfaces everywhere ! There were also portholes all along the walls with interesting displays that were glimpses into "other worlds" inside.
After finding this station, I'd get off when ever I passed by it to try to find the least busy time to photograph it, as the Metro is always jam packed and I didn't want that many people in the photo.
So I did this quite a few times, and then would just get back on the next train to where I was going, as they come every 3 or 4 minutes so it's not a big inconvenience.
Then I got there one day at just the right time, when the station was very quiet, and I set up my shot and waited for the train to come speeding into the station. And it was the perfect timing too, because just after I got the shot a couple of French police came to tell me that I couldn't have my tripod open in the Subway. (They really don't like tripods anywhere in Paris) But thankfully I already got the shot I wanted, so I packed up and headed on my way.
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