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I've heard tales of the spectacular "Mertensia Park bluebells" for years. But despite my best efforts to juggle work and home schedules, life never lined up so I could experience them first hand. At last I was able to visit this week — twice — and discovered hidden treasures and peace of mind both times. Healing, even. I took my Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM   along to see how it would handle closeups and longer distance shots, and it was good to forge a relationship with what I've previously considered to be my uni-tasker.  Walk with me....  

These on-the-fly bluebird captures were a total gift. Taken at very long range with a Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary zoom lens, they're essentially unedited (apart from cropping and a very slight boost of texture.)  I think he was more at ease from a substantial height and distance so he took a quick moment to enjoy the view.  So did I. I love this guy who, as it turns out, is quite aggressive about defending his territory from the sparrows. You've got to admire that.  Good looks and an attitude, too.  

That perfect shot. Oh, the time we’ve poured into planning, trekking, stalking, calculating, positioning and finally focusing in order to capture it. And often it's in a remote location, in extreme cold or heat, at inconvenient hours of the day or night. That's followed by the endless hours of editing, tweaking, education and skill development to coax it into perfection. And let’s not forget the small fortune we’ve poured into procuring the toys and tools that fill our multiple camera bags to help make that perfect shot even possible. So we’ve captured the images — lots of them, if we’re lucky. And they’re gorgeous. Now what? How can we move them beyond our computer monitor and out into the world? How might they help enrich the lives of our friends and families and those in our community? And how can we ensure our photographs — the product of our time, passion, creativity and cash — will outlive us and become a legacy for future generations? My grandfather was a career...

For me, photography is all about the gasp. That split-second audible reflex when your viewfinder captures what your naked eye almost missed. Your pulse quickens. Your shutter releases. Time stops. And then you breathe again, this time with a smile. It’s a rush I’ve chased since the day I held my first SLR and secretly declared myself “an artist.” Decades later I have to admit — I don’t gasp from behind my camera as much as I’d like. Instead, I’ve allowed function, formula, technique and deadline to drive the lion’s share of my image making. I’m often shooting to deliver a product or result, and less frequently to express unique perspective and creativity. Then a spectacular day comes along and I head out for a fun photo adventure — but am shocked to discover I can’t summon the “creativity muse” on demand. When I sense I’m becoming outcome-driven and need to reinvigorate my creative soul, I “chase the gasp.” I shake up my routine by changing my approach, embracing some chal...

After hours of planning and shopping, days of cooking and baking, your family table is ready for the big feast. Time-honored recipes will be savored and new tastes explored. A mixture of stories, laughter and even a few tears will season the meal. Some chairs will be empty and new additions celebrated. Whether it’s an expensive digital camera, a simple point-and-shoot or iPhone in your hand, why not curate the beauty, the warmth, the intimacy of the moment? Looking back, I wish I’d captured more images of my dad drenching steaming mashed potatoes in turkey gravy, of my sister slicing her artfully crafted pecan pies, of my young daughters eyeing the mile-high plate of homemade cookies with ardent hope. I wish I’d captured my mom’s hands as they kneaded  dough, my brother-in-law’s shoulders as he hunched over the fridge door looking for one more bite of cold turkey. I wish I’d photographed the warmth of candles, the sparkle of crystal, the gleam of mom’s “good china” alongside my...

I love a good backyard lawn chair tour in the morning. It settles the mind and makes way for the day. Requisite tools: 80-200mm Canon lens mounted on my Canon 5D III, fuzzy slippers, the morning sun and a steaming mug of fresh #Chemex coffee. A nearby water fountain provides soothing effervescence, perennial flowers and bushes add vibrance and movement, and hungry birds take center stage. Sorry, no angry birds allowed... although blue jays do love to be bossy.

After more than 76 years, MIA World War II veteran Sgt. Howard F. Gotts, U.S. Army Air Force, is home at last.  Surrounded by Army National Guard Honor Guard officers, members of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, Patriot Guard New York, American Legion Post 256 Canandaigua, American Legion Post 34 Shortsville, the Marine Corps League, state and local officials and a host of extended family and friends, Stg. Gotts’ descendants finally received the closure they’d waited 76 years to experience. It was on the morning of Aug. 1, 1943, that Sgt. Gotts's plane was shot down over Romania in the final wave of Operation TIDAL WAVE, the first large-scale, low-altitude attack by U.S. heavy bomber aircraft upon a well-defended target. An estimated 225 servicemen perished in Operation TIDAL WAVE, but the Romanians could identify only 27 at the time. Through DNA analysis, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Agency notified St. Gotts' family on June 24, 2019, that his remains had...