Summer Deluge

Another Gulf Road "Transient"

In New England, every season offers its special photographic opportunities.  Autumn’s spectacular colors and winter’s quiet white blanket provide obvious attractions, while late falls “stick season” … well we must nap sometime.  Spring typically is valued both for the beautiful and varied early foliage, and also for the waterfalls that surge in response to the seasonal rains and spring run-off.

Garwin Falls, 2018

In recent years, I have scheduled a spring waterfall workshop for mid-May.  It is the best time of year to celebrate the flowing water in my corner of New England, but this year I had to cancel my plans.  First because the pandemic was still limiting close interactions and secondly because our unusually dry spring reduced the streams to disappointing trickles.

• Spring WaterfallSeason and Workshop : 2002
  
  
• Spring WaterfallPhotography Weekend 2017 

We finished May and June with severe drought conditions, but since the weather in New England never stays the same for long, we have been drowned in July.  Suddenly our streams and waterfalls have gushing at a time when the water is usually drying up for the hot summer months.

Old Jelly Mill Falls, Dummerston Vt

Chesterfield Gorge 

For several weeks I have been enjoying the late season flowing water.  Familiar waterfalls such as the Old Jelly Mill falls on Stickney Brook in Dummerston Vermont and Chesterfield Gorge in my home town, have been as active as I have ever seen. And, of course, the water has found its way into our leaky stone-lined basement.  Happily, our sump pump has been working hard to reduce what might have been 4-6 inches to just about 1 inch of water.

An Inch in the Basement

Route 30 Falls

"Transient"Waterfalls

I have been particularly struck by the dramatic flow in what I think of as transient run-off waterfalls.  My area has numerous falls that only seem to bloom in response to heavy downpours.  The water produces beautiful falls that come quickly and largely disappear within a few hours to a day.  On Route 30 near where Stickney Brook enters the West River, a steep road-side drop-off creates a lovely falls in response to heavy rain.  Come back any other time and there is only a trickle.

Fallen Arch July 2021

MadameSherri Forest in Chesterfield New Hampshire is most famous for the arched stairway which is the only remains of the Madame 1920’s summer party house.  Sadly, and inevitably, the recent storms appear to have been the last straw, resulting just a couple of weeks ago in the collapse of the top-most arch.  Happily, the area continues to offer other points of interest.  Next to the parking lot is the pond which had been the guest’s swimming hole.  The pond normally drains slowly into Gulf Brook, but here as well, the rains have energized the outflow to a boiling surge.

Madame Sherri Pond Outflow

Gulf Road "Transient"

Gulf Road Transients

Down the road from Madame Sherri, along the Gulf Road, is my favorite collection of “transient” waterfalls.  The road cuts through a deep gorge adjacent to the Gulf Brook, on its way to the Connecticut River.  During heavy rains, at several spots along the way, waterfalls plunge down the hillside to disappear under the road and into the brook.  When the weather is right you only need to stand in the road to capture these dramatic cascades dropping to your feet.  It’s easy shooting, but you may be forced to dodge the heavy trucks and bucket loaders as they repair the washed-out dirt road.  

"Transient after a couple of dry days

The important thing is to time it right.  Within a day or so of dry weather the show is largely over and we are back to a dry stream bed, or at most a trickle.

Another Gulf Road Transient

Boiling Gulf Brook

Wilde Brook, Chesterfield Gorge

So, I got my waterfall season, just a month late.  July is almost over and the rain hasn’t stopped yet.  I don’t know if this is the new, globally warmed, normal, but with the rain pouring down today, I guess I’ll be out shooting the falling water again tomorrow.

So get out and capture the falling water whenever nature delivers, and keep track of the “Transient” waterfalls in your area.

Jeff Newcomer, NEPG
www.partridgebrookreflections.com

Summer Infrared Season

Lower Pasture Chesterfield, NH

I have been sitting on this article since last summer.  Now, the earth has turned and it is again a great time to talk about exploring our landscape beyond our own vision into the infra-red.   

I hate to generalize, but for photography in New England, summer is not my favorite season.  Perhaps I expressed it best in a previous article from the summer of 2017:

“It’s summer!  Great! The days are balmy, which is just a nicer way of saying hot and humid.  The Black Flies have been replaced by voracious Mosquitoes, and, if you want to see the sunrise, you must drag yourself out of bed at 4:30 AM.  It is wonderful to see all the green, but the foliage has largely matured to the same monotonous shade for maximal photosynthesis.  BAH HUMBUG?”

To be sure, I enjoy the rich fragrant air with its sweet scents of fresh growth, and I will admit that New England’s warm summer months hold their own visual attractions.  Summer sunsets and sunrises can be dramatic, as can the light during the changeable weather, from morning fog to afternoon thunderstorms.  I have always insisted that, if we are prepared to accept what nature provides, all seasons and times of day can provide photographic opportunities, but I get bored with the persistent monochrome of green.

Happily, summer offers another photographic attraction.  All that green creates the perfect conditions for infrared photography. 

Bradley Hill Vision

Pasture Gate, Chesterfield NH

 Everything that we see comes from our retina’s ability to respond to a narrow spectrum of reflected light.  Beyond the reds, in slightly longer wavelengths, which are just beyond what we can see, lies infrared. Reflected infrared light changes the appearance of the world.  Most notably, plant matter reflects light strongly in the infrared, making the summer greens appear like a winter landscape and the blue sky turns a deep black as it absorbs the infrared light. Infrared penetrates haze, causing even the dullest landscapes to snap to attention.  It may all seem unreal, but what an infrared sensor "sees" is actually no less true than what our retinas record in blues to reds.  

Electromagnetic Spectrum
https://www.miniphysics.com/electromagnetic-spectrum_25.html

Infrared photography follows most of the rules of Black and White.  Void of color, the visual impact depends on pattern and contrast. 

Spofford Home

In previous articles, I have discussed the effects of infrared light and how I modified my old Canon 20D to become an infrared camera. What I wanted to do in this post was to share some of my infrared images from this summer.  Hopefully I can inspire you to convert one of your old dust-collecting doorstops into an infrared camera.  LifePixel specializes in such conversions, and I was happy with their service.   It is not expensive and you will learn that there is much more to our world than can be seen through the illusion created by our narrow visual spectrum.

• Infrared Photography : A Different Light on Photography
• Infrared Season
• Infrared Season 2018
• Infrared Gallery

Jeff Newcomer, NEPG
www.partridgebrookreflections.com

Lush Summer Green

As the lovely variety of spring greens have evolved into the dark hue of summer, we can enjoy our next New England mini-season: the perfect lush green of early summer.    

Lush Green Season

In the early summer the leaves of the trees and plants show a deep green, but this uniform color seems to fade and become more irregular as the season proceeds.  Leaves become speckled with various pests and fungi and other insects begin munching on the leaf edges.  It is a slow process which accelerates as we approach autumn and, as a part of their normal senescence, the leaves lose their chlorophyll pigment.

Within the next few weeks it will be time to enjoy the deepest and unblemished colors of summer.  Get out and fight off the black flies to capture some great images.

Clouds are your Friend

As is true of much landscape photography, overcast days are the best for catching the rich shades of early summer foliage.  The reflected glare from bright sunlight can block the color and create troublesome high contrast, but during these conditions, nice effects can be created by trans-illuminating the young leaves.

Even on cloudy days a polarizing filter can enhance the depth of color in summer foliage.  I routinely keep a polarizer on my camera and experiment, balancing its effect against the loss of one or two f stops.

 

Walldog Distractions

The beautiful green is all around but I have been busy recording the wonderful work of the “Walldogs” in Keene.  Over 5 days, more than 200 mural artists have descended on our city to create 16 large murals which celebrate important aspects of the history of Keene and the Monadnock region.  Every year the “dogs” pick one location in the country to decorate and this year we are the lucky ones.  I’ve been recording their efforts – stand by for more images, but in the meantime get out and enjoy the perfect green!

Jeffrey Newcomer

www.partridgebrookreflections.com

Celebration! Abigail and Grayson's Wedding

Abigail and Grayson

Mayfair Farm Barn

This week I will not be discussing the finer points of Lightroom or showing yet one more way to display a beautiful tree. Instead, this week was all about my wonderful daughter Abigail, and Grayson, her, nearly as wonderful new husband.  There are times when life completely blocks any opportunities for the usual photography and last week was one of those great times. I apologize to those who come to this blog for tips on landscape photography, but this week is a celebration of life outside of the forest.

The Bloom Family Folk

Abigail and Grayson decided to have a small wedding, and this spring about 20 of their closest friends and family joined them for a ceremony at the edge of Fresh Pond in Cambridge Massachusetts.  With the wedding out of the way they were ready for a bigger celebration.  They chose a farm in the woods of New Hampshire.  Among the sheep and pigs, Mayfair Farm in Harrisville features a beautiful event barn which accommodated 120 friends and family for a locally raised dinner, the necessary speeches and then hours of exuberant dancing. 

Kerry, Cuyler and Don Bryant

Newcomer Family Folk

Everyone had a great time and, in addition to the mandatory father-daughter dance, I actually got out a few times to embarrass myself on the floor.  I promised Abby that I would play the part of the proud father and not let my camera get in the way of the professional photographer.  Of course, I couldn’t resist a few shots and Mark was wonderfully tolerant of my occasional second shooter role. 

Jeremy and Gina

Saturday night at the Mayfair Farm was the highlight, but the celebration extended through the entire weekend.  We had an informal welcoming taco bar buffet Friday night at Odelay  Restaurant in Keene and a great brunch on Sunday at our home in Spofford. 

Gina, Jeremy, Chris and Lisa

Of course, the brunch also gave me the chance to show off my new studio, which is slowly being filled with all the stuff which has been cluttering the house. The studio is becoming functional just in time for the long list of projects which have been accumulating. 

Susan and I were happy, but exhausted after the weekend, but we had no chance for rest.  We turned around and headed for NYC to see Hamilton and stay with Jeremy and Gina.  We will return just in time to set up for Art in the Park at Ashuelot River Park during the holiday weekend.  Whew!

Studio is beginning to fill

Longtime Friend Michele

Anyway, that is why my blog is late and why I can only throw up some happy party pictures.  This business of being “retired” is exhausting.  I promise to get back to real photography stuff next week.

Jeff Newcomer
www.partridgebrookreflections.com

Finding My Eagles, At Long Last

Broken Snag

For the last several years I have enjoyed observing the activities in “my” eagle nest on a snag across the Connecticut River from my home town of Chesterfield New Hampshire.  With what is for me uncharacteristic patience, see : 
Temptation of One Minute More. 
I have monitored, and photographed the nest building, chick hatching and nurturing, as well as the soaring of these majestic scavengers.  Each year, the nest, had been improved and more thickly woven into the scaffold of it precarious perch.  Sadly, last winter the inevitable happened and the barren snag was toppled by a winter storm and in the process, I lost my eagles.

• FallenEagles
• FallenEagles Gallery

Over the years, I have become closely attached to “my” eagles, and I felt their loss personally. All  spring and summer, I have been searching for the 

Juvenile fly-over

eagle’s new home.  I was reassured by those who told me that deposed eagles typically re-establish a nest close to their former location, but despite frequent searches along the river, I had failed to find any evidence of my birds.  On a couple of occasions, I thought I might have caught a fleeting glimpse of an eagle high in the sky, but I could never be sure, and I wasn’t able to see where they might have been settling.

I had nearly given up hope, but then recently I had seen a reference to a sighting of a nest in a birch about 100 yards in from the Connecticut River shore. The reference was maddeningly nonspecific, but early this week I decided to go for another look. 

New Nest

  I parked at spots along the River Road, and then went on foot to explore the bank opposite to the river.  Nothing, but as is so often the case, the real break came as I talked to the folks passing by on the road.  The first car stopped to politely ask me to get my car off the edge of his lawn. With our narrow back country roads, there is always a fine line between staying out of the road and keeping off the lawn. I was quick to comply with his request, but I also learned from him that the eagles had moved to a nest a bit further south.  The driver of the next truck stopped to see what I was doing, and he was able to tell me that my eagles where in a tree on his neighbor’s land. It all goes to confirm two facts about New England nature photography.

• First, it always pays to talk to the people who you encounter in your explorations.  This is especially true of those who gaze suspiciously out of their windows at the funny looking guy with the tripod.
• Second, the overwhelming majority of these people are friendly, welcoming and thrilled to help.  It turns out that , at least in rural New England, most landowners are proud of there small corner of natural beauty and are excited that someone would want to photograph the scene. In return, I honor any limitations they may have and often drop off a print of the results of my work.

I was excited to go to the new location, and again, found a very friendly and helpful home owner.  Peter directed me to best spot to see the nest, which was not easy to find, high up in the branches of a spruce.  As I expected, the nest was not as large as their previous home, but I suspect that it will expand over the years.  He then suggested that I explore a spot along the river which was a frequent resting area for my birds.  

Hidden Vigil

It was there that I finally found them.  I first saw a mature Eagle hidden among the leaves and caught a couple of shots as it took wing.  On this first day I captured the birds in occasional fly-overs.  I suspect they were acclimating to this intruder camped along the brook.

Vermont Shore Landing

  The next day I was able to get good shots of both a mature and a juvenile bird perched in nearby trees, and a pair of mature eagles in a tree across the river on the distant Vermont shore.

It was a great couple of days.  The pictures were not among my best eagle images, but the wonderful thing was that I finally found “my” eagles.  Peter told me that an Audubon official identified the male as being from the old nest, but he wasn’t as certain about the female. The new location presents its own set of challenges.  Looking up at the nest, it will always be strongly backlight, but having established a good viewing spot next to the river, I hope to be able to monitor more of the eagles daily activity.

Adult Bald Eagle

  

Juvenile Bald Eagle

It was great to relocate the eagles, but more importantly, I established a good relationship with the landowner, and was invited to return whenever I liked to photograph on his spectacular property.  Understandably, the owner did not want me to disclose the exact location of nesting site.  Being deep within private property, he feared a stampede of enthusiastic and persistent birders camping in his back yard. 

Jeffrey Newcomer

www.partridgebrookreflections.com