Getting Dirty

I have been shipped to Long Island, NY to clean up a contaminated site. What I love about my job is the fact that I get to go sight seeing on the weekends when i'm not working. Lately i've been taking my Fiance with me to keep me company (Trust me, it has it's rewards). Well, today we went to Fire Island. Fire Island is a small secluded island just south of Long Island. There are only two roads to get to the island (one on each end) and plenty of ferries if you wish to go by boat. Once you drive over the bridges onto the island, you are directed to a few areas where you can park. You have to walk everywhere else on the island. You need to have a federal permit to drive on the island and only 100 permits are given a year. Those go to the people whom live there and the few whom work there like the lighthouse keepers and utility contractors. This place is abundant with wildlife as most of the island is a wildlife refuge and is a photogs nature dream come true. If you ever get a change to go, I highly recommend it. Okay back to the reason for the title of this blog. My Fiance (whom is getting to learn her way around a DSLR) took this candid picture of me.

It was freaking 31 degrees out in mid sun an the wind was blowing with Hurricane force winds. Wind chill to me (remember, Florida boy) was like -154484554 degrees Fahrenheit. When I see a shot, I just go out there and do what I have to do. I left my jacket and gloves in my Yukon, I just grabbed my camera and got down on that very cold concrete boat ramp. As you can see, the water was frozen solid and it's something I've never seen because its the Atlantic Ocean and not a lake or canal somewhere. The freaking ocean!!!!! I was actually warm until I finished shooting. The adrenaline went down and I got cold quick. I'm glad Beej was there to capture this though, I don't have many pictures of myself in action. Btw, this was the shot I was setting up for:

Fire Island Lighthouse

This is the light house located on Fire Island National Seashore, South Shore of Long Island, NY. This is just East of the Robert Moses State Park. There is plenty of wildlife and nature to keep anybody going back for at least a month. That's my plan anyways.

Canon EOS 40D

Shutter Speed: 1/1000th of a sec

Aperture: f/5.0

ISO: 250

Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM @ 24mm

Sweet Quinceanero

Today I had to do a shoot for a Quinceanero. This is the Spanish version of a Sweet Sixteen but it's done when the girl reaches the age of 15. This is also a pretty big deal like a Sweet Sixteen in which it ends up being handled much like a wedding. What I was doing today was shooting the photo that will be used on the invitations that will get sent out to all of the guests. Like I said, handled like a wedding. The actual celebration (her birthday) isn't until March but as you can tell, they've been working hard on preparing this all ready. This beautiful girls name is Frances and R&B Photography would like to wish her a Happy Quinceanero as well as many more birthdays to come. Frances, I enjoyed seeing your face light up when you saw the photo after I finished processing it and I just knew that this is what you were looking for. Enjoy and relax your time until the Quinceanero and I can't wait to capture that moment as well.

Skin Re-Touching

One of the things that I am repeatedly asked at R&B Photography is if we do "airbrushing" or "skin re-touching" on portraits or close up pictures. The answer is always a big YES and I wanted to show an example of such technique here on the blog. Look at the example below:





This was just a candid shot that I decided to apply this technique to. As you can see, there is a noticeable difference between the two pictures. This technique allows for the natural redness and blemishes of her face to disappear. As a result, this automatically draws your attention to her beautiful eyes. This is just one of the many techniques that we can perform in the Digital Darkroom to give the client the look that they are looking for.

Me In Action!!!!

This is me on the hunt for wildlife. To me this is so freaking relaxing and it makes me enjoy my photography so much. I love getting down and dirty chasing wildlife for the perfect shot. There is no pressure, no client to make happy, not a real time frame, nothing like that at all. It's just me (and Beej now that she's learnnig and enjoying it as well) enjoying God's creations. I can sit in a position all day long and not get the shot I want and go home perfectly happy with a big smile on my face. I guess that it's what a lot of people get out of fishing. They may not catch any fish at all, spend money on bait but are very happy and keep on going at it day after day. This is my fishing, fishing for pictures. On this particular day I was hunting for Bald Eagles along the Delaware River. This was taken just south of Minisink Ford, NY where they have Eagle viewing stations set up. It's a little too early for them

So I didn't get any shots but none the less enjoyed myself greatly. I hope everyone finds an out every once in a while and get to enjoy yourselves and your lives. These shots were taken by Beej whom was accompanying me on this great day. She is having a lot of fun learning photography and I am enjoying teaching a willing student. I'm trying to get her to start a photoblog of her own but I am being met with some resistance. I'll just have to keep trying harder I guess. I have another month or so up here in upstate NY and I hope to get many more images from wildlife and great scenery. Believe you me, I will certainly be out there chasing the perfect shot. I hope you guys enjoy the images and feel welcome to leave any comments or critiques on any of my posts.

-Ray

Hawks Nest

This is the view from Scenic Byway 97 (Route 97). This unique highway follows the Delaware River, connecting the rail road city of Port Jervis to the bluestone village of Hancock. A snakelike portion in Sparrowbush that has been featured in many car commercials.

Canon EOS 40D

Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec

Aperture: f/8

ISO: 100

Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM @ 24mm

Beej

This is on Route 97 just outside of Port Jervis, NY. It is beautiful country up here and can find myself spending a lot of time trecking through the woods. My work will have me here for another month or so and i will be busy shooting.

Canon EOS 40D

Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec

Aperture: f/8

ISO: 100

Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 100mm