A photo collage of Some Adventures in 2019
This has been a long over due post, but also one that has been long in the making. Life pulls us in so many directions and keeping up with a hobby can be both fun/easy and difficult/tedious. A lot more goes into the development process for photos than most might realize. Being on adventures and taking the shots is fun, exciting, and is over in an instant. Editing and developing those images can be time consuming, and it’s not always easy to get into the zone for editing. 2020 has offered me plenty of time to start catching up on my backlog and I’ve been doing just that.
Despite the extra time stuck being home, it still has not an easy endeavor. As much as I enjoyed our adventures in 2019, revisiting them in 2020 has proved a sobering and sometimes saddening experience. If there’s anything positive to leave 2020 with, though, it would be a greater sense of gratitude for the adventures we have been able to enjoy. The world has suffered a harsh reminder of how quickly the world can become unsafe (and just how long that can last).
This introduction will serve as the majority of dialogue for this post. Sinéad and I were very fortunate to enjoy so many adventures in 2019, and we hope to have even better adventures when effective solutions to the pandemic have allowed us all to return to a “normal” state of existence.
To all those who may come across this post. I hope you do enjoy the photographs here, and enjoy some of our adventures! My greater hope is that you and your family have been able to remain safe and healthy through this pandemic. My heartfelt condolences for all those who have encountered loss in this time. Here’s to hoping we all will be able to see each others’ smiles, shake each others’ hands, or hug our loved ones without fear, soon!
A spring escape to Meredith
with Mam
May 2019
A Day Visit to North Conway
With Ryanne
May 2019
First Visit to Squam Lakes Science Center
May 2019
This was a first time visit for Sinéad and I. We loved the place and purchased a membership on our way out so that we could return and help support the efforts. This is a rehabilitation center, which only keeps animals if they would not survive on their own means, in the wild.
New Hampshire State House tour
with Theresa And Aunt Marie
June 2019
This was an interesting glimpse inside the Capital State House of New Hampshire on it’s anniversary celebration. A fun point of education I discovered is just how horrible LED lighting is for photography. Yet another complication in timing when considering what type of settings to use. There is an example in the photos taken by Theresa below.
Theresa’s Photos
My Photos
Late Spring at Lost River
With Aunt Marie and Theresa
June 2019
4th of July!
with Erin, Kris, Ryanne, and Johnny
July 2019
Sansaveria Bloom
July 2019
The Flume & Cannon Mt.
with Mark & Amy
July 2019
Maine Vacation
with Mam
July 2019
Trying out a New Lens
August 2019
I had a Tamron 28-75 F/2.8, and I really enjoyed the macro capabilities as well as the focal and aperture ranges of the lens. It had issues, though. There was something wrong inside the lens itself which made images very hit or miss in terms of getting anything worth keeping. I traded it in to help afford a Nikon 24-120 F/4. These were my first test shots with that “new to me” used lens.
Abandon the Tall Ship Visit
August 2019
Sinéad and I love going to visit the tall ships in Portsmouth, NH. We think it is a great opportunity to support the local community. This year, however, they moved the location of the ship to a place visible by the highway. We spent over an hour in line to discover that there was at least another hour and a half in line after the tent. We had other plans for the day, and were frustrated with the situation. Glad it pulled in money for the town, but it was not an event we were destined to see all the way through. We did at least get to see the outside of a really cool vessel called the Ghost!
Camping Trip & Conway Scenic Tour
with Theresa
August 2019
Theresa and I introduced Sinéad to the joys of camping over the course of a weekend. While it might still never be Sinéad’s first choice of activities, she did enjoy camping a lot more than she anticipated. We also tried out the Conway Scenic Railroad for the first time that weekend. We were lucky and were able to get 1st class tickets with lunch included on fairly short notice! These images were mainly from that excursion. Also of note: it did not rain the entire time our tents were setup!!
New England Revolution - Day on the Pitch
With Uncle John, Aunt Marie, and Andy
August 2019
Squam Lakes Science Center
with Justine
August 2019
Alyson’s Orchard
with Chris, Jay, and the kids
September 2019
Cape Cod Whale Watch
with Uncle John & Aunt Marie
October 2019
This was a great way to kick off our Cape Cod trip with Uncle John & Aunt Marie! Only downside was how cold it ended up being. We thought we were prepared, but we hadn’t arrived to the Cape with enough layers to be warm through this adventure. We did what we could, though! And, kept out of the wind when at speed. We had some great views, and the clouds provided protection from any intense sun glare that might have ruined our photo opportunities. Uncle John borrowed my D7000 with a Sigma 17-50 F/2.8, and shot in JPG so that he could take the photos with him afterwards.
Uncle John’s Photos
(with very minimal editing.)
My Photos
The Sandwich Glass Museum
October 2019
A Small Beach Get Away
with Mom, Dad, & Justine
October 2019
Heritage Museums & Gardens
with Mom, Dad, and Justine
October 2019
This was a location that Sinéad had discovered when researching the Sandwich area of the Cape. The information she found didn’t properly prepare us for how large it actually was, and how much there was to do and see there. We all had a great time taking in the classic cars. We also had a surprise fly-by from a B17 Flying Fortress! My grandfather had been a mechanic for the B17s during WWII when he was stationed in England, so it was pretty cool to see one flying over that day. The cars were great and the gardens were beautiful. They also offered golf cart rides to transport people around the grounds. Sinéad and I definitely plan to keep it on our radar when we’re in the area again.
Mom’s Photos
(With some editing.)
And, a few photos from Justine in the mix!
