Jim Salge Photography Blog

Images of New England captured in dramatic light and atmosphere

NH Highway Map…

Fresh off the press…just got my copy of the State of NH for the cover of their highway map, which will feature one of my images on the cover for the next two years.

The shot, taken on a February hike to Mount Avalon in Crawford Notch for sunset, shows a great interplay of snow and wind as well as light and shadow.  It also brings up memories of a great, challenging hike through two plus feet of fresh powder, thankfully broken out by a friendly pair we met on the way up. 

I’m glad that the image spoke to the publishers and graphic artists, as it speaks to me strongly of the beauty of NH in winter!

After Snowfall; Without Light…

Last blog post, I talked about the importance of both light to make the image work, and decision making to be at the right scene for the type of light.  Yesterday’s big snows coated the trees, and early on I knew that there was a good chance that the storm pulls away by evening. 

Often, the most spectacular sunsets in winter are viewed on the ends of snowstorms, with snow hanging in the trees, and perhaps even a few flakes falling still.  One of the most idyllic scenes I’ve ever been a part of was during a company Christmas party for my fiance’s work, where we went on a horse drawn sleigh ride at the end of a storm, and the light was incredible.  No camera.  Have yet to duplicate. 

Yesterday I had it in my mind most of the day that I was going to hike up Pack Monadnock for sunset.  But time got short, and the hour got late, and I scaled back my plans to a bit less of a drive, and went to Pawtuckaway’s fire tower with the pup and my buddy Kevin instead. 

The hike up was spectacular.  Nearly a foot of low density powder to snowshoe through, and the pines were bent like a tunnel over the trail.  The climb was about 45 minutes in the new snow, and we took our time to appreciate the scene.  We got to the fire tower with about an hour to spare, with clouds beginning to break up on the horizon, and with plenty of time to scout the shot.

Well, over the course of that hour, the clearing on the horizon line failed to advance.  The clouds stayed put.  There was hope that the sun would find a hole under the low cloud deck and shoot some intense, fleeting rays towards our location lighting up the other ridges of the ring dyke, or the big lake below.  Never happened.  Looking towards Pack Monadnock, the light looked incredible, but it never made it to our location.  Regrettable…but despite careful planning, you never truly know what you will get until you are out there…and I’ll try again for sure!

Anyway…here’s the light I missed, the view from the tower to the Uncanoonucs in Goffstown. 

Ice Sculptures…

Often when I go to bed the night before a morning of shooting, I don’t know exactly where I’m going to go. I spend a great deal of time trying to figure out the best location given the conditions I’m seeing in the very predawn hours. Factors such as cloud cover, snow cover, mist and fog, temperature all play into the decision.

This morning I was looking at an approaching storm, after a few days of freezing and thawing. Temperatures were relatively warm, and humidity was very high. Given that, the answer was simple…and I chose to go to Lake Massabesic for a few reasons. The incoming snowfall would cover up all the features in the ice that the recent freeze / thaw cycle had revealed. And the lake would provide an open landscape to see the lighting of the clouds from said incoming storm.

 Jim Salge Photography - Ice Sculptures

I was surprised when I arrived that there were not more ice features…but all you need is one good one. With mist hanging in the air, and a pink sky overhead, I focused on a large crack in the ice that leads the eye to the small island in the distance. Foreground is so important in landscape photography, and by tomorrow, this landscape will be very, very different!

Bring on the snow!

“Dangerous” Cold…

I love shooting in cold weather. There is just a certain feeling to the air when it is down around zero that I can’t replicate at warmer temperatures. Maybe it’s the extra oxygen per breath thanks to the increased density of the air, or maybe it’s the disillusion effect caused by blood leaving my brain to protect the ‘vital’ organs around my core.   Or…maybe it’s that the rays of the first solar radiation on the face feel so much warmer than usual that the vitamin D production goes into overdrive.  Whatever reason, physiological or psychological, I look forward to getting out for sunrise when it’s below zero all year.

There can be neat effects in the atmosphere at extremely cold temperatures. Over open water, sea smoke and mist can hang, dancing in early light. Ice crystals can fill the air like a billion prisms, creating rainbows of diffracted light. Hoar frost can coat objects in long, beautiful spears.

Unfortunately, despite the cold, none of that was present this morning…

The plan was to meet up with local photography meetup group on Flickr for a morning shoot at Adams Point in Durham, NH. On the ride over, I kept hearing on newsradio and NPR how dangerous the cold was. COLD, like teens in South Carolina bringing all of modern society to a halt.  Space heaters sold out in Miami, who recorded snow for only the second time in all of recorded history.  Would anyone show in the frozen north, where my thermometer read ZERO? 

Well, I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival to see that a hearty group of about fifteen believed, as I, that there’s no such thing as weather too cold, just clothing that is insufficient.

The light, and the combination of and water didn’t produce any amazing effects, perhaps just a hair too much wind at the point.

Up the bay, closer to Durham, we could see some of the mist we were after, but there was none present for us.  Just a clean sunrise with a nice group. Not every morning will be a hit, but you’ll never hit ‘it’ if you aren’t out there.

The best light was right upon arrival, still way before sunrise. The bay was reflecting the civil twilight glow. With the combination of a polarizer, an ND filter, and a GND filter, I came away with what is likely the only keeper of the day.

 

Afterwords, we went over to the Big Bean in Newmarket for a well deserved hot breakfast!

Top 9 photos of '09

On this snowy morning, I figured I should take a few moments to reflect on my year in photography.

I am fortunate to live within an easy drive of some of New England’s most beautiful places, and continue to make a commitment to capturing them in dramatic light and atmosphere. I had many mornings and evenings of beautiful light, and saw some amazing natural features and events. What I cannot capture on film, the sounds and smells, and the people whom I shared them with, are still motivating factors to me, and in many cases the reason I am out there shooting.

Also this year however, I had many times where the elements failed to come together, and when it became difficult to bring home shots to share. I’ve gained perspective on the fact that magic happens, and sometimes, I’ll be there to capture it. I have many plans to revisit many great locations and share more in 2010. I hope you continue to join me on the journey!

In chronological order…My top 9 of ‘09…

#1 Below Zero in Portsmouth Harbor…
I had been scouting this location in southern Maine a few times, waiting for the right conditions. On a morning that dawned -9F at my house, I figured I’d either get sea smoke, or some fun tide ice. This was beyond my expectation…

Sunrise at Ethan Pond…
A nice sky, a still pond and a mountain spotlight greeted me after dawn on the spring outing club trip I ran for the high school.  Hard to shoot on these trips…but there’s some time to sneak away…

Grass Pink Orchid in June…
I’ve been after these for a few years.  Just an amazing flower that grows in tough to shoot places.  I found this one at one of my favorite new places to visit this year…Ponemah Bog in Milford, NH

Morning Mist in Sugar Hill…
Self explanatory…

September Frost at Ponemah Bog…
A third trip to the bog this year…a chilly morning pumped lots of moisture into the air, and great light effects abounded!

Tye-Dyed Hippie Plant…
I know I’m not alone on this forum with my affinity for hobblebush…this was one of the best leaf pairings I’ve found.  Humerously, I found it because I was being ‘that guy’, taking a phone call in the woods near a waterfall, and moving away from the falls to hear I found this one!

Stillness and Storm, Little Cherry Pond, Jefferson…
On a hike with Ryan for a sunset at Big Cherry Pond, we realized the light wasn’t going to happen on the mountains, so we went over to little cherry pond.  This place is a gem in itself, but a thunderstorm to the NW, and not a breath of air really made this scene, and whole experience, pretty amazing…

Waiting For Snow…
I was helping a friend move in North Conway for the weekend, and stole away at dawn to a spot I’ve been meaning to hit for a while.  Conditions really came together well!

First Snowfall of the Winter Season…
Close to home…I often overlook the opportunities right in my neighborhood.  This is right down the street…after the first snowfall…

Hoping for better light while at elevation this coming year…but I shouldn’t complain, as any day out is a good day!!!

All of these will soon be prominently integrated into http://www.jimsalge.com

Windswept Cover

When it rains, it pours!

I’m happy to pass along that one of my photos has been published on the cover of Windswept, the quarterly journal of the Mount Washington Observatory!

The origional photo can be seen here.

New Hampshire Magazine Feature…

Just passing along that one of my photos will be in NH Magazine this January (on newstands now). 

First Snowfall…

Snow has come to Southern NH!!!!

With waterways unfrozen, and snow hanging in the trees, I had a great morning shooting a few locations close to home…

This marsh is right around the corner from my house on the Epping/Nottingham line…

Can’t wait for more!

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Update:  This photo was featured on NECN’s New England Sky Scenes!

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