Category Archives: Landscapes

In Search of Moose

Part of my recent trip to Maine included a stop at Baxter State Park. While the Moose were elusive there was no shortage of beauty to photograph.
Baxter is a 210,000 acre park that was created by donations and contributions from a former Maine Governor, Percival Baxter. It is truly a beautiful spot and one I plan to visit again sometime next year. Hopefully I will find more moose upon my return!

Monday Musings

I was fortunate to have spent the last 8 days in Maine. I love to spend time behind my camera, especially when the subject matter is something as spectacular as fall foliage in Maine. The time is void of the hustle and bustle of everyday life, just me and my subject(s). It was on this trip that I decided I needed a new schedule for my blog. So today is a new beginning. I will be starting you all off each week with Monday Musings. This is meant to be a fun way to kick off the week on everyones worse day, Monday! The new posting schedule will be 3 times a week, as close to Monday, Wednesday and Friday as possible. Over the course of the next few weeks, the new blog schedule will be accompanied by new work in the main gallery of my website www.vincentmistretta.com
Hope you enjoy!

Road on our way to Sandy Stream Pond, Baxter StatePark, Millinocket, Maine

Africa Day 2, Victoria Falls and Zambezi River

Sunday was an intense day, not only was it our first full day in Africa (after roughly 30 hours of flying) but it was a day with 3 scheduled location shoots, 1 more than we would have on any other day. After we photographed in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park we were off to Victoria Falls. As many of you know, Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Victoria Falls from the Zambia entrance
Victoria Falls from the Zambia entrance

Above is a picture looking at the falls from the Zambian entrance. You can visit the falls from either Zambia or Zimbabwe. Given that this was the beginning of the wet season, the falls were almost dry. In another 2 months the falls would cover the full length of the photo along the right wall. We were told that when the falls were in full force, we could not stand where we were taking pictures because the mist and force of the water would overwhelm us.

Man sitting on dry Victoria Falls
Man sitting on dry Victoria Falls

If you look closely at the above photo, you can see a man sitting on a dry section of the falls, this will give you a perspective of just how massive an area the falls cover. I would estimate that the section in this photo was approximately 1/8 of the full width of the falls.

Victoria Falls across the foot bridge
Victoria Falls across the foot bridge

Many of you have heard about people bungee jumping from Victoria Bridge. Here is the bridge. If you look closely at the photo below, you can see the building on the bridge people jump from and the bungee as it hangs down from the bridge.

Victoria Falls Bridge
Victoria Falls Bridge

Later in the evening we took another sunset cruise down the Zambezi River. In the photo below, we were looking down one of the rivers tributaries that led to the falls. You can see in the photo the mist from the falls.

Victoria Falls Mist from Zambezi River
Victoria Falls Mist from Zambezi River

African Crocodile along the Zambezi River, Zambia
African Crocodile along the Zambezi River, Zambia

All in all, our trip to Zambia was very memorable albeit short.

What a difference a few days make!

Today was a bitter sweet day. Everyone was home from school for the long weekend and it was great having all the kids here. Unfortunately today was the day it all came to an end. Vincent returned to Bucknell, Peter to Taft and Megan to our towns middle school. So I needed to get out and take my mind off the fact that the kids were gone. I bet you know where I went! Back to Kent to see if the foliage colors had intensified. It is amazing what a difference a few days can make.

Storm Approaching
Storm Approaching
Kent Falls before the storm
Kent Falls before the storm

I decided to head a little further north today, up to Kent Falls State Park. It is a beautiful place. The falls offer fantastic photographic opportunities. Before I left I checked the forecast. Rain was not in the cards for at least 12 hours. Unfortunately the heavens opened a 1/2 an hour after I arrived.

Kent Falls foliage in the rain
Kent Falls foliage in the rain

Many people shy away from photographing during the rain, I love it. There are different photographic looks and textures you can only get when things are wet. I believe the first and second pictures would not be as striking if they weren’t front lit with dark grey ominous looking clouds in the background. I think this area is worthy of another trip next week!

Kent, Connecticut

I thought I would spend some time checking out the fall foliage in northwestern Connecticut. After all, the CT DEP Fall Foliage report (link) showed moderate leaf color in this region. I decided my destination would be Kent, a small town nestled in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. My first stop was Macedonia Brook State Park, listed as one of the best places to view the changing foliage in CT. This was my first time to the park. As I drove along RTE 7, I realized that I was too early for good leaf color. I suspect that if I return next week, I might have some better luck.

Fall Foliage at Macedonia Brook State Park
Fall Foliage at Macedonia Brook State Park

After trudging around for a few hours I just wasn’t feeling it. I know I can’t find inspiration every time I go out but I try. I decided to head down the road to Bull’s Bridge. There is a dam that runs under the bridge and I thought I might be able to find some great water views given the heavy rain we have had as of late. Unfortunately I was stumped again, I just didn’t feel it.

As I was walking around I did find a flock of Black Vultures circling a fresh kill. I was unable to find the carcass but I did get this shot of one of the vultures.

Black Vulture
Black Vulture

The good thing about not finding an image I think is a keeper means I try harder next time I go out. It also means I will attempt fall foliage photography soon because I don’t like being stumped!

Over the hump

Another early morning start for the group, one that was not very receptive to finding let alone photographing wildlife. As the morning rolled on clouds rolled in and we had some rain. Just as we were getting ready to leave for breakfast at the local “cafe”, we were treated to a beautiful rainbow.

St. Mary Lake Rainbow
St. Mary Lake Rainbow

The afternoon brought sunshine and skies with cotton ball clouds. We couldn’t wait to take another shot at photographing wildlife. This time (with some help from a white food cooler) we were up to our camera lenses in Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep. It made for a great afternoon!

Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep, Many Glacier, Montana
Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep, Many Glacier, Montana

Many Glacier

Our next stop was Sunrise at Swiftwater Lake at Many Glacier. Many Glacier became one of our favorite and most productive stops for wildlife throughout the week. This shot would be the view from the restaurant and several rooms in the Many Glacier Hotel. If you plan on visiting the east side of Glacier, this is a hotel to consider.

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Swiftwater Lake at Sunrise
Swiftwater Lake at Sunrise

This afternoons education commenced with a lecture outside. This was the first afternoon we had plenty of sunshine and temperatures approaching 70 degrees. The afternoon shoot was an exercise. Our subject, Columbian Ground Squirrels. I know, some of you are saying squirrels? Yes, but these are not the gloomy grey squirrels we have back east. The purpose of the exercise was 2 fold. First practice your approach to animals, slow and steady wins the race. I think Jake said it best when he asked his father what was the best way to teach patience. Patience is something we all have to work on, not just to be better photographers but better people.

Columbian Ground Squirrel, Glacier National Park
Columbian Ground Squirrel, Glacier National Park

The second purpose to the exercise was to help us be mindful of the objects in our foreground and background that can make or break an image. Often we are so excited about getting the shot that we fail to control the various elements within the frame. This was clearly the best lesson that was reinforced all week and one I will continue to practice in the future.

Medicine I Can Live With!

Our second day of Base Camp had us up at 4:00 AM. We were on our way to Two Medicine which is one of the most beautiful places you could imagine. It is one of the places you should not miss if you are heading to Glacier NP.

Two Medicine Sunrise
Two Medicine Sunrise

Our afternoon shoot was tainted by poor light and bad weather. However Moose practiced what he preached and “followed the light” all the way to the Canadian border. This is what we came back with.

Sunset at Montana - Alberta Border with Approaching Storm
Sunset at Montana - Alberta Border with Approaching Storm