Happy Halloween

Halloween is next week. So to get in the spirit I found one of the spookiest looking places in town. Hilltop Kindergarten.
Of course I darkened down the sky just a little until I can get back there during a thunderstorm and get real shot. Looks creepy to me.

Fall Trip To Acadia

Melissa and I took out this morning to get some more fall photos. Our plan was to head south towards Acadia and then head northeast towards Canada. While we took several images of fall foliage. The highlight of our day turned out to be the Schoodic Point of Acadia National Park. It is on the other side of the bay from Bar Harbor, Maine. What a delight to avoid the crowds of leaf peepers ,as they are known by Mainers, by taking a detour that we found hard to leave.

Melissa found these beautiful shells in a small tidal pool. They are in water several inches deep. It was so alive. There was so much going on a micro level. Little invertebrates swimming around in the pool. These blue shells that would rival any fine china.

Ah, Schoodic Point. I had made a couple of images already and I thought I had what I wanted. We were preparing to leave when Melissa mentioned a sail boat out in the gulf that had just come into sight. So we waited and the result was worth the wait. The light shimmering on the ocean and a lone sail boat on the horizon. I have always wanted an image like this.

This is Wonsqueak Harbor. I am not the first and will not be the last to stumble on this jewel. So with the promise of fall images of Acadia which I have. I feel that I have saturated this blog with them so they will go into a folder for now to be brought out on a winter day.

Gadgets

I can't help it. I love gadgets. Some are more helpful than others. I have a P-38 government issue can opener. I never was in the scouts or military but if need be I can open a can in a pinch. Other gadgets are specific. While going through a tool box I found a socket for removing an oil sending unit for a jeep we no longer own.

I am holding a Sekonic L-508 light meter. Tool of the trade you say. Sure, but it is a great gadget. I purchased it used from a photographer in Missoula. It was well used. So much I had to re-label the controls on the front. Some of my cameras do not even have light meters so it is handy to have around. While it won't open a can of soup, It can read the light falling on the can. from across the room if necessary.

Back to the Bog

Earlier this week I made it back to the Orono Bog. I wanted to see how much things have changed since my last visit. Some things have changed but other parts of the bog look the same. The trail itself is a floating boardwalk out into the bog. Much like walking on a boat dock.

I would consider this a self portrait. The shadow of my arm and the camera mounted on the tripod. When I am out shooting I always carry it. I don't care how goofy I look. Sure I can shoot without one but that is another story all together.

I certainly would not enjoy traipsing around in this stuff. It is like a floating carpet.

I will soon be adding some more images from the Kenduskeag stream. I have gone down there several times over the last couple of months because it is close. From what I understand it has another name that I only recently learned,"The Barrens" as it is referred to in the Stephen King novel, "IT." I have not yet seen Pennywise the clown down there offering up balloons to me. If I do see him I will ask for a twisty dog or a hat ballon.

Since it is October, I need to go down to Mt. Hope cemetery and get some pics.

As far as the house we are in being haunted. I am skeptical about it. We do hear noises in the night(loud knocking noises around 4:30a.m.). Like this morning I was awakened to hearing a loud thud downstairs. I thought for sure it was Mallory rifling through our trash can located in the kitchen. Mallory who is the eternal alley cat often leaves clues to her trashcan snacking. I went downstairs and did not find anything out of place. Who knows. Spooky!!!!

Trip To Baxter State Park

Saturday, Melissa and I took a trip to Baxter State Park. After stopping at the Ranger station we decided to take the park's road that goes around the left side of the park. The road is gravel and was in pretty decent shape. The road stretches 42 miles from the south end to the north end of the park while going around Mt. Katahdin and a range of mountains that help make up the park. Fall colors was the reason for the road trip and while it sprinkled on us most of the day, our only mishap was a flat tire.

The spare tire on our truck has never been on the ground and looks like it will remain there, tucked under the bed. It wont succumb to my brawn . I just ended up twisting steel rods that are supposed to lower the tire look like pretzels.

We were helped by a couple from Houlton, Maine that showed us great Maine hospitality by taking me to the edge of the park where I had the tire plugged and returned me to Melissa and the truck. We must have picked up the only nail in the park but that is just how it goes. The rain or nail did not dampen our spirits.

The place is beautiful and is in some spots reminded us of our many homes. Melissa and I have been away from deciduous trees for a couple of years, so taking in the sights and smells were a treat.

A red leaf. It seems like forever since we have seen one this color.

Most of the road that stretched across the park looked like this. The road wound its way through the woods with sharp turns in some places. We saw only a handful of other cars once we left the populated campground areas.

If your going to have a flat, this is the place.

Melissa and I took the rural route up to Baxter. Stopping here and there when something caught our eye.

Dying ferns.

Like I have said before, the water is so black. It is so captivating, mysterious, and I am drawn to it like a magnet. The water here was deep, judging by the steepness of the bank.