DonRicklin.Com Photography Blog

Scott Kelby's 4th Annual Worldwide Photo Walk, 2011

2011-10-15T11:20:00.002-05:00

For this year's Photo Walk our Meet-up went to Hope Cemetery in Worcester, MA. Here are my select images from our October 1st walk. My 1/100 favorites from the nearly 10K images uploaded by international participants to the Scott Kelby's 4th Annual Worldwide Photo Walk Flikr site are at Favorites.

Lots to enjoy.

Don

Art in the Park, 2011

2011-10-15T10:38:00.000-05:00

Fourth annual Art in the Park juried sculpture show at Elm Park, Worcester, MA is already over, but here are my images of this years entries. Hope you enjoy them.

Don

Chihuly Glass at the MFA Boston

2011-06-24T11:09:00.000-05:00

Finally got to the MFA Boston to see the Dan Chihuly glass exhibit. Absolutely fantastic. PHotos do not do it justice, but a did take a few, since unlike many special exhibits at the MFA, Dan Chihuly actually encourages visitors to make images of his art work. If you like what you see in my Gallery, do go see his work in real life. It will be worth the effort.

Don

Feeding the Rust Junkie

2011-02-20T11:03:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite things to shoot is Rust. Came across a treasure trove of rusty metal yesterday at a demolition site added 8 images to a gallery that now has 82 images.

If you are a Rust Junkie like me I know you will enjoy these.

Don

Andres Institute of Art

2010-09-07T11:55:00.001-05:00

A hill side of Sculptures, some in an old quarry. Andres Institute of Art. Leona and I discovered this place through the New England Photo Expeditions' Meetup listings. There are 59 sculptures plus on many trails and old sky slopes. They were executed by artists from all over the world who came there to sculpt them.

We only saw a small portion of them, some seven or so. The one at the left (a detail) is Five Dimensions and Counting by David Phillips a Massachusetts artist.

This is a site to be seen over a couple days or more or in several trips. More at my gallery at the title link.

Don

Statues by Paulette H. Carr at Blithewold Arboretum

2010-09-06T12:57:00.000-05:00

There are currently 8 statues by local Bristol, R.I. artist Paulette H. Carr. At left is Peplum. From the Map flyer, "Draped and elegant, Peplum is made of burlap, steel, resin and wood. The word Peplum originates in the ancient Greek word peplos or tunic, whose style has evolved to draping or pleating at the waist. Here the draping is dramatic and rich in texture." To see the other seven and other recent images from Blithewold, click on the title link. At the Arboretum through October 3, 2010.

Enjoy, Don

Providence Water Fire

2010-08-15T19:40:00.000-05:00

Leona and I finally got to one of Providence's premier summer events. Water Fire. Lots of music, people and fire on the water in large sconces.

Plenty of good food, including desserts, and street entertainers, as well. Way more action than one can see in one evening's viewing, so worth a return trip! There are also Venetian style oared gondola rides on the river as well as other touring boats. Lots of images to see at my gallery at SmugMug.

Don

Magic Wings Conservatory & Gardens

2010-08-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

A very fun place to visit with lots of Butterflies and moths and other exotic critters. It is in South Deerfield, MA with more info at Magic Wings. There is a restaurant and hours of watching the butterflies and kids watching them.

Don't miss the two old Blue cabooses in the farm stand lot across the street!

More at the gallery, as usual.

Don

Art in the Park, 2010

2010-08-07T18:37:00.000-05:00

Now we have the third annual Art in the Park at Elm Park, Worcester with 15 very different sculptures. At right is Jellyfish by Fernando DeOlivera of Boston, Massachusets. These are made from clear umbrellas and recycled jersey rags. The show opened August 5th and will run through October, 2010. More at the title link.

Enjoy, Don

Fort Hill Farm

2010-08-02T20:02:00.000-05:00

In Thompson, CT there is a lovely farm that raises Lavender in a Stonewall Old Barn cellar hole garden pictured at the left. THey also feature a large cornfield maze, their own ice creams including their special Lavender topping. There are dairy cows and a horse and Guinea Fowl and many other great sights. My gallery, linked at the title, above, includes a number of HDR images I took there recently.

Don

Art in the Park 2009

2009-08-16T19:32:00.006-05:00

This years Art in the Park at Elm Park, Worcester has 4 more sculptures than last year. Some truly innovative works such as the Toaster at left by Steven Rolf Kroeger made from a VW Microbus. Plenty more to see at the Gallery and the park!

Don

The Love Dogs

2009-06-16T10:23:00.006-05:00

This year's Jazz @ Sunset at the EcoTarium opened with The Love Dogs. Nice sunny evening, but it was in the tent, anyhow, because of storms earlier in the day. Pictured we have Glenn Shambroom and Myanna with Steve Brown in the background. More in the Gallery.

Don

Flamingo Gardens

2009-04-14T12:02:00.003-05:00

While in Fort Lauderdale we also took in Flamingo Gardens. Many interesting flora and fauna, i.e. birds, reptiles and animals of the Everglades captive and wild complete with a Trolly tour of the grounds and Animal Encounters with an Educator. Well worth the admission fee.

As usual, click on the post title to go to this new Gallery.

Don

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

2009-04-12T19:53:00.004-05:00

From a recent trip Leona and I made to Florida here are some images of the wildlife I spotted at Loxahatchee NWR which is a reclaimed farm section bordering the Everglades. A great place to shoot, even in the heat of the early afternoon.

Don

Flora in Winter - Worcester Art Museum

2009-02-08T10:11:00.003-05:00

Each year the Worcester Art Museum, in conjunction with local floral arrangers/artists, hosts 'Flora in Winter' where these artist choose artwork and then they emulate it in a flower arrangement, including holder and items to represent the art work.

My Wife, Leona, and I have enjoyed this show each year for many years

Photoshop World - Boston

2009-01-29T20:17:00.004-05:00

Well, two years after I went to my first Photoshop World, in Boston, see Blog Posts Soup2Nuts Adobe Photoshop Lightroom at PSW - Boston and PSW - Boston Keynote, I'll be off there again the Last week in March. The show runs the 25th to the 27th, with a complete 'Lightroom Conference' track this year.

I will be going into Boston on Tuesday the 24th (Preshow day) this year for shooting and meet-ups! Anyone who would like to join me and Rob Sylvan, NAPP Helpdesk answer man and fellow Lightroom Guru from Lightroom Forums, give me a shout!

Hope to see you there!

Don

Price Reduction for Rust and Whimsy

2009-01-25T09:17:00.005-05:00

I just reduced the online price of my Blurb Photo book, Rust and Whimsy.

Images from the book are available for print at my SmugMug Galleries in the companion Gallery.

Don

Walden Pond

2008-10-12T14:46:00.001-05:00

A great place to photograph nearly anytime, especially on a bright sunny fall day near peak foliage time. Swimmers and boating fishers a plus.

Plenty of woods trails, too, including one along an esker. I will definitely be adding to this gallery over time.

Don

Images Now for Sale!

2008-09-26T10:27:00.004-05:00

My images at SmugMug are now open for sale. One can pay to order prints and other merchandise using my images from any one of the many Galleries I maintain at my SmugMug site.

One can order prints on a variety of paper, including the new Metallic as well as Aprons, T-shirts, Mugs and more.

Don

Lowell, MA

2008-08-18T14:02:00.001-05:00

An interesting city of canals and old factory buildings with plenty of things to photograph. They have a yearly Folk Life Festival in August and are part of our National Parks System. The Gallery includes shots of the Lower Canal Gate House, as at left which is by a three stage lock and images of the loom room in the Boott Cotton Mills Museum which is a very loud space when the are working (even though it is only a few of them running.

Don

Musical Instruments

2008-07-22T21:04:00.002-05:00

Yet another new Gallery. This one is of Musical Instruments. Mostly not the usual ones one would see, or unusual versions of ones.

At the left is an old Acadian button and stop accordion played by one of the performers who play it with the Zydeco group from Louisiana called The Pine Leaf Boys. I hope to be adding many more unusual instruments to this Gallery.

My pleasure, Don

Boats

2008-07-18T21:48:00.002-05:00

I have three new Galleries all under the Category Boats. There are Sailboats, Power Boats and Other Boats as in the ones at the left.

Most images were taken recently, but a few are older.

I especially like very old ships and boats, as you will see. Enjoy!

Don

Art in the Park

2008-07-02T11:45:00.001-05:00

Elm Park in Worcester currently has a large number are sculptures gracing its grounds and a few of the trees. Two can be seen in the image at left. One being the set of charred log stele in the foreground and the other being the distant red object across the pond. Styles cover a wide gamut and artists are from all over New England. I believe these will remain in the Park at least through the summer.

As always, click the title for more.

Don

Buskers

2008-06-15T12:09:00.001-05:00

I love to stop and watch Buskers on the street. Here are some from Newbury Port and Quebec City.

This fellow on the left is a very fine classical guitarist who serenaded us for many hours on two days while we were in Quebec City. He works down on the Water Front in the Old City.

Alternative Views

2008-05-24T11:06:00.002-05:00

I like to see the whimsical in things I shoot. Take things in a different light. Call them as I see them. Image shown is The Abbot of Cairn Abbey

Here is a new Gallery of images that sometimes take a different view on what is around us.

I think this one, Rust and Facade Stories are my favorite Galleries of such special Collections of images.

You can see more at Alternative Views.

Don

Rust

2008-05-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

My latest Gallery Collection that I have started is images of rusty surfaces. This started with being inspired by the images of others on Dgrin Forum.

So far I have parts of an old fountain, harrow, a former No Parking road sign and more.

This is one I intend to pursue further, as well.

Do check out the rest by clicking on the title of this post.

Don

Moore State Park

2008-05-09T09:05:00.003-05:00

Images from one of my favorite sites to revisit regularly. The park features many Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel bushes as well as a mill pond, water falls, old Sawmill and other mill cellar holes and much more.

I shoot there all through the year. Watch for more images to be posted on a regular basis.

More to be seen when you click on the post title.

Don

Signs

2008-04-29T14:23:00.000-05:00

Always a fun thing to shoot and collect in their own gallery. Signs, be they street signs, business signs, old painted business signs on old buildings or reworked signs as with the one here.

As usual you can see the rest by clicking on the post title.

Let me know what you think!

Don

Old Equipment and stuff

2008-04-14T18:32:00.001-05:00

My latest Gallery at SmugMug is mostly (so far) old farm equipment overgrown and rusting/rotting on an abandoned farm site now a park and forest walk area in Princeton, MA.

Old farm equipment is alway fascinating to me, and even more so in such a state. There is also one old winch from the old Herrishoff Boatyards in Bristol, RI.

More to be seen when you click on the title of this post.

Don

Rockport, Cape Ann, Massachusetts

2008-03-31T18:50:00.005-05:00

Rockport's Motif #1, the most photographed and painted subject in this small picturesque seaport town. This gallery currently has my latest shots from there but will soon contain older shots and will grow with more.

I may include some Halibut Point shots here, eventually.

Click on the Title of this post to see more.

Don

Facade Stories

2008-03-25T11:49:00.003-05:00

Another Concept Series of images that I have started, more recently are what I call 'Facade Stories'.

Images of the sides of buildings against which another structure used to be built such that what is left on the facade tells a story or what is now missing. Chimney Flues are visible or outlined. Indications of stairs and pockets for floor joist and the presence of bricked up windows or signs off windows and doors. And, of course the indication of rooflines, some of which can be seen in this sample image at left.

Click on the Title for more! Can you read their stories?

Don

Lamps & Lanterns.

2008-03-24T18:28:00.005-05:00

For a few years now I have taking photos for a series that is Lamps and Lanterns. Street lamps, Porch lights new and old; electric, gas and oil.

They are so ubiquitous but still come in so many styles a varieties and blend variously with their surroundings that it is endlessly fun to Photograph them!

No doubt I will continue to take such images.

Click on the Title for more!

Enjoy,

Don

My New SmugMug Gallery Site!

2008-03-16T15:50:00.002-05:00

I now have a SmugMug Account with lots of galleries of images.

These now include a gallery of Dinosaurs by my Brother-in-Law, Jeff Wells. The Stegosaurus above is a sample from that gallery and his work.

I also have a small gallery of what I call Facade Stories. These are images of the sides of buildings that tell the story of a now missing structure that used to abut them.

Please take a look and enjoy. Feel free to comment on images and rate them!

Don

Wishingwells Woodshop

2008-02-02T20:55:00.000-05:00

My Sister Leslie, now known as Leslie R. Wells, has been a woodworker for over 30 years. She graduated from Philadelphia College of Art with an Arts Degree Majoring in Woodworking and got a Master's Degree from the Master himself, Tage Frid at Rhode Island School of Design (his last Masters Class).

Her Work can be found at http://www.wishingwellswoodshop.com/. She currently works for Zuckermann Harpsichords International of Connecticut, USA.

She also makes Rattles, Dinosaur Carvings, Trays and other fine woodworking pieces.

Way back in the early days of Fine Woodworking Magazine she had chairs shown in that top of the line Woodworking Magazine.

Check Leslie's work out!

Don

PSW - Boston Keynote

2007-04-18T09:39:00.000-05:00

I had a ball watching the Keynote at Photoshop World Boston. I could sure tell that all the participants had a ball as well. The theme was Golden Layers awards for Phototown Music Awards! Scott Kelby and the Histograms sang up a storm.

It all started with a few words from Larry Becker to introduce Katrin Eismann and Terry White who then proceeded to do their bits with each doing the other's lines. It was Great and they did a fine job of impersonating each other.

Then Felix, Matt, Dave, Cory and Scott came out and did sosme fine, fine Phototown tunes (in the Motown way) comeplete with line dancing and arm motions all in Gold lapeled tuxes, to boot. This was done along with a story of how the group originally included Deke McClelland as lead singer without Scott. Then one day before a tour he stole the tour bus and has been touring the country ever since.

Johnny L was then introduced by Scott and he did a presentation of Adobe's new Phot0shop CS3 and CS3 Extended. This included impressive 3D rendering and compositing for panos.

There was also a very impresive display of a Research Demo of a multi GigaPixel image shot as a full 360 (stitched) pano from the top of the Prudential Tower. Incredible Close-up detail of car license plates and views through windows. Awesome imaging. The shot of Scott as the Supremes was austencibly part of that image. A Johnny L 'gotcha' on Scott Kelby.

Finaly there were some very interesting Guru awards. The Lightroom Gallery Slideshow shows the Vincent Versace award winner.

Over all a thoroughly enjoyable Keynote Segment to PhotoShop World.

Don

Soup2Nuts Adobe Photoshop Lightroom at PSW - Boston

2007-04-16T16:22:00.000-05:00

The first in a series of posts on my Adventures into Photoshop World - Boston 2007. Slideshow at title link above.

I worked hard to get to go to this Soup2Nuts (see post below for details of the event). It was with help from George Jardine that I finally managed to buy my tickets and go. Thank you George!

I was very glad to get to meet the people associated with the development of Lightroom pictured in the Slideshow, as well as Andrew Rodney, a stallwart of the LR User to User Forum as well as the Knolls and Shelly Katz and Katrin Eismann.

Jeff Schewe lived up to his reputation. I am also glad to have met him. :)

Don

p.s.
Click on the title for the accompanying image gallery.

Another Olde Photo!

2007-03-28T14:59:00.000-05:00

A picture of me playing a Jew's/Jaw Harp at the Van Hoyt's Fiddler's Convention appeared in the Winston-Salem Journal and Sunday Sentinel and Rolling Stone No. 87 of July 22, 1971. The one with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull on the cover.

New Polysemania Blog

2007-03-19T17:48:00.000-05:00

I am moving my old psm.html Polysemania page to the blogesphere. Same content, but more visible and with space for comments.

See you there!

Don

My High Stepping Dancing Days

2007-02-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, I was once known as "Dancing Don". It is something I did a lot of at one time. From Square Dancing (High School with my Sister) to rocking out to the music of the '60s and '70s to free form dancing , soft-shoe to Jazz.

My all time high point was dancing around a smokey fire to George Pegram, Rounders Record #0001.

If any of you remember those Van Hoyt Brothers annual Bluegrass Concerts at Union Grove, NC, please post!

Don

In Photo Days of Yore!

2007-02-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

I recieved this 31 year old image from my Sister today. I am using a Yashica D that I had used for a few years, loaned to me by her.

This it at "The Wall" on Hope Street in Bristol, RI on that Fourth of July day. Bristol has been celebrating the Fourth longer than any other place in the USA. The center line of the Parade Route is Permanantly painted Red, White and Blue.

I still wear the same 4 inch cresent wrench with my work clothes. This is the year ('76) when Police gassed that spot because someone through a bottle into the parade. (Remember post Vietnam. I had only been out of the service less tahn a year. My Family got gassed along with the "rioters".

Wishing Wells

2007-02-08T08:50:00.000-05:00

Check out my Sister's Websites in the Family Links! She is a topnotch Woodworker building Rattles and Keyboard Instruments. Her Family has a band, the WishingWells!

Don

Soup2Nuts and PSW - Boston

2007-02-06T07:47:00.000-05:00

I'll be there! I am especially excited to go the the Soup2Nuts on the Pre-Confrence day, April 3rd. It is in part a charity fund-raiser for Bruce Fraser's widow.

Soup2Nuts NEW!12:00pm - 6:00pm | Price: $199
w/ Ruth Knoll, Thomas Knoll, and George Jardine

Soup2Nuts - You’ll enjoy an enlightening afternoon of light banter on the new features and functions of Adobe Lightroom. A highlight of the afternoon is a panel discussion, moderated by George Jardine, Adobe’s Lightroom guru, covering the design process behind the new user interface and features of Lightroom. Joining George with be Thomas Knoll as well as other pundits and experts. Join us with your laptop and the latest version of Lightroom installed, for a hands on workshop to end any confusion and ignite your enthusiasm for the next generation of digital photography.

Hope to see you there!

Don

First Post!

2007-02-04T17:20:00.000-05:00

Just getting started. Still tweeking the look and adding elements.

I'll be rotating photos and the like as I go along.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Don