The Bovine "Come Hither" Look

And you think this cow didn't pose for this photo? Take a real good look. This shot was taken at the Topsfield Fair when Aaron was still in a stroller. So, it has to be at least five years old. We had been harassed into the bovine section by my daughter, Thalia. The result was this photo, which actually does look as though the cow knew what I was doing. It is one of my favorite animal photos.

The Kids are Alright!

As with all mothers, I have more photos of my kids than anything. However, I don't spend my time clogging the megabytes with them. There are some, however, that stand out. Photos where the kids are doing what comes naturally are the best. I always tell my clients, "Just put me together with your kids for a few hours and I'll get you some great shots. Don't worry about posing and what clothes they are in." Just let them be themselves.

This shot is down on Cape Cod. The kids are checking out the mighty Atlantic from a scenic vista.

Altered States

This photo is actually older, at least by four or five years. This decanter sat in our plant window in Beverly for a few years before I finally decided to shoot it. I didn't like what I was getting, so I decided to alter it. I especially like the way the plants "interact" with it.

Shadow Land

I wasn't sure if this photo would amount to anything when I shot it. However, I did think it would at least be interesting. "Shadow Land" was actually shot looking down from the top of the garage at the Mass General Hospital. It is definitely one of my favorites.

The Legend of Perley's

Around these parts, Perley's is legendary. There's a Perley's breakfast place (shown here, with tapestry effects), a Perley's Marina, a Perley's gas station with antique pumps (and some of the lowest prices you can find on a daily basis). We're not quite sure who the hell Perley is though. There are a lot of rumors. This particular Perley's is in rural Rowley, MA.

Meet Minnie

This is Minnie-quin, or Minnie for short. I caught her one day on a trip into Boston's Chinatown. I thought she looked pretty fetching that day and we were stopped at a red light, so I could not resist.

Still More Neon...

This neon "thing" of mine is a recurring theme. I seem to gravitate towards these signs. This is another one that I like because there are really three layers of images. First, there's the cow and the words. Behind that, however, you can see the actual lights hanging from the ceiling of this fine food establishment. Then, you have what's behind you (trees, sky) being reflected out of the glass back at you. I almost forgot I had this photo, but I went scanning in some older files today and found it!

Just a bit out of sync...

I have always liked this photo. It's just a bit off center, if you know what I mean. This was a "drive-by shooting." I was sitting in the passenger seat and shot this out the window while we were driving by this biker. I'm a bit disturbed by the photo because I didn't get the biker's head in the shot. Yet, I think that's the attribute of the photo that keeps you looking at it. Like, it's going to appear sooner or later. Only it never does.

That's some big kitty!

Yes, this is some big kitty. I took this photo while this beautiful leopard safely slept behind a big glass wall at the Stone Zoo. Made me want to pet him he was so cute and cuddly. However, Deb immediately reminded me that I could lose a hand or an arm if I were to try. She's right. I'll stick to petting our three cats at home.

Goodbye to Summer!

I actually shot this some time ago, but I just found it in one of my files. I like the way this was shot and I believe it was done quite inadvertently. It just turned out right. This is like the last sign of summer. It's September and getting colder. Pretty soon I'll be shooting turning leaves and falling snow again. That's why I love New England.

Two NEW Picasa Web Albums

I just finished putting up two new Picasa Web Albums. The first is called Architecture and the other is called The Wonder of Nature. They can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com/Elizdellapiana

Not to be Outdone!

My little one, Thalia, is not to be outdone by her brother. This is actually Thalia at about 4 years old. She's nearly 11 now. Again, ignoring the junk in the background, the best way to catch kids is in their natural state.

My new web site will feature a section called All Natural Kidz.

Hiya Mom!

One of my favorite subjects is kids. This is actually a photo of my son, Aaron, at just over two months old. I'm not much for posed photos like some of the stuff that comes home from school. I prefer kids in the natural sense. In this case, he just happened to turn his head as I walked into the room and I caught him.

Late One Night!

I actually took this photo with my camera phone late one night on the way home from a subway trip to Boston. It turned out remarkably well (with a little editing help). One of the things I really like about it is the way the neon stands out.

Altered States

I'm working on a new Picasa web album called Altered States. Every once in a while, I'm inspired to "work on" a photo that I maybe am not totally happy with. Sometimes I can actually turn it into something worthwhile. I particularly like the approach I took with this photo of downtown Newburyport. I had a great idea for a photo that day but the combination of the weather and my mood ensured that it did not come off the way I wanted. I ended up with this.

New Picasa Web Album!

I've begun to put albums up in Picasa Web Albums, so please go take a look. The first piece is called "Vital Signs." I've taken literally thousands of photos out of car windows. My partner, Deb, originally had the idea to call my first book "Drive-by Shootings," but the title was taken. Hence, she came up with "Vital Signs," not a bad second choice. I'll be adding to this album as I locate and organize the photos I've already taken and as I take even more on my travels.

In light of the current political climate, I particularly like this one!

Bottoms Up!

This has to be one of the most photographed structures in Boston, the Hancock Tower. I have many photos of this with reflections showing in it. I thought this would be a different perspective. You can see just the hint of the Trinity Church's reflection in the bottom right hand corner..

Building Guardians

Architecture is one of my favorite subjects. Here's a photo I shot while driving through Boston. The building elements in the city are amazing if you take the time to look for them.

Brother & Sister

Here's a photo of my children, Aaron and Thalia, looking out over the ocean. I'm not quite sure where we were, but I believe it was taken somewhere on Cape Cod while we were visiting their grandmother.

Trying Not To Be Seen

Here's a picture of a vulture I took at the Topsfield Fair. As you can see, he's very shy and is trying not to be seen. Yet, he's still curious enough to try to figure out what I'm doing with this black box I'm pointing at him. I find animals both fascinating and challenging to photograph because you have to catch them at just the right time, and this means you have to be patient.

I'm Happiest Near the Ocean

This is a photo I took in Gloucester, Massachusetts. I lived there for several years and it is a beautiful place to be. Of course, it's now inhabited by people intent on building mega-homes in developments that were never there before, so it has lost some of it's original charm. Still, if you can avoid those areas, there's nothing like a visit to Gloucester.

Reflections at Eagles Nest

When my children were smaller, the loved this playground in Essex, Massachusetts called Eagles Nest which was built on the grounds of an elementary school. It was constructed entirely of wood (with the exception of the surface of the slides). The place is just awesome and kids have a blast there.

There's also a pond with frogs, dragonflies, ducks and other wildlife. I shot this there on a hot summer day and managed to catch the reflection of the house behind the pond. To this day it's one of my favorite shots.

What Lies Ahead, Folks!

In contrast to my first posting of today, here's a shot from last winter at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury. We had taken a long walk in the snow and used our footsteps to find our way back to the road. It was a typical snowy day. It was not warm, but was not so cold that you couldn't bear to be outside.

In Formation

This happened to be a beautiful summer day here where I live. It was in the upper 70s with very low humidity. I was on the patio looking up when I spotted these cloud formations. I thought they were amazing both in shape and texture. They really stood out because the sky was such a vivid blue.

Post 9-11 Fervor

This photo was taken shortly after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. I was driving down Route 93 South heading to an appointment in Boston when I saw this American flag tied to the rocks at Sheepfold in Stoneham, MA. I had been so upset after watching the events of 9-11 unfold over the prior three days that I had to take the photo. Now, six years later, I'm more upset at the questions that the facts of 9-11 have raised about our own government's potential complicity.

Early Morning in Portland, Maine

Here's a photo I took of a beautiful boat sitting at the dock in Portland, Maine. This was before I had children and could simply wake up in the morning, pack up my photography equipment, and head out to points unknown for a day of shooting. This has always been one of my favorites because of the eerie feeling the fog creates in this photo.

A Bit Unnerving

This is the standard version of the colorized photo I've included in the right-hand column of this blog. It's a rather unnerving sight when you're taking a nice, relaxing, scenic drive to Plum Island, MA. The sign refers to the Seabrook (New Hampshire) Nuclear Power Plant and the fact that it would be impossible to run if there was actually an accident at that facility.

I took this photo on a cloudy day in the middle of the week during the month of June. I woke up a couple of days later only to find an article on-line and in the local paper talking about the fact that the Seabrook warning alarm had gone off in the middle of the night and frightened the residents of Amesbury. We didn't even hear it. Our windows were closed and our air conditioning was on. As it turns out, it was an alarm malfunction...or so they say. Who really knows?

One of My Favorites

In keeping with the "signs" theme for this evening, here's a promotional movie poster on the side of a city bus publicizing the release of The Italian Job. We were riding around the Back Bay when I had the opportunity to shoot this. This is one of my favorite photos (and one of my favorite movies).

A Boston Landmark

For years this sign held it's ground on an overpass on Storrow Drive in Boston, MA. What once read "Reverse Curve," was changed into a plea by Boston Red Sox fans to reverse the "Curse of the Bambino." In 2004, the Red Sox responded by winning the World Series after an 86-year drought, effectively reversing the curse. The sign has since been removed.

Welcome to Jumpin' Jay's, Portsmouth, NH

This is one of my favorite downtown Portsmouth signs. It's for Jumpin' Jay's Fish Cafe. This guy hangs above the door.

The Guy Who REALLY Won and the Woman Who Should Have Been the Governor of Massachusetts

Back a few years, now, but it seems like a century ago. Shannon O'Brien ran against Mitt Romney for Governor of Massachusetts and, unfortunately, she lost. I did get a great gig shooting this event, however, when Al Gore came to Boston to support her efforts.

Falling on Deaf Ears

I took this photo in Park Square just before our imperial president invaded Iraq. These people were really good natured, standing out there for hours in the freezing cold. Several of them are still protesting at the same spot to this day.

I'm In Control Here

I used to ride my motorcycle along the back roads from Winchester to Concord. Every once in a while I'd come upon grazing sheep with their loyal watchdog, a beautiful white Great Pyrenees. This was the sweetest dog just hanging around doing his job, keeping a watchful eye on his fellow animals and keeping them in line.

Another Rather Extraordinary Item

Here's another favorite. My partner and I have, for the most part, always lived near the ocean. We used to love to drive the coastal route to Gloucester, MA and one of our favorite diversions was Manchester-by-the-Sea.

We rounded a corner one day and looked over the side to the beach below and saw this sitting there. It's aptly named Kill Your Television.

We drove by several days later and it was still sitting there, albeit in much worse condition than this photo indicates. It took almost two weeks for this item to be cleaned off the beach.

Welcome!

Welcome to my photo blog. This is a way for me to personalize some of my work, so I thought we'd start with this photo. I call this Crossed Lines.

This photo looked like a rather ordinary shot of above-the-ground telephone lines when I was looking through the lens. I remember thinking I'd never try to use it anywhere. I took it when I lived in Beverly, MA.

However, once I took it off the camera and got it onto my hard drive, it was eerily religious in some sort of funky way. It's really rather hard to describe the pull it has on me, but it is one of my favorites. I have photographed several rather ordinary items like this that did not turn out to be ordinary photographs.