Built in 1878, the Romanesque Revival Bromfield School, known fondly as Old Bromfield was the gift of Margaret Bromfield Blanchard in a bequest to create a secondary school on property her grandfather, Colonel Henry Bromfield, had used for his summer home since 1767 until his home burned in 1855. The school has moved next door to a modern facility and the school was restored with an addition in 2007 to become the home of the Harvard Public Library. The property enjoys a view of the 316 acre Bare Hill Pond seen in the background. Nikon D610, 1/90 second at f/22, ISO 200, 28mm (17-35mm) - 9775
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These power lines have always bothered me. But I do enjoy electricity. Not so much the coal that is used to create 39% of our nations electricity. These lines cross 50 feet above the Wachusett Reservoir in West Boylston, Massachusetts. I was alarmed to learn that a mere 7% of electricity comes from renewable sources. Nikon D610, 1/90 second at f/22, ISO 200, 17mm (17-35mm) - 9733
Sometimes it's a mistake to look at things too close. It can't help but get personal. I had discarded this photo as being a bit to revealing and maybe a little jellulous. Well, that might not be a word, but it should be. I was always fascinated by the centers of these, but I never looked quite this close before. In the end, I had to share this. It is that part of a peach where the endocarp meets the mesocarp. That is, the pit. Nikon D610, 1/180 second at f5.6, ISO 200, 105mm - 9720
These flowers are very strange. Usually flowers entice passerby's by advertising vibrant anthers and stigmas. This flower attracts only those adventurous enough to dare enter these black holes of questionable rewards. I suspect it will be the same for an astronaut centuries from now venturing into a galactic black hole in hopes of seeing the other side of the universe - or not. Nikon D610, 1/1500 second at f/13, ISO 400, 32mm (17-32mm) - 9685
It is the end of June and in the low 60's tonight in New England. Missing those no longer with us and those far-far away. But the fire is roaring, music is playing, and we are having a wonderful time with great food, great kids and family we see far too infrequently. Maybe the stars are the eyes of those we miss. I'd like to think so. Nikon D610, 30 seconds at f/11, ISO 100, 17mm (17-35mm) - 9628
I felt like a kid today exploring just the way I did decades ago. I finally got my bike going this week and went for a ride. Hiking down a path, I found this tunnel not three feet high that runs under what was a railroad track built between two ponds. It isn't big enough for people, so it must have been some kind of water drainage system dating back to the later 19th century. It appears to flow with water in the spring time and slowly dry up in summer. The light at the other end is the remnants of spring flowing water. Fuji X100T, 1/80 second at f5.6, ISO 200, 23mm
I am curious why the water doesn't just leak into the ground? I build a pond in my back yard and when a branch falls from the trees above penetrating the lining, the water leaks into the ground and empties my pond. Yet people built a dam a century ago and the water happily collects into a reservoir. Can anyone explain the geology of this? Nikon D610, 1/60 second at f/22, ISo 100, 17mm (17-35mm) - 9586
These fascinating hooks allow these seeds to be carried from place to place, hopefully conducive for starting a new life. I read an article in Wired Magazine that told the story of these annoying burrs and how they inspired the origin of Velcro by a Swiss engineer. I wonder what other annoying things could inspire the creation of something wondrous. This is the sixth day in a row I have spent with my 105mm Macro lens handheld looking at things close up. I am getting to know how shallow the depth of field can be and how fleeting focus is when the wind blows or you take a small breath. Nikon D610, 1/125 second at f/11, ISO 100, 105mm - 9556
Watching moving water is one of the most meditative and relaxing things to do. It makes little difference if it is a stream, brook, ocean, pool or puddle. If it is moving, it is mesmerizing to watch. The water looks thick like molten glass when you look at it close up. Who knows what causes the rippled texture of the surface. I could stare at this for hours.A good picture of moving water should depict the motion. I hope I captured it here. Nikon D610, 1/250 second at f/4.8, ISO 100, 105mm - 9461
Today, when I first looked outside at the heavy rain, it sent me back more than fifty years. I had the mumps and like a chipmunk in winter, I wasn't allowed outside for what seemed like weeks. I was so sad and disappointed. I am not sure how the senses can cause the mind to instantly transport you to a different time and place but they can and do, especially smell. The weather cleared enough for me to go out and shoot remnants of the rain. This is a red maple leaf lit from behind showing proudly why it is called a red maple. Nikon D610, 1/1000 second at f/3.5, ISO 100, 105mm - 9420
Our back yard pond is one of our treasures. The sound of the waterfall that feeds it, the birds that come to drink the water or bath in the gentle brook, the Lily that comes back year after year bigger and better then before and the frogs that sit on the Lily leaves all make it a very special place. The Lily flowers are wonderful. Clean and white and yellow all day. But it is dusk now, and time for bed. So they close up and say goodnight. Goodnight sweet Lilies. Nikon D610, 1/125 second at f/16, ISO 3200, 105mm - 9367
I must have looked a bit silly with my SLR and corded off-camera flash snapping pictures in this very quaint garden center just down the road. We shop there at least once a year in spring for the "special" plants that we need to finish our gardens. These flowers would have been satisfying enough, but the green warriors appear to be facing off in preparation for some kind of battle. They make ugly cool! Nikon D610, with off camera flash, 1/125 second at f/29, ISO 200, 105mm - 9184
Went outside tonight and was taken aback by the proliferation of this invasive plant throughout our lawn. The flowers seemed to glow from a distant spot. With off-camera flash, done on the ground I went amidst the grass (I thought it was grass) and who knows what crawly things. I took some photos of Whoville to see if I could see. How delicate and lovely clover is when you look deep inside. Not unlike some people I know and love. Nikon D610, 1/180 second at f/19, ISO 200, 105mm - 9158
I am not at all good at golf. I can make Par here and there. But they are rare. I just adore being here amidst the grass, trees, water, birds and other little creatures. On a beautiful day like today, it doesn't get much better. I don't even add up my score at the end of the day because it isn't about the score or who wins. It is about appreciating the beauty of the course and the thrill of an occasional good swing. I will never understand the angry golfer. Fuji X100T,1/1100 second at f/2.5, ISO 200 23mm - Merged Panorama - 2433
It hurts my brain picturing the handyman that administered repair after repair decades ago. A testament to making things last without spending a dime. This is a barn not far from home and this is one of the rear doors. Like the orphan child, the rear side of the barn is dilapidated. On the other side - the side facing the road - is much more presentable. Now, decades later, no one would even know where to begin to make things better. Such is the plight of so many barns today. Nikon D610, 1/180 second at f/2.4, ISO 200, 50mm (50mm f/1.4) - 9069
The Old Stone Church on the shores of Wachusett Reservoir is an oft captured subject. I have taken only a few photos because it has become ordinary. Today, in the heavy rain, it was desolate and it somehow attracted me. The interior is quite special with these wonderful open air windows with hand sculpted pillars looking out to the pristine natural woods that surround the water. If you look closely, I couldn't help but capture the devotion of Manny & Jessika. Nikon D610, 1/45 second at f/4.5, ISO 200, 50mm (28-300) - HDR - 8994 &5
Hidden in the branches of a random tree is this wooden wind chime made of bamboo and a gourd of some kind. It makes a hollow tropical sound when the wind blows. You can almost hear the natives in the distance. It seems to go quiet in the summer and oddly noisiest in the dead of winter. Notice the bokeh? That is the glistening sunlight on the leaves in the forest blurred by this most beautiful lens. Nikon D610, 1/60 second at f/4.8, ISO 200, 35mm (17-35mm) - 8966
In a very old park in Worcester there are trees that must be 80 years old with huge roots that at one time or another tried to the surface looking for light. They must have been summarily and repeatedly cut at ground level to show the rings of age. The resourcefulness of the tree devising a plan to make another entrance. Very clever. But foiled none the less. Fuji X100T, 1/240 second at f/2.0, ISO 200, 23mm - 2378
Even at night, this treasure is strikingly beautiful. Mountain laurel is natural and abundant. In June it takes over, after the azalea and the rhododendron have fallen to the ground, the mountain laurel and its ten-sided flower opens. It is simple, clean and wondrous. Put thousands together and it is breathtaking. At night, our eyes can't capture the real beauty, our eyes are in too much of a hurry. But the camera can, it is patient and will wait for the rewards. Nikon D610, 30 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 200, 35mm (17-35mm) - 8922
These aren't the rectangular bales of hay I remember lifting as a kid, but they are cool none the less. This field has one of the nicest non-obstructed views looking northeast, it makes me envy the grass that grows here. It may not have occurred to you, but the smell in this field was wonderful. Natural, aromatic and pristine with a smidgen of wetness from recent rains. Ah, you can smell it now, good! Nikon D610, 1/500 second at f/22,ISO 200, 17mm, (17-35mm) HDR merge - 8909
All day, the sky was perfectly clear, until this afternoon when the sun was low in the sky, the clouds showed some style! I have taken this shot before, it is a great opportunity to catch the land and the sky at its best. I had taken a hundred pictures today and this is an high-dynamic-range merge of three pictures of the last pictures of the day taken with the same f-stop but speed ranging from 1/350 second to 1/1500 second. Nikon D610, 1/1500 Second at f/13, ISO 200, 35mm (17-35mm) - 8762
I have wanted to stop here and take this photograph for a long time. Today, I did. The recently plowed open field with the stone sided shed made for munchkins in the distance. The scene always reminded me of Kansas just before Dorothy sees the tornado. The sky was filled with action and eventually let loose. I said thank you. What a great day for taking photographs! Nikon D610, 1/90 second at f/22, ISO 200, 35mm (17-35mm) - 8632
These baby geese were adorable to watch, but, like kittens, puppies and children, they will grow up and virtually disappear - replaced by another creature all-together. So enjoy the little guys while you can. Soon, they will be yelling and biting at you and chasing you away from whatever they think belongs to them. When you aren't looking, they will leave their mark on pristine fields of green grass. For now, we'll take adorable. 1/60 second at f/11, ISO 200, 300mm (28-300mm) - 8583
I gave myself a tough assignment today. Get the best picture of the little tadpoles in the pond possible. First I tried a high ISO, that proved too noisy. I then tried a low ISO and a 300mm full-frame lens on my Nikon D90 which should have given me 450mm. That turned out to be the best I could come up with. Turns out shooting through water is messy and a little distorted. The little guy in the upper right corner is about as clear as I could get. Still less than an inch long, you can see his tail fin and a rear leg emerging and his little eye. Nikon D90, 1/800 second at 5/5.6, ISO 200, 170mm (28-300mm) - 9122
I was about to head outside to take some night pictures after I burned up some boxes in the fire place. I grabbed my iPhone and put on the macro lens I received (major $9 purchase) and stuck my iPhone 6 into the fire. The iPhone takes some pretty amazing photographs I think. There is something about fire, isn't there? I love to stare at it, even when it is still like in this picture. iPhone 6 Plus, 1/680 second at f2.2, ISO 32, 4.15 mm with macro lens - 1703
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I am Robert McKay Jones, a photographer from Sterling, Massachusetts and North Fort Myers, FL. I take photographs almost every day. I post my favorites here. |