Open Window

Open Window's Sixth Year - 2015

Open Window was ajar most of 2015 as energies needed to be directed toward our photography business. In fact, there were only 47 posts to Open Window in 2015 compared to 231 in its inaugural year. Sadly I found it much easier to post a photo or comment to Facebook from "the field", and I know many of you don't participate in Facebook.

"Second Thought" © Claudia Ward

At the beginning of 2015, we'd planned on exhibiting in two shows in Florida, the plans for which had to change as Peter hurt his back just before we left and needed surgery once we got there. Brave soul that he is however (and with doctor's approval), we did meet up with our friends in Rincon, Puerto Rico where Peter rested and recuperated, and I got some of the best wave images I've ever taken. 

Chatham Arts Festival 2015

Spring, Summer, and Fall were filled with art festivals in New York State and Massachusetts (Memorial Day to Thanksgiving). In all, we participated in 12 art festivals (10 outdoors and 2 indoors). In addition to those, we participated in our own private show at Ashawagh Hall along with two other incredibly talented artists, 4 gallery shows, and one Christmas Fair. There's a lot of work involved in planning and executing the participation in these shows, which I hope explains my absence from Open Window. It simply could not be helped. Not only did we meet incredibly wonderful artists and sponsors, but we also found individuals who truly love our work. Connections have also been made with a Surf Clothing Company, a couple of galleries, and a framer/gallery in the Design Center in Boston. As we all know, "it's not over 'till the fat lady sings" - please pray she sings.

Good fortune had us shooting in the Southern Caribbean for a week just before Christmas. Water may have been the draw but it was the sunrises, sunsets, and fall skies that truly took our breath away, every single day. 

The Freedom Tower © 2015 Claudia Ward

As I watched the attached slide show before sitting down to write this, what struck me was how very fortunate we have been in addition to having worked harder this year than either of us have for several. Given all that, the highlight of my year was spending two nights in downtown Manhattan in the beginning of December. Having been on Wall Street on 9/11 and living down there from that day until I left in 2009, I'd seen the cleanup, read about the plans, and watched the beginnings of rebuilding, but it wasn't until December 7th (truly) that I saw for the first time, in person, what has replaced all of that destruction/construction and I must say, it is nothing short of breathtaking.

Past & Present Downtown New York ©2015 Claudia Ward

We came upon the reflecting pools our first night walking back to our hotel after dinner and I can honestly say I wept to see what we have created in memory of so many and despite so few.

The Reflecting Pools in Lower Manhattan After Dark 2015 ©Claudia Ward

The next day we explored it all and Peter was even able to coax me to the top of the Freedom Tower - something I will remember for all of my days to come.

New York After Dark from the Top of the Freedom Tower ©2015 Claudia Ward

Despite all of the despair we all felt that day, there is nothing but hope in the air as you traverse the park, or linger to contemplate  - watching the waters cascading into the reflecting pools.

As 2016 begins - there's an Open Window for all of us.

I hope you enjoy the slide show of 2015.

 

Photos and Slide Show ©2015 Claudia Ward
Music: "Up with End Credits" from the soundtrack, Michael Giacchino

 

A Week in Normandy with .................................Valérie Jardin

Valérie Jardin is a photographer I have followed on the internet for nearly four years and until recently we'd never met in person, although we had spoken twice on the phone. We share a passion for photography and I've found it fascinating and inspirational to follow the growth in her business. Originally a commercial photographer based in Minneapolis, Valérie focused professionally on food photography as well as residential and commercial interiors, and personally on street photography allowing her to tell wonderful stories - usually in black and white. In the past year, she has re-focused her considerable energies to include photography workshops in the U.S., Europe and even Australia, and Peter and I were fortunate enough to join her for one in her native-Normandy along with six other like-minded photographers.

Our Normandy group hailed from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Virginia, South Carolina, New York, and Australia. We convened in Paris, boarded a large van and set off for Honfleur, the first stop in our week-long journey together. Valérie started the week off with an overview of how to think about composition and light with examples from her own portfolio which was really good food-for-thought, and we began the adventure early the following morning. Rain kept us on the move in Honfleur, hopping between churches and shops carrying the local specialty - Calvados. After lunch, we bid a fond adieu to Honfleur and set out for Bayeux via Deauville.

The boardwalk in Deauville was still drying from rain and the colorful umbrellas on the beach were all tied down so not to be caught by the wind. Despite that the colors of Deauville stood out starkly and beautifully against the gray Norman skies. 

The Château de Bellefontaine would be our home in Bayeux for the next three nights and it couldn't have been a more perfect location. Set back from the road but not far from town, the 18th century Château is surrounded by a two hundred year old park with mature beautiful trees and a lake populated with a pair of swans and lots of very lively ducks.

Bayeux is the home to Notre Dame of Bayeux, a truly beautiful cathedral and the remarkable Bayeux Tapestry. The "tapestry" is 230 feet long and depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and culminates in the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and it is truly remarkable. Bayeux is also a perfect base from which to see the D-Day beaches and memorials, and we did one day, starting at Arromanches, moving on to Gold and then Omaha beach, stopping at the American Cemetery at Colleville, and ending at Point du Hoc. This was a day that left us all quite breathless from the staggering evidence of what had happened here and the staggering beauty of this northern coastline of France.

On our last morning in Bayeux, we each got to sit with Valérie to review several of the images we'd taken so far and discuss one-on-one what we'd accomplished, and what and how we could improve. This "quality-time" to chat about our own work was appreciated by every enthusiastic photographer in the group, and then we packed an overnight case for our stay on Mont Saint Michel.

Mont Saint Michel is a rock upon which has been built an Abbey and around which has grown a small village, catering mostly to the three million tourists who come to see this incredible sight every year. We stayed at La Mère Poulard, an inn established on the island in 1888 near the "front gate" and one famous for it's incredibly light omelets. The four flights of stairs nearly did us in although, we learned, they were nothing compared to the stairs leading to the Abbey, ... but persevere we did and glad for it. The Abbey is peaceful and solid and made me believe almost anything could survive the test of time.

With Mont Saint Michel in our rear-view mirror, we set our sights on Caen, a city that was almost completely decimated during the war, except for the churches and part of the castle of William the Conqueror - you know, the one who conquered England in 1066 - oh, I mentioned that already didn't I. Walking the ramparts of the castle afforded us a beautiful view over the city, the one where we would end our journey together and this photographic adventure.

What did we learn, from Valérie and each other?

• How to compose an image using leading lines, patterns, dimension and scale, color, and ... of course, the light.

• How to photograph people on the street and food in natural daylight.

• How to share - our vision and enthusiasm, something Valérie taught by example and is never short on.

It was a wonderful week, one we'd recommend to anyone with an interest in photography and, of course, France, with a teacher who wants to share all she knows to help you love photography as much as she does.

Here's a slide show that really shows the week we all shared.

 

Photos and Slide Show © 2013 Claudia Ward
Music: George Valentin by Ludovic Bource from the soundtrack of "The Artist" 

And here's a map to show you exactly where we were.

Au revoir!

 

Venice Revisited

Venice Alleyway © 2012 Claudia Danforth Ward

Our trip to Venice in May is but a memory now - but what lovely memories they are. To live in such a place for 12 days allowed us to slowly take in the details of its waterways and alleyways. As I'm moving this year's 8,000+ photos from my computer to an external drive, I'm taking a wonderful stroll down memory lane and coming upon some images that I'd forgotten I'd made. These are two such favorites. As vivid and bright as the colors are on Burano (so they can be seen from a distance on the sea), Venice's colors are subdued and I loved the muted oranges and blues that could be found everywhere.

Venice - The Bridge of Sighs © 2012 Claudia Danforth Ward

Let me know which one of these is your favorite.

1 World Trade Center

Progress is finally being made on the World Trade Center and it looks like 1 World Trade will be elegant and stunning.

Photo © 2012 Peter Tooker iPhone

Sent from my iPhone
Claudia Danforth Ward

White Oaks

White Oaks, located in the scenic Upper Delaware River Valley, is the country home of good friends. The property comprises a log cabin, several out-buildings, and a spring fed pond, all situated on rolling hills amidst 30 acres of wooded grounds. The peace and quiet at White Oaks are to be savored. There are trails in the woods for hiking in the spring, summer, and fall, and skiing in the winter, and the pond is perfect for swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter. The entire property is special but what is most charming is the house - a log cabin, built solidly - with the logs acting as their own insulation!

Peter's been practicing internal shots with HDR processing and these are the results. No burned out or blacked out spots, isn't it great? Enjoy this little slice of country living - we certainly did.

 Photos © 2010 Peter Tooker; Slide show by Claudia Ward

Music: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F, Bwv1046: 3rd Mvt., by J.S. Bach

 

 

 

Pittsburgh PA

The architecture in The Golden Triangle in downtown Pittsburgh is stunning - modern steel and glass reflect stone structures from previous generations. In this slide show, I think you'll agree that Peter has captured Pittsburgh at her finest and shown her off with wonderful high dynamic range. (Note: This is Peter's work, it was only posted from my Vimeo account.)

 HDR Photos ©2010 Peter Tooker

Music: Winning by Randy Newman

 

The City of Pittsburgh

Many of you know that Peter and I took a 20 day road trip last spring to and through the midwest. Our destination was a graduation in Bloomington Indiana, but we stopped in Philadelphia (twice), Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Michigan City (Indiana), Chicago, Charleston (West Virginia), and Washington D.C. too. Believe it or not, we're just getting to work with some of the photos we took along the way.

Pittsburgh was our second stop and is a pretty little city, the center of which is called the Golden Triangle, defined by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, which form the Ohio River. According to Wikipedia, Pittsburgh "features 151 high-rise buildings, 446 bridges (10 of which are downtown), 2 inclined railroads, and a pre-revolutionary fort ..." Colloquially, Pittsburgh is known as "The City of Bridges" and "The Steel City" for its many bridges and its former steel manufacturing base.

Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the steel industry in Pittsburgh began to implode and the collapse was so complete that there are no steel mills left in Pittsburgh today. The primary industries in Pittsburgh today have shifted toward technology, healthcare, robotics, education and financial services. Pittsburgh is headquarters to PNC Financial Services and Federated Investors, and is regional headquarters for BNY Mellon - my alma mater.

Many publications have ranked Pittsburgh highly in "livability" defined by cost-of-living, crime, and cultural opportunities. Most recently (2010), Forbes listed Pittsburgh as the most livable city in the U.S., the 7th best place to raise a family, and the 4th best city for working mothers. Setting its "livability" aside however, Peter and I found our attraction to the city to be in its architecture which is quite modern and strikingly beautiful. Take a look. This is a two-part post. Today's slide show is Pittsburgh from my perspective; Wednesday's will be Peter's. We hope you enjoy seeing this city in a new light - perhaps you'll find yourself as pleasantly surprised as we were. 

  Photos & Slide Show ©2010 Claudia Ward
Music: Pittsburgh by George Stetten

Coming soon (we hope): Chicago, Washington DC and Philadelphia!