Rowland Photography

It was written in the sand

Joseph — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:37:15 +0000

Quick, fun pic taken on the beach in Anse Marcel in St. Marteen (I’d like to refer to it as an analog time/date stamp)

Multiple Exposures- Daisies

Joseph — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:55:28 +0000

Over the winter I posted I was playing with multiple exposures with a “twist.” In camera, I can set the Nikon D3 to take 10 frames and then combine them all into one. Pretty friggin amazing, when you think about it. The cool thing is you aren’t really sure what you’ll get when you do this. It creates a very “artsy” moment, when what you see in the viewfinder, really doesn’t reflect what the back of the camera will show you. While I almost always “pre-visualize” what I shoot, the number of variables when doing this multiple exposure with a twist, makes it almost impossible- which leads to a bit of serendipity, which I love.

Hope you do to, enjoy!

(btw… not lying about the “twist”, as you the shutter fires off the frames, you give a 3/4 to full twist of the camera to give that “airy” swirling effect you see below… pretty neat, huh?

Sunset, Grand Case- St. Marteen

Joseph — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 14:07:52 +0000

Had a chance to wander around Grand Case for awhile. Started with a quick cocktail at Calmos Cafe (a neat little bar on the beach) and then walked the main street, affectionately known as “restaurant row”… and no kidding, there must be easily 60 places to eat. Each eatery is quaint, clean, and full of aromas that make your nose fill with delicious thoughts (Highly recommend Spiga (Italian, awesome Raviolis), Rainbow Cafe (Steak, Ribeye was yummy, get the teriyaki sauce) and La Villa (fillet was ok, but apps were awesome).

While at the Rainbow Cafe we ate on the beach around sunset time. I found it tough to shoot in St. Marteen (unlike Bermuda) because there aren’t many “foreground” items to draw the eye into the image. Bermuda had jetties, hills, etc- something that made the foreground of the image interesting… I kept looking for a palm tree, or SOMETHING, to stick in the image, but couldn’t- next time I return, I’ll continue the mission).

Now I am NOT saying that the sunsets weren’t beautiful- as you can see the clouds and colors were awesome, just not a WOW for the camera…

Enjoy!

La Locanda, St. Marteen

Joseph — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:17:46 +0000

If you are staying at the Radisson Blu in St. Marteen and happen to be hungry, take a walk across the front lawn to La Locanda a small un-assuming Italian restaurant filled with a bunch of surprises. The first, was the food… highly, highly recommend the mozzarella and tomato appetizer- was awesome (not sure if it was the dressing… but I seriously wanted to lick the plate), also tried the home made lasagna and finished every bit of it. Kathy got pasta with shrimp and it was equally yummy.

It wasn’t until I peeked inside that the true surprise was revealed. The interior of the restaurant (kitchen area) was an HDR dream. Rich wood, glass bottles, a worn floor, and a hefty wooden table warm with use… I just had to shoot the location. I asked the owner Jean Marc (who I turned out chatting with for quite awhile post-dinner- great guy!) if I could return with my camera and take an image. Sure enough I returned the next night- I envisioned the 16mm fish eye lens as the space was pretty tight. Worked perfectly (love his sons’s bicycle in the image… it’s a family restaurant and his son visits often… my kind of place).

(click to enlarge, especially the interior shot… love it)

Enjoy!

St. Marteen Visit

Joseph — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:40:37 +0000

Spent the last few days in St. Marteen enjoying all that Island has to offer. Some great sunsets, really great food (more on that in another post), and some crazy up and down roads! Highly recommend the Radisson Blu as a place to stay. Staff was extremely friendly, grounds were magnificent and at night the place lights up like an old estate… so much so, I walked the grounds doing some quick HDR photos to try and grab just how impressive the place was.

More photos to come!

My Hero. My Dad.

Joseph — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 01:57:02 +0000

My Father was a member of the “Greatest Generation.” Those that answered the call to serve in World War II. He was born in Ireland in 1922, came to the USA in 1926 at the age of 4 with my Grandmother (my Grandfather had already emigrated through Ellis Island, but thats another story). In December of 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, we entered the war, and in 1942 my Dad enlisted in the United States Marine Corp.

He fought in the South Pacific as a member of the 22nd Marine Division. He survived 6 landings, (including Guam) considering he was a first “wave” scout, his odds of surviving each landing was probably small to none. But, as his famous saying goes, “He zigged when he was supposed to zig, and zagged when he was supposed to zag.”

The picture he holds is 70 years old. Its a youthful young man, dressed in his Marine Blues, about to head off to War… to the unknown. I’m amazed he is wearing a smile, I think I would have been to scared to have worn a smile. From when I was a little boy I remember this picture hanging on a wall in their bedroom… It burned a bit in my memory. I often think of my Dad and all he saw, and did. A kid from Brooklyn who volunteered to go across the world to fight in a war consuming the Globe. When I saw Saving Private Ryan with him, I asked him about the opening sequence, and he replied, it was pretty much like that, only the water ran redder and it was a helluva lot noisier and chaotic.

Finally got a chance to sit the picture on his lap today. To bring the present and the past together. At 89 he appears a bit different than that young man in the early 1940′s. His smile is the same though, and he still to this day remains my #1 Hero. My Dad.

(btw… the flag next to him is his brother’s- my Uncle Stephens’. He passed away last year. He served with honor in the United States Navy)

click on images to see larger

Angels Arc Across Moon

Joseph — Thu, 31 May 2012 02:33:30 +0000

Continuing to go through some of the shots from the Airshow last weekend. Some amazing stuff… another keeper…

Enjoy!

The F-22 Raptor

Joseph — Sun, 27 May 2012 02:52:24 +0000

While the press on this jet hasn’t been so great… it’s been plagued by mechanical issues- it’s still one awesome piece of flying machine. Here it’s picked up enough speed to force the water in the air into a vapor plume around its edges… there one second gone another. Great stuff!

Enjoy!

Blue Angels & Moon

Joseph — Sat, 26 May 2012 22:28:27 +0000

Just got home from the Air Show at Jones Beach… been going for years now. I’ve been trying very hard to “hone” my skills at shooting these incredible pilots and their machines whipping over head. I’m in awe of them. Giddy like a little kid when these F18′s come screaming across the Atlantic straight at you.

Started going through some of the images and I just fell in love with this shot. So I’ll post it as one of many to come… The Angels are “breaking” apart from formation which is neat in and of itself… but if you look closely, right beneath the #3 jet… there is a crescent moon peaking into the shot. I love serendipity like this… didn’t even know I got it- was focusing on the action, not on the environment, but I gotta tell ya, gives me goose bumps looking at it.

A bunch more photos to come, but enjoy this one, its a personal favorite. Can’t wait to print it BIG

Enjoy!

Remembering Frankie… The Second Annual KPC vs NY Islanders Alumni Game

Joseph — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:18:23 +0000

Sunday turned out another great event to honor the memory of Frankie Rizzo and to raise some money for his Scholarship fund. Once again, the Kings Park-Commack alumni battled the NY Islander alumni on the Ice at Superior Ice Rink in Kings Park (my old stomping ground when I played!). A Couple hundred fans were on hand to witness the action and see Frankie’s jersey, number-68, retired…

Below are a few shots from the day… more to come.

The Rizzo’s beneath Frankie’s retired number 68. It’ll forever hang from the ceiling of Superior…

Clark Gillies one of my Islander heros growing up, introduced to the crowd…

Some game Some acton, Vukota and Esiason press deep into KPC territory…

One of the NY Islander “Girls” puts on a show during second period intermission

End of game lineup by the teams

All Player Photo-Op

You are greatly missed, by many, many, people…