Greg Molyneux Photography

Category: Blog

Greg Molyneux’s latest photographs and words presented in reverse chronological order.

  • On the Fringe

    On the Fringe

    14mm HDR photo of a sunset over Cedar Run Dock Road's salt marsh. Tropical Storm Ophelia spun overrunning cirrus clouds as the storm's outer bands approached the mid-Atlantic coast.
    On the Fringe — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Socked in on a Saturday. 23 September 2023 at 3:30 p.m. EDT, Tropical Storm Ophelia dumps heavy rains across the mid-Atlantic buffeting southern Ocean County, NJ, with steady winds. I’m hoping my LBI friends are managing the storm surge. As for me, I sit comfortably at my large oaken desk watching this week’s Nintendo Voice Chat on YouTube while typing to you, Internet friends.

    This here sunset photo looks back to Thursday when the outer fringes of Ophelia first spun up high level cirrus clouds over the region. This high cloud deck brought a fine end of day light show over Cedar Run Dock Road’s salt marsh. A fiery of sign of the weather to come. Of course, Friday’s burn managed to one up this but I wasn’t out to capture it. I was busy scarfing down hibachi for those looking for the but why no picture, Greg? rationale.

    I hope you’re all weathering out the storm in the safety of home, surrounded by friends and family. It’s the perfect kind of day to kick back under covers to watch The Lord of the Rings. I also recommend having some soup, stew, or braise going. Tis the season, y’all. Be safe, and be well.

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  • Take Leave

    Take Leave

    14mm wide angle HDR sunset packed with cotton candy pastel clouds reflected over the late summer salt marsh.
    Take Leave — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Take leave
    pay heed
    Hear your body take time to breathe

    Unwind
    free mind
    In the moment your soul will find

    Destress
    full press
    Permit yourself the chance to rest

    Be still
    free will
    Heal your heart and hope will fill

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  • A Look Back

    A Look Back

    100mm macro photograph of a purple clematis flower backlit by bokeh and the sun.
    A Look Back — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 800 | EXP 1/100

    I have a photography problem. A mix of neglect, half measures and procrastination type problem. The neglect is simple: not shooting enough. The half measures and procrastination bit happens after the times I do shoot but do not process or post. Which brings me to today, sitting at The Union Market working at my backlog. And so we throw it back to mid-May and my backyard clematis. Thought it looked cute, probably won’t delete later.

    Thoughts and happenings

    It’s been a big year for me and live music, brought to you by Asbury Park. I’ve managed to see Rebelution, The Hip Abduction, Too Many Zoos, and Stick Figure in the span of about five months. I even scarfed a bunch of excellent Korean fusion street tacos along the way—looking at you, Mogo.

    2023 will go down as an all time banger year for video games. Tears of the Kingdom chief among them. I have 200 hours socked into this masterclass in game design, and it’s been superior summertime comfort food. A much needed palate cleanser considering the abomination that are the 2023 New York Yankees.

    Speaking of abomination: I cannot wait for Dune: Part 2. Which reminds me, I still need to see Barbie and Oppenheimer.

    The Witcher season 3 was a disappointment. I can’t decide if it was actively bad, or if I’m already missing Henry’s Geralt?

    Stoked for Ahsoka but not without concern. She’s my number one in the Star Wars universe, and I hope that don’t do her dirty like they did with Obi-Wan Kenobi which was decidedly mid. Andor, however, is LEGIT.

    Found out Andy Serkis has an audible voiceover for the Silmarillion. I’m souped to hear his version. Also, if you’re a LOTR fan with interest in podcasts and the entire legendarium, the Nerd of the Rings is an absolute must podcast.

    Buzzed my hair for the summer. So why is summer almost over?

    More to come in this space.

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  • The Green Zone

    The Green Zone

    14mm HDR photograph of emerald green sedge grass beaming beneath stormy late June skies. A classic mid-Atlantic salt marsh scene captured at golden hour.
    The Green Zone — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Not much beats the salt marsh in June. It’s about as good as a flat, horizontal landscape can look. For me it’s the way the newborn emerald green sedge grass complements a royal blue sky at golden hour. This power trio realizes its highest level in early summer; running about mid-June through the fourth of July. Pair this with dramatic clouds fed by a tropical airmass and you have yourself a proper summertime treat. Real glad I took a moment out of my day to make it to the Dock Road marsh last night.

    Cheers, and I hope you are all doing well.

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  • Out of Sight

    Out of Sight

    A high powered sunset ignites over the salt marsh as we move toward summer. Photographed at 14mm and merged and processed for HDR.
    Out of Sight — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Chasing sunsets was not on my big card yesterday. Between the Yankees/Rays game, a four mile jog, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the promise of pizza at mom’s house, my docket was full. Plenty of clouds were driving a daylong overcast sky, much needed rain threatened though it never delivered much more than a few fat drops here and there. It didn’t seem an option.

    It wasn’t until I was backing out of my driveway and making my way up the street that I noticed a piercing orange crack in the western horizon. Little shimmers of colors powering their way through the trees and houses of my neighborhood. The clouds had real texture, too. I checked the clock. 19 minutes to sunset. Time to pivot. I circled back to my house, grabbed my camera gear and made for Dock Road. I am sure glad I did.

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  • When the Night is Over

    When the Night is Over

    14mm sunset photograph working over a salt marsh in a hue of blues, pinks, oranges and yellows.
    When the Night is Over — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Familiar jaunts to familiar haunts. The road back to a place that shaped me. Long before photography was the marsh. Long after photography the marsh will be. Ever present, forever here unyielding. Soft sings the subtlety of change slow molding even the deepest firmament. Its work known only to the keenest eyes draped by long years put to the service in the knowing.

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  • Best Photographs of 2022

    Best Photographs of 2022

    14mm sunset photo at Cedar Run Dock Road's lush green salt marsh. Left to right panning introduces motion blur to the photograph rendering a dreamy, painterly effect to the image.
    Shaken — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/5 sec

    Shaken | Captured: June 3, 2022 | Location: Cedar Run Dock Road, Cedar Run, New Jersey

    A smoldering sunset burns over the lush summer green salt marsh at Cedar Run Dock Road photographed at 14mm focal length. Seven bracketed exposures one f-stop apart merged for HDR to maximize dynamic range.
    Can’t Fight the Light — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Can’t Fight the Light | Captured: July 9, 2022 | Location: Cedar Run Dock Road, Cedar Run, New Jersey

    Retrospective

  • Respite

    Respite

    14mm blue hour photo of a calm Little Egg Harbor. Using left to right panning to create a smooth motion blur.
    Respite — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/13

    Obligatory it’s been a while. I have no idea what is going on with my photography these days. I find myself mired in this strange in between space of wanting to make more photos again, and an unwillingness to make any kind of time for it. This polarity and my habit of hesitation has put any chance of a break through into suspended animation. If I want to get back after I need to build back with discipline and active purpose.

    Further complicating all this indecision is the fact I miss writing on this here website. If only for my own practice, having this space to put down my thoughts alongside my photography creates my own little paper trail. A small proof of my inner workings, breadcrumbs feeding my own development across the years. I enjoy the process of scouting the late afternoon sky, going to the marsh, framing an exposure, returning home to filter and process, and then to wrap it all up with a blurb that may or may not have anything to do with my image. It is this sounding pangs of this urge that call me back the loudest.

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  • Can’t Fight the Light

    Can’t Fight the Light

    A smoldering sunset burns over the lush summer green salt marsh at Cedar Run Dock Road photographed at 14mm focal length. Seven bracketed exposures one f-stop apart merged for HDR to maximize dynamic range.
    Can’t Fight the Light — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Saturday night brought the goods. A smoldering burn presented as the centerpiece of a summer salt marsh bouquet. Things are not fine but the lighting is good. A moment of peace in the otherwise steady stream of turbulence that is our current times. My wish is only that the headwinds fade and the sunsets keep burning lest we all go to ash together.

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