Greg Molyneux Photography

Category: Blog

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

  • Going through the motions

    A soft focus HDR photograph taken along the Cedar Run Dock Road marsh at sunset.
    Going through the motions — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Not the most inspirational of titles, but I’m going with it because it’s topical. I keep writing and rewriting this post only to delete it for sounding like little more than non-stop complaining. So instead of calling the wambulance, I’m just going to say it was nice to be out taking pictures tonight. I needed to break away from the current comings and goings, and even though tonight’s sunset wasn’t the most stunning I still got to spend some quality time out on the marsh. That, and I like the picture I made more than I thought I would, too. So despite my wont to bicker, things really ain’t that bad.

    And speaking of titles: I always (98.7% of the time) go with the first word or phrase that comes to mind when editing my photographs. It’s a habit I started with my 365 Project back in 2012. I rarely deviate from that process. With this shot though, I was literally going through the motions—struggling to come up with something, anything fitting. About an hour later, this is it.

  • Timeworn

    A low key black and white macro photograph of single aged and wrinkled Japanese maple leaf—curling up reminiscent of an old hand.
    Timeworn — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 640 | EXP 1/250

    The late day sun was pouring in. Casting a splendid glow upon the withered remains of my Japanese maple leaves. I’ve got a hundred or so of these bad boys that refuse to let go and find their final resting place in the dirt. At about an inch and a half in size these tenacious leaves make an excellent macro subject. Inspired I ran inside and fetched my camera, fixing my macro lens as a soldier would fix bayonets. Of course that’s a ridiculous notion but my mind can get pretty ridiculous. I digress.

    From the get go I knew I wanted to go black and white. Even with the rich golden light, I figured a low key black and white would really accentuate the story being told by this leaf. I wanted to set a sharp focus on the leaf tips alone, which struck me as the fingertips of an aged hand. The soft focus allows the eye to fade back into the picture, filling in the wrinkled, gnarled details for ourselves. Our own lives and our own mortality are inextricably linked to the unstoppable passage a time. Time being a concept that will forever fascinate me until the moment I can know it no more.

  • The unnamed feeling

    A subtle HDR sunset photograph with soft yellows and a touch of pink marking the racing clouds. Taken at the Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area.
    The unnamed feeling — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    What was I thinking about when I was photographing tonight? The constancy of flux. Particularly in the most familiar of places. The front lake at Stafford Forge has swelled several inches and consumed feet of shoreline, changing the dynamic of one of my old standby shooting locations. A few extra inches of water has transformed a whole landscape. Perhaps more interesting? This change would have been inconsequential to my pre-photographer eyes. But now, with an ultra wide angle lens in tow, inches matter as the space around you pushes out toward that vanishing point.

  • Out for a Spin: Light Painting with Steel Wool

    Out for a Spin: Light Painting with Steel Wool

    Two orbs of spinning steel wool to light paint a tree.
    That’s one way to backlight a tree — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 30 sec
    Light painting with steel wool to create the illusion of a tunnel.
    Have you ever seen a portal? — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 30 sec
    Light painting with steel wool to create an anticyclonic effect.
    Anticyclonic — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 30 sec
    Spinning steel wool overhead to light paint a position reminiscent of a resplendent She-Ra lifting her sword.
    She-Ra? — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 30 sec

    It’s pretty amazing what steel wool, wire whisks, 9-volt batteries, cameras on tripods, and some friends can do. And frankly, if you’ve already shelled out the cash for the camera and tripod this becomes cheap fun with pals. It’s best paired with dark nights, bonfires, and any libation of your choice.

    Every now and then—probably not as often as we should—we get together to just spin steel wool and hang. We probably first started dabbling with this about two years ago. Many others have pulled off far greater feats of light painting goodness. My friends and I? We’re still getting our feet wet but having fun doing it.

    Some shout-outs

    As usual thanks to Ben Wurst (my frame guy) of Reclaimed LLC—excellent 100% salvaged wood crafts and custom framing that will make the most excellent holiday gift—for hosting. His house and wood shop are housed on ample property at the edge of the Pines. Giving us ample room—and darkness—to safely spin steel wool at our leisure. Ben’s got another angle of the tree (the double orb above) over on 500px.com. That’s my camera shooting in the foreground. Check it out.

    And of course to Jen (rocking the steel wool in Have you ever seen a portal? and She-Ra? Bonus points are in order as these were her first two attempts at spinning ever. And thanks to Jackie for doubling up with me in That’s one way to backlight a tree.

    For everyone else that was there—when are we doing this again?

  • Stay awhile longer

    Fiery HDR sunset photography taken from Sunset Cove in Bowleys Quarters, Maryland, overlooking a Chesapeake Bay tributary.
    Stay awhile longer — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Or perhaps titled, Take your own advice?

    On the upside I got to shoot a sunset from a new spot and that’s always exciting. As hindsight will explain, I just should have been more patient about it.

    This past Tuesday, perched at the rear of Sunset Cove in Bowleys Quarters, Maryland, I took aim at one hell of a sunset. Dramatic colors, glassy waters, and plenty of objects to compose. Pretty much everything you can ask for. Luck would have it that the timely end of a late afternoon food run allowed me to arrive at this sunset spot ten minutes after sunset. At the perfect time for ideal color. Usually.

    About 15 minutes after sundown I made my last bracket of 7 exposures. I only took a grand total of 3 brackets over a span of maybe 3 minutes. For whatever reason I just wasn’t comfortable loitering around this new locale and busted loose with great haste after only a few minutes of shooting. In doing so the sky did something weird. It got brighter and more colorful. And while I readily admit the color always improves after the sun goes down, I’ve yet to see the sky do this. Where it amplifies to this degree some 20 plus minutes after sunset. And sure I am really happy with my shot, I’m just bummed knowing I missed out on capturing an even more dramatic brand of sky.

    Next time, Gadget. Next time.

  • A change in the weather

    A black and white HDR photograph of fierce clouds, a tidal pool and undulating sands on the beach in Holgate, NJ.
    A change in the weather — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Holgate, New Jersey. Back to where it all began. This is the photograph. The date? January 1, 2012. I didn’t know it at the time, but this began a 365 day (366, it was a leap year) photo project that would later transform into a full on passion. I am thankful for life and its odd twists of fate.

    As for tonight’s shoot? I was hopeful the clouds would break just enough to allow sunset to do its thing. That never really happened, but for tonight that was OK. With storm clouds moving through in advance of tomorrow’s rain-out, the clouds were plenty dramatic. Combine that with the tidal pools and undulating sand patterns marking the foreground, and I had the ingredients for solid landscape photo. Considering the abundance of grey the stretched on for miles, I had a notion I may go black and white for the final processing choice. Once I got home and went monochrome with Silver Efex Pro 2 my decision was made.

    Oh, and speaking of weather—it may snow for Thanksgiving, New Jersey.

  • Color me bayside

    Winter sunset colors and clouds rolling in from the west, dramatically backdropping Antoinetta's restaurant over Manahawkin Bay in this HDR photograph.
    Color me bayside — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Winter sunsets, man. So hard to beat. When I don’t get enough camera time I really start to miss it. It doesn’t take long either. There’s just something about regular, near daily shooting that regulates my mood. And I guess that’s the hallmark of any therapeutic hobby, really. That chance to decompress and slip away from the daily grind to recalibrate.

    Lately, however, life has gotten in the way and Mother Nature has hardly been the most cooperative, either; leaving me cloudless or entirely clouded out. But that’s just the way it goes, I guess. This afternoon, after saying goodbye and celebrating the life of an unparalleled man who meant so much to so many, a clear day turned variably cloudy allowing the waning light of day to do its thing.

    Thanks, Dr. Wurst. You will be missed.

  • American Gothic Statuary

    A photograph of a fiery sunset backlighting the American Gothic display at New Jersey's Grounds for Sculpture. True to the look of the original painting, here the famous farmers are depicted in larger than life cast bronze statuary.
    American Gothic Statuary — 40mm | f/8 | ISO 320 | EXP 1/40

    Get thee to the Grounds for Sculpture

    Cloistered within New Jersey Transit’s Hamilton Station and various nondescript warehouses and factories, resides a 42-acre sculpture garden just waiting for an afternoon of artistic exploration. Seriously New Jersey, this is a great way to spend your waking hours and working dollars. Thoughtfully placed about the property, resides all kinds of bronze cast sculpture of hyper realistic humans frozen in time in their daily lives. From couples picnicking in the woods, to painters hard at work on the museum walls, and even a business man hiding behind some trees just trying to relieve himself, it’s got it all. With plenty of pieces of abstraction if that’s your thing, too.

    You want big? It’s got a several iconic moments of americana captured larger than life—much larger than life. From the American Gothic display as photographed above, to a massive Marilyn Monroe upskirt, and the famous scene of the sailor kissing that random woman in Times Square on V-J Day. It’s even got an awesome French restaurant. I can’t wait to get back.

    In the interest of full disclosure, this photographed scene reminded me more of Green Acres than American Gothic. But then again, I’m not much for culture.

  • Seriously cirrus

    Cirrus clouds tinted gold brush the whole of the sky in this late Fall marsh landscape photograph with soft tones easing and subduing the viewer's eye.
    Seriously cirrus — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    Sunset didn’t work out but golden hour sure did. By the time twenty five more minutes had elapsed, the abundant cirrus clouds you see above had raced off to the north and east, leaving a near endless expanse of open sky. And while the whole of it was quite relaxing to witness, it wasn’t much to photograph. Fortunately I was early enough to get this shot, and I just can’t get over that golden glow. Light sure does some pretty amazing things in Fall (thanks sun angle).

    Also, if you’ll notice to the right of the sun there’s a lens flare in this picture—appearing as a red smudge. Unscientifically I’d say that 80% of the time this annoys and distracts me, but here I think it works. Just one of those things that sometimes pans out. Happy accidents and such.