Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: golden hour

  • Fall in love with the forest over and over again

    Fall in love with the forest over and over again

    An HDR photograph of winter in the Pinelands: fresh fallen snow, numerous pitch pines, footprints and lively golden light make the scene
    Fall in love with the forest over and over again — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    I grew up in the woods. Spending my earliest years in East Brunswick, New Jersey—a municipal casualty of suburban sprawl—I was lucky enough to live in a sleepy little neighborhood of roughly 52 houses on a small dead-end buttressed by The Woods. And while it wasn’t a tree strewn vista of thousands, or even hundreds of acres, it was a relatively small plot of naturalish habitat that was as big as the whole of the world to an excitable 7 year old with an overcharged imagination and a great group of friends equally inclined. It had a creek, railroad tracks, old abandoned warehouses and a secret path to McDonald’s. Spending our summer vacations equipped with everything a group a friends would ever need to replicate life as depicted in Stand By Me; roaming the woods and railroad tracks hoping to someday come across something so adult as a dead body—or worse.

    Days on end were spent pew-pewing one another as we’d chase our chosen foe after lying in an ambush for the better part of an afternoon. Our game of Guns was how we exercised our wannabe existence, recreating the carnage we witnessed in Platoon—which I was of course watching without my parents’ permission. We’d go so far as to map out routes, tie off ropes and plant booby traps between trees using fishing wire for trip wires. Boom-boom you’re dead, [insert friend’s name here] being the adopted call for you’re out of the game.

    When we weren’t busy replicating violence we didn’t understand, we took a much more peaceful approach to The Woods: resting along the creek, trying to track deer (and failing), catching frogs or just walking and talking. We had our own paradise, free of parents, supervision and the boundaries of the outside world. We were the masters of our domain, free to build forts and pseudo-villages trying make out a life where Robin Hood, his Merry Men and the Ewoks would feel at home. The woods was our place to live out our fantasies, to flesh out the worlds of not just our minds, but of the movies, cartoons and video games that marked our formative years.

    Now I find myself spending more time than ever in that other forest that has been my home for the last 20 years. Gone are the large deciduous trees that stood sentry over my youth, exchanged for the smaller pitch pines and cedars of the New Jersey Pinelands. I’ve spend two decades living on the southeast edge of Pinelands National Preserve, at a whopping 1.1 million acres. If I’m ever to match the intimacy of the woods of my youth, I’ve got some serious exploration to do.

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  • It’s a kind of magic

    It’s a kind of magic

    World class golden hour is magnified by the fresh fallen snow in this HDR photograph taken in the New Jersey Pinelands
    It’s a kind of magic — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    It all came together tonight, folks. The snow. The light. The setting. Many of my favorite things came out to play, and other than to remark on how humbled I felt just to bear witness, I’m not sure what to say. At the very least, this will be the first of three photographs from this evening’s Session with Chance I’ll share with you over the next few days (photo number two; photo number three). Each bears a strong resemblance to the other, capturing the magic and sense of place that made day’s end at The Forge so special.

    Reflecting on where I was, and what I saw, my mind drifted toward my first true love affair: The Snow. For as long as I can remember little has stirred my soul quite like Winter’s weather. I could spend a lifetime watching snow. Forever falling and quieting the world; anticipating the finite wonder left in its wake. All of this—the feeling, the memory, the romance—comes rushing back every time the first flakes fly. In a few brief moments tonight, the culmination of my lifetime’s dalliance came to bear.

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  • Fresh Tracks, Fresh Places

    Golden hour in the snow; as seen from the New Jersey Pinelands' Pygmy Pine forest. Fresh tire tracks and stunted pitch pine trees are illuminated by sunlight and marked with snow in this landscape HDR photograph.
    Fresh Tracks, Fresh Places — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Hooray for change of venue. Particularly when said venue change is this good. Thanks for the suggestion, Ben Wurst!

    For years—well over a decade—I’ve heard stories of the Top of the World. This so-called “high-point” ensconced amid the New Jersey Pinelands’ Pygmy Pine Forest. I use the term high-point loosely as there is essentially zero elevation here in Ocean County, New Jersey. Nevertheless, at this unique geographic confluence, dwarf pines—not much taller than my waist—sprawl toward the horizon in all directions from what amounts to a very gradual 30 or 40 foot high vantage point. Of course Sun Tzu has been teaching us the merits of having the high ground for thousands of years. If it works in war, why not photography?

    Being this high up among trees so small forgot made for a surreal setting. Surreal in the best possible way. Seemingly perched as a giant atop a magical forest canopy, over the course of two hours I admired the sunlight as it did its golden hour into sunset and then blue hour thing. With each segment in time bringing a brand new vibe to my new surroundings.

    You’ll see more of what I’m talking about tomorrow when I post my sunset shot from tonight. For now I leave you with an energized golden hour that worked its way down the trail from which I came. To execute this shot I had to get real small with my tripod off to the right corner so as not to cast my own shadow and compromise the shot. To give some perspective on just how small these trees are, that one in the foreground to the right, it stands at no more than seven feet tall. Towering over the rest, you can see the others struggle to make it merely half as high.

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  • A cold trade for warm sunshine

    Rich golden hour sunlight washes over Stafford Forge pouring yellow light throughout the trees of the Pinelands in this HDR photograph.
    A cold trade for warm sunshine — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Hey, look! I took a photograph that isn’t a sunset. Whew. Before I locked in on yesterday’s blue hour special, I set down the tripod atop a small ridge overlooking the front lake of Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area in an attempt at capturing the potent golden light that was pouring into the Pinelands. The pine needles dominating the ground cover were charged with such a glow the look of the whole scene defied the crisp feel of the 27ºF air. This has the look of June, not January. But hey, it’s warm enough when you’re looking at the picture from your living room.

    I love the Pinelands. I’m right on their doorstep and hope to photograph this underrated New Jersey gem more often in the future. If and when I get myself an all-wheel drive vehicle it’ll open up my photo access greatly. For now I am left hitching rides in the trucks of my buddies.

    Update: Shameless self-promotion alert—this here website is 1 year old today. Hooray for anniversaries.

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  • 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.

  • Waving in the marsh grass

    Windswept marsh grass is photographed with late afternoon sun backlighting pastel clouds of blue, pink and yellow bringing the seeds to life with golden color.
    Waving in the marsh grass — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/15

    Make the wind do the work for you. It was blustery yesterday, and I capitalized on this by having a lazy enough shutter (1/15 of second) to allow the wind to create the slightest hint of movement in the photograph. You can just start to notice it in the bushels of marsh grass seed that look oh so slightly out of focus throughout the lower half of the photograph.

    I’ve been craving a glowing shot of marsh grass ever since I’ve been photographing New Jersey marshland; one really featuring the marsh grass itself. This one is my new favorite. The warm glow and soft motion backdropped by dramatic clouds of pink and yellow pastels captures the essence I seek quite well.

  • Fall Foliage: The Best of Batsto Village in Autumn

    Fall Foliage: The Best of Batsto Village in Autumn

    In this golden photograph late afternoon sun pours over the Autumn leaves illuminating the west side walls of a tucked away Batsto Village mansion.
    West side manse — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    Batsto Village—Wharton State Forest—Hammonton, New Jersey

    There’s much to love about New Jersey and its southern pines. But for me Batsto Village in Fall just may hold the Pinelands top spot. Rich in maples, colors come alive transforming this once thriving iron works village into a canvas of orange wonder amidst architecture of an era gone by. With its history reaching back to the late mid 18th century, a near decade before the shot heard ’round the world, Batsto Village has gone through several historical periods of development before its final purchase by the state of New Jersey in the mid 1950s. It has served dutifully as a great public destination ever since.

    A couple weekends ago, I made the thirty minute drive with some friends to photowalk these hallowed Autumn grounds. Conditions were ideal—roughly a week or so before foliage peak with near perfect golden hour light. In the parking lot, unsure which lens to rock, I opted for the 14mm prime and ditched the tripod. I committed to myself to walk, shoot, and enjoy. Nothing more, nothing less. So that’s precisely what I did, and I hope you enjoy some of my favorite pictures from that one fine October afternoon.

    The Batsto Mansion

    The 32-room Mansion, sits at the heart of Batsto Village, and served as the former residence of generations of ironmasters and reflects the prosperity enjoyed during Batsto’s industrial years. In the late 19th century, the structure was renovated into the elegant Italianate style of architecture by Joseph Wharton, a Philadelphia businessman. Fourteen rooms, including the parlors, dining room, library and bedrooms, are currently open to the public for tours. — source

    I’ve yet to take the tour, but I must get in there with my camera someday soon. For any Disney World fans out there, the Batsto manse has Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion written all over it.

    A golden hour HDR photograph of the Batsto Village Mansion framed behind a large maple tree ablaze in Fall color orange leaves
    Fall colors creeping in — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 3 Bracketed Exposures
    In this golden photograph late afternoon sun pours over the Autumn leaves illuminating the west side walls of a tucked away Batsto Village mansion.
    West side manse — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250
    A square format golden hour photograph featuring a maple tree ablaze in rich orange color, highlighting the best of the Batsto Village mansion in Fall.
    A square deal — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/160
    A portrait orientation photograph of an old gnarled maple tree regaled in orange leaves basking in golden hour light, framing the Batsto Village mansion in the background.
    Framing maple — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/100

    The General Store

    When Joseph Wharton acquired Batsto Village, he moved the entrance to the General Store from the side of the building, which faced the Mansion, to its present location. During the 1800s, the store was usually open six days a week. Here, workers from the Village could purchase a variety of goods, ranging from fruits and vegetables to guns and farm equipment. — source

    If you can remember back to the five day black and white challenge I recently finished up, this building has one hell of a porch. I didn’t get any color shots of it here, however, and in the shots below we’re left looking at the general store’s backside. The old country porch (think Old Country Buffet) was loaded with photographers and subjects maximizing the perfect lighting conditions.

    Facing southwest into the late day golden hour sun, this photograph features a dramatic solar starburst just over the Batsto general store and a soft processed glow evoking a moody, fantastical storybook feel
    Oh that autumn glow — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/800
    A portrait orientation golden hour photograph of lush grass littered with orange and yellow maple leaves. The blown out sky and soft yellow glow create an ethereal, shire like feel for the viewer
    On matters of hobbits — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/30

    The Batsto Village Grounds

    Along the lakeside is one of the finest maples on the entire property (right there with the Mansion maple pictured above). Tall and regal it’s proven difficult for me to frame up and photograph. Pictured below, set behind the bench, we get but a glimpse of what this tree has to offer. So for now it is a subject that remains on the ever growing things to shoot better list.

    A portrait orientation golden hour photograph with a foreground marked by a lone red maple leaf sitting on an empty park bench on the Batsto Village grounds with maple trees in the background
    The transient nature of leaves — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/80

    Going into this post I didn’t quite know what to expect. I’ve never done a comprehensive collection like this. Now that I’ve wrapped up writing and am tidying up the edits, I think I’m going to make this an ever growing collection of Batsto Village Fall Photography. Hopefully throughout the years ahead this post will continue to grow and evolve, showing more of Batsto’s Autumn splendor. In the meantime, if I get to pick a personal favorite so far it’s On the matters of hobbits.

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  • Go East, my friend

    In this HDR Pinelands photograph, early morning rays pierce through the tree line illuminating an eastward path through the pines
    Go East, my friend — 40mm | f/8 | ISO 400 | 3 Bracketed Exposures

    Here’s the last of the three shots from Sunday’s photo mission. After our time messing around in the cold, steam rising bog we decided to do a little four-wheelin’. The Pinelands are littered with trails, some maintained better than others, and it’s a great way to spend time with friends. Over the years they’ve mostly been midnight excursions, but now that we’ve turned photographer there’s more reason to get out there in daylight.

    As our two truck convoy was humming along deeper and deeper into the pines, the low sun angle was creating wondrous light play atop the tree line. At this one particular bend we stopped our vehicular exploration to get out and shoot on foot. Off the main trail was this little eastward spur illuminated by a lovely little sunbeam. Upon composing my shot I held my breathe and fired off three bracketed exposures handheld. Normally I’d say go for the tripod, but every now and then, particularly with my 40mm, I like to challenge myself and test my stillness.

    While I’m hesitant to say for sure, I think I prefer this shot to the first offering, even though the light in that one was pure magic. Yesterday’s post, however, represents a distant third. But that’s not for me to decide. That is up to you.

    Casual aside: As a long time Legend of Zelda fanatic I can’t help but think of the open-ended exploration of the Lost Woods. Ah, memories.

    In the meantime, watch out for those Moblins.

  • A pine for every season

    This golden hour photograph features a pine tree branch and its needles in a closeup arrangement with a shallow depth of field illuminated by rich morning light.
    A pine for every season — 40mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/100

    Yesterday morning was cold, and yet you wouldn’t know it from this photograph. It never ceases to amaze me, the indiscernible nature of pines. Without their pine cones as a guide or air temperature as an indicator, it’s virtually impossible to distinguish a season on looks alone. While their deciduous cousins are annually betrayed by fallen leaves the interminable pine stands above, immovable. Timeless.

    As I was skulking around the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area scoping out yesterday’s steamy ray shot, I made an about face and saw some wonderful golden light breathing life into a once innocuous pine branch no more than two feet from my face. As I was already loaded up with my 40mm pancake lens, I set the aperture wide open and went for some close range shallow depth of field goodness.