High Dynamic Range Urban Photography in Boston and More

Posted on by Spencer McDonald in Urban Landscape

Our dream vacation… Boston, where you can capture some amazing urban photography surrounded by historic locations and buildings. My wife and I had never been to any of the New England states. This was genuinely a dream vacation. While in Boston, we saw many historic places. I captured a lot of photos around Boston. Some were good, and as is the course, some were not so good. It happens. Here is my Boston Urban Gallery at Fine Art America, where you can see 27 of my best photos. On a walking tour, we visited the Granary Burial Ground, the Massachusetts State House, the Old South Meeting Hall, the Old North Church, the Old State House, and Paul Revere’s House. We walked all over Boston. We saw many awesome and historic places. Many of these historic places played a key role in the Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams. Ultimately, the Sons of Liberty ignited the American Revolution when they had a Boston Tea Party at Griffin’s Wharf and tossed the British Tea into the Harbor, thereby avoiding British taxation without representation. The best part of our trolley tour around Boston was Little Italy on the north end of town…

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Abandoned building in Emmett, Idaho

Abandoned Wheel Alignment in Emmett, Idaho

Posted on by Spencer McDonald in Urban Landscape

My wife and I have been out to La Costa Mexican restaurant in Emmett, Idaho. La Costa is a 20-minute drive north of our home in Star, Idaho. It is well worth the drive for great food. Here is a link to the La Costa menu. I bring up La Costa because directly across the street is an old, closed-down Zamzow garden store. The architecture is withering, the paint on the building is chipping, and weeds are taking over the landscape around Zamzow. Directly behind the Zamzow is an abandoned white block building. Emblazoned across the top of the building are the words “Wheel Alignment” in faded black paint. It feels like something right out of the early 1970s. I enjoy finding great abandoned urban architecture like this one. Check out my Abandoned Places and Things gallery at Fine Art America. Many times, while going into the La Costa restaurant, I saw that building and have been planning on photographing it. Today, that plan has become a reality. I am happy with how this one turned out. Emmett is such a rich environment for fine art photography. You will find old city streets, industrial and urban landscapes, historic architecture, and…

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landscape photography in black and white

Dusty Road to 3 Horse Winery

Posted on by Spencer McDonald in Landscape Photography

Watch out for stress just around that corner. When I feel it approaching, I lean on my camera. My camera always pulls me through. Well, that and the solace of a dusty road in the foothills. These roads are pretty much abandoned, except for a random FedEx truck rambling past. I can pull off anywhere and capture the sheer beauty of this dusty foothill landscape. These foothills have become my escape here in Idaho. And, just like that, my stress is gone with a click of my Nikon. I have become something bigger than myself. Technically, these 2 photos were captured in one shot through a 10x filter. The time was 25 seconds. Then, processed in Luminar HDR, Silver EFEX Pro, and Light Room Classic. Please enjoy all of my monochrome photos in my Fine Art America gallery.

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Idaho Lanscape Photography

The Dusty Road Travelled

Posted on by Spencer McDonald in Idaho Landscape

I really enjoy getting out into the foothills. They are mesmerizing to me. There is nothing but peace, quiet, the subtle sounds of nature, and a place to be all alone with life’s deepest thoughts. Plus, these amazing foothills are merely a few miles from my home in Idaho. This “Dusty Road” photograph reminds me of a good metaphor for life. Although the road through life may be laced with loose gravel, big pot holes, and severely damaging obstacles, to keep moving forward will become your salvation for lessons learned and a good life. Stop and cry along your road if you must. Then get back on that road and keep moving forward. The next mile or more will make you stronger and more resilient to other life obstacles. You will have grown closer to your happy place if you keep traveling life’s dusty road. Your goal is to travel over the horizon so that you can find your Narnia. There you will surely find the life you have been traveling toward. Stay the course. Good old-fashioned stick-to-itiveness will get you over that horizon. Don’t allow that storm cloud to slow you down or stop you. Never quit. Never give…

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