Autumn at Coursey Pond In Frederica, DE

We rival the colors of New England fall foliage right here in Delaware.

The first hint of autumn is always a welcome sign after a long, hot summer. In Delaware, the turning of the leaves signals the start of fall celebrations and all things pumpkin. One of the best places to enjoy the crisp autumn air is at Coursey Pond in Frederick.

autumn foliage at coursey pond wall art
Autumn at Coursey Pond Wall Art

This beautiful autumn scene was captured at Coursey Pond in Frederica, Delaware by Bill Swartwout Photography. It appears to be two scenes in one, with the colorful fall foliage and brilliant blue sky being reflected in the still waters of Coursey Pond.

autumn at coursey pond jigsaw puzzle
Jigsaw Puzzle of the Autumn at Coursey Pond Photograph

How about the challenge of working a jigsaw puzzle with the intricate designs created here by Mother Nature.? Would you give it a go – or perhaps gift one to a friend or family member with an affinity for puzzles?


Link to: Autumn at Coursey Pond

Link to: Jigsaw Puzzle of Coursey Pond in the Fall

Link to: Bill’s Gallery at Fine Art America

Link to: Bill’s Gallery at Pictorem


Morgantown – Home of WVU and a Lot More

by Guest Artist Steve Heap

As relative newcomers to Morgantown and West Virginia, our first drive down Main Street before we found a home was a little depressing. Like many towns, shopping has migrated out and the traditional main street shops have become dollar stores, it seems. So, although the scenery around this part of West Virginia is spectacular, I wasn’t sure the architecture of the town itself would interest me.

But then I discovered Woodburn Hall! Built in 1870 as one of the core buildings of West Virginia University, it has a warm and intriguing design and right from this first image taken in 2016, I knew I would be back!

Woodburn Hall at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV
Woodburn Hall at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV

And I was! I was down there in the early evening, hoping for an interesting sunset as the lights on the building provide a warm contrast:

Woodburn Hall at West Virginia University
Woodburn Hall at West Virginia University

I’ve been back after a fall of snow again in the late afternoon to get a winter view of the buildings surrounding the gardens here:

Sunset over snow covered Woodburn Hall
Sunset over snow covered Woodburn Hall

And I’ve done some compositing work to move the famous Mountaineer Statue, beloved of the football team, from its position across the road to a more pleasing artistic location!

Mountaineer Statue against Woodburn Hall
Mountaineer Statue against Woodburn Hall

Finally, as my technology improved, I decided to try for an aerial view to show how this centerpiece of WVU fits in with the town and the river winding its way across the plain.

Aerial Drone Panorama of Woodburn Hall at WVU
Aerial Drone Panorama of Woodburn Hall at WVU

CLICK the images above to browse/shop the available wall art.

What all this made me realize is that with an attractive and historic building such as this, there is never one great shot. There are so many possibilities, and I realize that I haven’t really got any spring or fall images, that you really need to spend as much time capturing its nuances as you do trying to get that perfect fall leaves photograph! Several of these images have proved popular with collectors – I am sure some of them are gracing the walls of the offices of WVU graduates as they start their careers!

Guest Artist Steve Heap

Steve Heap has a broad range of travel and landscape imagery available with free shipping and a 30-day money back guarantee in his Pictorem portfolio.

Steve writes about the stories behind his photographs at BackyardImage.com.


Meeting and Photographing Ships on the St. Clair River

Photographing ships on the St. Clair River on a blustery day.

It is not often that far distant art photographers with a similar passion for photographing ships actually get to meet in person. Mary Bedy lives in a perfect Michigan location to photograph the freighters, ships and boats that ply the waters of the Great Lakes. Bill Swartwout lives on the Atlantic coast and is only able to photograph ships while on vacation somewhere. The passing freighters along the coast are far too distant to shoot but, fortunately, he also enjoys shooting bridges.

bill swartwout and mary bedy on the boardwalk in St. Clair, Michigan
Bill Swartwout and Mary Bedy on the boardwalk in St. Clair, MI (photo by Nancy Swartwout)

Bill and his wife, Nancy, were vacationing in western Michigan and had planned to visit the city of Frankenmuth, MI on the way home. Frankenmuth was close to St. Clair – so a lunch meetup was arranged for the next day. The three of us met at the Voyageur Inn on the St. Clair River and boardwalk – the very same boardwalk that offers Mary a wonderful vantage point to photograph any ship that passes from Lake Huron to Lake Erie (or vice versa).

We opted for a window table, of course, and during our time there we had the opportunity to see four freighters pass by the boardwalk and restaurant. Well one was really the barge, Joseph H. Thompson with pusher-tugboat, Laura L. VanEnkevort – but it “looked” similar to a freighter.

Joseph H. Thompson Barge by Mary Bedy

A rare occurrence of ships passing on the river…

After a wonderful lunch and great conversation we move out into the cold and blustery October day to the boardwalk for the obligatory selfies (photo session). As we were doing that there were two ships approaching and doing something very seldom seen. They were passing by one another right in front of us. There must be something to be said about two artists who live 700 miles apart meeting at this location and point in time.

Freighters Michipicoten and CSL Laurentien at st. clair mi
Freighters Michipicoten and CSL Laurentien are about to pass, port-to-port, on the St. Clair River in front of the boardwalk in St. Clair, Michigan

This was , indeed, a wonderful opportunity for two photographers, passionate about their art, to be able to meet in person. Before this day they only knew one another through their common use of Fine Art America to produce their photography as Print-On-Demand wall art and home decor items.

Find wall art photographs by Mary Bedy and Bill Swartwout

See Mary Bedy’s ship photographs here: https://mary-bedy.pixels.com/collections/freighters+ships+and+boats

See Bill Swartwout’s ship images here: https://bill.pixels.com/collections/boats+and+ships


Lake Michigan Sunset

The wind, waves and broken clouds add excitement to this evening scene at Grand Beach, MI.

The beauty of a sunset:

As the sun sets over Lake Michigan, the water turns a beautiful shades of orange and pink. The sky is a stunning purple color as the waves march to the shore. It’s a peaceful and calming sight to see.

Lake Michigan Sunset
Lake Michigan Sunset at Grand Beach, New Buffalo

The colors of a sunset:

This Sunset over Lake Michigan was one of the most beautiful sights of our recent road trip to Michigan. The colors are so vivid and the sky is so clear. A sunset over “the lake” a must see for anyone who loves nature.

The peace of a sunset:

As the sun sets over Lake Michigan, the sky is ablaze with colors of orange, yellow and pink. The cool breeze blowing off the lake is a refreshing contrast to the warm summer temperatures. This is a perfect time to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Whether you are watching the sunset from the shoreline or out on a boat, it is an experience you will never forget.

The conclusion:

The sun slowly sinks behind the horizon, casting a beautiful orange hue over the waters of Lake Michigan. It’s a perfect evening for a stroll along the beach, or perhaps a romantic dinner overlooking the water. As the last rays of sunlight disappear, you can’t help but feel a sense of peace and wonder at the natural beauty of this place.

Purchase:

Prints are available: CLICK HERE