Belhurst Castle

Well we survived and had a great get away this past weekend at the Belhurst Castle in Geneva, NY. It was our last stop following a nice day of touring some Seneca Lake wineries. We hit about 5 or six along the way and stocked up. I, unfortunately, or fortunately did not get my camera out much as I wanted to as I preferred enjoying just spending some quality time wtih my wife. However next time the cell phones will be shut off as well!!! So, I only took about 10 photos...LOL.. tried some HDR but that was after several nice dry reds and a few lagers...so, I wasn't "feeling" it..Feel bummed that I didn'g get more HDR of the castle as it was so awsome with the structure itself, the very ornate carvings and wood throughout the place, the tile, the fireplaces and furniture...all very, very awesome. I did grab a shot of the fireplace in our room, and a shot of the sitting area right outside of our room with the free wine tap system that runs freely all day long for guests !! I did
stop along the busy, snowy and windy road to

Belhurst History
belhurst fireplace (
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

grab a shot of Hector Falls,

but it was so gray, drab and blustery, all I could muster was a black and white photo....not the best.....AND I finally decided and came to the conclusion I need a better tripod...Wind is not HDRists friend. SO needless to say...It was GREAT to get away with my wife and some great friends, but I need to keep up on the skills...I hope to get out shooting again real soon. To see the history of Belhurst click on the Belhurst History link above at the bottom of fireplace photo

Excited for the weekend

Seneca Lake Wineries
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

Well, the weekend that we have been waiting for will soon be here and I for one am looking to get away for a day. I know the Mrs. has been wanting to as well. I hope she is as exited as me. She is a wino, not so much me. I go for the extremely dry reds but I think I am gonna pack some micro's or a couple Guiness's in my ca ca ca ca coola. We are heading to Belhurst Castle in Geneva, NY while the parents move in and take care of the kids and animals. I opted for a nice size room lake view with a hottub and fireplace. I REALLY want to hit the Edgars Sunday brunch and I see there is a good classic/soft acoustic band in the Stonecutters Lounge sat. night too. So, it should be fun. I hope a little romantic, We both need it. I also want to try to grab some HDR of the castle exterior and interior. I have attached a link to the Belhurst for those who have never checked it out before....http://www.belhurst.com/

from the vault 48

from the vault 48
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

A shot of a rig very similar to the one I used to use when I played. This is a shot of my old bandmates rig from Agony Hill. We both had a stack of Marshalls with the JCM heads. I preferred the 50W as a lot of the clubs we played in were not that large. And to get the killer tone from the tubes you gotta run em hot. Most of the clubs would have lost their doors and windows if you cranked the 100W amps, let alone the sound guy would have had a meltdown trying to mike and mix you out front. So, I liked the 50's. I enjoy running into my old bandmates and fellas I have met over the years while I played out. I enjoy photographing bands "almost" as I loved playing in them. I am able to talk with a lot of the guys I grew up admiring locally from the guys in AKA to Ice Water Mansion and have had the priveledge of photographing both of their recent reunion shows. I was able to shoot Three Days Grace, Chevelle and Adelitas Way, but other than that, It has been mainly local and regional acts. I love what I do and am thankful I was able to swap my musical creativity for photographic creativity and still be a part of the music scene that I have been passionate about for so long. My brother Tony and I have embarked on an acoustic project focusing on some good classics with an emphasis on great 70's style vocals and harmonies. We shall see....lol...

BU v Hartford 2-17-11

bu kara elofson and taylor clark
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

Had a good time covering local athlete Taylor Clark who is now a starting guard in her freshman year with the Hartford Hawks. She ended on the night with 4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist as the Hawks defeated the hosting Bearcats 55-37. This was my first experience shooting an NCAA womens game. Not as much action as the guys but still pretty cool. Was able to see some familiar faces at the venue and met a new photog who is the house shooter for the Binghamton Bearcats. He showed me his set up all compliments of BU that included 4 hardwired strobes throughout the court. talked some shop and had a nice time. I noticed he was shooting with the 5D MKII body with a grip and the Canon 70-200 lens. I still love my 85 as limited as it can be and that I dont have access to strobes. I was beat when I got home so didn't edit much other than what I sent off to press. I hope to get a lot more edited and posted by this weekend

It's all about me...NOT

from the vault 42
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

Well, Its been a few. I've been busy trying to take care of myself. I stumbled across this image that I DID NOT TAKE, however it is of me shooting a PSU game last year. I remember getting that shot of the TD catch and might post that one on here too. But I thought this one was unique as I have very few shots of me doing what I do. I don't want to sound arrogant, and I do not feel that way at all. Actually I am very humbled at the gift of creativity I have been blessed with and love to share with others as well as the people in my life who contine to inspire, support and encourage me. So I hope this post is not taken that way. I love shooting college sports and am happy I may have the opportunity again to shoot BU Bearcats again this Thursday. So ....blah blah blah,......Spring is near !!!!

Summer time

Velvet Buck
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

Well, since it was -2 out on this fine February day, I thought I'd find a photo that reminds me of summer, camping, cookouts and hiking. This shot was taken 2 summers ago at a family campsite (otherwise know as the mountain) outside of Lock Haven, Pa. I was out for a stroll later in afternoon with my camera and oh....how peaceful it was. I saw this fella way off in the distance and at the time just had my crappy 75-300mm Canon lens. I knelt down and started firing away. I didn't get too many keepers as i was shaking and was all the was zoomed on this guy at 300mm. So hand holding was tricky. He hung around for about 5 minutes though and then jotted off. I continued my trek through the woods. I am daydreaming of going back there as i type this. I could find a nice shade tree and just take a snooze....I hope to get in some more hiking and nature/wildlife shots this summer and get in the woods more often....Here's to hoping Spring arrives soon.

from the vault 38

from the vault 38
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

This is a shot of Old Main at Penn State University that was taken a couple summers ago. I thought I'd share this as my "from the vault" shot of the day as I was thinking about my two girls....11 and 7 and hoping they continue to do well in school and continue to WANT to do well. They both have great dreams about making something of themselves and have talked about wanting to go to college. I know it is a way off but I also know it will be here in the blink of an eye. I want to do everything in my power to encourage them and support them in everyway I can. I hope their vision and dreams dont fade or waver as they grow into teens but only becomes stronger. I hope they can learn from others mistakes and take a different path for themselves and recognize with hard work good things can happen and that success does not come easy or cheap. I do not consider myself financially successful however I feel very successful as an artist, a musician, a father, a husband, a son and a brother as well as a friend to others and recognize I am not perfect. I read a friends blog recently about being fearless and I have to admit that I was and still am at times, afraid to take risks in my artistic and personal endeavors, but with support and encouragement I tried whenever possible. I feel I am a fairly successful artist and photographer based on my own definition of success, however I constantly try to do better not knowing what kind of payload I may find in the end. I feel I have reached many personal goals as a musician back in the day recording two CD's, playing so many clubs I cant remember and meeting so many cool people along the way. True, I never found "fame and fortune" as some would define, but I enjoyed myself and left a small print i think. I want to quote a great friend of mine and include a link to his blog as well. I know this guy and his family and his past well, and I believe, we have a lot in common. So...this is taken from my friend Gary L. most recent blog on being fearless "Worrying about the past is the biggest waste of time I can think of. Worry about the future runs a close second. It is also the biggest misuse of our creative powers that I can think of". Thanks to Gary and all those in my life who have inspired me to be creative. So to all you other photogs, artists, musicians, friends and whoever...Believe in yourself and your purpose....If your not sure, like I am so many times.....Just ask the man upstairs for guidance...HE may not take you down the road YOU want to go down, but let go of your fears and have faith....
check out my friends blog...Being fearless   Oh Yeah...and I am off to shoot Athens basketball tonight....my SPLITTING migraine has subsided....hopefully I'll sleep tonight...

X-Treme Ice Racing 2011

X-Treme Ice Racing 2011
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

I was back at the FIrst Arena in Elmira, NY last night to shoot the first night of 2011 X-Treme Ice Racing. I remembered my ear plugs this time and was actually able to tolerate the smell of the exhaust better than last year. Funny, I slept better last night too. It was cool to run into great photog RickB as well and I met another cool photog. who for some reason wishes he was in Egypt right now convering the news. Who knows? It was also cool to see some old friends at the venue as well. I used primarily my 1D with the 85mm. and was able to grab some decent shots using ambient. I think I was shooting around 1250 ISO at 1/640-1/800 the at about f 2.5 f/2.8 ish range. I pulled a 17-50mm f/2.8 out for a few shots on the 40D as well. I didn't stay more than hour, but all in all had a good time. Saw a lot of folks and kiddos there having a good old time as the arena was almost full. The beer looked good to. In fact I think I'm off to have a couple today as I am not shooting anything.

from the vault 34

from the vault 34
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

Off tonight to the First Arena in Elmira, NY again this year to shoot some X-treme Ice Racing. Last year was my first experience and I have to say I am not a huge fan of any kind of racing, but to see cycles and quads on ice with no brakes was kind of....well interesting. One thing I learned from last years experience is that it is VERY loud and stinky in there so I will at least bring earplugs tonight, maybe a gas mask too.
I can say the lighting is very good at the arena and am able to shoot pretty fast shutters using ambient light at around 1/800 f/3.2 1250 ISO. Hoping to get some cool shots tonight, maybe some wrecks, just as long as nobody gets hurt. I also wanted to share that I created a Linkedin acct. to in hopes of drumming up some more connections and hopefully some more work as well. I can be found on that site by using my full name.

NYC

NYC 12/12/2009
Originally uploaded by Louis Q

Was just reading a book on B&W photography and Ansel so I decided to go through my images and re-explore some older shots. I loved this one of my oldest daughter Dyanni taking a break on a rock outcropping in NYC Central Park during a trip that just her and I took last December. I so love the city for many reasons. I'd say my passion for NYC is 70% art and architecture, 25% food and 5% people watching. When I was younger I so wanted to move there.....not so much now.......but love to visit and am REALLY wanting to go back soon. I shot this with the late winter afternoon harsh lighting and shadows. I think it works for black and white....any critics out there or that want to leave ideas, thoughts or comments? feel free.