Barn In The Alley

/ BillMcNamee.com/

Here is a small collection of images captured in the Fall of 2021in Westminster, Maryland. Westminster is a typical mid-Atlantic small town with a fair amount of history and older architecture. Westminster is also the home to McDaniel College. The core historic district in Westminster spans either side of Main Street and the area around McDaniel College.

These images were taken while exploring one of the many little alleys in the western historic district near McDaniel College. They are of a lovely little older barn overgrown and outlined with ivy. The door hardware is vintage and rustic. The planking and shutters are weathered, showcasing both character and age.

Captured with a Fujifilm mirrorless camera and a Fujinon XF 18-55mm f2.8-4.0 LM OIS lens, these images were processed and converted to monotone in Lightroom. Three of the images were converted to black-and-white. One of the images had a bit of an off white tint added.

Enjoy!!

Holiday Bokeh Balls

/ BillMcNamee.com/

Who doesn’t like a fresh batch of Holiday Bokeh Balls served piping hot right out of the camera and Lightroom? The answer… No one. Everybody loves Bokeh Balls, especially during the Holidays!!

To satisfy that seasonal craving, here is a small series of Bokeh Balls from Holiday decorations around my neighborhood. While captured with a mirrorless digital camera, all the images were processed to give off that tasty vintage film vibe.

So... Pull up a chair and grab a tall glass of your favorite spirted eggnog or wassail. Enjoy these tasty Holiday Bokeh Balls while the Holidays are still upon us. You have “earnt” it!!

Happy Holidays and here is hoping you have a wonderful New Year!!

Icicle Lights In Monochrome

/ BillMcNamee.com/

Icicle lights are a must every Holiday Season at my house. On the house. On the fences. On any straight architectural surface I can reach. Soft white lights and very classic!! And… Only incandescent lights. No flickering LEDs for me. They just have that magical Christmas look.

Here is a close up image of some of the icicle lights. This photo was captured in color but converted to a high contrast black-and-white image using Lightroom. I love how the lights hang in the darkness of the night.

Enjoy!!

The Ghost of Christmas Past

/ BillMcNamee.com/

The Holiday Season is upon us for 2022. In the spirit of the season, I went through some older images and found these photos of Christmas Tree lights and ornaments.

I remember capturing these images late at night the evening the tree was trimmed and decorated. There might have been some spirited eggnog involved and there certainly was no tripod in use :)

Except for the Christmas Tree, all the other lights were out in the room. And I must say… There is something special every year when the Christmas Tree is finished and the lights are turned on for the first time.

Here is hoping your Holiday Season is a merry and safe one, no matter what Holiday your celebrate!!

Shades of Night: Colonial Williamsburg

/ BillMcNamee.com/

"I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day."
- Vincent Van Gogh -

Welcome to the official sneak peak for Shades of Night: Colonial Williamsburg, my latest book project which is currently in production. All the images in the book were captured in mid-November of 2021while on a short getaway with my sweet Sally after most of the Covid-19 restrictions had been lifted.

The theme of the book, and the images within, showcase Colonial Williamsburg at night, empty of people. The images are dark and foreboding with the only light coming from the carriage lights and candles of the homes and shops and the vintage street lights. Chilly and silent, I felt I had stepped back in time. It was walkabout like no other I have experienced.

Enjoy!!

Stone Chapel Railroad Crossing

/ BillMcNamee.com/

Waking one late August morning, back in 2015, I decided to venture out and capture some local images. The light was an intense golden tone, warm in texture with blue skies and high clouds. The perfect conditions for high contrast black and white images. 

For years I have been driving past a railroad crossing on Stone Chapel Road in Westminster, Maryland. This backroad in Carroll County is my preferred route to soccer fields, baseball fields, and Westminster High School. It is a winding and meandering road with sections open to the sky as well as covered by old growth trees.

I have passed this railroad crossing many times. Each time, I have looked to either side and thought… This crossing would be lovely to photograph. This morning, those thoughts became reality. 

Walking around the crossing this morning, visualizing the images in my mind, I could not help but think… Rails emerging and disappearing into the landscape. Beginnings… Endings… The future… The past… How many trains have been up and down these rails? How many engines, passenger cars, and freight cars have traversed this crossing? So similar to each of us, our lives, and the people we come to know and love. Always in motion and ever changing. 

The images presented below were capture with a Canon DSLR with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS lens. All the images were processed using Lightroom with a slight vignette and grain added. The frame ratio on all images is 16:10.

Enjoy!!