A Plan to Avoid Ticks

After reading this article about a looming tickageddon due to the warming of the northeastern region I decided to reduce my off road hiking. I've had one embedded tick episode already this season.

Locations I visit that are good tick territory are Saratoga Battlefield, Peebles Island, Schodack Island and Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve. Tall grasses are prevalent along trails and photo vantage points require traversing them. 

Some other locations are less tick risky as trails or roads are paved or gravel and grass near trails is mowed. Thacher Park, Saratoga Spa State Park and the Champlain Canalway trails are examples. Today, I walked around what might be the best of these locations, Oakwood Cemetery, which is also by far the closest to home.

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 100

UPDATE 11/23/25: I kind of forgot this plan and picked another tick bite after getting into the weeds a bit at Saratoga National Historical Park yesterday. This tick hadn't been attached too long so I'm not worried about the diseases.

The Past Two Days

The weather forecast for the coming week is a hot one. After today, high temperatures are currently forecasted to be 92, 98, 98 and 90 degrees. Low temperatures will be in the mid 70s. 

Here are some shots from the post couple of days. 

Mohawk and Hudson Rivers
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 400

Historic Bleach Plant
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 76mm, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 400

Lock E2, Waterford, NY
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 43mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400

Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100

Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

Yager Hall, Hartwick College
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

Between Days of Rain

Yesterday saw some sunshine with clouds so I decided to visit Saratoga Spa State Park to add to the 5 Cent Images project. Now that summer is here parks are much busier on week days. I miss the off season.

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/4, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/4, 1/4000 sec., ISO 1600
Not ideal settings after switching modes

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/5.6, 1/60 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 400

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400

There are galleries for Saratoga Spa State Park in both color and black and white.

Less Clear, No Rain or Fog

This morning's sunrise forecast wasn't promising and it didn't turn out spectacular but it was worth the chance since it's about a five minute drive to the location. It's always nice to have accomplished something before 6AM.

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 28mm, f/4, 1/45 sec., ISO 1600

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 39mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 800

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 67mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 800

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 39mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 800

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 28mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/8, 1/60 sec., ISO 1600

Clear Skies, Rain or Fog

I haven't had a shot at a good sunrise over the canal since the middle of May. You need clouds for a good sunrise but not too many clouds. With all the rain we've had lately, days that have a good cloud cover forecast have also had dense fog. Yesterday was typical.

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 33mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400
cropped

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 200
cropped

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 200

Fog and High Water

Yesterday, after a day of heavy rain, the rivers were approaching flood stage once again. The forecast was for 50% cloud cover for the sunrise but fog prevented any chance of sighting the sun. Instead, I visited Waterford Harbor and Peebles Island before sunrise then returned to the Flight of Locks after daylight.

I also took a break from the 50mm lens and used the 24-105mm zoom.

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/4, 1/6 sec., ISO 1600

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 72mm, f/4, 1/10 sec., ISO 1600

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 91mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 1600

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 32mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec., ISO 800

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 96mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec., ISO 800

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 31mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 31mm, f/8, 1/160 sec., ISO 400

Schuylerville Scenes

Here are some shots from Schuylerville this morning.

Schuyler House
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

Broadway, Route 4
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/2.5, 1/2500 sec., ISO 100

Hydroelectric Flume
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/11, 1/200 sec., ISO 400

Hydroelectric Flume
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/5, 1/800 sec., ISO 400

Fish Creek
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/11, 1/60 sec., ISO 100

Fish Creek
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/100 sec., ISO 100

Four Locations, One Day

 Here are some images from the third day of June.

Fabric Store, Gloversville, NY
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/2, 1/250 sec., ISO 400

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/2.8, 1/200 sec., ISO 400

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/5.6, 1/25 sec., ISO 400

Northampton Beach State Park
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/400 sec., ISO 200

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

Beecher Creek, Edinburgh, NY
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/15 sec., ISO 400

RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/30 sec., ISO 400

Hudson River, Hadley, NY
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/10, 1/800 sec., ISO 400