Spring Has Finally Sprung

Spring has been a long time coming here in the Catskills - but we finally have some warmer temps. Our daffodils are blooming (a month late) and pollen is starting to let loose - as is evident in the moment I captured in the video below. Achoo!

Evergreen releasing it's pollen in the morning breeze #catskills #tree #iphonemeanderings

A video posted by Margaret Helthaler (@iphonemeanderings) on Apr 29, 2015 at 7:01am PDT

New Photo Book

After many requests, I have finally compiled a selection of my meandering photos in a photo book. Check it out some sample pages:

Mindful Meanderings by Margaret Helthaler | Make Your Own Book

Inquiries Welcomed

We are still buried in snow here in the Catskills. As I mentioned in my previous post, I started a new project in January that focuses on greener things! I invite you to visit my new food blog at VeggiePrimer.com. Since this project is taking quite a bit of my time, I decided to close my Etsy shop. However, I still welcome purchase inquiries for my landscape and nature photography. Please feel free to contact me via the contact form provided on the upper right of this page.

UPDATE: select prints are now available for sale on my Fine Art America site.

A photo posted by Margaret Helthaler (@iphonemeanderings) on Feb 25, 2015 at 6:04pm PST

Enjoying a New Project This Winter

Perhaps the frigid temps and icy snow have set my mind to greener topics – but I recently decided to share my interest in plant-based nutrition by starting a blog. I’m enjoying the move between table and landscape with my camera. If you would like to know more about following a vegan and/or gluten-free lifestyle, please visit VeggiePrimer.com.

Of course, I will continue to share my meanderings throughout the beautiful Catskills at: http://instagram.com/iphonemeanderings/

Triple layers on this morning's hike - it was a brisk 10 degrees! #catskills #iphonemeanderings

A photo posted by Margaret Helthaler (@iphonemeanderings) on Jan 21, 2015 at 7:02pm PST

The Joys of Mobile Photography

I began my iPhone Meanderings project just over a year ago and I continue to enjoy the process. The combination of a camera, editing apps and sharing apps in one handy little pocket-sized package has allowed me to remain engaged with the project in spite of the demands of a full schedule. Taking a few moments to explore the possibilities of an app like Mextures is a great way to pass the time whenever I have a minute to spare!

Gray barn on Red Hill #fall #barn #catskills #iphonemeanderings

A photo posted by Margaret Helthaler (@iphonemeanderings) on Oct 10, 2014 at 1:17pm PDT

Editing DSLR Captures On iPhone

I have been shooting almost exclusively with my iPhone 4 in recent months – it’s handy to carry in my pocket on these cold mornings. But some shots beg to be captured with a more powerful camera. So after seeing this bald eagle sitting in one of his favorite spots several mornings in a row, I opted to bring my Nikon D40 (my son is currently borrowing my Nikon 5100) fitted with my Nikkor 55-300mm lens on my next outing. My efforts were not in vain – the eagle remained in his majestic and watchful pose while I zoomed in for several captures. I later transferred a few of the images to my iPhone to edit with Snapseed and share via Instagram. I love the flexibility of editing photos on a smartphone. While adjusting fine details on the small screen can be a challenge for the mid-life vision impaired – the ability to pursue my passion during unexpected moments of down time more than makes up for the eyestrain.

iPhone Photography

I continue to enjoy my iphonemeanderings. Captured some nice waterfall shots using the LongExpo app during a recent visit to Ithaca NY.