Mary Travers, 1936-2009

I was very saddened to learn of the death of Mary Travers, singer from Peter, Paul and Mary. In addition to a wonderful voice, Mary had an incredible spirit, and even after leukemia treatments was able to perform, as she did for this photograph. See the original at Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, D-MA, February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009

This portrait of Ted Kennedy was taken on May 25, 2007. No matter what side of the aisle you sit, you have to admire the Senator's legislative compassion and personal courage in his 77 years. See the original at Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Coming Soon: Paul Scharff Photography on Facebook

In early September there will be a Facebook page for Paul Scharff Photography. You can become a friend and/or a fan. As new photos are taken, they'll be put up for you to view and comment on. We'll post the information once it's current. In the meantime, for more pictures, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 12, 2009

Here's one last shot of fireworks for this year. There were lots more taken. Look for the entire batch coming soon at Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 11, 2009

The new fireworks were just being launched from the barge while this burst was exploding at the Macy's New York show on July 4. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 10, 2009

The red looked brilliant in this shot from the Macy's New York fireworks display this year. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 9, 2009

This shot of a face appeared in The Atlantic Highlands Herald in their article about the local fireworks show. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 8, 2009

This shot is from the Atlantic Highlands display this year. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 7, 2009

Here's another shot from the Red Banks fireworks display this year. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 6, 2009

This shot from the Macy's fireworks display has perhaps the greatest variety of colors I have ever seen in a single burst. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 6, 2009

On July 4, after watching fireworks from two neighboring New Jersey locations, I went to New York to view the Macy's fireworks display. They were launched from a barge on the Hudson River. You can see the barge, as well as the fireworks, in this shot. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 5, 2009

Here's another shot from the Red Bank/Q104.3 fireworks, which give a sense of the breadth of their size. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 4, 2009

The largest Fourth of July fireworks in the entire New York metro area outside of the Macy's display takes place in nearby Red Bank, NJ. Q104.3, New York's most-listen-to rock station, plays music that the fireworks are synchronized to. In addition to it being broadcast on millions of radios in the tri-state area, it is piped all through Red Bank so people can see the fireworks in context. These fireworks feature some very unusual designs, such as these "flowers" that lit up the sky last night. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 3, 2009

It's the Fourth of July weekend, and the events were officially kicked off yesterday in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, where residents were treated to a 28 minute display, including this shot. For more pictures of fireworks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 2, 2009

It's summer in Cape Cod, and visitors are already arriving for the Fourth of July weekend. For more pictures of Cape Cod, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: July 1, 2009

It's the sunrise in summer at the Jersey Shore, where the eastern sun has lit up the Sandy Hook Visitors Center. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 30, 2009

Since virtually all of the photos of the last two week were taken near the Citigroup Center, I thought it only fitting to include the very stylish design of the entryway. For more pictures of signs, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 29, 2009

Everything doesn't happen up high on 53rd Street in Manhattan -- there's also a lot going on right on the ground. For more pictures of the ground, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 28, 2009

Here's the top of the Lipstick Building that we showed last week. For more pictures of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 27, 2009

Here's the Citicorp Building again, along with some of its immediate neighbors. For more pictures of neighbors, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 26, 2009

After showing a number of lesser known buildings, I thought I'd do another one of the Citicorp building. For more pictures of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 25, 2009

The juxtaposition of color made this scene work as well as the buildings themselves. For more pictures of color, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 24, 2009

Here's another interesting-shaped building that's right next to the Lipstick Building. By shooting up from the ground, a photograph of just shape and form emerges. For more pictures of shapes and forms, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 23, 2009

Here's another building I shot on the way to the dentist last week. From this perspective, you'd not necessarily know it was right in the heart of Manhattan, because you can't see any other buildings next to it. For more pictures of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 22, 2009

These two buildings criss-crossed each other just right. For more pictures of angles, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 21, 2009

Here's a very colorful building I shot while on 53rd Street earlier this week. It almost feels like it should be in Miami. For more pictures of colorful buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 20, 2009

Here's another example of buildings that work well together, beyond just their own individual forms. For more pictures of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 19, 2009

Sometimes it's not just the buildings, but the way they all work together to form a composite. Here's one example, and tomorrow we'll show another. For more pictures of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 18, 2009

Here's a shot of the famous Citicorp Building. I see it from my house, but I don't normally see it this close, from which there is a very interesting perspective. For more pictures of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 17, 2009

This interesting building is called the Lipstick building. It's oval in shape and was designed by John Burgee Architects with Philip Johnson. It was completed in 1986 and has 34 floors. The building receives its name from its shape and color, which resemble a tube of lipstick. In addition to its interesting oval shape, it has a nice reflection, showing other buildings in the area, as seen here. For more pictures of Manhattan, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 16, 2009

Today on the way to the dentist, I passed East 53rd Street in Manhattan. There are a lot of skyscrapers there, mostly modern, and mostly glass and steel. But there are some interesting designs nonetheless. Here's one, and we'll follow with others for the next several days. For more pictures of New York City, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 15, 2009

Filtered light always looks good, but that's even more true when it's coming through the trees of a dense forest. For more pictures of forests, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 14, 2009

The canoeist didn't have the river all to himself this day -- he had to share it with two swans who were heading in the opposite direction. For more pictures of swans, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 13, 2009

Nothing feels mores summer-like than a tractor next to a field. For more pictures of summer, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 12, 2009

People say there's nothing like the smell of a fresh-baked apple pie. But when it's a work of art, there's nothing like looking at it, too. For more pictures of pies, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 11, 2009

Sunsets are always pretty, but they're particularly nice in the summer, when you can stay outside and watch them descend over the water. Sandy Hook has the rare benefit of being one of the few places in the United States where you can watch the sun rise over the water, and then set over the water, without changing position. For more pictures of sunsets, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 10, 2009

I love looking deep inside a palm tree to see the true heart of it. For more pictures of palm trees, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 9, 2009

We just learned that at least six dolphins are back on the Jersey Shore. You may recall that last year 16 dolphins visited from June 10 until at least late December when I last saw them here. Of that group, some died and some were seen leaving the area. On Sunday, six were discovered, and photos will determine whether these six are part of last year's pod or new ones. But we're very excited about it all. Here's one from last year until I can get new shots. For more pictures of dolphins, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 8, 2009

It felt like the sun was just blanketing the east side of New York the day I took this. For more pictures of New York, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 7, 2009

I've had a groundhog living in my back yard for several years. I don't know if it's the same groundhog, or if they rotate in and out, but there has always been one. But yesterday I saw not one, but four -- a mother and three youngsters. One of the kids scurried away before I could grab this, but the other two posed with Mom. For more pictures of animals, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 6, 2009

After a week of rain, the sun finally came out here on the Jersey Shore. For more pictures of sun, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 5, 2009

Today is my sister's birthday, and among her many talents is her gardening skills she shares with her husband. Here's a sample of her work. For more pictures of flowers, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 3, 2009

My photos are now also for sale at In The Garden in Highlands, NJ. In The Garden has an amazing assortment of plants and flowers for sale. It's open 10-5, but if you go there after it's closed, it will look good just by virtue of its decorations, as seen here. For more pictures of decorations, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 4, 2009

The trees were pretty in this scene taken in Hollywood, Florida, but I think I like the combination of colors even better. For more pictures of Florida, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 2, 2009

I feel like pasta. This vodka penne, served in a local restaurant a couple of months ago, would work. For more pictures of food, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: June 1, 2009

A marching band always looks good all lined up, and this band, from the Henry Hudson School District of NJ, looks even better. For more pictures of people, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 31, 2009

Here's one last building selected from over 50 I took of the Florida International University campus last year. The palm trees are stunning enough, but then they cast these dancing shadows on the building to create a cacophony of beauty as seen here. For more pictures of palm trees, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 30, 2009

Continuing our photos of FIU from yesterday, this building side is 100% glass. You can see all the architecture inside, as well as the reflecting palms from the outside. For more pictures of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 29, 2009

The annual list of Top Ten Beaches comes from Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research. Florida International University has one of the most spectacular campuses I've ever seen, and I had the privilege of shooting it last year. Here's how it looks as you first enter it. For more pictures of college campuses, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 28, 2009

Here's one more shot of Cape Florida Lighthouse, taken obviously from the air. You can see how that beach made the Top Ten list of 2009. For more pictures of beaches, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 27, 2009

Yesterday's Photo of the Day showed a picture I took of the 8th best beach of 2009, compiled by Florida International University. Just one notch lower is this beach -- Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, MA. As I stated yesterday, I've seen a lot of photos of that beach, but this one's my favorite, taken for my book, Cape Cod: A Photographic Portrait. For more pictures of beaches, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 26, 2009

This year, as in every year, the list of top 10 beaches was announced by Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research. This list has been compiled annually since 1991 using 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities. This year, the Number 8 beach was Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne. The Associated Press used a photo of the beach and the lighthouse for their article on the listings, but it wasn't my favorite photograph. My favorite just happened to be one I shot for the Park Service last year, seen here, which will be appearing in my next book. For more pictures of lighthouses, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 25, 2009

For Memorial Day this year, I thought I would go through my photo collection and find a shot of a flag. But I didn't have to search at all: this shot came courtesy of the Highlands, NJ Memorial Day Parade that took place on Saturday. For more pictures of flags, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 24, 2009

What's a Memorial Day weekend without a Memorial Day parade? This shot came from our local parade yesterday, as the fire trucks from several local towns made their way down Bay Avenue in Highlands. For more pictures of trucks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 23, 2009

Today the Sandpiper Gallery has its 2009 opening reception, where you can find my work framed and printed on canvas for sale. For more pictures of galleries, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 22, 2009

Today marks the official start of Memorial Day weekend, and ergo, the beginning of Summer. And that was confirmed yesterday when I looked out my window and saw the very first tow plane of the summer. For more pictures of beaches, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 21, 2009

Someone wrote in asking where to take good photos of New York City. One location is not in New York at all, but in New Jersey, where I took this shot for a client in Tokyo. For more pictures of New York, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 20, 2009

As we return to The Lotos Club, we see a serving of birthday cake. When topped with the raspberry sorbet, it becomes a cacophony of color. For more pictures of food, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 19, 2009

If you take a ton of wine glasses and shoot them very close up, you get an enormous collection of light and dark reflections that create an almost-abstract photo. For more abstract photos, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 18, 2009

To add to the previous two days' photos, now go in close on a glass of champagne, and you have a notecard ready to go! For more pictures of champagne, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 17, 2009

Now, take yesterday's photo, dim all the lights, light all the candles, and the mood goes from pleasant to stunning. For more photos of candlelight, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 16, 2009

This shot of a set table at The Lotos Club in New York City looked very nice. Tomorrow you'll see how nice it looked lit up. For more pictures of table settings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 15, 2009

Paths in dunes are always pretty -- in part because you know you'll be arriving at the ocean on the other end. This one looks like it was taken in Cape Cod, Delaware, or in the Carolinas, but it's actually Miami Beach. For more pictures of Miami Beach, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 14, 2009

Sandy Hook, NJ is getting more crowded, and more green, as summer continues in its forward path. Here's how it looked at the end of summer when the first color of red was emerging. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 13, 2009

Looming clouds usually look very threatening -- unless they take place at sunset, when they provide nice contrast to the orange sky. For more pictures of sunsets, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 12, 2009

The light was perfect on this dune as the sun was setting in Miami Beach. The green-yellow dune complemented the blue water and magenta sky perfectly. For more pictures of Miami Beach, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 11, 2009

Today is my brother's birthday. He lives on a 46-foot sailboat, and just spent the winter off the coast of, and in, the Bahamas. Here's his boat with the spinnaker out, sailing in the Atlantic Ocean on his way south. For more pictures of boats, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 10, 2009

Cruise ships come out of New York and pass my house all the time. But they're more frequent as the weather gets nicer, as was the case yesterday when one sailed out of the city. For more pictures of cruise ships, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 9, 2009

The Chrysler Building in New York City is not gold -- it just looked so in the intense setting sun recently. For more pictures of New York, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 8, 2009

This interesting building is The Children's Museum of Miami. And it's as interesting inside as it is on the outside. For more pictures of Miami, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 7, 2009

The weather's getting warmer and summer is clearly expressing interest in emerging. In less than one week, the Firemen's Fair will take place in neighboring Sea Bright, NJ, where this kind of scene will be typical. For more pictures of summertime, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 6, 2009

Yesterday's Miami photo shows how good that city can look at sunset. But it's not alone in that distinction, as evidenced by this shot of the New York skyline. For more pictures of New York City, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 5, 2009

Seeing CSI: Miami last night reminded me of this shot taken in the Miami sunset. For more pictures of Miami, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 4, 2009

Here's another shot of my bleeding hearts. To do this, I put a black background behind them so that the flowers and stems would stand out more prominently. I figured, if it works for jewelers, why not for photographers? For more pictures of flowers, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 3, 2009

Here's one last shot of the library at The Lotos Club in New York City. With a picture this small, it's hard to tell how large it is, but if you look at the walls, you'll see books are stacked eight shelves high. That's a lot of books! For more pictures of libraries, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 2, 2009

I finally succumbed and mowed my lawn to officially start the grass-cutting season. Happily, I have a small back yard, and what there is is taken up by a pool and a gazebo. So a full mow is just a 20 minute task. I live on a very steep hill and it's too cumbersome to move the mower from the back yard to the front yard, so the front is all garden. For more pictures of grass, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: May 1, 2009

It's May 1st and time to go out in the garden. These bleeding hearts are just blooming now in my front yard. For more pictures of flowers, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 30, 2009

In this second example of work from a 12-page feature in this month's issue of Digital Photographer magazine discussed yesterday, I wrote, It's not just the sunset, it's the afterglow. As the sun was setting, the sky got nicer and nicer. And just as it drifted below the horizon, the backlight on the clouds created not just a beautiful sky, but a wonderful reflection in the water below. This shot was taken on Sandy Hook, NJ. For more pictures of reflections in water, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 29, 2009

In this month's issue of Digital Photographer magazine, I provide expert advice in a 12-page feature on how to shoot water. One of the shots in there is this one -- the skyline of Miami. In my notes in the article about this shot, I write, Use a long shutter speed. Or don't. Some people would have used a 5-10 second shutter speed to blur out all the water, providing a nice dreamy effect to the shot. It's a good technique to try, which I did, but I preferred this shot with a shorter shutter speed, which froze the choppy water and gave the water a more natural look. For more pictures of water, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 28, 2009

Here's another shot showing the new Ionic ProClean toothbrush in all four colors from the side. For more pictures of of things in four colors, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 27, 2009

There's a new toothbrush out that's called the Ionic ProClean toothbrush. It eliminates plaque by temporarily changing the enamel from its typical negative charge to a temporary positive charge so that plaque can be lifted away by the brush. I had the privilege of shooting these new toothbrushes last week, and from any angle, they look great. Here's one example. For more pictures, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 26, 2009

Yesterday's Photo of the Day showed a shot from the South tower of Twin Lights lighthouse in Highlands, NJ. This shot shows a similar window pattern, but instead of being curved, it's flat; and instead of being clear, it's colored. It comes from The Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven, NJ. For more pictures of windows, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 25, 2009

It's hitting 80 degrees today at the Jersey Shore, so I thought I'd provide a very unusual view of it. What makes it unusual is that it's taken from the South tower of Twin Lights -- the tower that's off-limits to the public. Most photographs are taken from the North tower, and they're certainly dramatic enough. But to get the other tower in the photo, you have to look South towards Sea Bright -- still a dramatic photo in its own way. But this shot shows the inside of one tower, the entirety of another tower, and Sandy Hook stretching North to New York City. For more pictures of the Jersey Shore, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 24, 2009

Here's another shot of the library taken last weekend at The Lotos Club in New York. For more pictures of libraries, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 23, 2009

Woodrow Wilson Hall on the campus of Monmouth University was re-built in 1929 at a cost of $10.5 million after the original structure was destroyed by fire in 1927. It was known as the Summer White House after President Woodrow Wilson used it as the presidential summer home during the campaign of 1916. The new construction incorporated limestone, steel, concrete, and 50 varieties of Italian marble. It is an architectural marvel, and here is just one example. For more pictures of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 22, 2009

It's Earth Day! For more pictures of animals living naturally, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 21, 2009

The weather, which got into the 70s over the weekend, has turned cold again, making me pine for this locale instead of New Jersey. For more pictures of palm trees, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 20, 2009

I wish I could say this staircase was in my home. But it's not -- it's from The Lotos Club in New York City. For more pictures of staircases, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 19, 2009

Last night I did a shoot at The Lotos Club in New York City. The Lotos Club is one of the oldest literary clubs in the United States, founded on March 15, 1870 and included Mark Twain as one of its members. One of the many stellar rooms at The Lotos Club is its expansive library, as seen here. For more pictures of interiors, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 18, 2009

Today is supposed to be the first real summery day of the year here in New Jersey. Many people will flock to the shore to get relief from the long winter. The only issue is that the grasses here are still brown -- and won't have this beautiful green color for another 4-6 weeks. For more pictures of summer, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 17, 2009

The best thing about eating out isn't always enjoying the great food, but being able to take a great shot of it. This was captured during a recent restaurant shoot, so in this case, being able to take a great shot of it was the only thing I did. For more pictures of food, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 16, 2009

Last Sunday I had a shoot at Highlawn Pavilion in West Orange, NJ. In addition to being a very attractive and stately place, it has a stellar view from the west of Manhattan. This shot encompasses only midtown, so you can imagine how sweeping it is from the bottom to the top of the island. For more pictures of New York, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 15, 2009

On tax day, I thought I would empty my pockets to see my net worth. Here's what I found. For more pictures of money, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 14, 2009

For our final dog-jumping shot, we turn to a smaller animal who had a lower bar to cross, but did it with the same intensity and drive nonetheless. For more pictures of dogs, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 13, 2009

This dog making his jump last weekend looked like he was using his ears to help him fly over the bar. If he could only learn to do the limbo as well, he'd have all the bases covered! For more pictures of dogs, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 12, 2009

I couldn't think of a more appropriate photo to run on Easter. For more pictures of animals, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 11, 2009

Last weekend I visited an obedience show for dogs. I was impressed with the performance of these dogs, as well as their owners who are clearly very dedicated to them. But I particularly liked when the dogs jumped over their hurdles. As you can see here, they literally flew over them. For more pictures of dogs, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 10, 2009

Every Passover I like to take a shot of the Pascal Full Moon. Full moons don't usually make the best moon photos, because the craters are less visible with the sun shining straight on it than they are when the sun illuminates the moon from the side instead. But there's still something very dramatic about the full moon right in your face. For this shot, I put a 2x teleconverter on a 500mm lens. That got me close, but really exacerbated the problem of camera shake. So I fired off a series of shots and selected the best one. For more pictures of the moon, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 9, 2009

I'm shooting a wedding this weekend, and I always love doing them because they remind you how connected two people can be. And although virtually all brides and grooms look happy on their wedding day, sometimes you see a special connection that is so intense, and so real, that you know the marriage will last forever. Here's one example of just what I'm talking about, from a special couple I captured in February. For more pictures of brides and grooms, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 8, 2009

As a final photo from the magazine shoot of the New York apartment, I figured I might as well include one of the bathroom, which like the rest of the apartment, was open and airy and had just the right design elements. For more pictures of New York City, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 7, 2009

Here's another perspective of the living room, showing the light pouring through the window. For more pictures of windows, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 6, 2009

This shot of the dining room of the Manhattan apartment I recently photographed for a magazine shows it from a different direction. The mirrors help bring extra light and space into the room. For more pictures of mirrors, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 5, 2009

The made up bed, end table, and accompanying design elements made for a nice photo in this New York apartment. For more pictures of design elements, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 4, 2009

In New York, many apartments are studios, where the bed is in a sequestered area of the main living space. Others have their own bedrooms. But some are lucky enough to get a separate bedroom with windows on two different walls, as seen here. For more pictures of New York apartments, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 3, 2009

Central to any living quarters, whether it's a mansion in Los Angeles or an apartment in New York, is the kitchen. And kitchens somehow always look better when there's a lot of light and color in them. For more pictures of kitchens, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 2, 2009

In New York, a dining room is more of a luxury, not a given. And it looks even better when it's decorated, and given its own "space." For more pictures of dining rooms, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: April 1, 2009

I recently finished a shoot of a New York City apartment for a magazine. Manhattan apartments are generally pretty small, so they require a lot of creativity to give them a sense of design and space. This one fit the bill, so we'll show some of the shots over the next few days. Here's the living room. For more pictures of interiors of buildings, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 31, 2009

For the final installment of photos for consideration in the magazine article being written about ways to shoot water, we return to the New Jersey shore. At this sunrise shot, a lone fisherman added some energy and humanity that made a beautiful scene on Sandy Hook even more personal. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 30, 2009

Here's another shot of water reflecting what's on the far side. In this case, it's not a river, but Jemima Pond on Cape Cod. For more pictures of ponds, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 29, 2009

This cute little Cape Cod house looks really pretty across the river. But it looks even better when it, and then entire scene, is reflected in the water. Including the near bank not only gives perspective of the width of the river, but adds some "weight" to the bottom of the frame. For more pictures of water, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 28, 2009

This sunrise is quite pretty -- the sun is partly obscured by clouds adding to the visual interest. But what really makes it is the boat coming into the frame. I waited patiently for it to arrive, and then snapped the shutter when I thought it was in just the right place. For more pictures of boats, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 27, 2009

The beauty of this pond wasn't so much the pond as it was the almost watercolor-like reflection in the water. For more pictures of ponds, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 26, 2009

I often tell people to zoom in close on water shots to find a single element to catch the viewer's interest. But every so often the best thing to do is the exact opposite: to go as wide as you possibly can. On this dune on Whitecrest Beach in Wellfleet on Cape Cod, pulling back allowed us to see the incredible expanse of the beach. For more pictures of Cape Cod, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 25, 2009

For the upcoming magazine article about photographing water, I made this point about this photo: Take advantage of low tide. This picture would have been okay at high tide, but low tide introduced a whole new set of design elements that really helped the interest. It also didn't hurt that I had the advantage of being 250 feet up in the top of Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown.
For more pictures of Provincetown, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 24, 2009

This could have been a so-so sunset scene -- the pale yellow sky with the violet water looked nice, for sure. But when these two waders started walking into the shallow water in silhouette, the entire dynamic of the scene changed. For more pictures of sunsets, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 23, 2009

This photo of boats works for just one reason: none of the boats are on the same plane. So instead of it being simply a row of boats, they fill the frame with their own curve as a group. For more pictures of boats, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 22, 2009

Returning to our photos of water that are part of the consideration for an upcoming magazine article, this never-before-seen shot illustrates the value of looking downward instead of upward. This scene, when viewed above the horizon line, was only moderately interesting with mostly dead trees standing upright and sideways. But looking down showed a beautiful reflective design in the water. Keeping the horizon visible, near the top of the frame, provided the orientation needed to give the photo a fast read that it's a shot of a water reflection, not an upside down picture. For more pictures of water, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 21, 2009

I always thought Spring came on March 21, but this year it came on March 20, at 7:40 a.m. So why, at precisely 7:40 a.m. yesterday, was this the scenery here in New Jersey? This mini-snowstorm took the entire New York metropolitan area by surprise. The good news: it was very short lived, and just 15 minutes later there was no snow left on the trees. As we said in March 20th's Photo of the Day, timing is everything. For more photos of snow, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 20, 2009

This shot illustrates the importance of timing. I got up at 4:30 a.m. to get to this location, and then waited for the exact right minute. Five minutes later, and the lights on the bridge and in the reflected water would be completely invisible. Ten minutes earlier, it was too dark to see the details in the bridge. For more pictures of bridges, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 19, 2009

A national photography magazine is doing a story on me, focusing on my water photography. I'll give you more information as it gets closer to publication. In the meantime, we'll share some photos over the next several days that were part of the group being considered for their spread. The first is this one, which illustrates the value of getting one more component into the scene. Alone, just the sun and water would have looked pretty good. But add the boat, and it takes on a whole new quality. For more pictures of water, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 18, 2009

I got my advance copy of the 2009 Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Guide, and was happy to see this picture on the cover. For more photos of sunsets and boats, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 17, 2009

I've been told this photo looks like Ireland, which I can appreciate. But it's Barbados, over 4,000 miles away. But in honor of St. Patrick's Day, we'll run it anyway. For more photos of Barbados, look for a new gallery coming soon at Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 16, 2009

With Spring on the way, the crops will soon be growing. Here's how it will look pretty soon. For more pictures of farmland, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 15, 2009

This egret couldn't wait for Spring to start, so off he flew in search of it. For more photos of egrets, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 14, 2009

I was frustrated waiting for the rain to stop when trying to get this beach shot. But I found a great shot anyway -- through the window of the car. For more photos of rain, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 13, 2009

It won't be long now before this will be the view again from the gazebo in my back yard. There will be a formal announcement on the first official beach day of the season, and in the meantime, the sunscreen is ready. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 12, 2009

This small barn in upstate New York provided a nice foundation of solid color in a tapestry of mixed autumn colors last year. For more photos of upstate New York, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 11, 2009

The city of Miami is pretty for a lot of reasons -- usually related to it's architecture, parks, skyline, and streets. But at the side of a road, this tied up row boat which has seen better days evoked a wonderful feeling of serenity completely different than the bustle of the city. For more photos of Miami, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 10, 2009

In anticipation of warmer weather, here's a shot taken at Sandy Hook is the waning moments of the 2008 season. We're now down to just weeks, not months, before it all happens again. For more pictures of boats, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 9, 2009

We have a visitor this week who's just seven months old. That's when they're small enough they can take a bath right in the kitchen sink. He's just as happy there, too, especially since we disconnected the garbage disposal first. For more pictures of babies, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 8, 2009

There's nothing like the first dance of a bride and groom, as seen here a couple of weeks ago. And that goes double when they're such a perfect couple. For more photos of brides, and grooms, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 7, 2009

It's here! In desperate anticipation of Spring, I've been on the lookout for some physical evidence. I even used the CSI flashlight trick, in which forensic professionals, searching for every scrimp of hair or fiber or blood, turn off all the lights and use a $2.99 Ace Hardware flashlight which uses two A batteries -- well, at least they do on TV. For me, I just looked in the daylight, and sure enough, the first evidence of my tulips appeared yesterday for the first time, seen here. For more pictures of tulips, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 6, 2009

Here on the New Jersey shore, there are signs that the summer season is officially here. The weather gets warmer, the early flowers come up, the traffic begins to get denser -- and, Polar Bear Ice Cream opens for the season. To the great delight of everyone in the area, that happened yesterday. So as far as I'm concerned, no matter what the temperature is, it's now officially "in season." For more pictures of ice cream, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 5, 2009

Monday's photo showed a number of boats in Atlantic Highlands Harbor. On the other side of the harbor is the dock that leads to the New York City ferry. One late Autumn afternoon last year I was returning from New York on the boat and noted that almost every boat had been taken out of the water for the season. Almost every one, but one, shown here. At this time of year, this boat had the entire dock to itself. For more pictures of boats, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 4, 2009

The next morning after New York City's grand snowfall, most is back to normal. But there's still just enough snow to make it look beautiful on the residential East Side in the 30s. For more pictures of New York, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 3, 2009

Yesterday, New York City got about 10 inches of snow. That, of course, brought the entire city to a grinding halt. The mayor got on television for a 30 minute press conference which was covered live by all the local stations which broke into their regular programming. It's all because a large snowfall is a rarity in New York. But it's amazingly beautiful, as seen here in this photo taken on the tree-lined Riverside Drive. For more pictures of New York, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 2, 2009

If you've read the current issue of Around The Hook Today, you may recognize this photo, which appeared on the cover. It's from the Atlantic Highlands Harbor. For more pictures of Atlantic Highlands, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: March 1, 2009

Last spring I bought a bougainvillea plant. My objective was to feel a sense of a Florida or Caribbean presence here on the New Jersey shore. It was full of flowers when I bought it, but within a few weeks they had all died. All summer long I nursed the plant, which had nice green leaves but no flowers. In the fall, I decided to bring it in the house under the what-do-I-have-to-lose theory. Sure enough, as winter arrived it started to blossom -- loaded with flowers, which then died and were replaced with twice as many flowers. Here's how one looked a couple of weeks ago, in the dead of winter, in the middle of February. The big decision now is, When the weather gets warm, do I put the plant back outside or just leave it indoors to continue flowering? For more pictures of flowers, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 28, 2009

I bought my house on the New Jersey shore nine years ago today. Well, technically, it was nine years ago tomorrow, because I took possession on February 29 in a leap year. I like the house -- it has a nice layout and is just about the right size, and my neighbors are great. But I also love what I see from the house. Here's just one example. For more pictures of the Atlantic Ocean, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 27, 2009

It's actually been pretty mild here in New Jersey this month, but it was much colder up in the Berkshires last month. This mountain has trees encased in a thin coating of ice, which gives the mountain an almost-transluscent look to it. For more photos of the Berkshires, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 26, 2009

I don't know whether someone stubbed their toe near this intersection on Cape Cod and decided to give it this whimsical name, or whether it was created during a real out-of-the-box brainstorming session. No matter what, it's a far cry from Elm Street or 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA. For more pictures of Cape Cod, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 25, 2009

For our last photo from the February Sandy Hook snowfall, I thought it appropriate to show Sandy Hook Light. It's the oldest continuously operated lighthouse in the United States, and has been shining its beacon since 1764. For more pictures of Sandy Hook Light, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 24, 2009

Sandy Hook is generally a straight North-South spit of land, but it has so many wonderfully sculpted sections of shore. Here's one example on the west side looking from the North, with Plum Island right in the background. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 23, 2009

Among the wonders of Sandy Hook is a 264 acre holly forest -- the largest in North America. And it looks particularly good in the snow. For more pictures of holly, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 22, 2009

One thing nice about Sandy Hook is that it's surrounded by water on two sides. So even though it is "just" seven miles long, Sandy Hook has thirteen miles of beaches. Here's how it looked earlier this month from the western border of the Hook. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 21, 2009

Literally just a few hundred feet from the trees photographed in yesterday's Photo of the Day were these very different -- but equally beautiful -- trees. For more pictures of trees, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 20, 2009

Sometimes just the snowfall clinging to the smaller branches on the scrub brush found at Sandy Hook is all you need for a beautiful scene. For more pictures of scrub brush, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 19, 2009

On Sandy Hook, there are miles of snow fencing. Of course, it's a bit of an anomaly, because the fences are used to hold sand, not snow. So it's always kind of fun to see a snow fence on Sandy Hook actually in the snow. For more pictures of fences, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 18, 2009

No visit to Sandy Hook is complete without a visit to Guardian Park. Usually, the best views are after you walk over the footbridge to the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory. But during our recent snowfall, the best view was before you even got into it -- just a few feet from the main road. For more pictures of parks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 17, 2009

The walkway from Lot G to Gunnison Beach can be filled with people on a summer day. But on this day, there was not even one footprint -- making for a pristine photo. For more pictures of snow without footprints, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 16, 2009

Horseshoe Cove on Sandy Hook is a cove in the shape of, well, a horse shoe. After the recent snowfall, it looked beautiful as you looked from one edge of the horse shoe to the other. For more pictures of horses, and shoes, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 15, 2009

During the recent snowfall here in New Jersey, there was plenty of parking available in the Gunnison Beach and North Beach parking lots on Sandy Hook. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 14, 2009

Today is Valentine's Day, and I couldn't think of a better photo to share than this one. For more pictures of flowers, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 13, 2009

Back to the recent snowfall, here's the Visitor's Center at Sandy Hook. That funky square tower, which you see every few miles all along the New Jersey coast, is an old lifesaving station. People would sit up there and watch for ship wrecks, which happened frequently enough to warrant these towers. Of course, the tower is not used for that now, but it's still a very attractive design element. For more pictures of New Jersey, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 12, 2009

Today is the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, so I can't think of a better photo to use than this one. For more pictures, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 11, 2009

I've heard of white sand, but this is ridiculous. This is from last week's snowfall on Sandy Hook. For more pictures of snow, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 10, 2009

We're taking a one-day break from our Sandy Hook photos today to talk about a very special person. A few years ago Jerry Gerson and his wife Jeanne arrived in the Highlands, and three years ago this month they created a completely unique coffee shop in the center of town. This coffee shop wasn't a chain; the furniture was 100% yard sale vintage; and the music was piped in from WFUV or any number of other unique internet radio stations Jerry was able to research and discover. Within weeks, The Water Witch Coffee and Tea Company became "the" go-to place for all residents -- in part because of the outstanding coffee and fresh-baked pastries, but mostly because of Jerry himself, who was a fixture in the shop, offering ongoing conversation and advice on everything from how to fix a toilet to getting a bicycle in top-flight condition. Jerry was able to relate to any one he met, no matter what their background or station in life, usually within just minutes of first meeting them.

One year ago, Jerry was diagnosed with cancer, and he fought it with such spirit that it was easy to forget the severity of his disease. But last Friday, he lost the fight. True to his style, a memorial gathering last night was followed by a reception at the coffee shop he founded. The enormity of the people who attended, squeezed body-to-body in a standing-room-only celebration of his life, was exceeded only by the enormity of Jerry's generosity, energy, kindness, and popularity. This shot was taken almost exactly a year ago during a snowfall in Highlands, when the day's very first indicator of life and warmth came from the coffee shop, founded by the person for whom life and warmth will always be synonymous.

Photo Of The Day: February 9, 2009

This shot of Sandy Hook Light, the oldest continuously operated lighthouse in the United States, looks even better when surround by snow. For more pictures of lighthouses, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 8, 2009

You'd think you were in Vermont when looking at this picture taken during last week's snowfall on Sandy Hook, but you're actually just steps form the ocean. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 7, 2009

Continuing with our collection of photos from last week's snowfall on Sandy Hook, here's a shot from the end of Parking Area F. The sign is barely standing up, but it casts a nice shadow and works well with the mound of sand covered in snow and the color of the horizon in the morning light. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 6, 2009

This past Tuesday, we got some real snow here on the New Jersey shore -- well, real snow as defined here, which is about 5 inches, so apologies are in order to those in New England and Spokane, Washington who have had regular 20+ inch snowfalls this year alone. When we get snow, it's just stunning, so off I went to Sandy Hook to capture it the day after. For the next several days, we'll feature shots from Wednesday's shoot. For more pictures of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 5, 2009

This lily flower in a pond in southern Maine made me think of a gear shifter. There's probably a market somewhere for that as an aftermarket option for some vehicle. For more pictures of lilies, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 4, 2009

It was pretty quiet the other night on New Jersey Transit's North Coast Line heading down the Jersey Shore. Of course, that was before the track was announced and the car was inundated with commuters. For more pictures of transportation, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 3, 2009

In honor of the Pittsburgh Steelers' victory in Super Bowl XLIII, New York City decided to light the Empire State Building in the Steelers' yellow and black colors on Monday as a tribute to their very successful season. I wasn't in New York to see it up close, so I had to use a pretty powerful lens to grab this closeup from my house. The colors appeared when dusk fell at about 5:30, and lasted until the lights were turned off at midnight, as they are each night. That shorter gold-topped building right in front is the New York Life building, and its gold color is only coincidental to the purposeful yellow color of the Empire State Building. For more pictures of the New York as seen from the Jersey Shore, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 2, 2009

One of the nice things about living on the Jersey shore is that you can see the cruise ships as they leave New York City. I haven't seen one in a while, possibly because they sail less in the winter than in the summer, when I've seen five ships within a 90 minute period. So it was a treat to see one yesterday. Even better, with the sun setting when it does this time of year, the ship was beautifully lit -- it was dark enough to see the lights, and light enough to see the shape and detail of the ship as seen here. For more pictures of cruise ships, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: February 1, 2009

The Miami skyline is gorgeous and visible from a number of vantage points. But sometimes, even just four of its buildings grouped together make a nice cityscape, too, as seen here. For more pictures of Miami, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 31, 2009

A furnace is very nice this time of year, but this one isn't to heat people -- it's to melt glass, at the Sandwich Glass Museum on Cape Cod. For more pictures of Cape Cod, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 30, 2009

St. John in the United States Virgin Islands has miles of empty beaches. They're empty in part because the population is not terribly large -- just 4,000, making it even smaller than Highlands, NJ. They're also empty because to get to many of the beaches, you have to hike over rocky coasts in ankle deep water to get to them. Here's one such empty beach just east of Fish Bay. For more pictures of St. John, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 29, 2009

Today is a monumental day in the pattern of seasons. Today the mean low temperature goes up one degree. It doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be warmer today than yesterday. But given the averages of the past, it means that we are officially coming out of the trough of winter and moving in a positive direction. So I thought I'd remind you what we're in store for -- eventually. For more pictures of summer, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 28 2009

There's something about a fence receding into the distance that makes you have a whole new perspective on things. This snow fence was taken in Cape Cod. For more pictures of fences, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 27, 2009

On a cold day like this, there's nothing like a cup of authentic Cuban coffee. The only irony is that Cuban coffee is generally available where it's already warm, like this cup, which was served in Little Havana in Miami. For more pictures of coffee, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 26, 2009

When the snow and cold get you down, it's easy to really dislike the winter weather. But that all changes when you see a sunrise coming up over a January field, bathing it in a beautiful color. For more pictures of sunrises, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 25, 2009

One of the beauties of farmland is seeing crops, planted all parallel to each other, receding into the distance to provide a beautiful perspective. This scene was further enhanced by the row of trees behind it, which framed it all up nicely. And the blue sky didn't hurt anything, either. For more pictures of farmland, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 24 2009

This pelican had to work late, but nonetheless made it home just in time for dinner. For more pictures of animals, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 23, 2009

Miami Beach has hotels in many different areas. Some of the most famous are on Ocean Drive and the southern part of Collins Avenue, where the distinctive art deco style exists. But further north on Collins Avenue, much larger hotels start to appear, such as this one. For more pictures of Miami Beach, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 22, 2009

I'm not a big fan of cold winter weather, but sometimes there's immense beauty that results from it. This shot was taken through the window of my house at sunrise. The orange color is from the sunrise, and the design you see is ice. For more pictures of ice, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 21, 2009

The sun is at an unusal angle this time of year, which provides different -- but still spectacular -- sunsets here on Sandy Hook, as seen here in this example. For more photos of Sandy Hook, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 20, 2009

Manhattan can look good any time of the year. But in the winter months, the sun is at an angle that provides a perfect picture from my home here on the Jersey Shore. Here's how it looked earlier this week at sunset, with Sandy Hook and Brooklyn in the foreground. For more pictures of New York City, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 19, 2009

On Sunday, the temperature rose again above freezing, getting us out of our frigid predicament. Here's a shot from the same time a few years ago when Sandy Hook Bay froze. The shot is taken from one of the two ferry docks that carry passengers to New York, looking at the other dock. Most interesting, in addition to the fact that you could literally "walk on water" to get from one to the other, is the incredible texture created by the frozen water as it get pushed into new forms from the expansion caused by freezing water. For more pictures of docks, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 18, 2009

Yesterday the temperature here on the New Jersey shore hit a three-year low -- 5 degrees. It's already having an impact on the local rivers and bays. Here's a shot of Sandy Hook Bay from several years ago when it last froze -- all the way across to Sandy Hook. For more pictures of frozen water, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 17, 2009

Vancouver Island has a huge range of environments in its 12,000+ square mile space. Among other things are a number of rain forests. In one, it is so damp that the moss, literally, hangs from the tree, as seen here. For more photos of Vancouver Island, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.

Photo Of The Day: January 16, 2009

What makes it worth getting up early enough to get the 5:55 AM boat to New York? Getting this view just as dawn is approaching when pulling out of Pier 11 on the way to the East 35th Street dock. Not only is the balance between the approaching light and the electricity of the city a perfect complement to each other, but the sun rising over the East River casts a wonderful reflective gold light on the lower part of the reflective buildings, which higher up are still capturing the blue sky not yet converted by the sun. For more photos of New York, visit Paul Scharff Photography.com.