Black Oak Road approaches Connecticut Hill from the north. At this point a long view to west opens up that include Cayuta Lake and the distant highlands of Seneca Lake.
Black Oak View
Autumn Ridge
Category: Lake
Keuka Lake Fall Winter
October 5, 2014 found Pam and I at Keuka Lake after my son completed the Wine Glass Marathon. Here we are at the finish line in Corning, home of the Corning Glass Factory. You may know it from your set of Correlle dinnerware.
Afterwards, Pam and I made it up to the Dr. Frank Winery for a tasting followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Here is a photograph from the same viewpoint, using the “zoom” setting of my Sony DSLR A700. The view is more interesting than the winter shot of “Keuka Lake Winter I” from the autumn clouds and the burst of late day sun on the eastern lake shore.
This is the juncture of the “Y” shaped lake where the two arms joint the long foot. The pointed high headland is the point where the two arms meet. We are looking north here. The western arm, on the right, is unique in that the water is flowing down into the juncture. In Keuka Lake the water flows in two directions. The flow of lake foot and eastern arm is in the opposite direction, Keuka Lake empties at the top of the eastern arm, eventually reaching Lake Ontario.
Here is the eastern view, from the overlook, looking over a vineyard ready for harvest, covered with fruit and leaves. Every once in awhile there is a loud “bang” from a noisemaker used to discourage birds from feasting on grapes. The buildings along the shore are summer cottages, Keuka is lined with them.
The same view, from our December 2018 visit. The vines are bare, the fallen leaves cleared, the vine roots covered under banked earth to protect them from the cold.
Pam and I, enjoying wine after the 2014 Wine Glass Marathon. Cheers!!
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Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Autumn Mushroom
Moments from a September backpack
A budding mushroom
among autumn leaf litter
along mountain shores
Peaked Mountain and Pond, Siamese Ponds Wilderness, The Adirondacks
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Copyright 2021All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
A Perfect Afternoon On Beebee Lake
Anticipating Our Tenth Wedding Anniversary
After work on a 2008 Friday afternoon in October we sped over to Beebee Lake on the Cornell University Campus to catch the late afternoon glow.
Beebe Lake is formed by a dam on Fall Creek. It seems to be the flooded meadow it is, surrounded by hills formed by glaciers 10,000 years ago. Cornell maintains footpaths around the lake.
People say that if a couple walk the a mile around the lake and over a bridge at either end, they are destined to be married. This day we passed only joggers and families. Pam and I will celebrated our tenth anniversary March 2019, so the legend worked for us.
Here are four snapshots from that time, presented in chronological order. Each is a handheld shot taken on the fly using my Sony Alpha 700 I use for exploratory photography.
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I walked down a path trod by Canadian geese to reach a clear view of the water.
Lily pads and iris fronds grow along the bank.
Being on the west side of the lake, the dam is bathed in golden autumn light.
On top the hill, not visible behind the trees, above the opposite bank is Fuertes Observatory. We visited it this night, opened to the public as it is on all clear Friday nights while classes are running.
Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Summer Walk
Experience a hike around Taughannock Gorge on a summer morning with thunderstorms threatening
Constant winds from thunderstorm updrafts, I brought along an umbrella just in case.
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Maple Tree 
View from the South Rim Trail. The water flowing from Taughannock Falls to Cayuga Lake. 
The steep, high gorge walls below the falls on a humid July morning. 
gorge walls 
My umbrella 
Taughannock falls in distance 
Taughannock Falls in distance 
South Rim Stairs built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s 
Pine Forest at foot of stairs 
An interesting presentation at the Gorge entrance 
Tiger Lilies 
brown creek water meets Cayuga Lake (900 feet deep) 
Last waterfall of Taughannock Gorge 
wild roses 
Wild rose blooms 
camping on North Rim 
North Rim Gorge view 
Lobe leaved Hepatica 
Mushroom and Moss on the “wetter” north rim 
asters, an invasive species 
The dramatic and virtually inaccessible gorge above Taughannock Falls
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Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Adirondack Respite
Seven new photographs from the Adirondack Wilderness
One weekend my nephew Chris and I backpacked to Peaked Mountain Pond, the Adirondacks wilderness, in the rain. My son, Sean, was to meet us later. The constant rain made the easy trek into a slog. Our attitude improved after the tents setup and the fire. The skies clear to a brilliant display of the Milky Way away from light pollution.
Peaked Mountain in the light of an August dawn taken from the west pond shore. Siamese Ponds Wilderness, Adirondack Park, New York State. At 2,919 feet, Peaked Mountain is a modest height though it rises an impressive 675 feet in 0.4 mile.
Looking north across Peaked Mountain Pond from the west shore shortly after dawn.
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We used the canoe as a punt, using a solid branch to push around the shallow pond for short distances, after bailing.
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Mid-morning, we headed up the trail to the peak. I caught this orb-weaver spider web on the way.
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…and a detail. Technically, this is a macro. Did not wait around for the owner.
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Later, in the afternoon, Chris caught some Zzzzz’s in a time out from water gathering. We pumped water through a filter, this is necessary throughout New York State to avoid giardia infection.
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The ultimate in peace and tranquility, though disturbing a hornet pollinator can lead to excitement. This water lily bloom was caught with a tripod mounted long lens. Look closely for the hornet at work inside the flower. HHealthy water lily leaves are the epitome of tranquility because they are always clean, giving the illusion of tranquility. Scientists study water lily leaves to learn how the leaf surface sheds dirt. Imagine self-cleaning cloths.
Correction: it is the Lotus leaf, not lily pad, that is self cleaning.
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Hayrolls
Making Hay
Dry grass gathered for winter feed on Durfee Hill.
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Copyright 2020 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
more Jennings Pond IV
Still life and stillness
I described Jennings Pond to Pam and we returned together. Here is a photographic essay from that day, one of a series.
The first image is the small concrete dam, taken from the footbridge over the pond outlet, source for Buttermilk Creek.
Copyright 2020 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
more Jennings Pond III
Picnics on the berm
I described Jennings Pond to Pam and we returned together. Here is a photographic essay from that day, one of a series.
Copyright 2020 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
more Jennings Pond II
A gathering autumn glory
I described Jennings Pond to Pam and we returned together. Here is a photographic essay from that day, one of a series.
Copyright 2020 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 
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