Sky Lodge

Allison and I went to go meet Tom and Julie, our friends who own this magnificent lodge in the Finger Lakes area. These pictures don't even come close to doing it justice. Tom restored the Sky Lodge over a two year period. It was dilapidated when he started. I tried experimenting with some high dynamic range photography. Here are the results.

This is one of the regular exposures of the Sky Lodge exterior at dusk.

This is the high dynamic range version of that same shot, combining the exposures from a nine step bracket series in one-stop increments. Notice there is more definition in the highlight areas as well as the shadows. I also corrected the perspective so that the tower isn't leaning in as much.

This is the normally exposed shot of the master bedroom. Note that the windows are totally overexposed as are the lampshades.

Here again, we have more definition in the highlights in the HDR version.

Non HDR version of the second bedroom.

HDR version.

Here's where HDR comes in very handy. This scene is must too contrasty. There is no way film or digital can capture such a high contrast range.

Here is the HDR version of that same shot.

This shot didn't require any manipulation or processing whatsoever. I got lucky!

Normally exposed version.

HDR version.

Normal exposure

HDR version.

Dining Room regular exposure.

Dining Room HDR.

Great Room HDR

Room HDR taken to the extreme

 

Miscellaneous photos

Spectacular Lightning Display over Lake Ontario‏ Incredible storm that passed by in August 2011
Todd Clemens jetskiing on Lake Ontario From riding in epic storms to getting big air, this cat can fly!
Highlights from my best fishing season ever 2011 was a banner year for bass and pike in Lake Ontario
Sunrises and Sunsets over Lake Ontario Miscellaneous collection of shots, summer 2011
Aerial shots of Lake Ontario Shoreline Photos by Neil Montanus Fall, 2009
Neil Montanus career retrospective Highlights from the epic photographic career of Neil Montanus
Yosemite National Park photos Collection of Neil's best photos from his years in Yosemite
Backroads of Pennsylvania Collection of my adventure riding photos 2004 to present
Fireworks along Lake Ontario 4th of July, 2010, 2009 and 2008
Sky Lodge A magnificent Lodge nestled in the hills surrounding the Finger Lakes
My new Acura TL She poses in front of various landmarks around Rochester
Bruce Peninsula, Ontario Canada The pure, pristine waters of the Georgian Bay
Underwater Photos in 1000 Islands Taken with Jacques Cousteau's original camera! August '06
Thousand Islands 2008 Scuba diving, fishing and boating with Allison
Riding through the PA Grand Canyon Allison gets on the back of my dirtbike for an incredible adventure
Videos and photos from Siesta Key Florida, '09 The pure, pristine quartz sands of the finest beach in the world
Rochester in Bloom The amazing flowering Magnolia Trees along Oxford Street in Roch.
Old Vintage Photos of the Neighborhood Bell bottoms were in, and fun was the order of the day...
Cedar Run Inn, PA Quaint B&B nestled in the Pennsylvania mountains
Blue Angels Photographed at the Rochester International Air show
Rainbow River in Ocala, Florida The clearest, most pristine river in the US, with 150 visibility!
Seven Wonders of Orleans County The Great Shoe Tree, the Culvert - still a work in progress
Jet-skiing on Long Pond 1-1-07 Tod Clemens goes Jet-skiing on New Year's Day, 2007
Christmas with the kids Christmas, 2008
Toronto  April 12-15, 2007 For Allison's Birthday
Horse Carriage Ride Ride through the PA Grand Canyon with the kids
 

James Montanus' Motorcycle Adventures
"Sometimes it's a little better to travel than to arrive."
~ Robert M. Pirsig - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
 
Contact me

Suzuki DL1000 'V-Strom' Rides (God rides a V-Strom - check it out!)
Ride to the BuckTail Trail in Pennsylvania 660 mile ride through the mountains of PA in August of '06
Ride along the Oatka Trail, Genesee Valley I tried to follow the Oatka Creek to it's source and discovered some beautiful places along the way.
Wolcott to Olcott (and Oswego too!) Nice ride along Lake Ontario shoreline with Tony Orr
'05 Fall Foliage tour of White Mountains Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Mt. Washington, more...
First Ride on the new V-Strom! 435 mile ride through Finger Lakes area, Lake Ontario shoreline
Labor Day ride through PA Mountains PA Grand Canyon, Bucktail Trail, Lock Haven, etc.
Nice ride with Bob M. through the Finger Lakes Two bikes. Seven Finger Lakes. Eight hours. 253 miles.
Ride to the eco-disaster site, Love Canal Being interested in the history of Love Canal, I ventured out to see what was there today. The results were interesting.
Dual Sport Rides - Honda XR650R
Dual sport ride with Tommy Barlow Nice 130 mile ride through the PA Mountains for some late foliage
Best of PA Grand Canyon ride photos Collection of adventure riding photos since 2004
Awesome PA Grand Canyon Ride Dual Sport ride in and around the Pine Creek Gorge (Fall 2006)
 Yet another PA Grand Canyon Ride This is really getting to be a habit (Fall 2007)
Pennsylvania Grand Canyon Adventure Dual sport motorcycle ride, 9-24-04
Pennsylvania Grand Canyon Adventure Another dual sport ride, 10-7-04
Pennsylvania Grand Canyon Adventure My very first PA Grand Canyon ride courtesy of Dave Kessler
Hancock, NY AMA National Dual Sport Ride Sweet (but gruelling) dual sport ride through Catskill Mountains
Southern Tier Enduro Riders Trail ride Organized dual-sport ride in Jasper, N.Y.
Ride to Majestic Trails, Kinzua Bridge Dual sport ride to Majestic Trails to the Historic Kinzua Bridge
Vermont/Mass.Fall Foliage Tour Dual sport ride through Berkshire and Green Mountains
Revisiting the MX Glory Days at Zoar Dave Box returns to the site of the original Zoar Valley Motopark.
Zoar Valley Tour Fast paced tour of Zoar Valley and Cattaraugus County 10-31-04
  Bruce Peninsula Motorcycle Tour Dual Sport ride on Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
Nooby rides through the Finger Lakes in '07 Vine Valley, Italy Valley, Prattsburg, Naples, Springwater, etc.
Nooby does another Dual Sport Ride! Watkins Glen, FLNF, Connecticut Hill, etc.
Finger Lakes National Forest Exploration of the FLNF - dual sport ride
Rattlesnake Hill to Angelica on 6-12-04 (dual sport exploration ride)
Another Fantastic Naples to Hammondsport Ride on 6-6-04 (dual sport ride)
Beautiful, scenic Southern Tier Ride On 5-29-04, Naples, Springwater, Cohocton, Vine Valley.
Klipnocky?? What the hell is that? Southern Tier dual sport ride
Tour De Finger Lakes A 190 mile dual sport ride (GPS map only-not pictures)
Finger Lakes National Forest Exploration of the FLNF - dual sport ride
Tug Hill ride Dual Sport ride on 6-20-03 from Osceola to Timber View
California Rides
My Epic California motorcycle adventure Road ride on a Honda VFR 800, summer of 2002, through Norcal
The second California Adventure from 2002 With Todd Fess - road ride, Honda VFR 800's along PCH
Riding a Harley on the Pacific Coast Highway Riding a rented Fat Boy, San Francisco, October, 1999
Fun Stuff, etc.
Four Wheeling through the California Desert In a rented Ford Explorer - Death Valley, Mt.Whitney, etc.
Sophisticated Red-Necks ride Highly cultured Red Necks on dirt bikes, Naples, Kueka Lake, etc.
The WHEELIE Files Wheelie pictures of me at Braddocks Bay State Park
'Where's Timmy 2001' A Tug Hill Odyssey (dual sport ride)