Memorial Day

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Memorial Day

Paddle faster. I hear banjos.

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All eyes on the water

Every Memorial Day weekend our area hosts the worlds longest single day flat water canoe race in the world. A 70 mile paddle-your-butt-off sprint to the finish. The weather was perfect for it this weekend. I enjoyed it from a bank next the river. Basking in the sun. Enjoying the zero-humidity days we've been having. And adding to the sunburn that I had started on Saturday!

Cruisin'

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Cruising into Summer...

I spent the day at a car show on Saturday. It's been a while since I photographed cars. I really needed to remember how to do it. And, after I went through the photos from the day, I guess I STILL need to remember how to do it!

A little catching up was needed before the long weekend!

I'm still trudging along with the 365! I've just gotten a little behind posting the results. I thought it was a good idea to get them up here tonight since the long weekend is upon us and I will, inevitably, be behind once again!

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Pond side view

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Sent Spinning

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We had a rough day today...

Scenes from a park

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Seeing the forest through the trees

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Where is that pool boy, anyway?

Weekend catch up...

Had some issues with the 365 the last couple days... still holding on. Barely.

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Noisy... Much like the night

(yeah. I know. Crappy. But it was this or nothing. And nothing means the end of the 365!)

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Farm Life

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Tiny Bells

A bench. A river. A sunny day.

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... it is like climbing a steep path through woods and seeing a wooden bench

just at a bend in the road ahead, a place where you can expect to sit for a 

moment, catching your breath...

Feeling a little froggy...

I do love the local butterfly conservatory. So many little creatures to see... although you have to be very careful where you step. It's like a tropical paradise in the middle of winter. I support them because I feel this area needs something like that. Even if it's just in my own best interest! ;)

Some of my other favorites from the conservatory...

And this one might be my most favored photo. Not because of the photo. Not because of the subject, but more for the meaning behind. I took this photo for a friend. I've since lost that friend. I always think of her when I see it. And I always think of her when I'm at the conservatory and one flies by me. And if I'm lucky to have one land on me, we have a wonderful conversation...

It's all a matter of perspective...

And today's was from an ant's view...

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In the land of little people

Exposure

"Your images hold power. Every time you pick up the camera, you have an opportunity to make art, to ask questions, to share beauty, to expose truth."

•  Artists Wanted 
• Exposure: A photography Competition
• Deadline: Midnight May 31, 2010

Do you have what it takes? I doubt that any photo I enter here will have any chance against some of the amazing talent that's entering this competition. Will I enter anyway? Perhaps. 

If you're a member of JPG Magazine, you've heard about this already. If you haven't, here's your call... go forth and enter. What can it hurt?

How about a little bonus shot from the weekend, eh?

This train trestle has intrigued me for quite some time, although I have never made the journey to find a spot that I can shoot it... mainly because I'm always on a different mission when I'm in the area. This weekend, however, I went looking for it between carousel stops. I was glad I did.

Catching up once again...

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Rescued from the crazed lawn mower

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My Faithful Buddy

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Made you look...

Spin me 'round and 'round...

I do love a good carousel. Love to hear the music, see the lights, watch them twirl, and hear the children laugh. I, once again today, did another recon mission for some night photography later in the summer. I look forward to seeing these old carousels lit up once again.

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Childhood Memories

A little bit of the history of these old beauties here in the area...

George F. Johnson (1857-1948), a local shoe manufacturer and a great benefactor to the Binghamton area, donated six beautiful carousels to local parks within Broome County.

He felt that carousels contributed to a happy life and would help youngsters grow into strong and useful citizens. "George F" believed carousels should be enjoyed by everyone and insisted that money should never be charged for the "magic ride."

Now, in their 7th decade, these magnificent machines still spin from Memorial Day to Labor Day at no charge.

The carousels were all manufactured by Allan Herschell Companies of North Tonawanda, New York, in the "country fair" style. Calliope sounds of the original Wurlitzer Band Organs can still be heard in Recreation Park and Ross Park.

If you ride all of the carousels, you will be delighted by gorilla chariots, horses with hidden lions in the saddle blankets, a pig and even a dog. Every carousel in Broome County is a "jumper." Broome County has the only carousel collection of this kind in the world. Of the fewer than 170 antique carousels remaining in the United States and Canada, six are in Broome County. All six are now on the New York State Historic Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

A stroll through the woods...

I spent some time on Friday doing a little recon mission for some future infrared shots. Walked one of the local trails along the Susquehanna River. I may have found a spot or two to try out. Time will tell what the light looks like on a good day there. Needless to say my photos from Friday were from that walk.

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While strolling through the woods...

Under Construction...

You can always tell it's summer in NY because of all the road construction.... And along those lines, it's construction season here on the blog... there may be some intermittent down time while I redo some things... Not sure if there will be any major changes, but stay tuned. You never know what will change... minor or other wise... Have a nice weekend, all.

How about a little catching up?

The 365 seems to take a lot of my time and energy most nights. By the time I get home, get some stuff done, and get the photos processed, it seems to be time to head off to sleep. I've been trying to shoot some other things other than the 365. I just don't seem to have the time to share it. Here are a couple. I thought I better share them before Spring has sprung and they are no longer part of the whole seasonal thing...

Welcoming back an old friend...

A typical day for me... bring the camera, but not all the camera gear. Have a beautifully bright sunny day at 10 am, and have slightly overcast skies and less sun at 1 pm when I go to lunch. Want to do an infrared photo, but have to go home and get the rest of my gear. Get to where I'm going to do my first (really early) infrared shot of the season and not have enough light to even get the D700 to read a custom white balance. Sit on a bench for a good 10 minutes trying to remember how to work my D70 so I can actually DO an infrared photo. Feeling like it was an hour of my life that I won't ever get back.

That said, shooting an infrared with the D70 is like welcoming back an old friend, after I actually dug deep enough into my memory for some sort of reference how to use it. I realize that using the D700 to do an infrared is going to require perfect weather conditions. I know it can be done. I've seen the results. Even with all the conditions being perfect for an infrared photo, the D700 won't do as good of a job as the D70. It's just a matter of the sensitivity to infrared light. But, being the person that I am, I won't be happy until I get a somewhat good infrared shot out of the D700... it may take me all season, but I'll come away with one. Eventually.

And when I do... I want a great freakin' prize. 'Nuff said.

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Welcoming back an old friend...

Bonus from today:

Some of my favorite infrared shots from days gone by...