lost and found

having learned at an early age , that life is about that lost , I find myself looking back on the past 12 months and those friends of yesteryears that are with us no more. they will be missed and I will think of them often. Of all the people I have met this past year in my travels and everyday life, a few have been so special ,whether we shared a laugh, a hug and even a tear or two, that they have helped fill the void of those left behind. their kindness will forever be appreciated.


I've found that if one is willing to keep their heart's and mind open we’re able to move on and grow no matter what one encounters from day to day. for 2011, along with the usual 25,000 miles I spend driving around New York and the northeast, I will be visiting at least two places I’ve never been, attending workshops with two artists that I have admired for years, and who knows, maybe even take a photo or two.


Looking forward to the new year with it’s highs and lows and the people and places I meet along the way.


welcoming the light of the new year.

traveling art show

One of the things I really love about my job is the graffiti art that rolls by my office window all day and night. It's like a continual art show. there are usually thousands of rail cars in the yard and sometimes my phone rings all day with friends letting me know where there is something special .


one of these days I'm going to have to put together a collection of all the photos I've taken in the yard .

                                                        http://www.at149st.com/


being the knucklehead  , I forgot to grab my camera on the way out the door today but did get this with my cellphone.

Chittenango Falls

Of all the thousands of waterfalls in the state of new york this is my favorite and come here when ever I have the time. It's a beautiful place to spend the day with your family and friends. the falls is just a short and STEEP walk from the parking lot , at about 170 ft high.

you will find the bottom of the falls fenced off to keep people from walking in the water and on the rocks. It is home to the , " chittenango ovate amber snail" the only place on the planet that this snail is found. but don't let that keep you from toting your camera. with a wide angle and telephoto you can spend the whole day shooting beautiful photos.

early in the day or later at night there is a good chance you will find yourself alone to enjoy the serenity of this beautiful location .sit back , close your eyes and let your mind free itself of all the world's tensions.

this is a photo at the top area of the falls.

the flock

destructive brillance

it amazes me that something so beautiful is so destructive.the countless millions of all life forms that perished because of it.

my alternative energy

Just another day at the office

                       different subjects , same principle.

Don't try this at home little one's

the first shot is an early morning drive though the woods with one hand on the wheel and the other with a camera. I won't try that again!

autumn pit stop

took this shot , packed my gear , sat and enjoyed the view.

Again

this is the second post today.things will slow down when I get back to work wednesday. miss my buddies kenny lenny pete and all the other knuckleheads I work with.enjoy.

Rising Autumn Fog

got up at 5am the other day and took a ride , this was my birthday gift from mother nature. thank you.

leaf's life cycle

Autumn

Balloons over the Adirondacks

I got up at 3 am this morning to drive up to glens falls ny at the southeastern base of the adirondacks. I left at 4 am , worrying that it would be difficult finding my way around in the dark, those fears were washed away when I got about a mile away from the airport. it was bumper to bumper traffic and there was already thousands of people there. I give credit to the county sheriffs and airport crew for doing a wonderful job handing the traffic and parking , they had everyone up and running wild in no time. this is the oldest and biggest air balloon festival on the east coast and next year I will be ready for the show.

tree bark

Autumn : gift from God

as a child , autumn was always a wonderful , colorful , mystical , magical time for me. I loved the falling leaves , the excitement of change and the rainy misty mornings walking to school.

I still see this season through the eyes of a child, if I couldn't be out jumping in mountains of leaves I'd sit looking out the window all day wishing I was.

wishing everyone a life filled with autumn color.

Finger Lakes

the top two photos are of chittenango falls in central ny and the lower two are of havana glen falls in the finger lake area.

Jimmy the Creek

Jimmy Creek feeding into the West Branch of the Sacandaga River.

being a kid again

every once in a while , later in life , we are blessed with the ability to reach back in time , to feel , to smell and to experience the joys of our youth.even if it's for only a moment.

enjoy , embrace and most of all remember.

it was only a moment ago.

Scouting the Sacandaga

Today was spent scouting two of the 3 branches of the Sacandaga river. The Sacandaga and the East branch. This is an area I will probably spend the next month working.

Along with the wildflowers pushing up on the highways and byways there are plenty of waterfalls , ponds , lakes and backroad drives to keep anyone busy for a long time.

Above is a photo of the East branch of the Sacandaga at the old long gone town of Griffin NY on route 8.

Happy trails !

Perch Pond

When all the fishermen and women left I went back and relaxed till the light was no more.

Stupefies the Mind

We have met the enemy , and they be us!

My Backyard

Photography , mostly while on vacation is my escape from all the noise generated in my day to day life. Since I hate to fly , driving has been my choice of transport on these escapes.As I get older the 10,15,20 hours on the road gets to be more like work then vacation. It finally dawned on me that one of the most beautiful places in America is right in my backyard.The Adirondacks.

For the last few months I have been driving around and getting lost while scouting and hiking the lower to mid eastern area of the Adirondacks and would like to share my steps and hopefully at least one photo for each hike with whomever happens along this blog. Maybe you will even find a hike for your escape from the buzz.

My drive yesterday covered the Adirondack road along the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness for a hike to Spectacle pond. Then to route 2 also known as Boreas river road , ending the trip up route 25 to Henderson Lake. The hike to Spectacle pond is about 1.3 miles with streams , small waterfalls and open wilderness areas with pretty views of the Pharaoh mountains.Once you get to the pond there is plenty of places to walk and see the great views of the pond and mountain wilderness.It is an uphill but easy hike to the pond and one could enjoy a full day here.I don't know if it is to early in the season or to late but was surprised that I didn't see any wildflowers along the trail.

My drive along route 2 was spent trying to find the road to Cheney Pond , which I didn't notice until the ride back home.O well there is always next week. About a mile or 2 heading west on the road there is a parking area on the left for the Blue Ridge Falls that is a must stop sight. You will be able to see the top of the falls from the parking area but with a quick little walk the beauty of these falls are laid out in full view. It was then onto route 25 , a right hand turn off route 2 . At the end of this road on the left is the parking area for Henderson lake , from there it is a short .6 mile hike.As soon as you cross the bridge over the Hudson river take a left and within a couple of hundred feet is a beautiful view of the lake and surrounding mountains.Bring a kayak and lunch for a pleasant day of relaxation.

Sunrise and sunset would seem to be great times to photograph Henderson or Spectacle pond.My trip during the day was bright and sunny so I didn't take many photos , above is a boat sitting at Specacle Pond and one of the abandoned homes just before Henderson Lake .Be careful , these collapsed houses are dangerous . Also bring plenty of water and bug spray!!!