Still Falling

I now know how a dog feels in hip deep snow.

Longing for the Spring

with the temperarutes at -20 last night I was easy to find right here at home. Sorting files I came across one that reminds me of better weather. driving the back roads one day I came across this run down farm and was stuck by the beauty of it. The owner came out seeing me parked along the road and wanted to know what I was doing. I could see he was in no mood to tolerate any BS from outsiders.

we got to talking and he had told me of these photographers that just walked out on to his farm taking pictures , so he decided to go out and confront them . they told him they was just hobbyist and that they didnt mean him any harm . later , from a friend , he heard that the photos of his farm were for sale in a few places in New York City . I could see he was hurt by the incident and was very distrustful of people stopping by.

After talking for about 45 minutes , me being the moron that I am at times , I asked if it was alright to take a few photos. it was touch and go for a few minutes but finally he give me permission as long as I promised that I wouldn't tell anyone where the farm was.  It's a promise I kept and plan to keep till my dying day. I gave him my e-mail address and wrote down my website at the time so he could see the photos , told him that he could have what ever he wanted. I never heard from him and maybe the next time I'm in the area I will give him a few framed photos for his home.

I'm only going to place this one photo because I'm afraid that from the others someone may find the location.my advice is for anyone coming along this farm , or anyone's home for that matter , is that they ask first before running out loaded with gear. the life you save maybe your own.

under the weight of it all.

I carry my equipment every where I go. but due to prior commitments , work , the terrible weather and other projects they haven't seen much action lately. for example , I have been trying to get down to the jersey shore for the last 3 months but everytime I get the chance the weather is just not working for me or something else comes up.

I have two major projects I want to have completed by the end of 2012 and one other MAJOR project to complete before I start my new life in 2014 ( more about that as time gets near. ) . So today I decided to take on the huge task of sorting and organizing my photo files. I have a 500 GB portable HD along with about 250 DVD's sitting on the right hand side of my desk filled with raw and psd files that I figure will take me close to 6 months to complete , if I'm lucky. what the hell have I been thinking?!?!?

Any ways even when I'm not able to jump into the car and take off I still like to take pictures of the skies . so I would like to share a couple of those.

14mm

now that im finally catching up on my projects and other things , I had time to break this out from under the tree and see what it can do.

while I'll admit this is a terrible photo , i'm real excited about the possibilities of this lens . I can't wait to get up into the lakes and mountains to see what this thing is capable of .I got a feeling this metal and glass will be sitting on my camera for a long time.

party within the party

this new year’s party starts as expected , with the greetings , the hugs and kisses , the small chit chat as you move from room to room until eventually like some magnetic pull , a small circle of friends ( A circle that seems to get smaller with each passing year. ) gathers to form their own little party within the party.


As I sit down there’s Charlie , my oldest and dearest friend . we started first grade together, told me my first dirty joke and has had me in stitches ever since. still , like a bigger brother , watching over me , keeping me from harm’s way. then there is Sandra , who on the first day of freshman science class , walked in , sat next to me , looked into my eyes and stole my heart. one of these days I have to ask for it back. even after all the years and changes , she is still every bit as beautiful as the first time I set eyes on her. Nicky and Joey are arguing over a basketball game we played so many years ago, if I remember correctly we lost that game by 40 something points , for the life of me I can’t understand why they choose to care . they are our memory , if you want to know who did what to whom , they remember, even if you don’t want to. last but never least is Debbie , who is the most wonderful storyteller. She could have convinced Custer that things really aren’t that bad. she is the one that is always there when some one needs a shoulder or a helping hand and is probably the one most responsible for keeping us together all these years.


it’s a wonderful night of storytelling , talking about all the crazy , goofy things we have done together , and of course some of these stories get better with each year. we laugh and kid each other about our accomplishments and mistakes .the people we know and what happen to them . the talk turns to the children and schools , upcoming vacations and our plans for the new year. midway , I sit back , relax and just listen, trying to absorb as much of the stories and laughter as I can because I know time is drifting by and before long the night will pass . with all my traveling I don’t get to see them as much as I would like , so my memories of tonight will keep me company when i’m on the road and lonely.


having to get up soon for work, i’m the first to wish everyone a wonderful night , and for the second time so early this year we all kiss and hug and carry on so , to outside observers we must look like a bunch of wackadoos but I wouldn’t have it any other way. as i’m leaving and saying goodbye to those still here I look back one last time and wave before I’m out the door. driving home I think about this night and how lucky and happy i’am to have such wonderful friends. it gives me a sense of well being , a comfort zone , a cushion against the hard times we all have here and there. when I wake up later and head out alone on my own wacky trail I will do so with these beautiful people on my mind.


  Happy New Year’s everyone ! 


 “ Some names have been changed to protect the guilty. “

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