Rebecca and Herb 5-18-13

Here are some of the photos I took at a lovely wedding for a lovely couple. It was an honor! Congratulations Herb and Rebecca!

Five Rivers Nature Center

Schenectady: Proctors - Arcade part 2

Schenectady: Inside Proctors - Arcade Part 1

Schenectady: Inside Proctors - Box office and Cafe

Schenectady: Inside Proctors - GE Theater

Bill Frueh

I try to post pictures with as few words as possible, after all, it's a photo blog. However, I need to expand on tonight's subject. There is a very special man I have been fortunately enough to be acquainted with for the last three years, his name is Bill Frueh. He is a married to one of my husband's co-workers, as well as a long time friends with my cousin. He lost his sight more than 30 years ago, but he doesn't let blindness stop him in the least. He's a musical reenactor who plays the drum and guitar. He's also a beautiful singer and he writes his own songs. He is a Civil War, Revolutionary War and a War of 1812 reenactor. In fact, he got married to his wife in a Civil War themed wedding, which I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at.

Bill is a true lover of music and life in general. He is a very funny, spirited character and his time is limited, he has cancer that is no longer treatable. Saturday they had a party in his honor that, unfortunately due to extenuating circumstances, I was unable to attend. So I'm taking this time out to pay tribute to him visually which is ironic because he can't see it, but it's my medium and it's the thought that counts.

I've had the honor of photographing him performing on a few occasions, a few of those times were at parties held in his honor in the last few years, as well as at his wedding. I also did some promo shots for him and his wife a few years back.

Bill is a wonderful man and he is known far and wide for his reenacting and music. He will be missed. His passing will leave not only a great hole in many lives, but a great hole in the world. I hope these photos do him justice.

Schenectady - Near Proctors

These were taken in front of and behind Proctors:

Near the intersection of Jay and State street

Right under the Proctors sign

The NY Lottery building behind Proctors

The NY Lottery building behind Proctors

The Broadway parking garage across from the NY Lottery
building and Proctors

Schenectady in Black and White

For the second post in the Schenectady series, here are a few of my black and white Schenectady shots:.

Schenectady (Jay Street)

In the past Schenectady has been the butt of jokes and has been the subject of great disdain. To be honest, when I was a kid and I'd be in town visiting family I'd be scared to death. Today, although I'm not sure if the crime rate has gone up or down since then, I see Schenectady as a nice city.

If you get into the State street downtown area near Proctors you'll see that It's gone through a great renaissance in the last few years. It also helps to know about the more beautiful parts. I had a lot of fun discovering those more beautiful parts of Schenectady the summer of 2012 while spending the day in Schenectady with my camera. These are the first in a series of Schenectady pictures I will be posting to this blog.

This is Jay Street:

A very sad night

One month ago today my husband and I started an incredible journey. We braved a snowstorm to be with my Stepdaughter and Stepson in law at a children's hospital more than three hours away. Due to the storm the drive took twice what it normally would have. We became Grandparents again that night on the trip there. The whole thing was an experience I'll never forget. There's something about love and sorrow being wrapped up all in one. The death of a loved one is something you never you want to experience but when you do experience it, can be incredible. This is a picture I took that night to remember the journey after I found out our Grandson had been born and then passed on. It's one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. RIP AMC.

 

 

Bus breakdown

When I first purchased my most recent camera I took a bus trip to see my family. The bus broke down. Being the photographer wanting to capture moments I felt it was a great opportunity to expand my photography skills. Here are two of those photos.

Vegetables

September 2009 

Untitled

This, by far, is my most popular picture. I'm very proud of it. It's actually a tree on the edge of a cliff and the tree is bent that way.

Spinning Around

Taken at a county fair summer of 2009

Outlet for Creativity

Sometimes you can find  beauty in the most unexpected places. I liked the symmetry but at the same time the slight difference in designs and how great it would look in a black and white photo.