View 99: November Pumpkins

Pumpkins sitting in a field in November near Baldwinsville, New York.

Not all pumpkins end up as Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns.  Some are left in the fields to rot and be plowed under like the ones pictured above and below.  I didn’t expect to show you these on such a clear and sunny morning.  November is normally the cloudiest month of the year in upstate New York.  So, this is an atypical look at November for my assignment on November.  However, November does mean the end of the harvest and decay of what’s left behind and these photos definitely reflect that.

Rotting pumpkins left in a field near Baldwinsville, New York in November.

I used my new filter to take these photos.  The Tiffen 77mm Color Graduated Neutral Density 0.6 filter worked to perfection to cut down the bright sky by 2 stops and helped to balance out the exposure.  This allowed me to expose for the pumpkins without blowing out the sky.  The filter worked very well with the Tokina 11-16mm ultra wide angle lens.

View 98: We are the Champions!

Celebrating 100 years of Baldwinsville High School football, the B’ville Bees varsity football team ran over the Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) by a score of 30-12 in the Carrier Dome on the Syracuse University campus to claim the New York State Section III Football Championship.

B'ville (Baldwinsville) Bees Football team celebrates the New York State Section III Championship in the Carrier Dome.

Running behind a dominating offensive line, Malik Burks (1) ran for 243 yards on 43 rushing attempts and scored 3 touchdowns.  The Bees defense shut down the CBA passing attack in the second half who lead at halftime 12-8.  As an alum of Baldwinsville, I was proud of the team and how they came from behind to win.

Click Here for More Photos from the Baldwinsville vs. CBA NYS Section III Championship Game.

Malik Burks (1) is interviewed by local television after being named Most Valuable Player for Baldwinsville. Baldwinsville defeated CBA to claim the New York State Section III High School Football Championship.

Since this game ended, I have found out the Syracuse University Football program is NOT interested in Malik Burks.  Malik is a senior and is being actively recruited by three other Big East football schools.  This astounded me.  The current SU Football coach is on record as saying he would do his best to recruit the most talented New York high school players.  Yet, here’s the number 3 running back in high school football in the entire nation right in SU’s backyard and they are not interested?  If I was the SU coach, I would not only recruit Malik Burks, I would offer to take the number 44 out of retirement to do so.

View 92: Autumn

A red Sugar Maple leaf on the Bog trail of Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville, New York.

Now that the Autumnal Equinox has passed, I went out looking for signs of autumn at the Beaver Lake Nature Center near my hometown of Baldwinsville, New York. I headed to the Bog Trail because I knew I’d find the first signs there as trees and shrubs on a bog are very stressed. Stressed because the bog environment is very acidic as nature proceeds to transform the stagnate wetland to terra firma using Sphagnum mosses as her main architect.

Another sign of autumn is the flocks of migrating Canadian Geese using Beaver Lake as a stop off on their way to points south for the winter months.

Canadian Geese flying over Beaver Lake near Baldwinsville, New York.

View 82: Syracuse Photographers Association Meetup Group

Just about a year ago, I found a meetup group for photographers in the Syracuse area. As much fun as I have in finding my own photo events, the Syracuse Photographers Association sets up meetups where a single photographer might not get access to. Another reason for joining was to share ideas and to learn from other photography enthusiasts. The group consists of amateurs and professionals. I’m still learning about everyone and the Internet site helps to keep up with everyone’s photographic exploits.

Last week, the group came out to my home town. After some shooting, the group settled in at the Mohegan Manor for some chit chat, beverages and photography discussions.

Members of the Syracuse Photographers Association check out a member's portfolio at the Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville, New York.

Later we all headed across town to check out the Erie Canal Lock 24 area while we waited for the sunset.

Heading for a sunset, members of the Syracuse Photographers Association walk towards the Seneca River.

View 80: 4th of July Concert

The band, Sharp Dressed Penguins, entertain the lawn chaired audience on Paper Mill Island in Baldwinsville, New York.

Small town America celebrated the 4th of July last Saturday. Within an hours drive of my home I could have been at any type of concert from a full orchestra to rock and roll bands. Instead, I decided to head to my town’s amphitheater and enjoy the sounds of the Sharp Dressed Penguins on Paper Mill Island. The night was cool for July but that did not deter the many who turned out to hear the music and to watch FIREWORKS!

A patriotic firework burst over Paper Mill Island in Baldwinsville, New York, in celebration of the July 4th holiday.

View 79: River Sunset

Sunset over the Seneca River in Baldwinsville, New York on Friday, June 26, 2009.

Luminary

I do not know Terri Silsby. When attending the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Baldwinsville last week, the hundreds of luminaries surrounding the track at the Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium on the campus of C. W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, New York was a sight to behold. Each luminary was decorated in honor of survivors and those who have lost their lives to one of the terrible diseases under the blanket name of ‘cancer’. As I was looking for a way to capture them and, though many had very lovely designs and tributes, I was looking for a simple one which showed the love I could feel as people would stop at the luminaries to read, photograph and comp-template them. When I came across Terri Silsby’s, I knew I had found it. Simple and loving. As I said, I don’t know her but I know she has courage in facing the battle against her cancer. I know she has a positive attitude and does everything she can to become well again. She has a loving family behind her to support her through the roller-coaster cancer puts its victims through. Terri Silsby has hope. Hope that one day she will be cancer free.

I know this because cancer has invaded my family over the last year. I have seen such courage, positive attitude, loving support and hope in my Aunt who died of pancreatic cancer in the spring of 2008. Late in 2008, my Nephew was diagnosed with stomach cancer and died from surgery in January of this year. We lost our beloved cat in the fall of 2008 to cancer.

These loses were hard on my family and myself. Then the news came one year ago this Sunday that my sister had brain cancer. She has since endured three surgeries, radiation therapy, oral chemotherapy and, recently, intravenous chemotherapy. Throughout all this, my sister’s health has had set backs and successes. It is hard to watch as the cancer and the treatments to halt its spread take away her freedoms and proud independence. She now has to rely more and more on others for help to live day to day. Every week brings new challenges, doctor appointments and the occasional hospital stay. No one knows how long my sister will be with us but her courage, attitude, family support and hope continues to amaze me, just as Terri Silsby does for those who love her.

Family Luminaries lighted in tribute.

View 78: Hope

Luminaries spell out "Hope" on the bleachers of the Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium as the walkers stop for the luminaria service which celebrates cancer survivors during the Baldwinsville, New York, Relay for Life Cancer fund raiser on Friday, June 19, 2009.

I attended this year’s American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Baldwinsville at the high school sports stadium last Friday evening. The highlight of the evening is the Luminaria Service or candlelight vigil held at nightfall to honor cancer survivors and to remember those lost to cancer. The luminaria candles line the track and are left burning throughout the night as a reminder to participants the importance of their involvement in the Relay for Life event.

Volunteers help light the luminaries as darkness falls over the Baldwinsville, New York, Relay for Life Cancer fund raiser at the Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium on Friday, June 19, 2009.

A festive atmosphere always develops around the track area as teams of ten to fifteen people make new friends and spend time with old ones while raising awareness and money to support cancer research, education, advocacy and local patient services. The walk goes all night long with bands playing for entertainment and other fun events.

Lighted luminaries line the inside of the Pelcher-Arcaro Staduim at the Baldwinsville, New York, Relay for Life Cancer fund raiser held on Friday, June 19, 2009.

Besides the teams raising money. Each luminary placed on the track represents a small donation to the American Cancer Society.

People on Parade

I ask you, is there anything more American than a small town parade?

Hey, look! I'm in a parade!

Red, white and blue all over and kids finding a way to last a long parade route.

Red, white and blue wagon.

American built push carts powered by Cub Scouts.

High fuel costs? No problem!

There’s one in every parade.

Too cute not to photograph.

View 75: Memorial Day

Honoring those who gave their life for our freedom by placing a wreath at the Veteran’s Monument before the start of the Baldwinsville (New York) Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 30, 2009.

The Village of Baldwinsville for years have hosted their Memorial Day Parade on the traditional date of May 30th.  It makes for a great parade as other towns and cities nearby have theirs on the official Monday holiday.  One of the traditions is the placing of a wreath on the Veteran’s Monument in front of the US Post Office at the head of the parade route.  Other traditions both past and present were detailed in a recent article.  Click here to read it.  For more photos of the Memorial Day Parade, see my flickr photostream (links to the left).