Buoy: the beauty of scars, weather and worth

In spite of the beautiful night lights at Schoen Place in Pittsford, this is the image that speaks to me most.
As I chatted dockside just before sunset with a couple chilling on their houseboat, this bumper caught my eye. Hanging off the starboard stern side It clearly bears the scars of exciting adventures, sunny days, stormy waters and challenging locks on the Erie Canal. It has protected the couple's lovely cruiser from disaster on many occasions, they said.
This buoy wears its worth. And having seen my own share of rough waters, I think it's easily the most beautiful part of their journey.
Safe travels, friends.

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Apps and Artistry: How cell phone photography might actually be ‘legit’

Is the best camera really the one you have with you? Photographer Chase Jarvis thought so, and in 2009 wrote a whole book by that title featuring smartphone images. I tend to agree, especially when a once-in-a-lifetime moment pops up and the one thing I have in hand is an iPhone and a split-second window of opportunity. One of my most treasured images from the last decade is a discreet closeup of my mom cradling my dad’s hand as he lay dying. Captured spontaneously and non-intrusively with my cell phone from across the hospital room, it shows the depth and richness of their 75-year love story. Thankfully, the moment is ours forever because my phone was in my hand and I responded in a way that was respectful to and honoring of everyone. The same truth holds in more everyday settings, where “smaller can be better” for the amateur or semi-pro image maker. Venues are more welcoming and subjects more relaxed when a photographer is wielding a cell phone instead of a large camera. In sen...

Saratoga Racetrack

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Perspective

In this composite using my macro rose with a friend's drone photo, I combined his expansive perspective with my intimate point of view. It's a great analogy for how I like to create — examine all sides of a subject before shooting, writing or forming an opinion about it. Both views are essential, and it's often of great benefit to view them at the same time.

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