Posted by: David Giacalone | July 2, 2010

fireworks 2010 – jumpin’ & shakin’

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– the quiet before the show (L) & my first (shaky) shot of the night –

[As usual, click on a photo to enlarge it.]

Tonight, thousands of people again enjoyed the annual tradition of Jumpin’ Jack’s Fireworks in honor of Independence Day.  Because the show from Collins Park in Scotia, is put on right across the Mohawk River from the Schenectady Stockade,I got to continue my tradition of watching the Jumpin’ Jack’s fireworks from my backyard.

reflections

From the very first photo of the night, I understood why wise photographers (especially those over 60) own (and use) tripods.  Despite so-called Image Stabilization technology, my hands were not steady enough to consistently get sharp shots with the slow camera speed needed for fireworks.

But, I didn’t despair, because I remembered my first fireworks photography experience a year ago — when I discovered that shaky hands can produce some very pretty pictures, and that a shake-free photo shows up occasionally, if you snap quite a few.

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Here are a few examples, for instance, where I was trying hard to capture the fireworks in the sky and reflected on the surface of the Mohawk River:

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A few other bursts and blooms of fireworks also produced interesting results:

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Shortly after the fireworks display ended, I looked to the west and saw another colorful scene over and on the Mohawk that rivaled the fireworks celebration:

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– look familiar? it’s the Great Western Gateway Bridge on NY Rt. 5 between Schenectady and Scotia, “enhanced” by my wobbly photographic technique –

Next year, I just might take a break from shooting fireworks photos.  It’s hard to enjoy the show while looking through a camera lens and waiting for the camera to be ready for the next shot.   Or, maybe I’ll invest in a tripod.

. . . click to see our coverage of the 2011 Jumpin’ Jack’s fireworks . .

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Posted in Fireworks (JJ & Casino), river seasons, Stockade Views

Posted by: David Giacalone | July 2, 2010

a moving message from our Public Library

Warning: No pretty pictures in this posting.  Instead, you’ll find one of the proprietor’s pet peeves.

About two years ago, I tried but was unable to read the above sign, which was posted on the northside entry door of the central branch of the Schenectady County Public Library.  I eventually learned that the sign was a Notification of Asbestos Removal Project — meant to allow staff and patrons to protect themselves from the higher concentrations of airborne asbestos that can result from the removal process, by letting them know the dates and location of the removal activity. The experience resulted in my posting the piece “automatic doors make terrible bulletin boards” (September 23, 2008) at my weblog f/k/a.  As I explained at the time:

[T]he Notice moves to the left as soon as one approaches it.  That’s because it’s attached to an automatic door that slides open when you get near it, and then slides back rather quickly once you pass through.

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Posted in visits elsewhere

Posted by: David Giacalone | June 26, 2010

not a garden in sight

From a “cupcake stand” double-decker bus to a Buddha head under a tree, I saw everything but a garden today, as I strolled desultorily around our Stockade neighborhood.  Judging from the number of visitors walking about our little Historic District Friday afternoon and today, the Secret Garden Tour 2010 looked like a success.  Congratulations to all who worked to make it all come together.

– a window peek at the counter of Bettie’s Cupcake Stand bus –

Don’t forget you can click on a photo for a larger version and scroll over it for a description.

I might not have taken out my camera on this mostly-gray Saturday, but the sight of the now famous pink Bettie’s double-decker Cupcake Stand, in the 1st Reform Church parking lot at No. Church and Fronts Streets, was too much to resist:

– although its pink hues were subdued on a cloudy day, Bettie’s Cupcake Stand was still a standout –

. . .  Bettie’s Cakes has a cupcakery Cafe in Saratoga Springs (map) and a mobile “Cupcake Stand” double-decker bus headquartered on Delaware Ave. in Delmar (map).

The wedding-like white swags adorning Lawrence’s Circle were also worth a special trip down the block to memorialize the scene with my Canon PowerShot.  According to the Secret Garden Tour 2010 website, the Anthology Design Studio was its official floral designer and transformed Lawrence into the “floral centerpiece of this biennial event.”

– Do you think our Native American icon was consulted about his make-over? –

At the other end of the block from Lawrence, at North Church St., I thought I’d check out the view from behind that easel . . . :

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. . . before heading up Governor’s Lane to see a few antiques vendors and other distractions in Riverside Park.

At the foot of the ancient and giant Riverside Park tree just west of the Pump Station (one of my favorite plants on the planet), I found the sculpted head of Siddhartha Gautam, the Buddha.  Siddhartha (and, no that is not his Market at Lawrence’s Circle) was patiently waiting for the return of his new owner, who needs no introduction to we Stockade residents:

– Lyn Gordon with a Buddha smile –

Antiques vendor John Desmond brought a variety of wares from his home in Central Bridge.  Besides Buddha, for example, he was peddling:

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– movie posters, Micky Mouse, glassware and assorted tasteful chachkas –

Before heading back home, I had to take quite a few shots to get a good one of the surprisingly quick pirate ship Valkyrie as it buzzed the Riverside Park and fled along the Mohawk:

It probably wasn’t pirates, but some miscreants have apparently purloined a large white signboard, with yellow sides, that was advertising the Secret Garden Tour.  It was last seen at Church and Union Sts.  If you see the signboar, please let Carol DeLaMater know at cdelam6533@aol.com .

With cheerier news, Carol wrote to the Stockade Yahoo! email list that:

“The tour itself was a great success with lots of visitors enjoying the streets and garden and river views.  thanks to al neighbors who helped out or brightened up their stoeps with flowers or helped visitors find their way around.”

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Posted in Stockade Views

Posted by: David Giacalone | June 22, 2010

goosed into watching the solstice sunset

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– a lovely sunset and a family of geese got me out with my camera to the Riverside Park esplanade along the Mohawk River –

–  click on a photo for a larger version, scroll on it for a description –

Although I did not expect the sunset on the first day of summer 2010 to match last year’s “stunning solstice sunset,” the light breeze and temperate temperatures yesterday evening lured me out to witness this summer’s solstice sunset, on the longest day of the year. The modestly lovely sunset easily made my stroll worth the effort — and a small flock of geese floating off the Esplanade prolonged my stay in Riverside Park.

As you can see in the shot below, the geese were ignoring the sunset when I first spied them yesterday evening:

They could not, however, ignore another harbinger of summer: a motor boat pulling a skier:

Unlike the flock that was spooked into flight last week by a jetski (see our post for pictures), these geese held their “ground.”  They were rewarded for their valor, when the boat’s wake turned them around toward the view west and the sunset:

On my way back home, I took a few more photos, including a couple including the flatbottom boat that is often anchored at the eastern end of the Isle of the Cayugas.

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When I walked the block back from Riverside Park to Cucumber Alley and checked out the tailend of the sunset from my backyard, I couldn’t get any good angles for shooting pictures.

So, I hoped to find Bob and Sylvie Briber perched on their balcony at the rear of 1 Cucumber Alley.  They were apparently back home on Washington Avenue, so I sneaked up the spiral staircase to show you the view you’d be having while sipping ice tea and enjoying some of Sylvie’s great cookies from the table on their riverview balcony:

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It was a rather nice solstice sunset along the Mohawk yesterday, but I confess to be jaded by the memory of the sunset on June 21, 2009.  Here’s a view eastward that evening from Riverside Park near the esplanade:

See many more shots of the 2009 solstice sunset by clicking here.

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Posted in Mohawk sunrise or sunsets

Posted by: David Giacalone | June 19, 2010

another successful Golf Ball Drop for FCSS

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–  two buckets-full of golf balls dropping from a helicopter (flown by Bruce Mowery of North Country Heli-flite) toward the special Event pin at Stadium Golf Club in Schenectady NY —

[Note: As always, you can click on a photo for a larger version and scroll over it for a description.]

Yesterday afternoon, the staff of Family & Child Service of Schenectady headed a few miles uptown from their Stockade headquarters to the Stadium Golf Club, for their 5th Annual Golf Ball Drop fundraiser.  A record number of numbered golf balls — nearly all of the 1000 available for “purchase” — had been sold for $10 each and were in buckets ready to be dropped from a helicopter. [Click for our coverage of the 2009 event and the 2011 Golf Ball Drop.]

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– County Legislator Angelo Santabarbara, FCSS Deputy Executive Director Becky Alling, and Bd. Member Jim Lamar just before the R44 helicopter took off –

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The three balls closest to the pin after being dropped from the helicopter over a hole created on the fairway won the three top prizes.

Ball #193, which was the closest to the pin, had been purchased by Andrew Boord, who won the First Top Prize: two Southwest Airline tickets anywhere Southwest flies, plus $2000 cash for traveling money.

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Posted in visits elsewhere

Posted by: David Giacalone | June 16, 2010

a mid-June sunset (with geese)

– sunset over the Isle of the Cayugas behind Cucumber Alley –

For the first time in many weeks, I had the means, motive and opportunity to take pictures of a lovely Stockade sunset as seen from my block (and mostly from my backyard) along the Mohawk.   As an extra bit of luck, a noisy jetski (isn’t that redundant?) roused a flock of geese on the River and they became part of my sunset tableau.  The results can be seen in this posting.  [As always, click on a photo for a larger version and scroll over it for a description.]

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– flustered geese hung around long enough for me to take a few shots –

.. the geese stand still longer than the Hodgkins goslings . .

– gooseless beauty from my backyard at sunset:

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– Do you think it’s time for a new masthead here at suns along the Mohawk?

– one laggard goose flies past my backyard –

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Posted in Mohawk sunrise or sunsets

Posted by: David Giacalone | June 5, 2010

stalking the Stockade Sidewalk Sale 2010

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– the scene at Governor’s Lane and Front St. around 9:30 AM  – click on any photo to enlarge it

Neighborhood events rarely disappoint me, but today’s Stockade Sidewalk Sale came pretty close.  Perhaps the scores of participating sellers from 2009 sold out their inventory at last year’s Sidewalk Sale.  Or, maybe a week’s worth of weather forecasts for morning and afternoon thunderstorms and intense rain on Saturday discouraged folks from getting a permit and setting out tables this year.  Either way, the result was a paltry number of “garage sale” sidewalk tables sporadically dispersed around our Stockade neighborhood.

Luckily for me, I got to enjoy the company of Sylvie Briber and the enchanting Ms. Lollipop again this year (see our 2009 sidewalk sale stroll here).  I didn’t take many photos, but a cute dog and a cute kid saved the day sufficiently to warrant this lightweight posting.

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Posted in Stockade Views

Posted by: David Giacalone | May 28, 2010

around the block around sunset

– a motor boat is passing the Isle of the Cayugas (in the shadows) ’round sunset on May 27, 2010 –

It seems like it’s been a very long time since I’ve taken sunset photographs worth sharing here at suns along the Mohawk.  Maybe I’m not getting out as much that time of day with my camera, or my timing has been poor, but I haven’t been oohing nor ah-ing much at sunsets in the Stockade during May.

Last Monday, for instance, I had to settle for a novelty shot in my backyard when sunset provided almost no coloration in the sky and only the most subtle orange glow on the Mohawk River.  When I started on a short stroll around my block just before sunset yesterday (Thursday, May 27), I decided to focus instead on two subjects of interest to me over the past few weeks: the trees of Washington Avenue (which deserve to be saved) and the new Stockade Historic District Street signs (which we celebrated in a post on May 14), rather than counting on sunset heroics.

Nevertheless, as you’ll see below, the pre-sunset sun’s rays added a nice splash or hint of gold to many of the photos.

[As always, you can click on a photo to get a much larger and sharper version, and scroll over a photo for a description.]

– still standing: trees enhance the scene on Washington Ave. –

From the same block, here are two shots of one of my pet causes (scroll down this posting for more photos): a grand, unique old box elder (box elm?) tree, which has been maligned as being “too ugly” to be worth saving when the street is repaved; plus the Historical Society bathed in pre-sunset sunlight:

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. . . continuing my walk, I checked out the new street signs at Union and Church Streets:

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. . . first, the corner of N. Church and Union St.

. . . and then S. Church and Union Sts:

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– on the way back home, I snapped a couple more photos of the endangered trees on Washington Ave.:

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Bonus: Last tulip standing

in my favorite Stockade backyard (May 2, 2010).

p.s. Here’s a picture taken along the Mohawk from Riverside Park on Memorial Day 2008 and turned into a photo haiga [an image plus related haiku poem] to celebrate Memorial Day. (Find more Memorial Day haiku, senryu and haiga at f/k/a.)

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Posted in Mohawk sunrise or sunsets, Stockade Views

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