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Saint Patrick’s Day with Sisters of Murphy
Trying to get out to see more local bands. Keeping it low key, enjoying the moment. I’ve been wanting to see Sisters of Murphy for a long time, and finally got the chance yesterday. It was their 4th gig this weekend and they performed with the same energy as if it was their first. Great band, highly recommend. Oh and the violin player, she’s a badass.
Spring, no wait, winter again?
Spent some time in the garden with my old 105mm macro lens before the storm came in with wind and snow. I can’t remember the last time we have had such a warm winter, it was 65 degrees today.
I never resist time to play when it's warm outside, especially barefoot in the garden. This year’s goal is to bring the garden back to it’s glory. The last 3 years I let it go. It was not because lack of time, but because of inspiration. The thing that happened in 2020 killed all motivation to do anything. This year will be different.
I hope to share more of my garden’s journey back to where it was and even better. If you want to learn more about gardening and even want to join the conversation, join my facebook group, Rochester Gardeners.
A walk in the park
Dryer Road Park in Victor, NY
Missing my bike this time of year.
The trail conditions this winter are not the best for riding, they fluctuate so much during the freeze / thaw cycles. Most of the trails were still frozen, which are perfect for traffic. There were sections of the trails that were thawing and had a slurry of mud on top of frozen ground. Hiking or riding muddy trails causes damage and more work for trail crews in the spring. Our job was to avoid those areas, and we ended up turning around and back tracking multiple times. Mr. Fenton and I did get a lot done cleaning up logs and debris from the trails we were able to hike.
Riding season cannot get here fast enough.
If you want to learn more about trail sustainability and help out with trail maintenance go here.
Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville
Christmas vacation in Jacksonville, Florida last year, it was unusually cold at night, 20 F. The frost was an unusual site in the morning, but that meant the beach would be empty in the morning, perfect for Mr. Fenton to run free after the fishes in the surf. He is a bit obsessed with the beach, and so am I. Sitting in the sand, listening to the waves and breathing in the salty air is my thing. I think my boys enjoy it too, there wasn’t too much wining in the morning to get them down there. The promise of eating out down by the beach was another incentive, they are teenage boys and food is a great motivator.
Jake’s Rocks
Too busy riding and enjoying some family time, but did manage to capture a couple of images while there. I HIGHLY recommend Jake’s Rocks if you mountain bike and enjoy some tech and flow.
I’ll be heading down two more times before the season is up, and will be capturing a lot more, maybe. I might just enjoy riding instead.
Wee insects in the garden
Sitting in the garden, I am searching for the small creatures. There is something special about taking images that are just for me.
All images were handheld, using a Nikon D850 with one of my favorite lenses, 105mm macro. Using an older lens with an older camera by today’s standards, forces me to make more purposeful images. Keep the shutter speed below 1/800, ISO low, focus and hit the shutter. The satisfying click along with buzzing sounds surrounding me, I love this time of year.
One of the best photo locations in Rochester
Cobbs Hill Park, located in the south section of Rochester offers some of the best locations for family portraits. It has fantastic lighting during the early morning and late afternoon. You don’t have to walk too far to find another location for another perspective. If you looking for a natural background, leading lines, or roman columns, Cobb’s Hill has them all.
Robyn contacted me to do a family portrait session while they were in town visiting family with their two new additions to the family, Lena and Anna. They were so full of energy and an absolute joy to work with. It was one of the best sessions I have had with teenagers in a long time. Their carefree attitude was a breath of fresh air and really wanted me to be a teenager again.
Camping in Fair Haven, NY
Relaxing by the fire, cooking good food and sipping on a nice cold drink while watching the kids and dogs play. That is what camping is all about and a needed part of our busy lives. Time for family, outside, just hanging out.
This trip to Fair Haven was from a couple of years ago. It was our first time going and I highly recommend it, great location for family camping.
That particular year we experienced extremely high water levels in the great lakes, so the beach area was flooded. There was limited real-estate to hang out on the beach and relax on the sand. No matter, we made due. Plus there were other things to keep us entertained.
Camping during the week is preferred at such a busy campground. There are less guests, more room to move around and it’s quieter. At night it was eerily quiet. Not even the sounds of cicadas, frogs or crickets in the night. Creepy.
At the start of the weekend, the visual and audible entertainment ensues. Watching the experienced and inexperienced campers set up. Making bets on who will be divorced by the end of the day as they set up camp screaming at each other, or realizing that they forgot something and rushing off to the store. We have all been there. There is a reason for the saying, “Sorry for what I said when setting up the tent.”
On the weekends, it gets a wee bit rowdy and stragglers stay up past 11pm, which isn’t too bad if they aren’t too loud. Friday night around 3am, a loud yell of disgust pierced the silence, “ JOE! ….. JOE!” Then nothing, and all was quiet. Of course all of us were awake at that point, giggling to ourselves that Joe was in trouble for something that night. Throughout the next day we were trying to determine who Joe was and which campsite. We had pretty much narrowed it down which site it was and all looked well.
Sunday rolled around and the campground was shutting down for the 11am checkout. We sat eating our breakfast as Joe and his significant other were leaving. As they drove by, with windows down in his chevy, all of us yelled," bye Joe” and waved. The look on her face was priceless and we knew his trip home was not going to be a fun one…. Oh, the simple things in life can be so entertaining.
Fall Wedding In Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park in the fall is always packed with park guests enjoying the fall colors. This year was no different even with the pandemic. Visitors were enjoying nature and the love of the outdoors more than years before, so to keep everyone safe the state mandated a capacity limit on the park. This provided a new challenge for me, I needed to get inside the park before they close.
Sabina and Matt’s wedding was scheduled for 2pm, my plan was to arrive by noon. As I turned onto the road to the south entrance, the line of cars was already 1/2 mile long. Slight panic sets in, but we were prepared for this. Sabina and I planned on texting each other to make sure we were able to enter the park. We let each other know our progress during the wait. The only thing that was keeping me calm was the serenity of the farm fields.
I was about 4 cars away from the entrance, when they closed it due to reaching max capacity. I check to make sure my wedding contract was still sitting on my passenger seat, ready to show the gatekeeper as my ticket to get in.
As I approached the turnaround before the gate, I rolled down my window and let the gatekeeper in the neon orange vest know that I was there to photograph a wedding. Luckily Sabina and Matt made reservations for the middle falls so everything was good to go. As I drove into the park I breathed out a sigh of relief, and my heart rate dropped back to normal.
Driving through the park was different, the side of the roads were free of parked cars that would normally be full. Barricades were in place to direct traffic, and social distancing in full effect made finding a parking spot easy. I was able to locate Sabina and Matt easily with the lack of crowds.
We located a spot for their first look, a nice open space that allowed me to maneuver around them. I love first looks, the simplicity, the intimateness. It’s really the only part of the day that the couple has time to be alone with each other until the end of the night. A quick embrace, a kiss and a private conversation, just the two of them to get centered and calm before the ceremony begins. As a photographer, it allows me to capture an intimate moment that would be extremely difficult to do when surrounded by a wedding party and congregation.
We proceeded down to the Middle Falls for the ceremony. Sabina was worried about the people not moving for the ceremony. I told her no worries, everyone gets out of the way when they see a gorgeous couple heading their way. Also with the help of using my outdoor voice to gain their attention over the sound of the falls.
The ceremony was short and beautiful. The sun played hide and seek behind the clouds, and I played gently with the bees buzzing around the late blooming native flowers surrounding the ceremony site. The groups of park visitors lined up on the path offered their applause after the final kiss and congratulations as they walked by. Such a perfect day in the middle of a chaotic time.
Congratulations Sabina and Matt!
Remote School Portraits
When things look dire, and chaos surrounds you, we tend to look for solutions. Look for a way to help others, to take away some of the worry and make life just a wee bit easier.
Last fall I decided to help out by using the skills that I have to to ease the worry of parents who had remote school age children at home. The beginning of the school year was a bit stressful. As parents we were worried if we did the right thing by keeping them home. Sad that they would be missing so much, but also making sure we kept them and our family safe. Sending our kids into school for pictures… well that was not an option.
I offered to take school portraits for those who were going to school remotely, to take out at least one thing off of our plate of worry. I was so happy for the opportunity to meet some of our local families that I otherwise would have never had the chance to meet if we hadn’t made the choice to go remote.
A huge thank you to those who came over. It was so awesome to meet you and your family!
Volunteering, a family tradition.
Senior portraits should include more than just the yearbook portrait, they should incorporate the student’s personality and experiences outside of school. Evan’s passion is volunteering as an explorer firefighter. The explorer program gives teenagers hands on experience in the basics of firefighting and emergency services. The skills they learn can lead to a lifelong career in firefighting or assist them in any job they choose in life.
I was super excited when Evan’s mom asked if we could have a portrait with Evan’s father and grandfather in their turnout gear. It was to be a Christmas present for his grandmother. I would have loved to have seen her face when she opened her present. So much pride for her husband, son and grandson.
Evan’s family volunteers for Mumford Fire Department, in Mumford, NY. It’s good to see the tradition continuing on.
Black Cherry Tomatoes
My gorgeous Black Cherry Tomatoes. So delicate, so delicious, so ridiculously easy to grow.
I miss you in the winter months and cannot wait to see you again next summer.
September Intimate Wedding
Chapel Hill / Rochester, NY
Small weddings are the norm now, and I have to say, I couldn’t be happier. I get to spend more time with the couple and the family.
Lydia and Ethan’s wedding ceremony was located at Chapel Hill in Rochester. Super laid back and great location for their ceremony. The staff there was fantastic and accommodating, especially with all of the changes in capacity and safety protocols.
After the ceremony, we travelled to Ethan’s parents home in Kendall for portraits. I pulled into the driveway and I was greeted by tall sunflowers, and I immediately knew that they made the perfect choice for their portrait location. I always scout around before we start shooting. As I walked around the back, I found fruit trees and a small vineyard. This couldn’t get any better, oh wait, it does. Then a little further past the fruit trees, a long straight trail with leading lines created by conifer trees and lit with amazing soft light. Yup, this is going to be fun.
We started off with small groups and then the large group portraits. Then we go explore the property finishing off portraits with Lydia and Ethan. Since the reception was a family affair, I simulated their first dance in a grove of tall trees. Did I sing, no, but next time I am bringing my boom box.
This wasn’t the first time I had captured Ethan and Lydia’s portrait. One of the couples in the wedding party were married last year and I was fortunate to shoot their wedding as well. It was great to see them all again.
Congratulations Lydia and Ethan!
My studio helper, Mr.Fenton.
Whenever setting up a portable studio for an on location shoot, you need a stand-in to test the lighting set up. Well, my teenage boys are not willing to victims, so Mr. Fenton will have to do.
Did he get treats, oh yes he did.
School portraits for virtual students
Looking for a safe way for your child to get school portraits this year without going to school or a high volume studio. I’m offering a safer option, using my outdoor portable studio, students can stop by and get their portrait in 5 minutes. I’ll be submitting fully editing portraits to schools for your convenience at no cost. If you want to purchase prints, you can but are not obligated to.
Most schools are looking to have images submitted for yearbooks the first week of October, but the date varies for each district. If you are unsure, contact your local school for specific date.
Sessions times are from 3:30 to 6:30pm on weekdays, 10am to 4pm on weekends. Spacing between sessions is 30 minutes to follow COVID guidelines and cleaning.
Looking forward to seeing you and your child.
Canandaigua Wedding
Jenn and Russ September Wedding
Church: St. John’s Episcopal Church
Portraits: Geneva On the Lake
Harvesting in the Victory Garden
This year has been a great year for the garden. I’m usually extremely busy and struggle to find the time to keep on top of everything. Having more time to relax, weed and plan the next crop has been wonderful. I’m even fighting the urge to take out a bed and put in a pond….really fighting super hard.
This is the tenth year of my victory garden. Every year I learn something new and this year was no different. Lessons learned this season: more frequent fertilizing and deep watering. I was not keeping up with the demand of the heavy feeders and allowed them to deplete the soil of precious nutrients. So this year I started fertilizing at least once a month and deep watering the beds at least once a week. Deep watering allows the water to saturate at least 6 inches into the soil to promote deep root growth, thus ensuring plant survival during times of no rain. Last year I watered frequently, but not deep enough. The entire garden wilted away during out two-week road trip last summer.
This season most of my herbs, flowers, lettuce and carrots were self seeded from last year. I was also not in the state of mind to really start seedlings this March, so I purchased tomato and pepper transplants. It was worth it, thank you Fruition Seeds.
Onto this week’s harvest, which consisted of watching the bees gather nectar, Mr.Fenton harassing the frogs, Honey Drop Cherry and Chiapas Cherry tomatoes, Ancho Poblano Peppers, Provider Green Beans, Russet potatoes, Black Raspberries and Plum Shiso.
I have been eating a ton of tomatoes with motz, basil and redwine vinegar and oil. YUM! Cooking up the green beans with minced garlic and pepper, the boys loved that. Looking to dehydrate the Ancho Poblanos in the next couple of days. The potatoes are going to be made into mashed potatoes, and maybe potato chips. I have never tried that so that will be another blog post. Shiso, well I’m looking for recipes for that.
The summer isn’t over yet and more seeds will be sown soon.