About this blog title

I cannot tell you how many times I have shown up at events with a couple of cameras around my neck, a gadget bag full of odds & ends and a lighting kit and have been asked that question. If it happened once every few years, that would be one thing. But it happens a LOT. It's like getting pulled over by the police and he's standing there with uniform, gun, flashing lights and asking him "Are you a cop?" I would love to come back with a witty reply, such as "No, I am Jesus. Don't you recognize my beard?" However, I cannot be that rude.


Monday, December 20, 2021

Clayton NY Christmas Parade December 4, 2021 Gary Walts Photos

Here are some photos I snapped at the annual Christmas Parade in Clayton, N.Y.  This years parade was shorter than usual. It also moved along pretty good. There was a brisk wind coming off the St. Lawrence River, but the temperature was mild enough I was able to take pictures without gloves. 








































Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Raccoon Gets into Bird Feeder: Gary Walts Photos

I look out the window this morning and see a raccoon getting into our birdfeeder at our home in Chaumont, NY. It was a rainy and dark morning, 7:30 when I snapped these photos. I took them with a Sony a6000 camera and a Minolta 200mm f2.8 auto focus lens.

Raccoon at bird feeder, Chaumont, NY. Sony a6000 camera, Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens, Sony LA-EA adapter.  Photo copyright Gary Walts


Raccoon at bird feeder, Chaumont, NY. Sony a6000 camera, Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens, Sony LA-EA adapter.  Photo copyright Gary Walts




Raccoon at bird feeder, Chaumont, NY. Sony a6000 camera, Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens, Sony LA-EA adapter.  Photo copyright Gary Walts



Raccoon at bird feeder, Chaumont, NY. Sony a6000 camera, Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens, Sony LA-EA adapter.  Photo copyright Gary Walts



Raccoon at bird feeder, Chaumont, NY. Sony a6000 camera, Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens, Sony LA-EA adapter.  Photo copyright Gary Walts












Sunday, June 6, 2021

Catbird Photo Taken with Sony a6600 Camera & Minolta 500mm f8 auto focus lens

I snapped this Catbird in the garden at our home in Chaumont, NY. This is the first one I've seen a 2 or 3 years. I used a Sony a6600 camera with a Minolta 500mm f8 mirror autofocus lens. It was attached to the camera with the Sony La-EA5 adapter. What a great combination of equipment. The camera was handheld. Amazing sharpness, in a big part due to the 5 way image stabilization of the Sony a6600.
Here is a detail cropped from the above photo.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Dog Peeks in My Car Window: Gary Walts Photo Archives 1986

In october 1986 I was sitting in my car with window down when suddenly a dog jumped up and peeked in the window. Camera in hand I quckly snapped its picture. A few moments later he ran off.
The photo was made with a Minolta X700, I don't recall which lens, Kodak Tri-X film processed in Kodak D76 developer.

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Gary Walts Photo archives: Edward Labrie feed pigeons Winter 1988

Edward LaBrie feeds pigeons at his farm in Calcium, NY, on a snowy day in winter of 1988.


Edward LaBrie, Calcium, NY, feeds pigeons on a snowy day in 1988.  Photo copyright Gary Walts





Edward LaBrie, Calcium, NY,    Photo copyright Gary Walts

Edward LaBrie moved his family from Tupper Lake, NY, to the Calcium farm in 1954. He passed away in 1994. In 1997 or so I documented the family's day to day life on the farm. The Sun Magazine published  a Aa photo essay from that project in the January 2002 issue. 

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Gary Walts Photo Archives: Ryel's Band storefront in Copenhagen, NY

 Gary Walts Photo Archives: Ryel's Band storefront in Copenhagen, NY;

I snapped this storefront window in the village of Copenhagen, NY. I'm pretty sure I snapped it before 1990. My files have no date listed. Film was Kodak Tri-X black & white. 

Anyhow, I recently have been scanning negatives from my archives, did this one a couple days ago. For kick's I Googled Ryel's band Copenhagen NY and I found the following obituary:

Copenhagen, NY storefront, sometime before 1990. I always thought the drum from Ryel's Band was interesting.  Try-X oil.                                  Photo copyright Gary Walts


Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, NY), 24 Jul 1917
OLD MUSICIAN OF COPENHAGEN DIES
Andrew W. Ryel Passes Away Aged 80
Was Oldest Member of Orient Lodge No. 238, F. & A. M., and Will be Buried With Masonic Ritual
Copenhagen, July 24--Andrew W. Ryel, died here Sunday evening at the home of granddaughter, Mrs. Daniel Williams, at the advanced age of 80 years, two months, and 22 days. He had been in poor health for a long time.
Mr. Ryel was born near this village, his parents being Delia Lawrence and David Ryel, and he had spent his life in this locality. He was the oldest member of Orient Lodge, No. 238, F. & A. M. He was alos a member of the John Raymond band, and was a well known musician.
The funeral service will be held from the home Wednesday afternoon at 2, Rev. John Turner of the Congregational church officiating. The impressive Masonic burial service will be used. Interment will be made in Riveside cemetery.
The deceased is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Gaines Ryel, of Watertown, and Mrs. James Rumble, of Iowa, and one brother, Charles Ryel of Sackets Harbor.

Sunday, January 24, 2021

NY Governor Mario Cuomo visits Carthage NY in 1986: Gary Walts photo archives


NY Governor Mario Cuomo, Carthage, NY, 1986 during housing expansion for
Fort Drum NY troops.  Gary Walts photo archives.              copyright Gary Walts 2021


Photos of New York governor Mario Cuomo's visit to Carthage, N.Y. in 1986. Back then US Army Camp Drum had recently been upgraded to Fort Drum and was to become home of the 10th Mountain Division. Carthage was among the surrounding communites that were constructing new housing to accomodate the large number of troops that would be populating the fort. Gov. Cuomo was visiting to view the progress of that expansion.

NY Governor Mario Cuomo, Carthage, NY, September, 1986 during housing expansion for 
Fort Drum NY troops.  Gary Walts photo archives.              copyright Gary Walts 2021


NY Governor Mario Cuomo, Carthage, NY, September, 1986 during housing expansion for 
Fort Drum NY troops.  Gary Walts photo archives.              copyright Gary Walts 2021


NY Governor Mario Cuomo, Carthage, NY, September, 1986 during housing expansion for 
Fort Drum NY troops.  Gary Walts photo archives.              copyright Gary Walts 2021


NY Governor Mario Cuomo, Carthage, NY, September, 1986 during housing expansion for 
Fort Drum NY troops.  Gary Walts photo archives.              copyright Gary Walts 2021











NY Governor Mario Cuomo, Carthage, NY, September, 1986 during housing expansion for 
Fort Drum NY troops.  Gary Walts photo archives.              copyright Gary Walts 2021