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.


Thursday, September 17, 2026

AI Recreates DaVinci's Last Supper in the Style of Picasso and Others

 Leonardo DaVinci's Last Supper painting:

DaVinci's original.

Out of curiosity and to try using Artificial Intelligence to create images, I asked Chat GPT to recreate Leonardo DaVinci's painting The Last Supper in the style of ...  various artists. The result for each one was incredibly fast, in seconds of time, under a minute, each one. I was blown away by the results. I had no idea that AI could produce such results at such speed. 

The Last Supper in style of Claude Monet.

The Last Supper in style of Edward Hopper.
The Last Supper in style of Vincent van Gogh.
The Last Supper in style of  Legos building blocks.

The Last Supper in style of Maud Lewis.

The Last Supper in style of Pablo Picasso.

The Last Supper in style of Salvador Dali.

The Last Supper in style of Thomas Kincaid.











Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Painted Window Shutters and Baby Snapping Turtle

There is always something interesting in my life. Every day it seems. Most of them simple.  A week or so ago, (probably more like 2) I hired Matthew Anzalone to paint a section of our house above the front porch. I was going to rent a lift and do it but he owns a lift and it wasn't too much more to have him do the job. He scraped, caulked, primed and painted it for $1,200. I removed the window shutters and painted those. I used rustoleum oil based paint. This afternoon I got on porch roof and put the shutters back on. While up there I spotted a small snapping turtle walking down the sidewalk. Well, I needed to "snap" a picture of him. So I present it here.


Window shutters above porch in need of paint.

Newly Painted shutters.

Hired a painter with a lift to do the peak area above our front porch. 


Thursday, August 20, 2026

2011 Kia Sedona Rear Brakes Replacement


Just replaced the rear brake pads and rotors on my 2011 Kia Sedona van. I've done it before. Job was easy. One brake pad gave me trouble, didn't want to fit in place. Very tight. So I took a file and filed away a bit of the pad's "ears". Problem solved. Each side took about an hour. But there was another hour and a half or so gathering up tools, and then putting them away. I did drivers side late yesterday afternoon, the passenger side today. Price for pads and rotors at Auto Zone was $208. 42.







Monday, August 17, 2026

Visit to Pine Grove Community Church, Watson, NY.

Pine Grove Community Church, Town of Watson, NY

 Yesterday (Sunday August 16th) brother Al and I met Troy at the historic Pine Grove Community Church in Town of Watson, NY.  The church is a couple miles down the road from Troy's cabin. The church was hosting an annual ice cream social. Donations accepted. Music was provided by Capo 3, a man and woman duo. They were excellent. The church's acoustics were really good too. Ice cream provided by Stewart's Shops. I snapped very few photos. 


Ice Cream Social at Pine Grove Community Church, Sunday August 16th

Ice Cream Social at Pine Grove Community Church, Sunday August 16th

Ice Cream Social at Pine Grove Community Church, Sunday August 16th

Troy, brother Al and one of Troy's friends at his cabin near Lowville, NY.


Thursday, July 16, 2026

Photo Exhibit Opened July 12

 Sunday July 12, 2025, 5:00pm.

Iva Smith Gallery Photo Show Opening
My photo exhibit opened at the Iva Smith Memorial Gallery in Hammond, NY. There was a good turnout, mix of people and friends that I know, and many folks I had never met before. Other artists in various mediums were also showing work in other sections of the gallery. So it was a good mix of people. The work will be on view through the Summer. Gallery hours

Wed., Thurs., and Saturday 10:00AM to 5:00PM

Fridays 1PM - 5:00PM Other times by luck or appointment (718)753-7947

Iva Smith Gallery Photo Show Opening

Iva Smith Gallery Photo Show Opening

Iva Smith Gallery Photo Show Opening

Iva Smith Gallery Photo Show Opening

Iva Smith Gallery Photo Show Opening





Sunday, July 12, 2026

Photo Exhibit Preview-Indian River Lakes Conservany

 


Friday evening, July 10, I attended the Indian River Lakes Conservancy meeting at the Iva Smith Gallery in Hammond, NY.  Their event happened 2 days before the opening of my photo exhibit at the gallery. Thus, that group had a preview viewing. It was a great event. Music by violinist / fiddler Kathy Sommers (she has same sound system as me, a Fishman SoloAmp 220.) I spoke about my photos for a few minutes and then mingled with the guests. Real good response to my work.  Today is the official show opening at 5:00. I am still under the weather from whatever head cold or resperitory illness I came down with. The Better Half is currently sick with it and will not attend todays event. 





Friday, July 10, 2026

Photo Exhibit Installation, Sick,

We dropped off photos at gallery on Tuesday

Been very busy and thus very tired. I have a photo exhibit opening Sunday, July 12, 5-7:00pm  at the Tuesday the Better Half n I dropped photos off at the gallery. She was beginning to feel sick. I was beginning to feel better having come down with some respiratory illness a week earlier. Wednesday she was feeling worse and had sore throat. (something I didn't have.) Arrived to hang the photos at 1:30. Finished hanging at 8:30pm. Long day. Made worse by lingering illness. Thursday morning (yesterday) the BH awoke at 5:30am much worse with temperature of 102.3 degrees. By 8:30 her temp went down to 101.3, and got better as day progressed. I spent most of thursday writing titles for the photos. 

Today is Friday. My head still congested. BH still feeling poorly., but better than previous 2 days. 

Spent 7 hours hanging photos at Iva Smith Gallery, Hammond NY

Spent 7 hours hanging photos at Iva Smith Gallery, Hammond NY

Spent 7 hours hanging photos at Iva Smith Gallery, Hammond NY

Spent 7 hours hanging photos at Iva Smith Gallery, Hammond NY



Monday, June 15, 2026

My Mother Making Donuts in 1987

 

My mother, Margaret Joan Walts, in 1987 making donuts at her home in Calcium, NY

I took this photo of my mother, Margaret J Walts, making donuts in 1987. While looking for negatives of other photos I came upon hers. I hadn't seen them in ages and ages. Most likely not since I processed and filed them away in 1987. I certainly never printed any of them. There are other pix in the shoot, of course, but this one captured it all. Her pose, the light, the kitchen. My mother made donuts as far back as I can remember. As a toddler she made donuts. They were famous in the family and among our friends and aquaintences. The donuts were a staple in our household for many years. She made large batches at a time.  Older country folks called them fried cakes. Everyone agreed they were excellent. 

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Lunch On The Roof At The Strand

 


Thursday, June 11, 2026 I played guitar on the roof top of the old Strand theater in Watertown, NY. Thanks to the vision of local musician Joe Foy it is now a premier venue of entertainment in the downtown district. Thursdays feature a Lunch On The Roof program sponsored by HarmoNNY and the NNY Community Foundatin. 2 hours of live music. Bring a lunch from home or take out from your favorite restaurant. Bring it up on the roof. Enjoy. Following are some shots I took to give you an idea of what the place is like. 


To my surprise and delight my grandson Aiden and a couple of his friends showed up. Aiden took the photos of me presented here.