Adventures With A Purpose search for Guy Pyke, missing since 1999

Cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area searching for my father's cousin  Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999.  photo by Gary Walts

Today cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area working on the disappearance of Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999. He was my father's cousin from Onondaga County, last seen visiting my mother in Calcium. They are searching a pond near Fort Drum this afternoon. The pond is one of about 9 bodies of water they have mapped out for sonar search.

Cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area searching for my father's cousin  Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999.  photo by Gary Walts

Cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area searching for my father's cousin  Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999.  photo by Gary Walts

Cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area searching for my father's cousin  Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999.  photo by Gary Walts

Photos of Northern Flicker woodpeckers, Chaumont, NY

 

Northern Flicker woodpecker in my backyard, Chaumont, NY.

I present here today a couple photos of Northern Flicker woodpeckers that have been in our yard in Chaumont, NY. I really don't recall seeing these birds here before. I have learned they are quite common here in  the North Country. A friend who lives in Chippewa Bay on the St. Lawrence River says they are plentiful there. I shot the photos with a Minolta 500mm f8 lens, hand held, with a Sony a6600 camera. It was raining here today when I snapped these photos.  Camera settings were iso 2000, 1/200th sec shutter speed. All of the photos exhibit some motion blur and the focus is on the birds body rather than it's head. I also had to crop the photos quite a bit to zoom in on the birds. Today was the 3rd time that I had a camera close to try and photograph them. The seem to be skittish and fly off as soon as they sense my presence. 

Northern Flicker woodpecker in my backyard, Chaumont, NY.

Jack-o'-lantern Mushroom Photo Omphalotus illudens

 

Jack-o-lantern mushrooms, so called because of their color. Growing under an oak tree in my yard, Chaumont, NY. 

Saturday September 10, 2022

Pulling into the driveway of our home in Chaumont, NY and I noticed the brilliant orange mushrooms growing under an oak tree. They caught my eye, so I photographed them. Because of their orange color they are called Jack-o-lantern mushrooms. 

A quick google search came up with this:

"The Jack-o'-lantern mushroom should not be eaten because it is poisonous to humans. It contains toxic chemicals that can cause severe stomach upset accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and headache."

The Latin name for this mushroom is Omphalotus illudens 

I took this photo with a Sony a6600 camera and a Minolta 200mm f2.8 AF lens.

Photo of Raindrops On Leaf August 24, 2022

Raindrops on Leaf, Chaumont, NY. Copyright Gary Walts August 24, 2022. Sony a6600 camera, Minolta 50mm f2.8macro lens.

I snapped this photo of raindrops on a leaf on August 24, 2022. It was in the driveway of our home in Chumont, NY. I used a sony a6600 camera with a Minolta 50mm, f2.8 macro lens. I see these raindrops and leaves constantly this time of year. I am always drawn to photographing them, but am never really pleased with the results. I want more detail, and I want it sharper. Macro phoography requires good equipment and patience to set it up. Focus and depth of field are the challenges. A tool I do nt own that is very helpful is a focusing rail. The camera attaches to the rail, the rail is mounted on a tripod. Now the camera & lens can be moved incrementally to assist in fine focusing. 

The picture presented here was hand held. 

Guitar Gig for ARC and Price of Gas Today September 8, 2022

Thursday, September 8, 2022.

Today I had a guitar gig at  The Arc Jefferson St. Lawrence annual fund raising event, Sunset at the Park. The event is held at Thompson Park, Watertown, NY. 

I arrived at 3:30, played 4:30 to 6:00. I was followed by musician Sara Ada. Sara is a wonderful singer and ukulele player. 

Me during guitar gig at  The Arc Jefferson St. Lawrence annual fund raising event, Sunset at the Park.

Earlier in the day I mowed the lawn. 

The price of gas has been outrageously high here in Northern NY for quite a few months. Today I fueled up at the Valero pumps at the store in Dexter. Price was $4.09 a gallon. down from $4.39 a gallon a few days ago. 

Price of gas today, Sept. 8, 2022, in Dexter, NY.

Artist Kristy Hoover at Orion Art Gallery

 

Here is a photo I snapped of artist Kristy Hoover on August 28, 2022. This was at Orion Art Gallery, Alexandria Bay, NY.  She was preparing to paint a mural during the gallery's 1000 Islands Art Festival. I spent a goof potion of the day there, played some guitar, snapped a few photos.  Lately I've been burning the candle at both ends and have been to tired and uninspired to post about my activities.  I need to come out of this long slump I've been in. Anyhow, here is the photo of Kristy:

Artist Kristy Hoover on August 28, 2022. This was at Orion Art Gallery, Alexandria Bay, NY.