Day Thirty: Visitor Provides Photo Op

Day thirty and it was about 72 degrees in Chaumont, NY. That's terrific for this region on April First.


Well, my day was pretty much under control until late afternoon I discover a message on my answering machine. It was from an old friend whom I have not seen in quite a few years. It was Shotgun Billy Read from Nashville, Tennesee. A terrific guy, song writer and technology rep for numerous corporations. For whatever reason I missed him until late this afternoon. He returns to Nashville tomorrow. Anyway, we got together had some chinese food and caught up with each other. Then we had a beer at the Padddock Club in Watertown, NY. (I know, Lent isn't over, I had an alcohol free beer, a Labatt Nordic. I don't think that's cheating). Without going into all of the details, I had to drop Bill off at the Mercy Medical Center in Watertown where he was to meet up with his wife. So it's about 8:25pm, there's still some light in the sky. As he is getting out of my car I notice the Mercy building sillohetted against the sky with this window lit up. The graphic quality of the scene told me "Take My picture, take my picture." So I took the picture. I showed the image to Bill on the camera's screen. He was impressed and surprised. I find that happens with a lot of people who are with me, standing right next to me as I snap a photo. They have no clue what I am seeing until I show it too them.
For me it's a simple, visual delight. The world is beautiful wherever we turn our eyes. What you have in this photo are four elements: The tree, building, sky, and window. At a certain time of day they come together and this is what it looks like.

If Shotgun hadn't called me then I would never have seen or taken this picture. It also reminds me of something else. In my early days with photography I would drive all over, walk all over, searching for an interesting photo. Very often coming up empty. Now I don't go searching for photos. I have learned to keep an eye to my surroundings and be ready with a camera when a photo appears befor me.

Assignment photography is another animal. I am paid to be somewhere and make photos that satisfy a clients requirements. Some of those situations can be visually barren. What I do then is just start shooting, trying various angles, lenses, lighting and whatever. In those situations there is always a photo, but it's more a process of extracting it from what I have to work with rather than have it jump out at me. Or so it seems to me. Gary

Day Twentynine: Getting Things Done

Yesterday I mentioned about how I dropped 40 pounds of weight over the course of two years and have kept it off for a year now. One of the points I would like to make about that is the fact that losing weight, IMO, is the same as anything eles one sets out to accomplish. Getting something done is a process that takes time. Losing weight is no different than learning a guitar solo, creating a piece of sculpture, repairing the car, or installing a tile floor. In other words, everything takes time. It's all step by step. A jigsaw puzzle goes together one piece at a time. You learn a musical composition note by note, phrase by phrase. Install a tile floor one tile at a time. Nothing is instant. Why do so many people expect to drop their weight FAST? One doesn't become fifty pounds overweight by eating a fifty pound dinner one afternoon. It happens by over eating small ammounts over a long period of time. Likewise, losing it should realistically take a long time. When I said I cut out ice cream, bear, fast food and the like, I didn't do them all cold turkey. The first thinf a stopped was fast food. That started January 1. I was rigid about that. As for beer, I began drinking less, but didn't quit it all together until Lent began. At that point I cut it out all together. When Lent was over, I continued not dringing beer. So, I did these things over a period of time, adding something to the plan bit by bit. Another thing I did was started atking the stairs at work as opposed to the elevator. Again, I started this habit slowly. Occassionally. Finally it bacame habit. I can only tell you how I lost and kept off my weight. I made a list of changes and gradually incorporated them into my daily routine. If you try to do it all at the same time there's a good chance you will become overwhelmed and quit. It's like tearing down the garage by blowing it up with dynamite. It got tore down in a hurry, but left a big mess. Anyhow, step by step is how I get things done. So can you. Regards, Gary

The photos posted here today were both taken in the backyard of my home in Chaumont, NY. One of the points I stress to novice photographers in search of that elusive image is to open their eyes and observe their immediate surroundings.

Day Twentyeight: Cake Crumbs

It was 40 degrees in Chaumont this morning with a sky that looked like the promise of Sunshine. But, at 9:40 it's overcast. I just took this photo after eating a slice of pizza and a piece of birthday cake for breakfast. Egads! It may sound like I eat poorly, but I don't. This morning was unusual. I rarely eat pizza or cake. In fact, I have probably had less than 18 slices of pizza in the past three years. When I do it eat I usually eat one or two slices. RARELY will I eat a third. For me to get excited about pizza I need one without tomato sauce & pepperoni. I like garlic, cheese, chicken, broccolli on a pizza. I have only had that kind maybe three times in thie past three years. You see, three years ago on January first I tipped the scales at 200 pounds. The most I have ever weighed. That was unacceptable. For one thing I was ready to buy larger sized pants. Forget it. Fifteen years ago I weighed about 160 pounds. So, it's taken me a few years to reach 200 lbs. Thus, I determined to take a slow motion approach to weight loss. No real diet, no exercise. I just decided to eat less and cut out some foods. January first 2007 I began.

The toughest thing was quitting drinking beer. I do like beer, especially Labatt Blue. I quit ice cream, my all time favorite food. I used to buy it and eat it by the pint, three times a week. People ask me if I miss it. Well, I don't. I have eaten so much of it in my life that I just don't miss it. I say I quit it, but I have eaten small amounts of it a few times in the opast three years. But NEVER have I eaten a whole pint in one sitting since then.
The same with beer. I used to drink it every day. Two, three, four, or more. I love the stuff. On holidays and special occassions I'll have a few beers or some wine, but it's not every day. I also quit ALL fast food. As a photographer driving a thousand miles a week all over God's creation it was really easy to stop at the drive through windows and dine on dollar menu items. It's fast, cheap, and I can keep going to my destination, eating & driving, staying on time for my appointments. There were few times at first when I had to exercise some serious will power, but I have stayed away from it. Now, there have been two times in the past three years I have eaten fast food. Once was to try out a new sandwich that Wendy's was advertising. I did not crave it, I was just curious about it. The second time was on a raod trip with my Better Half and we stopped and got a burger and shake at a little place in PA. That's it. I simpy will not go to those places.

Finally, I also kept (and continue to keep) a box of Honey Nut Cheerios in the car to snack on. Those things are good! I was surprised when I bought them for the first time. Oh, one more thing, I also began eating less of the normal, everyday food s that I always ate. For example, when I grilled hamburgers I always would eat two of them. Now I eat one. I always want a second one, but I don't. With one exception: When we have a party or I am at a party. Those situations I indulge a more, but still not the way I used to. Anyway, I dropped weight little by little and over the course of twelve months lost 20 pounds. Over the next year I lost 15 more. Now three years later I am staying right around 160 pounds. During the 2009 Christmas season I was eating and drinking more than normal, but held it pretty steady at 165. You know that cake I ate this morning? Compared to the old days it was a small piece. I also left behind a lot of frosting which made for an interesting photograph.

Day Twentyseven: Chaumont Sunset

It was 38 degrees and rainy at 6:00AM in Chaumont NY this morning, the 27th day since I began this blog. How long can I keep up before missing a day? I'm not sure. I can always pop up a photo, it's the commentary that most likely will suffer. That's because I am not exactly a writer. It takes effort. I also type with 2 fingers which I've done for quite a few years. There in lies a problem. I am constantly hitting letters adjacent to the ones I want to hit on the keyboard. This results in a lot of typos that I must go back & correct. So, writing is more chore than joy. The photo here is another Sunset taken in Chaumont. The tree is in my neighbors backyard. The recent Sunsets have been particularly colorful.

Day Twentysix: View From 505 State St

Well, the least I can do is show off this photo. If I say more it will be just an explanation of why I am not doing more, saying more today with this blog. (The word tired comes to mind) Anyhow, a week or so ago I had to cover a sentencing of a woman who staged a burglary that went awry and killed her husband and another man. She was sentenced to ten years. This was at the Public Safety Building, 5050 S. State St., Syracuse, NY. I was there early, as a photographer should always be, waiting for the courtroom on the third floor to open. I looked down the hall and got this photo of a woman waiting for the elevator with the city through the windows behind her.

Day Twentyfive:

This is a portrait of Greg Lago, Clayton, NY. I took it in his shop, Winged Bull Studio in Clayton. He is a wood engraver. Quite a lost art form. There is a surrealistic touch in much of his work that I love.
Below are two samples of his work.


With or without his artwork present, Lago is a source of inspiration. He and his wife Karen also run Teaism, a small tea garden behind Winged Bull that serves up great food, teas, wine & beer. It is a great place to be on lazy Summer afternoons in the Thousand Islands. I usually play guitar there for a couple of hours on Thursdays. Hopefully that trend will continue this Summer. I say hopefully because so much is up in the air with me.

Fernando Sor: Etude #2, Played by Gary walts ona Guild Mark V classical guitar.

Day Twenty Four:

Well, it was 15 degrees and sunshine in Chaumont, NY this morning. All in all a nice day weatherwise, just a tad cool.



I photographed this couple a year or so ago. I cannot remember where they were, other than near some railroad tracks. I have a hunch it was near Gouvernuer, NY. If I go back through my appointment books I could probably figure it out. This photo falls into yet another category I call People I Have Seen. This category is people I see out on the street or somewhere in a public place that happen to catch my eye. Most times I try to make the photo surreptitiously. That was the case here. The couple never noticed me. Unless I have a compelling reason, I don't bother to find out who they are or what they are doing. If the people are interesting enough to catch my eye, then I figure they will make an interesting photograph.
I drive by this house regularly whenever I go from Chaumont to Syracuse. I cannot tell you the name of the road it's on, even though I drive the road at least once a week. Anyhow, I was returning home and the late day light was inspiring. Now I really wasn't trying to make any special photos, but I did something that I do once in a while. I just pointed the camera out the car window as I was driving and held the shutter down. It was set to high speed advance, which is about 3 or four frames a second. I was not looking through the camera. I keep my eyes on the road. Later on I look at the results and usually there is nothing there. However, in this instance I like how the Sun was caught in the windows, and the blurry motion caused by the camera speeding down the road. I find something oddly appealing about this photo. That appeal may simply be that the photo was the result of pure, dumb luck.

On another note, there was some good guitar practice this morning. I also lined up a 2 hour guitar gig for the Alexandria Bay & Clayton Chambers of Commerce at the Riveredge Resort in the bay. It's a private function in May. Should be nice. I also got my income taxes filed today. There's no better way to get depressed than to do that. For the life of me I cannot understand how a guy like me can earn such a modest income and have to give so much of it to the government. I do not live high on the hog. I live rather frugally and have accomplished quite a lot because of that. My property taxes have steadily gone up over the years too. When my income goes into the tank my taxes don't get lowered. It is crazy what we pay in this Empire State for property taxes. I'd love to go on, but those of you who live here know all about it, and I simply have run out of steam for this day. Days like this are days when I truly enjoy a nice beer or glass of red wine. However, I gave up all forms of alcohol for Lent. It's been killing me. But, I must remind myself that giving up beer and wine coupled with the stress of giving Caeser his due is nothing compared to what Jesus went through. I guess that is the lesson that Lent is all about.
Best to you all. Gary

Day Twentythree: Doorknobs

Working for a newspaper is a great way to become a good photographer. That's because you are asked to photographe a great many things you would never do on your own. Consequently you develop your eye and sense of composition with an understanding of how your equipment works and you can just about make anything into an interesting photo. The setting Sun illuminating this doorknob got my interest. The low angle of the light brings out the texture of the paint on the door. The warm colors of the light also adds a touch. Then the silouette and the out of focus highlights add yet more visual interst.

There are several artists whose work has had an influence on my eye, that is, how I see the world. Among them are
Andrew Wyeth. I love the light in his paintings and the textures, and his weather beaten, worn, stark subject matter. I just love it.


All photos and text contained in this blog are copyright Gary Walts 2010
Also, please visit my web site at: www.garywalts.com

Day Twentytwo: All My Loving

After a couple of grey, wet days we have sunshine in Chaumont again today.



Last Summer as I was walking home from the liquor store with a nice bottle of red wine the late afteroon Sun on the sidewalk caught my eye. The store is about three blocks from my house. Walking there serves two purposes: I get some exercise and, because I always have a camera with me, I just might make a interesting photo. One of the lessons to take from this is oe that I harp on all the time. Go walking with a camera and really look at the world around you. There are photos to be made around your house, in your yard, your neighborhood. Many people are so accustomed to their surroundings they overlook the simply beauty of their immediate environment.





This morning I have put in a solid three hours of guitar practice. 45 minutes of which was spent on Estudio Brillante by Francisco Tarrega. After running through a few other pieces I opened a book of Beatles songs arranged for classical guitar by Joe Washington. His arrangement of All My Loving is one that I have dabbled with a few times over the years. It's not particularly difficult, but, it spans two sides of one page. What is frustrating is the last four bars of the first repeat are on the opposite side of the first page. So, I must turn the page to read through those four bars, then turn the page back to begin the repeat. (The four bars I speak of are shown below.) Nothing fun about that as I want to memorize the section. This is one of the reasons I have never really put the tune in my repertoir. Lazy, I know. So, finally this morning I decide to memorize those four bars so as to eliminate the page turning as I memorize the first section. To do so I played those bars over slowly & deliberatly for 100 times. That's how it's done, or at least how I do it.

Day Twenty One: Taking care of Business

Well, some days you just have to take care of some of life's duller business. Paperwork, bills, checkbook, and the like. So far I have been a couple of hours taking care of such stuff. Among some of that stuff were two wedding promotional pieces I created. I can use them as postcards, but for starters I placed them in craigslist ads. You see, I really need to photograph some weddings to keep the cash flow out of the red.


Anybody out there in my region looking for a wedding photographer?

Day Twenty: Sidewalk & Paint

Whenever I need to get away from my routine and get really inspired I go visit Winged Bull Studio in Clayton, NY. Every time I walk in the door I am greeted by a visual feast as well as the enthusiastic Greg Lago, wood engraver and owner of the establishment. This past Friday I stopped in and it appeared as if he were busy with several projects. This tray of water colors was just one of many photos I made there. It is essentially an unplanned still life. In the natural flow of his work day this arrangement of paints and stirring stick just happened. I think what helps this photo is something that probably does not come immediately to mind. It is the odd pairing of the stick with the paints. The stirring paddle is used with cans of paint, not with watercolor paints. It's a subtle thing, but I think it's there. Of course the color helps as well as the nice, even light.



Once again I am walking back to my car from a job and I spot this interesting section of sidewalk. What do you think? I stopped dead in my tracks to photograph it.

Day Nineteen: Gotta Hit The Sack

Well, it's 10:00pm and I am cramming this post in at the end of my day. If I know what's good for me I gotta hit the sack. I need to be up at 5:00AM, make a weather picture for the Post-Standard and get to a sentencing for a woman convicted of killing her husband. More on that later (if I remember). In the interest of trying to post at least one photo a day here, I offer these two. What's significant to me is they once again show how capable point & shoot digital cameras are. Again both made with the Dimage Xg. The chalk pastels illustrate the close up capability.
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