Go High, Low and at an Angle- Not sure it helped in this case

I've been happy with my recent posts; however, this one is not what I saw in the viewfinder. I saw something much more special but it did not translate. That is ok, though, because tomorrow is another day...and another picture...and then another...and another....and another, etc. Many, many more days to come!

More Art For You! Thanks For All The Comments

In total, I would say there were over 40 pieces of art in the section that I was in.

I'm not sure that little wire fence will hold back the elephants!

Below The Traffic Lies An Amazingly Inspirational World

I was so blown away by the art work that I found hiding under Albany's bridges. Passing over the art, on the highway, I happened to catch a glimpse of color and what appeared to be graffiti down below. Twenty minutes later, when I maneuvered my way to the inner-city park below, I found these treasures. Interestingly enough, this work was untouched by other graffiti artists who had scrolled their names, obscenities and gang related symbols nearby. This work is so impressive that even the most disrespectful in society seemed to have left this area untouched. I only photographed a few of these; however, the murals stretched as far as the eye could see. I wish I could have met the people that did these paintings and had the opportunity to learn their stories. I can only imagine that, as colorful and rich the murals, there are equally rich and colorful backgrounds to each of these artists.

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

"Man loves company - even if it is only that of a small burning candle." Georg C. Lichtenberg

I usually thrive when in the company of others. I look forward to conversing with a friend or the sound of laughter when surrounded by family. Tonight, however, peace and quiet suits me just fine.

'Art' That Adds To The Landscape Or 'Technology' Which Detracts From

I remember a few weeks ago, when taking pictures in the fog, noticing that large objects looked mysterious and somewhat beautiful in the mist. Usually a big iron bridge does little to add beauty to the landscape; however, I think in the fog the bridge does add to the landscape. This morning, with the recent time change, it was bright enough for me to capture these images in Tribes Hill.

I like how, in the last image, the bridge suddenly rises from the ground to amazing height and width. I often wonder what the landsape looked like in a time when there were no large structures dotting the horizon. Without roads, buildings and manmade structures what would there be to look at? Would I appreciate that much more what nature provides? How beautiful the untouched land must have looked. Today, I wondered what early man would have thought had they stumbled upon the scene below. Would they have been scared? intrigued? Would they have overlooked the 'ugliness' because of the usefulness of the bridge? Has man traded in beauty for technology and is there a way, in the future, to maintain the integrity of nature and at the same time continue to modernize?

God Bless America!

Get out the vote! Rock the vote! Vote for Health Care! Vote for Jobs! Vote for our Soldiers! Vote for the Environment! Vote for Safety! Vote for Social Security! Each of us will vote for different reasons but that doesn't matter. Voting is what is important today. Celebrate your right to vote in this Democracy! Thank you to my niece Megan who helped me out during school, allowing me to use her young hands to send the message that voting is important.

And The Beat Goes On

What a challenge it is to photograph a band! The lighting, the equipment, wires and movement of the artists, all combined to make tonight's assignment the most challenging that I have ever encountered. It was a wonderful learning experience and a whole lot of fun! I'm a groupie! I'll tell more about this band at a later date as I plan on shooting this band again in the near future.
Thank you to the band for inviting me and for tolerating all the flashes of the camera. You sounded great!

Park It!

It was such a beautiful morning, though a bit frosty, that I drove around to take my day's picture. I found myself at Washington Park in Albany. I wasn't overly inspired but I like these two images enough to post. I wish everyone a great day! I'm off to see Mama Mia at Proctors Theater.

A Return To Empty Times

Getting my Master's Degree in Political Science isn't a time that I look back upon with joy. I found SUNY Albany to be cold and to be empty of laughter and life.

This image makes me chuckle because on the social events bulletin board there are no events listed. On this day, when most campuses are full of activity, there was no one walking around. The campus was void of energy. In this series of pictures I tried to capture the mood of loneliness and abandonment. You will have to let me know if I achieved my goal.

Here I found two small birds sitting on a cold cement ledge. Other than one another, they have no company. There isn't even a trace of garbage for them to pick on.

Again, I found this scene to be amusing. This beverage, which promotes healthy and energetic living, was left behind. Again, no energy or activity in sight. Ironically, the can (which I did not move whatsoever) was 3/4 full. I wondered, in a science fiction sort of way, if I spilled the contents of the can would color and emotion suddenly fill the frame. When I practice more with photoshop I could color the can, leaving the rest of the scene in black and white. Symbolically, that would make an interesting photo.

SUNY Albany is littered with open stairways and long tunnel-like passageways. I read that the campus' architecture is styled after a southwest, open-aired concept. With the cold winds of the Northeast, this concept, if true, was a mistake. Rarely is there a warm glow from the sun spreading between the buildings. Rarely does one feel warmth on this campus, as bitter temperatures and a cutting breeze always seems to be present. I wasn't feeling down today when I stepped foot on the campus. I was interested in seeing what changes had taken place in the years since my last visit. I left an hour later feeling introspective and sad. The memories and emotions of my experiences, as a student on campus, came rushing back to me. I was happy to get back to my Jeep and drive off.