I’ve been having a bit of fun with my slit-scan-modded camera, and I’m contemplating turning my photo project into a Dream Window.
And my newest Dream Window project, the frame of which I acquired from an eBay dealer in Maryland, might work out perfectly.
Or at least I hope so.
First things first. Glass removed. Frame cleaned. Dream Window preparation 101, plain and simp simps.
I decided to go with a Saratoga racing motif. So which do I go with? Thoroughbreds or harness horses? In the end, I decided to incorporate both tracks into this project.
I’ve been messing around for the better part of a year with the slitscan photography technique, and over that time I’ve acquired some decent slitscan pictures of the horses at both tracks. I converted two of those images – one harness, one thoroughbed – into one complete photograph. The upper and lower panels contain souvenir pennants featuring horses from both races. Nice, eh?
The rest of the perimeter pictures featured everything from lucky Saratoga Harness racing charms, to five vintage pari-mutuel tickets from the 1950’s, to a laser-printed advert from Wednesday night harness racing broadcasts on WRGB, featuring Howard Tupper. Yep, Wednesday nights at 10:00 p.m., live from the harness track, and sponsored by Schaefer Beer – the one beer to have when you’re having more than one.
Now it’s time for me to go “bobblehead.”
No, I’m not submitting my name to the ValleyCats for a bobblehead contest for media figures.
For about six years, the flat track has had bobblehead giveaway days. These things are supposed to be worth lots of money, but apparently nobody told eBay that they were worth that much. Eventually I picked up a few Saratoga jockey bobbleheads for a few dollars apiece. Let’s see. Here’s Jerry Bailey, here’s Angel Cordero, here’s John Velasquez, here’s Jerry Bailey, and here’s some guy playing the bugle.
Okay, now comes the fun part. I get to do my best Queen of Hearts impersonation. Off with their heads!
SPROING!!
And in the end, I decided to mount Sam the Bugler as a figurine atop the Dream Window itself.
So what’s the significance of this Dream Window in my life?
Well, there were plenty of times when, as a kid, I did watch WRGB’s Wednesday night harness races, and thought that all horseraces were designed that way. Then I discovered the thoroughbred races at Saratoga. A few years ago, I actually went to the track for the first time – mostly because of a trivia tournament. Before long, I was going to the track – not so much for gambling – but to take pictures of the horses and to have a good time.
Oh yeah… you want to see this Dream Window in all its glory, don’t you?
Well, I haven’t had a chance to wire up the back for hanging yet… but…
You know what? You read my blog every day, and you’ve been following my Dream Window progress since the first one I crafted two years ago.
So here’s Dream Window #10… also known as “The Photo Finish.”
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So what am I going to do with this one?
Don’t know yet. I’m sure there’s a horseracing fan that might want to acquire this, and I’m sure there’s a Saratoga-based auction or charity that might be interested in using this in one of their charitable auctions.
But for me, the best part of this Dream Window is – truly – its completion. Now I can get started on Dream Window 11.
Chuck The Writer 
It’s a winner, I think Sam looks perfect up there! I can almost hear him! Nice job, great window!
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Very nice, Chuck. I think the idea of a Saratoga based charity auction is a good one. I would think that during the thoroughbred season it could raise a nice sum.
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