My 2023 photo entries for the New York State Fair are …

Last year, I had my most successful run ever at the New York State Fair. Six acceptances, five with ribbons, and two blue silks – one for my shot of a carnival swing ride The Snowflake Ride, and one for my eclipse capture The View from Screven County.

I know that there’s no way in humanity that I’m getting that lucky again. Not a chance at all. Six submitted / six accepted is like bowling a 300 game with a house ball and house shoes. You gotta be really lucky and really skilled at the same time for that to happen.

So if something happens in Syracuse this year where some of my pictures don’t make the walls … I’m okay with that. I’m entering my best, so let’s see how things turn out.

That being said … I’m still submitting my six best images for Syracuse. And I’m dropping them off in Syracuse this Saturday.

And my personal selection process was brutal. If I had my druthers, I could submit 15 images. At least 5 covered bridges. Another 5 Albany Patroons shots. And at least 5 train photos. But I had to be ruthless in the cutdown process. One covered bridge ONLY. One train shot ONLY. And no Patroons shots without that signed release.

And with all that … I narrowed my field to six entries.

And my 2023 entries are …

ATOMIC TULIPS

Nothing like seeing the heart of botany through a kaleidoscope prism. All this needs now is a rainbow coming out the right side and Roger Waters talking about not giving me any do-goody-good bullshit, amirite?

RAN OUT OF FIREWOOD

I’m still digging this waycool concept photo. Where’s the Christmas tree? It’s in the fireplace. But why are the ornaments and lights still hanging? Well, Christmas isn’t over yet. Right?

SC&H IN THE ADIRONDACKS

I wanted to get at least one Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railroad photo into Syracuse this year, and I chose one that had a fantastic level of Adirondack fall foliage attached to it. Trust me. It was either this or the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, and I’m saving those shots for something better.

BENNINGTON COUNTY, 15°F

Oh, I remember this image. I’ve tried photographing the Paper Mill Covered Bridge in Bennington, Vermont for a while now. And finally, I got the shot I wanted. In the snow. In the cold. Brr.

HUDSON RIVER SUNRISE

I still have very strong feelings for this image. I want it to get some silk of some sort. I think it has potential. So let’s see if the judges in Syracuse like it.

A BICOLOR SUNFLOWER

This was a last-minute swapout for another image I wanted to send to Syracuse. And when I do a last-minute swapout, it’s because I honestly have a gut feeling. Besides, this little beauty already claimed a blue ribbon at Durham last year,so what’s the harm in trying for a second silk?

And for the first time since the pre-COVID years … I’m submitting something in the Arts and Crafts category. That would be this delicious hooked rug artwork.

A BICOLOR SUNFLOWER

That’s right, kids. Your eyes do NOT deceive you. Not only is my sunflower photo getting entered in the photography category … I’m also submitting my latch hook sunflower rug at Syracuse.

And trust me. I was either going to submit this rug or the NEBA Roast Beef / Mike’s Submarines rug. But in the end, I’ll save the NEBA / Mike’s for the BUILT charity auction for Historic Albany Foundation, and see what this little beauty can do on the fair circuit. 😀

Okay. Those are my six photos (and one art piece) that will travel to Onondaga County on Saturday.

Time for specs.

• For the first time in what may be forever … I did NOT submit any film photos this year. Four of my photos were captured with my Nikon Df, while two were snared with my Google Pixel 6 Pro.
• Five of the six images were taken in New York, Bennington County, 15°F comes from Vermont.
• Atomic Tulips and Hudson River Sunrise were photographed in Albany County, A Bicolor Sunflower came from Rensselaer County, and the other two New York-based photos were captured in Saratoga County.

So … with all that in mind … my dear blog readers – which photo or photos do you think have the best chance to land on the walls of the Harriet May Mills Art Center on the New York State Fairgrounds?

Again, let me say this. There’s absolutely NO guarantee that any of my pictures will reach the walls. But that doesn’t mean I still can’t hope I’ve claimed a winner here. Right?