Writing, Photography, and the life lessons I learned from Street Academy
Long-time blog readers will note that during my summer-long “Competition Season,” I will undoubtedly mention something called the “Drive of Shame.” The “Drive of Shame” happens when, after the announcement of acceptances at the New York State Fair, I must make a trek to Syracuse and claim the rejected entries prior to the Fair’s Opening…
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Some time ago, I received a postcard alerting me that two of my four entries to the Iowa State Fair were accepted, with at least one of them claiming an award. Here’s the postcard for proof. Yesterday, the results were posted on the Iowa State Fair website. First of all, as much as I thought…
Read MoreLast year, I finally obliterated the “Syracurse” – a portmanteau of “curse” and “Syracuse,” a personal concept that my photos were good enough for every other competition EXCEPT for the New York State Fair. Last year, that Syracurse ended, as five of my six entries made the walls of the Harriet May Mills Art Center,…
Read MoreTomorrow, after judging has completed, I’ll share with you the six images I’ve chosen from my collection of 2021 and 2022 photos for submission to the 2022 New York State Fair Photography Competition. And trust me, if I’m culling these images from the list … you know I’m trusting my gut with the six I’m…
Read MoreLast Saturday was the annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Stakes at Saratoga Harness. The Gerrity is a 15-race card that is the highlight of the Saratoga Harness racing season, and the top pacers from across the nation come to upstate New York for the big prizes. Me? I’m just there to try to renew a…
Read MoreListen, I’ve enjoyed a very successful photography run with state fairs and local gallery shows. Now I have a new goal in mind. At some point before I die, I want one of my photographic artworks displayed in a New York City art gallery. That’s right. I want one of my photos to appear on…
Read MoreI’ve had several levels of success with the Big E’s photography competition. Several blue ribbons, as well as a “Best of Division” in a COVID-shortened 2020 online exhibition. The Big E’s photo competition works like this. You send digital images to their acceptance site, then they decide if those digital images are suitable of display…
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Several months ago, one of my readers was kind enough to provide me with two cameras and a lot of medium-format film. I’ve already had plenty of success with one of the cameras, my Nikon F2S (“Nikon Athena”), but the second camera – a medium-format Pentacon Six SLR that I haven’t nicknamed yet – has…
Read MoreBackground. Three weeks ago, I was on the roof of the Kenmore Hotel as the Empire State Plaza 4th of July fireworks blasted through the skies. My Nikon Df captured several fantastic images, but I should let you know that I also brought three film cameras with me to the event – my Nikon F2S…
Read MoreI took some film photos at the Saratoga Harness track last night, just to practice with my Nikon F2S (“Nikon Athena”) and my 55mm f/1.2 lens. It was similar to an experiment I tried last year, where I wanted to get the horses as they were crossing the finish line – but with only the…
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Chuck The Writer 
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