Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Native American Exhibit

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This was one of the few occasions when I’ve asked someone if I could take their picture. I generally avoid taking pictures of people, and when I do I usually do it without their knowledge as I don’t like the look that I get when people know they are being photographed. In this case, however, I asked his permission and he was kind enough to give it.

I like the eyes. So soulful. He didn’t look the way I thought a Native American would look, so I’m unsure of whether or not he was Native American himself. I suppose he might have been of Native American extraction or merely someone with an interest in Native Americans. Whicheve it was I like this portrait.

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Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Horse Riding

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This was one of the first photographs taken with my new Sony A77 II. The first few didn’t come out all that well as I was unfamiliar with the camera and had changed some of the settings (most notably setting up back button focusing) and found myself reaching for buttons in the wrong places. It didn’t take me long to get up to speed though.

I like this picture because the rider is pretty much in focus, but parts of the horse (e.g. the hoofs) aren’t. The blur around the feet of the horse, and the dust being kicked up gives a sense of motion that I like.

Taken with a Sony A77 II.

Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Overview

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In July of this year we went with some friends to the Putnam County 4-H Fair at the Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park.

According to the fair’s website:

The Putnam County 4-H Fair is a 3-day weekend of fun and learning for everyone.

Enjoy talented local musicians and dancers. Have fun with games, crafts and animal exhibits. Experience a country fair with an old-fashioned flair- the Putnam County 4-H Fair!

Relax at the Shady Grove Theater, listen to talented artists, both youth and adult, amateur and professional.

Win a ribbon! Enter your photography, quilt, baked goods, great vegetables and crafts for displaying in the big exhibit building. You don’t have to be a member of 4-H to enter.

Stop by the Master Gardener Plant Sale! Master Gardeners always have a colorful display of perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs for sale. Master Gardeners are on hand to answer your gardening questions.

Bid and win tools, paintings, tickets to shows, patio furniture and more at the Country Auction, Saturday at 2pm.

Experience Tony’s World of Science and Magic. Be curious or be skeptical, but you will definitely be amazed. Where is Tony? Just follow the sounds of children laughing.

That’s not all: Touch a Truck, Pet Shows, Food, Face Painting, Games, Civil War and Revolutionary War Encampments, Putnam History, Horse Demos, Country Pig Roast & Chicken Barbecue, Fishing Contest and more!

This seems like a pretty accurate description to me. We stopped by the exhibitions and enjoyed the fruits of the Pig Roast and Chicken.

It was also a good opportunity to try out my new camera: A Sony A77 II, which I used for all of the pictures in this series.

Above: The Hon. Robert J. Trainor 4-H Youth Center.

A Walk Through Croton-On-Hudson – Vassallo Park

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I’m afraid that the Town of Croton-on-Hudson is not a very “dog-friendly” town. It seems that dogs are not allowed in any of their parks, including this one: Vassallo Park. It’s quite a small park with very little to commend it other than a rather impressive old tree and a millstone.

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A nearby sign reads:

A millstone from the Early Grist Mill on the Croton River. It was saved by John B. Goldsborough, Superintendent of Building the New Croton Dam, that was completed in 1907. It was moved from the site of the family home on Grand Street in Croton to this park in 1989.

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A nearby sign reads:

The National Arborist Association and The International Society of Arboriculture jointly recognize this significant tree in this bicentennial year as having lived here at the time of the signing of our constitution.

I should point out that although the Town of Croton-on-Hudson does not seem to be dog friendly, the people certainly are. It was quite a hot day when I did this walk, and numerous shops had placed bowls of water outside for thirsty passing canines.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3