Walter W. Law Portrait

by Posted in Painting, People Leave a comment
walterlaw-1-of-2

Walter W. Law (November 13, 1837 – January 17, 1924), the Founder of Briarcliff Manor. Painted by Howard Russell Butler. (1856 – 1934)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_W._Law.

“The first president and founder of the American Fine Arts Society, Howard Russell Butler was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1902. He was especially known for his paintings of landscapes and solar eclipses.” (Spellman Gallery)
https://www.spellmangallery.com/art…/howard-russell-butler

The painting hangs in Briarcliff Manor Village Hall. The Village is currently taking steps to further protect this valuable and historically significant painting. These include adding museum quality glass.

The Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society (BMSHS) did not have a good photograph of this painting, so we went over to take one before the glass was installed and photography made more difficult because of reflections.”

Taken with a Sony Nex 5n and Sony E 16mm f2.8

A Visit to Boston – Day Three – Final thoughts

by Posted in Statues, Thoughts Leave a comment
bostonday3finalcow-1-of-1

I thoroughly enjoyed my short visit to Boston and enjoyed very much seeing some old friends that I hadnt’ seen for quite some time. I really like Boston. I’d been there before, when my younger daughter was studying at Boston University. I remember meeting people, going out for meals etc., but I don’t actually recall looking around Boston. This time I saw a lot more, but somehow, I felt that I hadn’t seen as much as I had wanted to. There just wasn’t enough time.

I’d like to go again, take my time and see more of Boston.

And to close I thought it would be appropriate to show yet another cow, this one seen outside the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel on Copley Square. Hope you like it.

Taken with a Sony A6000 and 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 OSS.

A Visit to Boston – Day Three – A budding photographer

by Posted in People Leave a comment
bostonday3aconversation-1-of-1

Back in Back Bay Station I was waiting for my train to leave when I heard a voice asking me if I was a photographer. I turned towards the voice and saw this woman sitting next to me. I replied that I was an enthusiastic amateur photographer, but not a professional (as if that makes much difference). She told me that she had started to get into photography and we chatted for a while, with me encouraging her in her photographic journal, which she was just beginning. Then it was time for me to leave.

She gave me her name, but I have a terrible memory for names and can’t remember what it was.

I wish her luck. It’s not an easy journey, particularly if you want to make money from your photography.

Taken with a Sony A6000 and 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 OSS.

A Visit to Boston – Day Three – The lowly pigeon

by Posted in Wildlife & Animals Leave a comment
bostonday3pigeon-1-of-1

And why not? They deserve their time in the sun too! They’re not unattractive and, as a species, incredibly successful.

My grandfather used to race pigeons. I grew up in the UK and someone would pick them up and take them over to somewhere in Europe, where they were released, the time of the release being recorded. Somehow, they would make their way back to his house. He would take the ring from their leg, inset it into some kind of machine and record the time that they arrived. I don’t know if he got some kind of prize if his pigeons arrived first. Must have been something like that because from time to time, the pigeons would return, but instead of alighting in their coop they would instead land on the roof of the house. Of course, he couldn’t get to them there and they were wasting valuable time. He would get quite angry, shouting and screaming at them to get off the roof.

He was also quite ruthless. If a pigeon was not performing, it was in the pot. I was quite close to one of them and when I discovered that my friend was my dinner (or tea as we called it where I grew up in the north of England) I was distraught.

I also have pleasant memories of eating pigeon outdoors with my late wife on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt. I believe we were in a cafe called the “Cafe des Pigeons”. It was swarming with Egyptian cats that looked as if they had just stepped out of the hieroglyphics on the wall of a tomb. I couldn’t find it through Google, so it might no longer exist.

Taken with a Sony A6000 and 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 OSS