Some Time in Albany

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 A friend and I decided to go to downtown Albany to photograph the architecture at dusk.  It was supposed to be a nice day, but as we began the drive the rain started.  Even though we were a little discouraged, we were determined to keep going since we had cancelled the same fieldtrip last week because of the rain.

When we arrived it was still raining but the Egg sheltered us and in just a short while the rain stopped.   There's not much more of a story to this.  We photographed until it was almost dark and we were cold enough that it wasn't enjoyable any more.

I think the rain was a blessing in disguise because of the interesting shiny patterns left on the ground.  

Still some nice color on the trees in the background

Storm Aid

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Last year at the end of August, a hurricane ripped through our area.  Very much out of character for the weather here in upstate NY.  It devastated several communities, leaving them in severe shock and overwhelming destruction.

Clean-up efforts began immediately and once that was taken care of, the rebuilding began.

Ten months later, some of the homes and businesses have been put back together, but some are still in various degrees of restoration.  Fundraisers continue.

Today the Altamont Fairgrounds hosted one of those fundraisers, Storm Aid. Various vendors, a bouncy house, bands,  face painters, a caricaturist, horse show & competition and an old car show were just some of the activities on site.  

Sadly, it was not well attended.  But there will be more, and I guess any amount of money donated to the rebuilding of the community is better than none.

It occurred to me as I was walking around taking photos that I could use my images to give a completely different story.  I could make it appear as though there were scads of people, that the action never stopped, and that the funds raised were significant.

Instead I just photographed what appealed to me and what I thought would give

a good representation of the afternoon's event.