Shadow Shot Sunday - Shadowy Land Barge

Those who peruse the meme Shadow Shot Sunday 2  probably know that I like airplanes...and cars too. And the older the better! At the recent Shelton Historical Society open house and car show, I found my favorite chrome laden land barge, a 1954 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. Perfect to me, this yellow hulking had the styling artistry that eludes the modern auto. On a hot and sunny days, this curvaceous Cadillac yacht also meant shadows underneath, just perfect for wheelchair captures. And if one looks carefully, the photographer is captured within a sea of chrome (I'm almost out of nautical clichés :)

I love this yellow boat - in subject and shadow too!

Ruby Tuesday Too - Fire Apparatus

Ruby Tuesday Too prompts us to find items in an arresting shade of red. So how about a restored early 1950s Chevrolet fire truck. With its ruby hue, this is eye-catching for sure, although its previous home base of Moosehead Lake, Maine made me a bit skeptical (moose residing in Maine? ), but a cursory search reveals there actually is a Moosehead Lake in western Maine, in fact a very large lake (40 miles/64 km Long) and a popular vacation area...at any rate, this cherry red truck is a fine sample of our favorite color...

Whimsical Windows - Modern Bell Tower

This week's version of the architectural meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors is here. Being in New England, there are many a church steeple in white, on an equal number of town greens. Yet, a modernist touch can transform the traditional bell tower from Puritan gothic...such as this bell tower outside St. Hedwig Church in Naugatuck CT. The church was built in 1968, and I like the simple lines that surround the bell and the shadows that emanate from it - the bell sounds the same, the style modern...

Shadow Shot Sunday - City Hall Concert

Lead singer Bryan Kearney prepares

Soulful Felicia wows...

Who doesn't love shadows and live music downtown? Certainly not I, especially on a beautiful Summer evening in the park by Ansonia (CT) City Hall! In the 2015 Summer Concert Series hosted by the Ansonia Cultural Commission (I being the chair), this week's music was provided by The Bernadettes, a premier club band in the state.

Thus, for Shadow Shot Sunday 2, the shadows and music combine for a stylish post of sun and sound. Covering an eclectic mix of the '60s (classic Motown and soul), the '70s (Earth Wind & Fire, Disco era), I know their songs from a formative age and love them still - as does the band's large following. A very fun event...

I captured a few video's from wheelchair height - the cinematography leaves a lot to be desired...but not the sound!

September, Earth Wind & Fire, 1978

Signed Sealed and Delivered (I'm Yours), Stevie Wonder, 1970 (and to almost give away my age, I had the '45 single in 9th grade :)

Wordless Wednesday - Living History

Our daughter has always had a fascination with history, and although working on her Masters, is able to get a taste of the past, dressed for 1762 and 1913 at local historical societies. She looks great in either era...See WW and WW

1762, Derby (CT) Historical Society

1913, Shelton (CT) History Center

Ruby Tuesday Too - Cool can and candle craft

The always lovely Patti has created a craft that fits nicely for the meme Ruby Tuesday Too - simple and easy and here adds a nice ruby glow to any tabletop. 

Add one small tuna can, lots of spring  loaded clothes pins, a candleholder and a candle. It is not mandatory for the holder to be red - but why not?!

Whimsical Windows - Redevelop, please...

For this week's edition of Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I am 
featuring the old city owned ATP building. 
With municipalities so eager to get a building back onto the tax rolls, many implausible ideas are pitched by developers where nothing comes of fruition. 

Still I hope that it is rehabbed and repurposed sooner than later.There are currently new bids by developers to rehab this - so hope remains...These were taken with my phone on a cloudy day, the look is forlorn and not stylish - but too solid to tear down. Buildings like this were built to last. I hope to see something on this functional building happen, and get our small city out of the landlord business...

SOOC - Historical 1945

Straight Out of the Camera - SOOC returns - since I am the photo archivist of the family, I have been sorting, scanning and filing many photo prints taken by my grandfather from 1920 until his passing in 1981. Here is a print that has merely been scanned but offers a profound look at an important event. The place is along 1645 Oregon Avenue in Steubenville, Ohio; the girl my Aunt Theresa with neighborhood kids; and the newspaper was the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which suggests the date I believe to be 15 August 1945. History in the making...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Shadowy tea wreaths

Colorful circles create cool shadows

Stylish subjects and shadows

Britney the artisan. All photos by Patti

Our small city of Ansonia CT (pop. 19,000) is hosting a very unique series of events this year, Ansonia's Market Place. The idea is to bring people visitors to our downtown on Wednesday evenings to the lovely park/green aside City Hall. The idea is to spend a nice evening of visiting area crafters who are attending - the draw for the crafters is a No Fee policy for the season. We have enjoyed four Wednesdays of nice weather so far.

So for the fun meme Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I am showcasing the unique tea wreaths created by A Spot of Tea. Hosted by Patti Pensanti and Britney Fernandes, this artistic mother and daughter team have created a cool item that is engaging and eye catching. Given the sun and shadow, this was a great way to spend a beautiful day at Ansonia's market place...

Whimsical Windows - The Long Gone Traymore

Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors returns with not so much whimsy, but a really more dignified look from yesteryear. The gentleman here is my Grandpa, Ralph (I was named for him) standing in front of an old (and long gone) Atlantic City Boardwalk icon, the Traymore Hotel. Taken I believe in October 1956, this is a dignity personified, dressed in an understated yet stylish tweed jacket, well formed English driving cap and wearing a camera,  he knows how to relax alongside the Atlantic. I chose the original B&W and sepia edit to show the 1915 hotel in its massive beauty before the glass and glitz of the modern casinos. A classy look at the past...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Escape from Ansonia

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 takes me back to a recent function on Long Island Sound. Lovely Allegra was captured by personable photographer Patti who thought this scene similar to Dorothy telling Toto that we’re not in Kansas Ansonia anymore...

This is a great sentiment on a beautiful Summer evening on the salt water tidal estuary in Wast Haven. As well as shadows that are following my favorite ladies above the seawall. Blue sky, fluffy clouds and happy shadows are all here in our 20 minute escape from our home in the Ansonia Uplands...

Wordless Wednesday - Brooklyn Eatery

When visiting our son in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, we dined at a cool eatery Cafe Madeline. I had a cheddar chive egg biscuit, the others something with bacon and arugula on sourdough. Photogenic and tasty too...see WW and WW

Whimsical Windows - E Street Gallery

As a member of the local small Valley Arts Council, I like being part of this artist's group - not an artist (actually the organization's Treasurer), but an admirer of art. The gallery just moved one storefront to the left, so for the weekly meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I thought that the unpretentious portals and panes were a perfect subject this week. The new sign shows the name change to E Street, and should you be in the neighborhood of 35 Elizabeth Street in Derby CT, stop in an see the little arts council that holds its own with the fine work of local artisans...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Freedom on the East River

It is July 4th, the birthday of the USA as a free land in 1776. A day to celebrate our freedoms, and if they have shadows in then, all the better for Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

These late-2013 captures from the Brooklyn side of New York City's East River show that free minds allow us to flourish as a people. The Freedom Tower, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and the modern skyline of Lower Manhattan showcase the creativity and drive of free populace...Happy Independence Day