Gone Fishin' (And Print Sale Plans) (And Albany)

Albany, New York

It appears it's that time again.

Most years at this time I go on a short family vacation, and as I had a family situation arise last Thursday that's going to keep me busy for a while, I think it's best if I put the Gone Fishin' shingle on the door and close the TOP shop for a week or so.

Despite the lack of forewarning, for which I apologize.

The caveat is, I'm still going to have a lot of time and I'm pretty sure I'm going to want to write a post or three. So even though I'm "away" on "staycation" and on a limited schedule, I'll most likely still do some writing. So please don't be a stranger.

Coming up
We are planning a print sale for September that will feature two of Carl Weese's 7x17-inch in-camera view camera panoramic platinum/palladium prints. Like many pros Carl likes being a jack of all formats and media, but I secretly think 7x17" Pt/Pd is what he's best at. (Don't tell him I said that.) We haven't yet chosen the images (well, Carl has his candidates nailed down but I haven't rendered my 2¢ yet), and we don't have a for-certain start date yet. Carl is completing experiments on a beautiful new paper he's very psyched about.

More news when I have it.

A photographer's town
Recently I got to visit Albany, New York (capital of the Empire State) for a short time. The weather when I was there was gorgeous and I was blown away by Albany—I guess I didn't know what to expect, so it took me by surprise how beautiful and interesting a place it is. I cured my itch for a Touit by latching the XF 14mm on to the camera and getting out for three hours or so for some intensive photography. Fun. Saw pictures everywhere, most of which I didn't even take—one of those days. I'm currently in the familiar "Wow, look what I did!" stage with the pics, but it's possible a few of them might in fact survive the "Maybe that isn't so great after all" stage which comes later. If I still like any of them after a week or two I'll post more of 'em. Above is my version of a standard "this means Albany" shot, of the famous (forget it, I'm not writing "iconic" any more) statue of Philip Schuyler, the Revolutionary War general and early Senator.

I want to return to Albany (and the nearby towns of Schenectady and Troy), perhaps with a local tourguide, for some more exploring and some more photography. I met some nice people there and really enjoyed wandering the streets and public spaces, and had to leave much too soon.

Mike

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Comments

[Michael Perini]

Well if you get to Troy, it's substantial Jewel is the Troy Music Hall, known for incredible acoustics, and one of the finest Organs i the country. You can also keep going to lovely Saratoga Springs.... but no one goes there in August....;- ))
m

[Ben]

Off fishing ourselves for a few weeks, good luck with everything.

Carl's last print sale was my favorite of your print sales... Really looking forward to it!!! Just make it in late September, please! I should be a bit more flush then :)

[Alex]

Spend a little time with a map and take some of the old roads between Albany and Troy. There's a vintage bridge in Troy...well, you'll know it when you see it. Also innumerable brick mill buildings, train stations that nobody has bothered to tear down, and some Victorian piles that would cost a zillion dollars to replicate.

If you're ever headed to the Boston area and have the time to burn, I'd recommend taking Route 2 between Albany and the Connecticut River. It's a nice driving road, and passes through a batch of lovely little towns. Don't miss the turnoff for Shelburne Falls.

[Rick Popham]

I wonder if Carl is using the new Platinum Rag paper from Hahnemuhle.

[Marty]

oh man, if I didn't have the ball and chain of a real job I'd love to guide that tour, XPRO1/35f.2 in hand.

[Barry Reid]

Enjoy your break, but dammit no TOP and no VSL at the same time...

[RayC]

First Thom, then Kirk, now you, everyone of my favorite writers on vacation and I'm still out here working!

[scott kirkpatrick]

I have a hard time looking at a city father statue with some Dutch angle and not seeing Robert Frank's St. Francis and the town hall in LA, or Lee Friedlander's monuments work. But there is a lot more to see in Albany. Did you get out to the SUNY campus, with its buildings that were originally designed for Islamabad?

[Richard Alan Fox]

There is only one thing to do when Mike and Kirk go on vacation, go on vacation too.

[toto]

I've never thought of Albany as a photographer's town, perhaps because I associate it too much with the dysfunctional state government. And no, I've never been there, so what do I know.