May 20th: City of Troy and Peeble's Island

 

Fence on Congress Street   

 As we were sent off on our adventure through Troy to test our picture taking strategies I was very skeptical about what I would see. I am from a small town and there really aren't that many big cities near me. When I picked Russell Sage, I knew that I wanted to be a commuter; I am not really a city person. Today as I walked around Troy I noticed that there was more to Troy than just being what I consider a big city. I learned that there is a beautiful history of art and architecture to go along with the many buildings.

(UP)

Church on Second Street

 I noticed that I enjoyed looking at the city through different, sometimes odd angles. I looked up, to the side and down; and got pictures at just about every angle and the pictures actually turned out very well.

 (SIDE)

Law Building on the corner of 2nd street and Congress Street

Lion on Law Building 

We learned when critiquing pictures that you should make the pictures not take them. I did this especially with this picture. I waited by these lions for the perfect moment when I could make the lion have a pedestrian in it's mouth. Though the pedestrian is not really in focus, I thought that it worked out well. 

Ramp behind Russell Sage Campus

 The pictures above and below are possibly my favorites from the entire day. Not only did I play with the angles, when I look at these pictures, I look deeper. To me these pictures symbolize what lies ahead, what the long road leads to. College was definitely not what I expected; it was definitely a life changing experience and to me these pictures are showing what lies ahead. There is life beyond today so live for tomorrow.
 

Walkway by Schacht Theater

Peeble's Island was a lot of fun. We did so many things that I haven't done since I was younger. A few examples include fishing in an ephemeral pond with our hands, walking through the muck with no shoes on, almost being pulled into the water, laughing, watching the girls squirm when an unusually large bug comes around, or laughing when everyone is forced to touch the tiny foot long snake. 

Ephemeral Pond at Peeble's Island

"Cowhead" aka water chestnut

 I even taught the teacher that water chestnut seeds are called "cowheads" from where I come from. These evil evil pieces of nature are everywhere. I have had an uncountable amount of holes in my feet from visiting the Kingston point where i used to swim when i was younger, and more recently while striper fishing in the river. Toby knows what I felt with these; evil evil evil pieces of devil spawn.

Factory across the river at Peeble's Island

the Snake that everyone was afraid of

I have grown up with snakes; my parents had a pet Burmese Python named Zeus that was 16 ft long. Me and my brother used to wear it as a scarf. Unfortunately Zeus had to get put down due to a rare form of cancer. My mom swears she would never ever get another snake, but i have always wanted one. At Peeble's Island I didn't hold the snake, however I did pet it. I'm kind of weird like that were I would only want to hold or have a large animal. I felt as though I would hurt the snake if i tried to hold it for it was so small. Other classmates didn't think so however, and would screach when they touched the tip of it's tail. Sage on the Summer is much more than a class that I can get credit for, I find it to be much like a summer camp. The first day was intense and I can't wait to see what else our professors have in store for us.