Tommy
Sometimes I get a bit blocked up when I think about writing on this blog. Since the suitcases project has garnered so much attention, and with all the new subscribers, I sometimes feel a bit self-conscious. It is something I fight against, but in the last week I have been suffering from a bit of “Karma Congestion” as my friend Alex would call it. The easiest way for me to get back into it is to post something that makes me really happy.
When I was shooting the UMASS Fenway game last week, I was surprised and really glad to see my son Peter’s great friend Tommy. He and Pete have known each other since middle school and he is one of the nicest people around. This picture says just about all you need to know about him. Such a treat to run into him in such an unexpected place.
Frozen Fenway
This past Saturday I shot the UMASS / Vermont ice hockey game at Fenway Park in Boston. My friend Thom Kendall was covering the action on the ice, and I had the luxury of just wandering around shooting whatever looked interesting. It was great fun to have the run of the place. It was the first official event in this, the 100th year of the park. So much history. / This panorama was taken from the “Green Monster”.
Catamount Classic
Last year my friend Thom Kendall asked if I would volunteer my time to shoot the Catamount Classic (catamountclassic.com). It is an event started by people at the University of Vermont to raise funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This year it was another beautiful day and it felt good to be doing something to help raise money for a good cause. I am in the middle of editing the photographs and really like this one. / For the last week, I have been spending lots of time and energy on my Kickstarter project, and it is nice to be looking at pictures that are so completely different. I’ll be back in Albany on Thursday to do some more work on the suitcases.
Sox v Yankees
This is my great nephew and godson Crispin Duryee who is an avid Yankee fan.
He and his dad had planned to go see the Sox/Yankees game last night but Burr had a schedule conflict and couldn’t make it. I was more than happy to step in take him, and it was a blast. I hadn’t gone to a ballgame with an eight year old since Peter was little, and it definitely brought back memories.
It was a beautiful night for baseball and the Yanks/Sox rivalry meant for a crowd that was really into the game. Crispin is amazingly knowledgable about the Yankees and was fascinated by all the statistical information displayed on the new jumbotrons. He was a perfect companion at a game; never bored, always in tune with the action and unabashedly rooting for his team. The Sox won 9-4 which made me happy but was surely disappointing for him. We’ll see what happens tonight when Burnett goes up against Lester.
I’ve been on the go alot lately. Sorry for the lack of posts. / Last Wednesday we went to Fenway to see the Sox play Tampa. As often happens, we were only able to get two tickets for the three of us. Instead of messing with the scalpers, I make a small sign and stand on the corner of Yawkey Way and Brookline Avenue and hope for the best. It has always worked in the past, and Wednesday was no exception. Some guy walked past and just handed me this standing room only ticket. It was for the Budweiser Deck in right field and it was a great place to watch the game.
I stayed up here until the fourth and then Cris texted me to say that the seat next to her was still empty. So I moved down was able to sit in the shade with her and Peter in section 10 and see the end of the game from the nice new red seats. Sox lost 4-0 but it was still loads of fun. So thanks to the gentleman who made it all possible.
Saratoga
Last Friday my sister Karen and her husband Dick came up to go with us to the track at Saratoga. It was a beautiful day and after all the heat and humidity, it was a pleasure to sit in the grandstand and watch the horses run. Last year Cris, Peter, and I went and Pete was the big winner. I am not sure what his system is, but it seems to work as he came out about $60.00 ahead. This year, Dick’s friend Paul gave us some tips and they mostly worked. On mostly $1.00 or $2.00 bets, I ended the day up about $20.00. Peter chose not to follow Paul’s advice and again was the big winner, leaving the track with about $30.00 more than he came with.
I won a bit on the sixth race. Lots of fun.
PNC Park
Peter and I drove to Meadville on Wednesday so that I could be with friends for a few days. Last night we went down the 79 to Pittsburgh to catch a Bucs game. As a family, we go to ballparks whenever we get the chance and we’ve been to PNC Park quite alot. In 2002, Peter and I went to see a game and had almost the exact same seats. I was shooting with my Widelux at that time and made an image that day that I have always loved. When I shifted to digital, I stopped using that camera, but have always missed the format. So now I shoot 2 digital images and stitch them together on the computer. Pretty much the identical result. Feels a bit like cheating, but I’m not too bothered. / This is a beautiful ball park. Situated on the north shore of the river with an amazing view of downtown Pittsburgh, it just can’t be beat (unlike the Pirates who lost 15 – 5). These seats were $27.oo each, which is an incredible bargain. My only complaint is that it is almost impossible to find an Iron City Beer in the place. I had to settle for a 16 oz can of Yuengling which is arguably a better beer, but doesn’t hold the same cachet for me.
Yankees v Rays
I went to the Yankee game yesterday with my friend Jeff Cohen. It was probably the fastest game I have attended in the last 20 years. Both Sabathia and Shields work quickly and it was all over in 2 hours 10 minutes. It was a wacky game; Shields tried to pick a runner off 3rd and threw it away for the Yankees only run. Both pitchers allowed only 4 hits. The photo is of the last out of the game. I hope to get to Fenway soon.
Joe West
If you look closely, the umpire standing on the first base line is my favorite major league umpire ever (and the only one I know by name). He has such a unique presence that you can’t miss him. I spent a lot of the game yelling out his name and clapping. / Joe West was the umpire that called Dave Roberts safe on the famous steal of second base in the ninth inning of the 2004 ALCS. (This is worth a look.) Millar’s walk, Roberts’ pinch running and “the steal”, Joe West calling him safe (and he was), then Bill Mueller’s rbi single to tie the game. Amazing baseball. / Joe was a busy man last night. After a close play at first early in the evening which resulted in the Angels’ only run, Jim Leyland rode him from the dugout the whole game. Leyland even came out between innings to jaw at him, then finally late in the game he got tossed. Lots of fun.
Yaz
Cris and I flew to California last night. JetBlue is the only airline with direct flights from Logan to Long Beach, and it was a nice flight. It was pleasant to see this life-sized Yaz at the gate. Only in Boston, I guess. To get to the airport, you drive through the Ted Williams tunnel and then just before you get on the plane you are reminded again about how big a role the Sox play in New England’s identity. I didn’t see Paul Revere anywhere, but Sam Adams was in all the bars.
Jon Crispin's Notebook 
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