Lobster Dinner!

This September 10th marks a 5 year anniversary for me being in New York!
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there is a lobster dinner that evening with friends, associates and aquaintences I've met after arriving here!

There are extra tickets available. If you're interested, call them up ASAP!

5 years of living in peaceful surroundings. To LIFE!

Event Photo Slideshow

Event Photography - Images by M Cheri Bordelon

National Dance Day - July 30 2011 - Saratoga Springs

Even though I haven't posted in a while doesn't mean that I've been sitting around twiddling my thumbs with nothing to do. Life has been quite busy and I'm fully engaged in exploring the next thing around the corner.

A friend of mine mentioned an old photo that I had taken back around 2004-2005 and I was on a mission to find it through photo archives...

I found some old photos from when my daughter and I went to an Eskimo Dance Practice in Wasilla, Alaska.... Granted, way back when my photo skills were... eh hem... lacking. I didn't care... I loved photography and was capturing amazing moments that would never happen again.

I uploaded some of those photos online and started looking around for something to do... You know me, go - do - see. I found out that it was National Dance Day. And best of all, the National Dance Museum & Hall of Fame in Saratoga was hosting a celebration by opening up and getting people in there to try many different dance styles!

I grabbed my gear and went straight off to it! PHOTOS of dancing, smiling faces, and contagious laughter. How could I resist being surrounded by the arts, science, education and entertainment all in one package!

From classic dance moves from on Broadway, to beats from the East with belly dancing, smooth swaying moves from Greek aisles, Swing, Hip Hop, intense cardio workout moves, the Salsa and more.... There were many instructors demonstrating different dance styles and the crowd of visitors eagerly joined in and tried a little bit of every move!

By the way... I tried dancing a little with camera in hand, then slung over my shoulder..... nah, didn't happen.

Here are some photos of the day... hope you enjoy!

At the end of the event the beautiful Leslie Valencia started a Congo line in front of the museum!

(I can still hear the trills rolling off of the tongues of the dancers and instructors... mixed in with beats of Congo music) Ba - bah bah baaaaah!


Until later... get out... move something!

The River Rages

Weeeesh. I live near a major river. That river among others is going through flood stage with the recent rapid heat increase and snow melt.

The river flood level is supposed to peak tonight around 9pm. It's now 9:51 pm.


Predicted times and flood level projections are always... a fact of guessing and mere prediction since the situation is getting worse and not subsiding.

I drove along the edge on both sides in three towns since early this morning, not realizing what the day would bring since I live in minor remote area with no local tv or radio broadcast due to signal interference from a natural element.... a mountain.

I observed in one location tonight, the waters edge is about three feet from pouring over onto the road. The other side of the river... in a small shallow bowl like setting... it was approximately 18 inches from

spilling onto the road with a notable amount of debris collecting and pooling along the edge. As for bridges... only two that I would risk driving over right now. Another bridge has one lane that was warded off this last winter... making it a one lane bridge... and NO one could ever make me drive across it now. It appears that the state, local government or who ever is in charge of repairs is doing major

work on that bridge too and is clearing out space and building a new bridge next to the old bridge.

I don't know for sure... it's just a guess. Something tells me that most of that work will be wiped away by morning though. Beyond that note - I will drive miles out of the way over another seemingly safer bridge.

Lots of homes along the river's edge have approximately 2-4 feet of water in them.


I saw kids toys floating away, lawn furniture and HUGE massive logs and a lot of debris.... it's bad. I feel bad for homeowners and others who have property along the river.

The history of the town(s) and landscape goes back to the days of older Adirondack establishment by means of logging...

So, while watching this flood develop and leave it's mark on mass scale, my mind could not help but wander back to the possibilities of years past when local towns were completely wiped away and rebuilt before civil engineers built a dam on an adjacent waterway.



That waterway is usually it's a trickle of a stream where fishermen can be seen in hip waders while hoping to catch that fresh river trout.

A dam located upstream is opened to release some pressure around noon or 1pm'ish from one waterway, spilling into the other river.

It's quite remarkable watching the water rage by with huge logs and small islands of conglomerated bunches of branches, trees, and who knows what else from one river as it passes the other bypass... Well, it's not passing by now... it's filling it up since the river is swelling further downstream.. So, back-flow is occurring. All that.... adds to the turbulent current and destructive flood.


It's quite remarkable and unforgettable.

Tomorrow morning I will try to wake early and set out in exploration before any daily business, camera in hand - ready to capture any rare moments of history.




This will be a year to remember.

Peace.


(other than that... Life has been peaceful, yet exciting and productive. All is well.)

Just a photo with effects added

It's hard to believe I have the day off.... I'm sitting here going through photos from a recent shoot and just playing around for the pure enjoyment of having free time!

Celebrating the 79th birthday of Johnny Cash - The EGG

It's not too late to get your tickets and join in to celebrate the 79th birthday of Johnny Cash with a tribute performance by Harold Ford and The Cash Band at The EGG located in Albany on Saturday, February 26 at 8pm.

In honor of Johnny Cash, dress in all black!

http://www.theegg.org/events/892

I've had the pleasure and honor to meet Harold Ford and The Cash Band during my last semester for the radio broadcasting degree. He came in for an interview and I was invited to go to any of their practices, so... you know me... I took him up on the offer!

Harold Ford has the closest resemblance to Johnny Cash that I know of and he sounds like him too. He also has Laura Lucy who gives a stunning performance as June Carter.

Not only that, The Cash Band is comprised of professional musicians like Sten Isachsen - lead guitar, Mitch Throop - stand up bass, Peter Main (who was drummer with Johnny Cash) and Les Wheeler - rhythm guitar/harmonica. See and hear for yourself while joining in a night of celebration in honor of Johnny Cash!





(note: Harold Ford and The Cash Band live in concert cd front cover and back cover have my photos.)

Charlie Samuels! featured in FULL BLEED

Ok, this is a must see and read! Professional action sports photographer Charlie Samuels is featured in a skateboarding article. You can see some of his photos too as an added bonus.
All remarkable photos and I must say I love the imagery captured in the photo of the handstand!

Charlie started riding on the streets of NYC during childhood and maintains an active lifestyle today that includes skateboarding. He's a professional skateboarder. Staying physically, mentally and emotionally fit - yep, that's Charlie.

I met Charlie while enrolled in a photojournalism class at SUNY Adirondack. Dr. Renee O'Brien, our professor invited a professional to come in and share life experience with the class. It was a thrill to hear what he had to share and to see his printed portfolio.

While enrolled in the extensive photography courses I worked with a company that is involved with sports journal photography, like group team shots and individual portraits. While there I also worked on the office side of it all too - prepping order forms, sending mail outs, bulk order forms, taking orders, processing and delivering photo orders to clients. Lots of filing and record keeping.

I also completed an internship in studio photography. Studio shoots are amazing, but for me, there is nothing like being out in field, on assignment and not having the luxury to control every element of lighting and the surroundings.

So all of that, to say... I love studio photography, event photography, staged shoots... well, let me just say photography is a real passion of mine and I enjoy shoots that involve both the controlled and uncontrolled environment. Being flexible and knowledgeable for studio and assignment shoots are great skills to possess. The complexity of being quick on foot, having to think fast and accurate, being able to control and know how to use the right gear the first time, and having the ability to stay calm and focused to get the shot while on assignment is something is exhilarating!

Many times you cannot reproduce or re-do a shot. An interruption in the flow of life is - well... an interruption. Time cannot be rewound without causing abrupt abortive thought to the continuum. You will see change and it is never more evident than that of what is caught in a frame. To have the same facial expressions, body movement, and the uninterrupted journey... it's an impossible. You may get close to having something similar but it will not be the same. There is something lost when you try to re-do life in stills.

That first shot is the shot you go with. And, I've learned much about that from studio photography, because while in studio people expect to be posed, positioned and shot, re-shot in another angle... holding, hoping and wanting an image that represents how they feel at the moment. I DO enjoy it more in field, uninterrupted and many times, the shot that no one knows I took. That natural shot that captures the best in a person while they are uninterrupted. That is a technique and skill that I observed and learned about by being in studio and also as an assistant, in field, with Charlie.

I'm honored to know him and to have had the opportunity to learn about being out there, in the field, and on assignment.

On one of the photo assignments Charlie's photos were published in the New York Times as he covered the induction of Tony Kubek into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. (yeah, I got to meet Tony Kubec a former NBC Analyst, Bob Costas a NBC Sportscaster and Harold Rynolds of the MLB Network).

More of Charlie's photos from photo assignments that I assisted on were published in an article about the Tour de Battenkill, featured in Bicycling Magazine.

While traveling to an assignment with him... he mentioned something about his sound guy and I immediately thought about moving forward with audio, film and broadcasting.

Later I interviewed Charlie for radio broadcast on WGFR while involved in the Radio Broadcast degree. You can hear the interview here.

So, cheers to Charlie, one of the many people who has and will always be an inspiration to me.

____________________________________________
Update to this blog post on Feb 2, 2011 at 12:06am EST
Charlie sent this link to the book with 8 of his photos. Thank you Charlie!

Allow Yourself to Relax

Feeling down, got the blahs, stressed?

Take time out, right now.... do something for you. Let go of what you're doing for a few moments... even if you have to force yourself to get up, step away from the desk, workstation or whatever you're involved in. It won't cost you any money and it's a personal investment in self awareness that enriches a sense of now.

Now, stretch, take a deep breath and allow yourself to yawn... for real. You know your physical limitations, so do what you can.

Stretching allows better blood circulation and stimulation to muscles that are so accustomed to being in that "workstation" position will help you feel better. Yawning is a way to help your body get needed oxygen, boosts circulation and if you really stretch and yawn you will feel a little burst of energy. If you don't, think deep and examine your perception of owning a moment of time.

Ask yourself these questions:
Did I really allow yourself to take a break?
Did I own the moment by doing something just for me?

Selfless acts of loving self so you can function better and feel better!


One moment of forced relaxation... let your body feel a short break.


Nothing wrong with being busy, and having work to do... but, do allow yourself to take a small personal break. Take back control of your mind and body... give yourself that permission to rest... and, then get back to work.

Happy stretching!


Cheri, Peaced in NY

Live local preliminary rounds for battle of the bands!!!!

WGFR presents Empire Activities Battle of the Bands. Hear live music from the hottest local bands around on:
 

Friday February 18th

Friday March 4th

Friday March 18th

Friday April 1st


All shows are from 6:30pm-9:45pm

 

These will be 4 preliminary rounds for the Empire Activities Battle of the Bands featuring 20 local bands.

 

That means 4 shows, 5 bands each night from 6:30-9:45pm.

Winner takes home $1000 cash!
 

Located at the Cave @ Adventure Racing, 1079 state route 9 in Queensbury.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door!

 Here, click and see for yourself!

WGFR’s got your local live music

Peoples Pixel Project viewing!!!

Edited to add a link to 2011 Peoples Pixel Project Winners!
http://www.lakegeorgearts.org/Peoples%20Pixel%20Project.htm

>end edit<
_______________________

Alright, it's that time of year again to view the short films submitted to the Peoples Pixel Project!!

The Lake George Arts Project presents the 2nd Annual
Peoples Pixel Project
A Festival of Short Videos
7 pm on January 22, 2011
Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls
Tickets $10. To purchase tickets call LGAP: (518) 668-2616,
or Rock Hill Bake House: (518) 615-0777.

CLICK HERE for sneak preview:
"U and I", by Cassidy Jane Prince, age 10



The Peoples Pixel Project is part of a host of exciting events by the Lake George Arts Project.



Start prepping for submissions to the next Peoples Pixel Project that will be held next year! Go on, you've got time... but not that much time... get out, film and do something! Be a part of the art community!

Wondering where to start and how to make your own short... check this out!




Hope to see you or your work in this or another upcoming show!!!

Cheri





Looking for a power packed software as a tool to make an outstanding short film, commercial or well, anything video related.... you can cut, splice, add effects... Includes multi-video tracks and multi-audio tracks... and more...

Vacation in Costa Rica!!!

Here's a hot news tidbit in the area... I found out that there is an auction happening right now and you have the chance to go on a luxurious vacation in Costa Rica!!!

Place your bid through this auction for an opportunity to go on vacation in Costa Rica!!!!

Here's what you get if you have the winning bid
Deluxe Accommodations For Two Guests For Five Nights, & $150 Spa Credit at
The Lost Iguana Resort & Spa in Arenal, Costa Rica!

I know these people at the Lake George Arts Project.... this is a real auction and not a scam.

Check out the latest bid... Outbid and go on that vaca... and please take pictures when you get there, I'd love to see them!!!!

If you are the winner, by all means... let me know!!!!



Good luck!!!

Promotional Imaging on a new CD

Check out the newly released cd by Harold Ford and The Cash Band!

The photos on the front cover and back were shot by yours truly!
Live concert CD

Not only that... check out the interview I did with Harold... get a little back history on this link
Interview with Harold Ford with me as host of the Friday's at 5 show on WGFR

Local Upstate Interviews

Hey, hello there!
If you've wondered where I've been and why things quietened down a bit (blogging entries) well... I've been working full time (ouch, not at the exact type of work I'd love to be in... it's a typical transitional job of a college student while on an amazing journey in life.

I'm also a music director of our college radio. I do stuff... like, reviewing lots of music that gets entered into the music rotation... I also do updates and add the music reviewed so the station stays up to date with fresh new content that features known artists from major record labels as well as local music that's just getting noticed.

Oh, yeah... and I've been interviewing local bands and solo artists (all genre that has come forward as of yet... I'm no genre snob and I like all formats). You can find interviews that I've been doing along with still photography (yeah, did I mention that, I'm a professional photographer too)... So I'm using part of a skill set that I had before entering college (you know, can't work without a degree now-days even if you're a self taught novice) along with new skills that accentuate what I can and will do.

So without further adu ... the link http://www.wgfr.org/Band_Interviews.html

Did I mention that I'm the web admin for WGFR.org too?

Yes, shameless plug because it's time I find a job in the field I love.... creative content manager and promoter.


oh.... all that to say... If I get quiet... it's because I'm really busy doing what I enjoy doing. LIVING!


peace...

Road Trip to the state of Vermont

Went on a road trip with Dee Breger. Along the way Dee spotted a place along the roadside that sold fresh, vine ripe tomatoes! So, we each purchased a few! I got some really large sandwich sized ones to surprise Bruno with since he loves a tomato sandwich. It's the end of the season and fall spreading across the area so to still find fresh ripe tomatoes was a rare treat.
After that, we kept going east... knowing we would end up in Vermont sooner or later.
On the way we stopped at an alpaca farm just at closing time. I pointed out that there was someone out there and that we should stop because the sign said tour hours Monday - Friday by chance. Chance always wins out with me because it's unintended and unforced.

After watching someone out in the field with the alpacas we just stood there. I was silently in wonder of what would happen next. The person out in the field noticed us. It turned out to be the owner, Sandy Harder.

Sandy didn't miss a beat.... she immediately welcomed us by saying... "do you want to come see the baby". I thought... well, we'll get a quick peek and continue on our way trying to find Bennington without a map (ha) and back before it gets too dark. To my surprise Sandy gave a very in-depth discussion on alpacas and llamas. Here are a few pictures of alpacas on the farm and of Charlie the llama alpaca mix.

Charlie weighs around 400lbs and came charging, ears back and I thought ready to spit...
so I sneakily took a few steps back. Come to find out Charlie wasn't charging in rage or anger...

He wanted a hug from his 'mom', Sandy. They have a unique bond... and if you visit she'll tell you all about it as I don't want to spoil the mystery of their bond by telling you everything!




And we got to go into her shop too where she sells hand made alpaca hats, gloves, socks, vests, etc.


You can even buy alpaca yarn to make your own creations or get some for friends or relatives that make their own creations! Sandy has adult alpaca yarn and also baby alpaca yarn. Sometimes people are allergic to clothing items made with wool and they use alpaca wool as an alternative.
Sandy's place is located at 12 South State Line Road in North Bennington, Vermont. You can also find her online at shaftsburyalpacas.com. If you visit her tell her that you read about her here from Cheri.

Life in images

It's been a busy and exciting yet peaceful summer... life is amazing! I had one class this summer, made an A and have one final class this Fall semester and then I'll be wrapping up two degrees before continuing on to a 4 year degree.

When I have time off ... going outdoors, exploring and being in awe of nature is... well... I cannot express in writing how I feel about this life.

Peace to all is my hope, wish and desire.... any yet again peace

Below are photos of varying subject matter taken this summer...

Cicada

So, I found this cicada today that was resting on a rock while it's wings were drying... it just shed it's outer shell... take a look... pretty cool...


Peace, as always

A new friend

Well, most people you meet that have met me might say I stopped them just to say hi, ask them for a photo or what have you. I was walking out of a store and saw this lady with a baby... well it looked like a baby, but there was something about it that caught my attention... not sure quite what it was... but I said, oh my is that a real baby... She said no, then started sharing more about the baby.

Here is a lovely lady I met... Kathy, has a amazingly joyful persona... I asked her for a photo... and she said sure!

r'Chichi's Dragons

Joe is a 2009 graduate

of SUNY Adirondack and was in some of my classes... and I like staying in contact with classmates. Anywhoooo, he has some bearded dragons that laid eggs... and other lizards... He also has people coming in and out of his place to see these dragons and eggs... and I happened to be one who 'had to go see!"

I bring you photos of beardie dragons...

He has this other lizard too... it's a juvenile... when it gets older it should be somewhere around Joe's height... he plans to walk it on a leash outdoors... wooot! I wanna see that remarkable feat, haha!!

Recent photos and the places I've been

Well... much is going on... life! ha!

One day on the way home from work I noticed that there was a new sign going up for a new group in a small town.... you see, a while back I was asked to go and take photos of the town meeting when this group of people wanted to start a local facility that teaches and passes down traditions from their elders... I thought WOW! awesome... why?

Well, my first semester as an adult returning to school... a graphics project was just that... a mock up magazine cover of artists and artisians who passed down their knowledge to future generations so that the ways of the people weren't lost. (inside thoughts: I'm Cajun... who honors and respects passing down the original tongue and ways of our peoples...

then I lived in Alaska and realize how important it is for all people, including Alaska Native Eskimos and Indians to pass their original ways to future generations)...

So, if anyone wonders why I've taken to heart and follow some things... not only am I sentemental... but I find value in passing down cultural traditions.

(Nuff said: in my best lil ole Cajun accent)

I was asked many times over after relocating to the Adirondacks... "are you a local?" ... well, no.... but I'm someone who respects and honors life, the people, cultures of earth, landscape and the human condition that desires to be recognized for being part of who we are culturally... including non-locals who just are happy to be alive.

The photos are from the Adirondack Folk School, located in upstate, NY.