Happy Halloween

“Trick or Treat!” It’s been around all my life. I remember shouting it in elementary school during the parade and I remember hearing it over and over upon answering the door Halloween night, but this tradition isn’t that old. In America the practice of youths jaunting from door to door to collect goodies began sometime in the 50’s. In Ireland and Great Britain the tradition of souling has been around since the late 1800’s. Children would go door to door and offer songs or prayers for the dead and in return they were granted small cakes made for All Saints Day. Good luck to all the children tonight, I hope you get enough candy to last until the Easter Bunny arrives.

Happy Halloween

Halloween Memories

Anyone who knows me realizes that my memory works like a sieve. Unfortunately it’s a sieve with a broken screen that has holes big enough for grapefruits to pass through. One of my first Halloween memories was getting to dress up like my favorite super hero, who at that time was the incorruptible Mighty Mouse. Don’t laugh; he had a career of 80 films. Usually my brother and I had the store bought Halloween costumes, the ones that impaired vision and limited breathing, so running from house to house to amass great quantities of candy was almost impossible. The best thing I learned at this time was that those hollowed out plastic pumpkin containers are horrible for collecting treats. Kids, the way to go is with a pillow case - a big and strong one.
I remember taking the tuba out one year with a few friends and we made the rounds as a Dixieland band, playing “I wish I was in Dixie” and “Roll out the Barrel” long into the night. One of my most memorable costumes was when I dressed as a young mom who was just along with her kids trick or treating. I followed a bunch of children into my girlfriend’s parents’ house and scared the daylights out of my girlfriend. Ah the good old days.

Graveyard Sunrise

Nikon D800 Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 44mm ISO 100 6 image HDR

High School Football

This past weekend I had the privilege of shooting the homecoming football game at Great Valley High School. The Patriots went head to head against Bishop Shanahan’s Eagles in an exciting gridiron matchup. The game was hard fought but almost injury free. The Patriots came from behind to win the game 26-21. Scoring two touchdowns in the final minute before halftime. The Eagles rallied in the second half but their charge against the Patriots failed in the end. High School football at its best.

Great Valley Patriots vs. Bishop Shanahan  Eagles

Halloween Begins

Halloween may have had it’s origins in ancient Rome or possibly in ancient Ireland. In Ireland the Samhain was celebrated as the end of Summer festival. It marked a time to end the harvest and begin winter preparation. In 835 AD Pope Gregory VI moved All Saints Day to November 1st so it coincided with Samhain, an explanation as to why the Pope decided on this change is unknown. In the Celtic religion the Samhain holiday marked a time when the door between this world and the netherworld was left ajar. Fairies, corpses, and all kinds of mystical beings could travel between this world and the beyond. All kinds of magical creatures roamed the land during this holiday, and in a way they still do.

Halloween Begins

Nikon D800 Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 @ 16mm f/8 ISO 100 6 image HDR

The Four Tops

Autumn is marching onward and winter is quickly approaching. These four soldiers have ventured out of the forest, looking like faded protectors of the barren trees behind them. Proud in their fiery orange colours they stand, incorruptible, in their final days. Life draining from them with every passing hour. Soon to fall into a deep slumber awaiting the gentle caress of a spring breeze. Have a great weekend.

The Four Tops

Nikon D800 Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 38mm f/8 5 image HDR