Peter Otis Photos

Mohegan Sun: A Playground for 9 From 4 to Much More

Uncasville, CT

Members of our family wanted to create a surprise birthday somewhere with activities that would appeal to all 9 of us, ranging from age 4 to, now, 70.

The top choice for a birthday gathering for our family with multiple interests and limited time available in winter with its unpredictable weather turned out to be Mohegan Sun just 45 minutes from our home and not much further for two families from Massachusetts. Elements to consider when finding a spot started with needing a swimming pool for kids! Reasonable room rates were essential (helped by some discounted rooms).  Then, we needed to find a spot during school vacation week and discovered that the Harlem Globetrotters were performing at Mohegan. Upon arrival and during our stay other parts of this location that made it special included the fact that the entire complex is a sensual display of sights, textures and sounds.  We even managed to spend our time in the smoke-free areas.  Our kiddos were fascinated by the escalators, the waterfalls and colorful pool in the hotel lobby, lighting effects, and “Robo-Wolf” near the the Wolf Den! Top it off with dinner at Pepe’s Pizza, gravity-defying displays and a “win” by the Globetrotters, gigantic breakfast pancakes and waffles at the Hash House A Go Go and extended water splashing time in the swimming pool.  It  made for a perfect visit!

 

Pre-sunrise the following morning found me heading toward the cove way below our room and adjacent to the Thames River to capture these images.

 

Take a look at this slide show of inside and outside textures and colors:

 

Unexpected bonuses:  (1) The  towering glass sculpture by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Titled “River Blue,” (10,000-pounds, 14 feet wide and 25 feet tall). ” Thousands of richly colored glass components, 2,500 in all, were hand-blown by a team of artisans in Seattle, then fully assembled on-site to make… the distinctive cobalt blue, silver and clear colored glass sculpture. ” (2) One of us had a chance to use the one quarter cent (yes 1/4 cent) slots and still come home with more that 1/2 of what she started with — $5.00. (3) The mini hallway-wide display of tribal symbols, history  and natural and man-made objects located up the escalator from Pepe’s Pizza. (4) The Harlem Globetrotters who are still playing great basketball in their 90th year. (5) One grandchild saying this is now his FAVORITE place to visit!  (6) And finally, the clarity of close-up and distance photos I captured using a new small camera with a prime 35 mm lens.

Who knows what fun family adventures will take place next, or where?

Peter Otis

Peter Otis Photos, LLC

PLACES… plants… people… PLUS OTHER GEMS…

2016 Sugarin’ Season in Guilford!

Guilford, CT has been an agricultural community for more than 375 years.  One of the land’s best products is being produced now.

A week ago we had the frigid weather that allowed me to capture the Meetinghouse Hill churches in North Guilford.  At this time of the year one assumes there is going to be maple sap running, collected and boiled for one of the best seasonally produced delicacies anywhere!!!  Nights below freezing and days above… a general rule of thumb… produce the sap that is collected from trees in tubing or with buckets.

We headed North of Route 80 and back into North Guilford to see what was happening with Buster Scranton at Maple Grove Farm.  Buster is a life-long producer of syrup.  Take a look at a bit of his story here. Walking in to his big sugar house, we became part of a small group of adults and young kids, all watching Buster scurry from task to task.  He has some new equipment this year that should allow him to boil off the water much faster (about 40 gallons of syrup for every 1 gallon of finished syrup) so that he go to sleep earlier than 3 or 4 AM on the nights he is boiling!! Keeping the syrup level down with magic drops, testing the specific gravity with his hydrometer, stoking the fire every 8 minutes with more slab wood from Peter Marlowe’s saw mill, and filtering the syrup, etc., etc., etc is a very busy process.

Buster also urged us to go down to The Dudley Farm and see their smaller operation.  After buying some of his incredible popping corn (syrup to be purchased at another date), we headed to our next stop.

If you don’t know about Guilford’s Dudley Farm, definitely follow the hyperlink to learn more. George Page and his crew of adults and kids were collecting from 25 buckets and boiling under cover in a fashion that my father did and many folks still do to produce the same nectar.  Theirs is not a commercial operation but it is making syrup and continuing a tradition that is definitely in the blood of many of us New Englanders!

It was fun to see some of the kids who had broken off long sticks from downed branches taking pink heart-shaped marshmallows to toast in the flames.  It’s too bad there isn’t any snow on the ground that might have allowed them to make “leather aprons” too!!!

What a wonderful time of the year– the days are getting longer and there is new maple syrup.  Delicious on all counts!!

My hope is that I can get back to Buster’s  this year with a new camera to recapture this sweet- sweet image from a couple of years ago!

Peter Otis

Peter Otis Photos LLC

PLACES… PLANTS… PEOPLE… PLUS OTHER GEMS…

North Guilford, CT on a brutally cold, yet lovely, late afternoon

Meetinghouse Hill, North Guilford on a brutally cold, yet lovely, late afternoon

We had placed our order for chicken pie dinners at the Congregational Church. Pick up time was 5:30. Sunset was about 5:20. So for about an hour – with two warm up stops back in our car – I wandered around capturing images. Seen here is an earlier one of both churches – Congregational and St. John’s Episcopal – plus snow blasting through the cemetery, both churches again just before sunset, and one sunset image through a tree next to the Congregational Church.

North Guilford Congregational Church on the left

North Guilford Congregational Church on the left – an earlier shot

St. John's Episcopal Church on the right

St. John’s Episcopal Church on the right – closer to sunset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A hot shower, some sherry, and the delicious dinner…. now that was a great way to start Valentine’s eve!!

Peter Otis
Peter Otis Photos, LLC

PLACES… PLANTS… people… plus other gems…

 

 

Ice Castle New Hampshire – Go See It!!

Last Thursday after heavy rains, we had a chance to walk through and photograph New Hampshire’s Ice Castle located at The Hobo Railroad in Lincoln, NH.  We had been aware of this wintertime addition to the NH landscape, now in its third season.  Other Ice Castles can be found in Utah, Minnesota and Canada.  What a treat it was to experience one in Northern New England!!

Unfortunately, rains and a (late or has it just been perpetual) January thaw had beaten down the one acre complex.  But it was still a fun visual experience to see it before dark and then again when the light show began.  While standing in the various “rooms” we witnessed a wide spectrum of changing lights.  Although the cold weather prevented many kids of all ages from using the slides that have been constructed, folks nevertheless were seen crawling through tunnels (and coming out with dripping snow suits!).  Lots of video and still cameras captured sights that this week with very cold weather probably look vastly different.  Take a look at still images and videos on their web site to see what it looks like in other Wx conditions.  A crew of workers with hard hats, and ice climbing gear monitored the ceilings so that we weren’t hit with anything crashing down other than water drops.  Normally, their team works hard in cold weather to make turrets and lots of effects that had been greatly softened and worn down by the rains and high temps.

 

There is a beauty in Ice Castle NH that rivals other light shows I have been fortunate to capture with my camera — The Fountains of The Bellagio Hotel at night, sunrises and sunsets, slot canyons in AZ, Terratractus, fireworks, stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals and more.

 

 

 

If you can, go and experience this one or one of the other ones, do so.    And be ready to slide on the ice too!!

And after completing this experience, head over to nearby North Woodstock to the Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery and warm up with the specials of the day or night!!

Peter Otis

peterotisphotos.com

PLACES… plants… people… plus other gems….

SNOWMAGEDDON 2010 – WASHINGTON DC – An Unforgettable Experience

For nearly 20 years I and my colleagues at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment ran a cutting edge and successful job fair known as the Duke Yale Environmental Recruiting Fair.  On numerous occasions we dodged big storm bullets during February, the snowiest month, and held our event for professional school students from both of our schools.  Unfortunately in 2010 we needed to cancel the Friday event as we watched the weather forecasts; Snowmaggedon was headed our way.  Making the most of my time in DC, I spent nearly 24 hours capturing the storm.  Recently the DC region was hit with another nasty and similar storm.  I did leave the city on the following day, but was able to capture images that indicate what that city can look like when most everyone stays indoors or is concentrating on digging out.

In the midst of snow season 2016, thanks for the opportunity to share some of my images.

Peter

peterotisphotos

PLACES… plants… people… plus other gems…

 

Guilford Citizens Day Parade – Another Special Time for Everyone

Guilford, CT – Around the Town Green

September 19, 2015

One of the most anticipated and best attended community events here is our annual parade — part of Guilford Agricultural Fair weekend!

This morning, for nearly 1 hour all of us around the most beautiful Green in New England, watched and cheered U.S. military veterans, old cars, lots of tractors and fire engines, school marching bands, area fife and drum corps, Guilford High School reunion classes, school violinists- lots of them- as well as ice hockey players, Guilford’s and America’s Idol, Nick Fradiani, our land trust on its 50th anniversary, and many long time and committed non profits and businesses, as well as politicians, Minnie Mouse, Bob Minion, and kids and kids and more kids– of all ages.

Thank you to this year’s organizers and participants!!

Guilford, CT- a very special place to be on lovely days like this.

If you would like to see more images from today’s parade, please follow this link:

Peter Otis Photos, LLC
PLACES… plants… PEOPLE… plus other gems…

Two Completely Restored Tiffany Windows Return to Their Home

Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green, Branford, CT, June 30, 2015

Our restored Tiffany windows are back!

In early November last year workers from Hampden, MA-based Stained Glass Resurces, Inc. removed two of our old windows that needed serious repair. The windows came back this week and were placed in their proper locations.  We are now preparing ourselves to see the windows “with sunglasses on” due to their fresh clarity and brilliance. At some point in the future I will write a blog documenting the removal, intricate rebuilding of each window in Massachusetts and the re-installation yesterday.

But for now, please enjoy these images, and as soon as you can, come to Trinity and see them looking as lovely as they did when they were made by the Tiffany Studio a long time ago!

 

Peter

Peter Otis Photos, LLC

PLACES… plants… people… PLUS OTHER GEMS

 

NH Splendor- From Mount Washington to Millville – St. Paul’s School 50th Reunion- Class of 1965

NH Splendor- From Mount Washington to Millville – St. Paul’s School 50th Reunion- Class of 1965

Fiftieth high school reunions only happen once!

Getting back to my native New Hampshire recently was really special in many ways!

I was fortunate to attend both our pre-reunion as well as the actual reunion from May 26 – 31.  My travels took me from southern, shoreline CT to northern and then central NH. Sugar Hill, NH; Crawford Notch and Bretton Woods, NH; Concord, NH (aka “Millville” by the St. Paul’s School community- allowed me to experience a variety of ecosystems and plants in bloom.  It was an unusually warm week. Visiting in-laws in Sugar Hill on the back side of Cannon Mountain, I breathed and viewed a second dose of my favorite lilacs in full bloom (two weeks behind our CT lilac richness).  Their little museum has a realy cool exhibit this summer about photography.  I’m so glad they took me to see it.  A visit to Sugar Hill must include a stop at Harman’s Cheese & Country Store for some of the best aged cheddar anywhere!

Next stop, Bretton Woods (now apparently a part of a town called “Carroll, NH”) and a short stop at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Highland Center.  I went there to see the new (to me) Center and especially the photo exhibit of Brad Washburn’s incredible; aerial and mountain photographs.  If you stop to view the exhibit, be sure to ask at the front desk for the audio part of the tour to hear Brad (now deceased) describe the images.

Wednesday afternoon was focused on a trip up the Cog Railway with some of my classmates and their loved ones.  It had been years since I had taken that trip with our family — bio diesel engine for our ascent and descent, but still a thrill to chug up and down and to walk around the summit at 6,288 feet.

For this slide show I have omitted many images of our receptions and dinners. But getting early morning shots (especially) around and in the restored Mount Washington Hotel was a spectacular experience for me.  In the 1970’s and ’80’s I had attended a number of professional conferences and then watched it deteriorate.  The Omni Hotels have done a grand job of bringing back this grande dame!

Thursday we took a long hike up the country’s oldest hiking rail, the Crawford Path to the summit of Mount Pierce. Descending, I took a bad enough fall that made me unable to row in the next day’s crew race in Concord.  It was a lovely hike, but that tumble forced me to take photographs of the race instead of pulling an oar despite having practiced for the past 5 years on a Concept 2 rowing machine. Back in Concord for the actual reunion, we held our race in matched 1972 Pocock shells- first time ever two full boats had competed in a 50th reunion! Special events included chapel services, magnificent organ and carillon music, and an alumni parade led by the oldest alum and ending with the Class of 2015 taking up the rear.  There were sporting events, cultural events, exhibits, etc., etc.

My few images give a sense of some of my highlights! What isn’t shown here are the special moments and conversations that took place with classmates and their loved ones.  I am already eagerly looking forward to our next quinquennial in 5 years but hope to stay in touch with a number of folks sooner!

Peter

Peter Otis Photos, LLC

PLACES…plants… PEOPLE… PLUS OTHER GEMS

 

Rowing Shells – Elite Old-Timers and Today’s Best Eights

 

Rowing Shells – Elite Old-Timers and Today’s Best Eights

Concord, NH and New London, CT

In the past 10 days I have been privileged to witness races using both classic and the most- ultra modern rowing shells. I have also had a chance to see buffed 20 somethings in top condition as well as my 65+ year old peers continuing their rowing for the gold!

A hiking injury prevented me from rowing #6 for the Shattuck crew at our St. Paul’s School (Concord, NH) Reunion last weekend.  Instead, I was fortunate to photograph both our Shattuck and as well as the Halcyon crews in, reportedly, the first time that two fully matched, classic boats raced 500 meters for a 50th reunion sprint.

While I took the S.P.S. photos with no pre-thought of writing this comparative blog article, Sunday my wife and I had a chance to watch the Second and First Varsity Yale and Harvard crews begin races (3 mile and 4 mile) in their sleek shells on the Thames River at The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT.  Before the final race I was able to admire and photograph the varsity Y and H boats.

My photos here are provided to show two beautifully matched 1972 Pocock wooden shells – best in the world for racing teams “in our day”- and the very latest of German Company Empacher’s shells used by both Yale and Harvard after Harvard introduced them with great success a few years ago.  These images are primarily of the shells and oars but please also enjoy a few images of young as well as slightly older (!) rowers out doing what gets into our blood and never leaves. My blue team, the S.P.S. Shattucks, was trounced; but my other blue team (Yale) performed beautifully and successfully, setting a new up-stream record! On to Henley for these crews, and back to the Concept 2 ergometer for me for the next 5 years, preparing for 2020!

Peter Otis

Peter Otis Photos, LLC

PLACES… Plants… PEOPLE… PLUS OTHER GEMS

Please enjoy the additional slideshow images from both race days.

 

Keeping Their Faiths Alive: Age-Old Traditions of Admitting Episcopal and Jewish Adults

Both sanctuaries demonstrate biophilic/ natural elements.  Trinity Church’s Gothic style has wooden features resembling tree branches and forest canopy and windows that direct one’s eyes higher and higher.  Congregation Mishkan Israel’s sanctuary also rises high with its blue, blue, windows making this viewer think of sky and sea.

 

Branford and Hamden, Connecticut

On two successive Saturdays in May I was privileged to photograph two very different religious ceremonies that also shared the equally significant purpose of admitting new adults into their faith communities.

I was present at a confirmation service at Trinity Episcopal Church in Branford and a Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Mishkan Israel (CMI) in Hamden.  Confirmation is the sacramental rite in which the candidates “express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 860). In the Branford service about 35 teenagers and adults from 6 Shoreline parishes were either “confirmed” or “received” into the Episcopal Church.  In Hamden one very poised young woman shared her knowledge of Hebrew, the Torah and life in front of assembled parishioners, classmates, family and friends at her Bat Mitzvah. “Depending on the congregation, boys and girls may conduct all or part of the service, read or chant the b’rachotover the Torah (an aliyah), read a section from the Torah portion for that week, read or chant the b’rachot for the haftarah, read a section from the haftarah, and deliver a sermon.” [http://www.reformjudaism.org/bar-and-bat-mitzvah].

Diocesan Bishop Ian Douglas, Episcopal Church In CT,  and CMI’s Rabbi Herbert Brockman personified the presence of the Holy Spirit through their speaking and actions such as the laying on of hands or describing and teaching about traditions.  Rabbi Brockman described the Torah from Czechoslovakia, including its being studied, saved during World War II and then being passed down from times long ago to the newest bat mitzvah through her parents.  Both services provided public affirmations of the entrance into adulthood of the participants.

 

 

Both worship areas are blessed to have lovely stained glass windows:

 

No service would be complete without a meal:

One final note about these two weekend services… After the service I spoke with the organist at CMI.  Among many of his professional musical pursuits, he is an organist for both local synagogues and churches.  My  interfaith photography and his interfaith music, reminded me about our shared Judeo-Christian heritage.

Following the worship at each service, honorees and their loved ones celebrated their accomplishments and admission as adults into their faiths.  All blessings and well wishes to these new members who will strive to keep their faiths alive!

I am ready to take on my next photo assignment.

Peter

Peter Otis Photos, LLC

PLACES… plants… PEOPLE… plus other gems

 

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