CT Archives - Peter Otis Photos

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

: Sky Hotel Exterior- afternoon

: Harlem Globetrotters in their 90th year of excellence

: River Blue Sculpture by Dale Chihuly

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!

: Tribal symbols and history display

: Hotel lobby water feature

: Favorite swimming pool

: Robo- Wolf

: Water and rocks

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:

: mosaic behind registration desk

: interior floral glass by Dale Chihuly

: water

: River Blue Sculpture

: ceiling

: River Blue Sculpture

: textures above

: coniferous trees and glass

: deciduous trees and glass

: land, water and glass

: corn mosaic behind concierge desk

: dugout wood

: textures above

: “ice crystals”

: textures above

: Mercenaria mercenaria – hard wampum clams

: oyster shells

: pool water

: “stone”

: white birch

: toboggan wood

: lights

: building exteriors

: outside buildings

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!

: Pure Connecticut Maple Syrup- Stop (!!) when you see this sign

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 Scranton’s Maple Grove Farm – Sugar house

: The evaporator

: Boiling along

: Testing the specific gravity

: More checking as the syrup leaves the evaporator

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.

: Buster Scranton’s special popcorn – all one needs is a microwave oven and a paper bag

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!

: Dudley Farm- George Page adding more sap to the boiling pan

: Dudley Farm – Stoking the fire

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!

: Sweet Vapor! Buster Scranton’s Sugar House 2013

Peter Otis

Peter Otis Photos LLC

PLACES… PLANTS… PEOPLE… PLUS OTHER GEMS…

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

: Blasting through the grave markers, North Guilford Cemetery

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 – an earlier shot

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

: The last of Saturday’s warmth

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…

Two Completely Restored Tiffany Windows Return to Their Home

: One of my temporary posters used while the windows were away being restored

: Both windows back in place

: Amazingly brilliant detail of one window! And to think that every piece of glass was in a box at one time after it left Branford and before it was returned to us!

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

: One of my temporary posters used while the windows were away being restored

: Carefully saving the posters

: Old exterior plexiglass- saved to cut new ventilation glass to proper size

: Window #1- transported safely with window #2 resting behind it

: Stained Glass Restoration, Inc. truck

: Scraping and cleaning before inserting the first window

: Here comes our first window after 8 months of total diassembling and rebuilding

: Carefully moving the 400 ish pound window into a vertical position

: Our first picture of the window and its fresh colors!

: Almost in place

: Sealed on the inside- awaiting the exterior ventilation

: Here comes window #2

: These windows have as many as 5 (!) layers of glass

: Exterior image, showing a few very subtle reinforcing bars to keep the window from bulging and bowing in the future

: Amazingly brilliant detail of one window! And to think that every piece of glass was in a box at one time after it left Branford and before it was returned to us!

: Both windows back in place

: Exterior image

: Exterior image

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 50^th 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.

: 1972 Pocock Shell at St. Paul’s Scool

: Turkey Pond, Concord, NH

: Thames River, New London, CT

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

: Trinity Episcopal Church, Branford, CT

: Congregation Mishkan Israel, Hamden, CT

: Trinity Episcopal Church, Branford, CT

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.

: After a candidate makes affirmations, a bishop in apostolic succession lays hands on the candidate and prays a prayer of confirmation.

: As part of the historic succession, the candidate walks the Torah through the sanctuary.

: Rabbi Brockman comments on the tallit (prayer shawl) handed down through the family for many generations.

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

: Stained glass windows on the East side of Trinity.

: Cantor Arthur Giglio in front of the windows depicting persons representing the “modern prophetic tradition.”

No service would be complete without a meal:

: Bishop Douglas and The Rev. Sharon Gracen preparing the elements

: “The Gifts of God for the People of God.”

: Kiddush, literally, “sanctification,” is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify the Shabbat. (Wikipedia)

: Sharing the Challah bread

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

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

2016 Sugarin’ Season in Guilford!

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

Two Completely Restored Tiffany Windows Return to Their Home

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

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

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