We have moved our blog!

There have been some changes going on at Quinnco Photography lately and we have finally integrated our blog into our site. Yes, I know, I should have done it long ago. Anyway, this will likely be the final post on this blog here, however the posts from this blog have been moved over to the new blog as well so when you check out the new spaces, don't be surprised to see many of the posts on the new blog as well. We want to keep a little bit of continuity you know!

We have also set up an RSS feed box on the right hand sidebar in case you want to see a few topics that we have started. The new blog has RSS feed subscription built right in, you will see the familiar orange icon prominently displayed. Thanks to those who emailed us that it was time that we did that as well.

Alright folks, that's about it. We'll see you on the new blog! Just go to www.quinncophoto.com and check out the new look!

More on doing business locally...

I just wanted to say thanks to the folks over at Blanket Oil in Pine Bush. The reason is unimportant but they know why. You guys are the best and it's just one more reason why I like to do business locally whenever possible! Thanks!

Community good deeds...

Just a quick shout out to Andrew and some of the other local Boy Scouts for their work at Infant Savior Church. Andrew is going for his Eagle Scout project and it involves removing and replacing a bunch of dilapidated fencing near the church's pre-school. Thanks a bunch Andrew and good luck on your project and we'll be checking back in on you!

What a great weekend! The leaves have turned and are starting to drop but we still had enough time for one last drive through the countryside to enjoy them. Laura and I stopped at the famous Roscoe Diner and enjoyed a piece of pie and then took in the sights. As I have said before, this time of year in NY is really special with all the colors and the crisp air.

This is a busy week with the Photo Expo in NYC. It's always a good time and it's a bit like a candy store for photographers. New gear and goodies!

What do photographers do on their day off?

It's obvious of course! They go looking for things to take pictures of! And that is exactly what I did today. This time of year is just incredible with the leaves changing and the cool temperatures, I just love it! And so when I was asked to get out of the office for a few hours and just go do some shooting for the fun of it, I jumped at the chance. I joined two other local photographers and we headed up into Sullivan County and spent the better part of the day trying to find some of the covered bridges that still remain there. And after a little bit of confusion and a few U-turns, we found three.

Here are a few shots from today. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to the next day off!

Ouch!!

Well it was just a matter of time. There are so many deer running around this area that it was bound to happen. Last night while returning home from dinner a deer jumped out in front of the car and there was just no where to go. Luckily I was going fairly slow so no one (and no animals) were more than shaken up. The deer bounded on his way and I was able to limp the car the 1/4 mile to the house.

Now comes the fun part of the deductible and the rental car and the claim and the fixing, etc. To be fair though, USAA has been great so far and if the rest of the process goes as smoothly as the claim part the car will be back on the road in no time.





Be careful out there folks!

Congratulations all around!

It has been a busy couple of weeks and I need to do some catching up. Here are a few shots from some recent weddings. Things have just been going crazy around here but I wanted to get a couple of images up on the blog because I am getting behind and we all know how bad I am about that. This time of year is always so incredible and these couples were so much fun to work with.

A big thanks to Lorrie and Don and to Robin and Steve for letting me be a part of their special day!

Kim & Geoff - Sneak Peek Slideshow

Here is a sneak peek of some of the images from Kim and Geoff's special day!!

Quick Peek

Thanks again to the both of you, I had a great time photographing your wedding and am looking forward to putting together your album! I am sure it is going to be incredible!

Pete

Congratulations Kim and Geoff!

What a great weekend it was in Mystic, CT as I was given the honor to photograph the wedding of Kim and Geoff Morneau. From the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club lobster party on the eve of the wedding to the fantastic ceremony at the Inn at Mystic, it couldn't have been more wonderful. And Kim looked simply beautiful as she made her way down the aisle to her lovely outdoor ceremony.

Kim and Geoff, warm wishes for a long and happy life together!

Thank you again for your trust, here are a few quick selections for you to enjoy as you embark on your honeymoon.



UPDATE: Here's the link to the slide show of Kim and Geoff's engagement sessions.

Mean Horse!

Ok, so my horse has a bit of an ornery streak in him....



No harm done, these guys play rough all the time.

As seen in Orange Magazine

Hi folks, it's been a while since I updated you on my magazine work. As I mentioned a while back I am one of the photographers that works with Orange Magazine. If you haven't seen it you should check it out. There is a list of where you can get it on the Orange Magazine web site.

I was fortunate enough to have one of my images featured on the cover of the current edition. It was part of a story we had done about motorcycling in the Orange County area. We had a blast shooting the story and as a motorcycle rider myself, it was even more fun.



The magazine is primarily about Orange County and the people who live here. There is also a place where you can nominate yourself or a friend as part of the "I Am Orange County" feature that the magazine does every issue. That is always one of the best parts of the magazine for me because you get to see a wonderful range of people who make this area what it is.

And right now they have a recipe contest going on so if you have a special recipe you want to share, send it in!

UPDATE: The saga

For those that were spellbound waiting to see if it all worked out..... Yes it did! New well pump and the water is flowing. And I still have time for the other things I have on my schedule!

The saga continues...

I really feel bad for my friend. She had some problems with her water system and we have had to dig up the well line that runs from her house to the well. It has not been a good couple of days for her. Between getting the machinery and locating someone to operate it (me) and then repairing the cracked pipe it has been quite a juggling act. Hopefully this will be the last hole we have to put in her yard......

Yes, I know this has nothing to to with photography but sometimes you just want to put pictures of toys on your blog.

Pete

A little something different!

It had been a while since I had shot any sports so after years of passing by Twin Lakes Water Ski Park in Monroe I decided to pull in and see what the club was about and see if I could talk them into letting me do some shooting sometime. Well these guys and gals were great! After introducing myself and trying to do my best to assure them I wouldn't get in their way while they were out skiing they agreed to let me spend some time shooting with them.

So I headed down there this morning and although I was getting there before 9:00a these guys were already out there making passes. These folks are serious! And that is no small understatement. As I write this one of the members, Zack, is headed to Florida for a national competition and the club also has several members who are at the top of their competitive divisions. Certainly not the water skiing I was used to!

Anyway, like I said, they were a a great bunch today and I really appreciated everyone putting up with me tagging along. I had a great time and it felt good to shoot some sports again. A big 'Thanks!' to John, Adam, Bruce, Danni, Brad, Zack, JJ and everyone else at Twin Lakes!

It is here...

For Mac folks the awaited iPhone 2.0 is here and I happened to catch a
store opening in NYC as I was wandering about today. The long lines
make me glad I already have one.

Happy 4th!

I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July! It's a great day to take a moment and reflect back on the things that have made this country what it is today. There are things that I always associate with the 4th, fireworks of course, but other things like grilling on the deck and ice cream. And although the ice cream melted before I could get a shot, here's one from the grill!



Have a great weekend everyone!

Pete

Goodbye....

I just wanted to say goodbye to my friends over at Berry Sweet Buns (BSB). For the folks who have been following this blog they have heard me mention them more than once. BSB was a nice little coffee shop where one could sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, surf the Internet, chat with friends or clients with out the booming music that is found in so many other places. Goodbye because BSB has closed their doors. Another local business that just couldn’t survive in today’s economy. Rob, Marie and the gang, sorry to see you go. And it’s not just them, look at the news and see that Starbucks is getting ready to shutter about 600 stores!

To my point. The people that run local businesses are the ones you live around and see everyday. Like many small businesses a majority of my clients come from my community and those around me. Whenever possible I try to do as much business with them as I can. Not only because I hope that those folks will reciprocate and think of me when they need photography services, but also because in these times of $4.00 plus gasoline, a trip to another merchant may end up costing you more than you would be saving on the product that that second retailer may be selling slightly cheaper. Think local first whenever possible.

Ok.. Now, on a slightly happier note, my horse looked good today! Ok, so he needs a whisker trim, but still…

Summertime Fun!

The summer is here in full force. Although the daytime can be a bit warm, when it cools down in the early evening things are just about perfect for a motorcycle ride. As a former Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor I am reminded about how easy it is to not see one of these motorcycle in the glare of a setting sun or just around dusk. Please be careful both when operating your motorcycles, or as an automobile driver take a little extra care as more of these bikes start appearing with the great summer weather and great riding the Hudson Valley is known for.



And if you haven't looked into one of the great riding programs that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers, you should. They have programs for both experienced riders and people who are looking to begin riding. They are well worth the time and expense and can go a long way to making riding much more enjoyable.

As promised...

Ok, here's one more from the trip to Niagara Falls with my family. I'd post some pictures of us coming back drenched from the Maid of the Mist ride but I think that just may get me in trouble with the family....

Niagara Falls

Family came to visit this week and we found ourselves at Niagara
Falls. Did the tourist things and (hopefully) got some good shots from
the Maid of the Mist. Here's one from the iPhone... More to come!

Destination: Canada

What a great time I had last weekend. I had the opportunity to shoot the wedding between Allison and Joe up in Canada. These two are a great couple and I had a blast. Here's a few quick ones from the day...

More Kim and Geoff!

I had the chance to finish up shooting Kim and Geoff's engagement photographs a few days ago. We wanted to make sure we got a few with their dog Shaughnessy so we got together and with NYC as a backdrop we headed out to have a little fun despite the wind and the threat of rain. Our luck held and we beat the rain and snuck a few on the beach in Hoboken. Yes, Hoboken has a beach...

Quick visit to NY

Ok, I wanted to go into the city for a equipment demonstration that was being held this morning so I had a few options. Drive in early. I hate this one. That means an early wake-up and traffic, and parking...Ugh!

Next option, the train. Again, another early wake up because it's a two hour ride plus all the train schedule hassle.

And then my personal favorite. Go in the night before, see friends and make a fun trip of it! Sure this one is a bit more expensive but it's a great excuse to make your friends hop the subway to Times Square (the locals never go there unless they have to) and have some fun.

Now I try to be as frugal as the next person so I keep track of frequent flier miles and use cards that give me rewards points and so on. Well last night I got a huge payoff! For some reason which is unknown and will likely never ever happen again, the W Hotel saw fit to not only give me a room for my points, but that room was one of their suites! Sure it was extra points, but who the heck cares?! I mean really, a swanky corner room overlooking Times Square on points! That's unheard of! Anyway, it was really fun to be able to hook up with an old friend, grab some dinner and then retire to the sitting room and chat as we looked down on the lights of the city from the 52nd floor. Anyway, here are a couple of camera phone snapshots from the room. Between the glass and the one inch window opening (no jumpers please) I did what I could...

Times Square at night


Looking down out of the window. I mean you just have to snap one of these don't you?...




Oh yeah, the equipment demonstration was good also!

View from the W Times Square

Some days you get lucky!

I'll explain later....

Kim and Geoff

I wanted to say a big "Thank You!" to Kim and Geoff for selecting me to photograph their wedding. And since we all happened to be down in New Orleans and since it is such a great city, I just had to steal a some of their time and get some quick pictures of them. We had a great time and Geoff kept us all laughing. Maybe he'll let me post a few of those pictures! You two were a blast! I can hardly wait for the wedding, it is really going to be a lot of fun. Thanks and congratulations!

New Orleans

I just returned from a great trip to New Orleans. It had been a while since I had visited and this trip gave me a bit more time to wander around the city and enjoy many of the things it has to offer. One of the city's best treasures is the music. I just love walking around and hearing all the different types of music and seeing the interesting characters out there performing. On this trip I particularly enjoyed listening to the G String Orchestra. I know, quite a name, but excellent musicians nonetheless. Their line-up included, among others, fiddles, an accordion, a piano, and a string bass. They were a blast and even had a couple of folks out demonstrating some cool cajun dance moves. I made a quick slide show of some images from the trip and G String Orchestra graciously allowed me to use their music as accompaniment. Thanks guys and gals!!! You'll be able to pick them out, they are the ones with the accordion...

Enjoy!

Is spring really here?!

Another weekend of semi decent weather has really been nice. Sure, there was a horrendous storm around 4:00 am on Saturday and my dog jumped on my head to let me know but other than that it was pretty nice.

It was a nice weekend and I had to head down to West Point with several prints that have been selected for exhibition at a show at Eisenhower Hall on West Point. If you get a chance, please come by and take a look. Click on the picture below for more information.



It had been a while since I had been to West Point and I had forgotten about the traffic getting in an out of there. To top it off there was also an Army - Navy lacrosse match and a post wide yard sale. Needless to say it was a bit crazy and the traffic lines were long but seeing West Point is really special and the chance to exhibit there is a great opportunity. It is one beautiful and historic place....

Today I kind of kicked back and tried to catch up on some errands I had promised to friends. I was able to catch up with most of them and still have a bit of time to enjoy myself. As I write this I am putting the finishing touches on a presentation I have to give tomorrow night (did I mention I am a procrastinator) for a group of photographers.

I want to leave you with a photo I snapped today. It's nothing special really, but it is one of those kind of shots that makes me forget about all the little things that I tend to want to complain about. I had taken a break and stepped outside onto the back deck and saw my dog Bentley doing what Border Collies do best, trying to impose their will on something. In this case it was my horses, Fathom and Bucky. Well Bentley sat there a while and if it weren't for him knowing that he'd be in trouble he would have headed over and rounded them up. As it was he had to be content just trying to stare them down....


I hope you all had a great weekend!

A day in the city...

For those of you that aren't in the Hudson Valley perhaps you don't know but lately it seems to rain here about every 27 1/2 hours. I don't know what is going on but you can bet somewhere in a forecast is rain. So today when I woke up I was expecting to see the rain on the windows as forecast. But, guess what? The weatherman was wrong! I know, tough to believe but it's true. Sure it was gray out, but no rain so the day didn't look like it would be a total bust.

Well, after some initial thoughts of cleaning up my desk, hitting the gym and stuff like that I decided to ignore all that stuff and head to NYC for the day. I mean really, the piles of papers on my desk will still be there when I get back. So I grabbed the little point and shoot and hit the road!

I headed down to the city and the day turned out to be gorgeous! I took in the Metropolitan Museum of Art along with O'Flaherty's Pub, Central Park, Dean & DeLuca's, and a myriad of little shops and stuff. Here's me enjoying a D&D red velvet cupcake...


The Metropolitan Museum of Art (not to be confused with the MoMA) was incredible. As a photographer it is so interesting to me to go and see how these incredible painters did their work. Seeing how they painted the lighting into their works is simply amazing! And those 15 foot tall ones...talk about an enlargement! Seriously, if you haven't been it is certainly worth a trip.


Let's see, me looking at some artwork... Anyone care to take a shot at the piece in question?


And a funky one, but I loved the pools of light...


New York is such a unique city. There is just so much going on that you can spend hours just watching it all happen. If you aren't from the area, you need to come visit! And if you do, drop me a line!

It's been some time....

Wow, time has really flown by and I realized just how long it has been since I sat down and updated things here. So much for that New Year's resolution huh?

Anyway, let me take a few minutes and catch up a bit. Since I last updated I have been quite busy. I spent a few days out in wonderful Newport, Rhode Island at the Professional Photographers Association of Rhode Island annual convention. I ventured out there to catch up with a couple of friends who were speaking at the convention and I ended up meeting so many wonderful new friends. And the scenery there, absolutely gorgeous! I had my friend Cody take a quick snap of me as we explored the coastline.



After leaving Rhode Island I returned home to get back to work with on the project that I had been a bit cryptic about. I have been presented with the wonderful opportunity to work with a new magazine in the region. It's called Orange Magazine and it is just fantastic! It is a magazine that highlights the many wonderful people and places and things to do here in Orange County. Check out the website to find out where you can get your copy.

I'm also going to be making a few changes to the logo and some other things. I'm working with a great group of folks at AJ Ross Creative Media to help me get things headed in the right direction. A big thanks to Allan (pictured) and his team for everything. I am really looking forward to seeing these ideas take shape.