Good Times

Walking through the garden on a pretty August morning.

'56 Chevy Belair sitting along the road in village of Emeigh, PA.

After filling up with jet fuel at the Indiana County Airport this LifeFlight helicopter lifts off on a return trip to the hospital.

Fall Webworm caterpillar, which will eventually become a fall webworm moth, crawling across my hand.

The next four photographs were shot along the Norfolk Southern Mainline in Cresson as a Nickle Plate Road steam engine 765 heads West towards Pittsburgh. The train had been on a week's tour that took it as far East as Harrisburg, PA where it was running excursions along the Susquehanna River in the state's capital.

Railfans and the curious wave to the engineers as the 765 slowly comes to a stop in Cresson.

Black and white photography harkens back to the time when this engine was in regular use.

Coming to a stop in Cresson to change crews gave many of the onlookers a chance for an up close look at the massive hundred foot long steam engine.

Summer afternoon clouds at Lake Glendale.

A juvenile turkey vulture stopped by the yard on Monday to sun itself.

After soaking up enough sun to make itself happy, the young vulture takes to the sky, possibly on its first migration south for the winter.

Painted Lady butterfly sitting on a butterfly bush.

Bumblebee also enjoying the butterfly bush.

Hummingbird Moth.

Mud Puppies

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to cover the 5th Annual Fisher's ATV World Reunion held at Rock Run Recreation Area near Patton, PA.  I spent about four hours watching ATVers run around an obstacle course and having a lot of fun.

The first competitor on Saturday morning was in the 7-12 age group.   He is directed by the pit boss to wait until the clock starts for the timed event.

After about 48 seconds he crosses the finish line.

One of the adult competitors gets his ATV up on two wheels just before launching himself into the double mud pond.

Here the object was to go through the slalom as fast as possible without knocking the yellow balls off the traffic cones.

Taking a header into the first of the double mud ponds.

Coming down to Rock Run from Erie, PA, this competitor proudly displays his "Terrible Towel" as he runs his 800 Polaris through the slalom course. 

Finishing the adult slalom course with a time of 5 minutes and 44 seconds the competitor from Erie still displays his "Terrible Towel" but it's a bit muddy.

One of the young competitors clearing all four wheels on the Hoop-De-Doos.

The ladies tried to stay stylish even while playing in the mud.

Girls just want to have fun!

Stirring up the mud.

The course was open to side-by-sides as well as quads.

The optional doors on a $10,000 machine do help to keep your shoes dry.

Is this any way to treat a camera?

Everyone gets muddy at Rock Run.

Brian Fisher, the host and producer of Fisher's ATV World on the Outdoor Channel, addresses riders before they head out on a trail ride.  The event was filmed for a segment on a future show.

This 7 year old rider has celebrated several of her birthdays during the ATV Reunion.  This year Brian Fisher sang "Happy Birthday" to her which tickled her to no end.

The object of this rider's position is two fold.  One is it gets a little more traction by putting his weight over the wheels.  The other is he doesn't get his shoes and pants coated with as much mud.

Unlike the previous rider, this competitor was hell bent for leather as he attacked the mud ponds at full throttle.

Yamaha YFZ 450 rising from the depths of the mud ponds.

Riders congregate prior to heading out on one of the trail rides lead by Brian Fisher.

All dressed up and no place to go.

Some of the riders pose with Brian Fisher just prior to departing on a ride.

ATVs parked after returning from a trail ride.

A last parting shot from Rock Run showing one of the many camping areas at the 6,000 acre facility.

Touring Saint Francis University during Alumni Weekend 2012

I spent this past Saturday as one of two photographers covering activities during Alumni weekend at Saint Francis.  I spent some of my time shooting for myself and that is why you will notice that this blog is about photography and less about the alumni.

Entrance to campus from Manor Drive, Dorothy Day Center in the background.

The Bell Tower houses the original bell from Old Main, which burned in 1942.

Sullivan Hall currently houses the School of Sciences. The newest building on campus will become the new home of the School of Sciences when it is completed in 2013.

Abstract day lilies

Fountain dedicated to St. Francis on the campus mall.

Variegated grass.

Old rusted pipe in ivy.

A view of the main house at Mount Assisi, home of the Franciscan Friars, as seen from the garden.  This is the former summer estate of Charles Schwab and his wife Eurana.

Statue of St. Joseph the Worker in the gardens on the grounds of the former Schwab Estate.

A scene from the ball room in the main house at Mount Assisi.

A rare view from in front of the main house looking down across the ponds in the garden.

Inside the main chapel in the Friary.

Painting in a stairwell.

Inside each of these goblets is another container that holds a wick and oil which are burned on special occasions.

So far we've been able to identify this as a portrait of Baldassarre, a monk.  It is attributed to Perugino and was created around 1498.  The original is in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.

The original home of Charles Schwab is now named Bonaventure Hall.