I love it when our communities are active and doing things. I don’t get out and create this type of imagery as much as I used to, but highlighting people in the community and the events and activities going on can have a powerful impact.

I used to go to local events more often and bring my camera to photograph them. Local street painting festivals. Suicide awareness and support events. Events hosted by other local organizations.

These days my event photography is almost exclusively running events, which I enjoy. But this is probably the most niche of niches to occupy.

Watching artists create at the Elmira Street Painting festival always brings me joy. Seeing the variety of tools and techniques artists use to bring their designs to life. Then standing back and admiring the completed artwork.

Over the last several years in our area has been First Day Hikes to celebrate the new year. They often tackle place at state parks. Taughannock Falls State Park is one of my favorites.

Taughannock Falls State Park is one of the most beautiful places around. It is most well known for its towering 200+ foot waterfall. But in this image I wanted to focus on the reason we were here. All the people who have come out to celebrate the new year by being outside.

I love this image from one of our first day hikes for so many reasons. It shows how popular this park and these events are. Look at all the people crammed into this one little spot. This is only a small section of trail and bridge over the stream leading away from the waterfall and before you arrive the them larger viewing area.

This image also shows movement and contrast. Contrast in colors. Bright colors of all the clothing people are wearing. Contrast between the colors of people and the drab looking forest. There is also contrast between the moving and what is still. Some people are static and in sharp detail. Other people are moving about and just a blur of motion. The water in the stream is rushing, but the trees stand straight, tall, and still.

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