After sleeping off our long hike from the previous day, we took it easy throughout the morning. Clara got to groom the mini horses here and enjoyed spending some time in the barn.
The kids and dads cooled off at the swimming pool in town. It’s an outdoor pool that is free over the summer and has Sandlot vibes, but we were lucky enough that it wasn’t very crowded while we were there.
We then ventured out to Owego Donut & Beer Co. to enjoy their beer wall, donuts, and bravarian pretzels.
Today’s primary destination was visiting Tioga Downs to watch harness horse racing and enjoy the buffet. Watching Harness racing was wild, as I saw all the horses and carts bunch together in a large group. I was excited to have brought my camera and take the opportunity to capture some shots of the action. The solo shots of the horses running right-to-left were during warmups and between races.
Mariana and Ella took part in a Wiffleball Toss competition, but sadly, Mari dropped the ball on the first toss and felt incredibly embarrassed. It didn’t help when we walked back into inside and she realized that the race activities were televised all over the casino.
We ended our evening at the buffet, where we enjoyed prime rib, “steakhouse” meatballs (that tasted like Salisbury steak), and an endless supply of shrimp. We stuffed ourselves and rolled back home.
Hello from Binghamton, New York! Clara, Mariana, and I ventured out here to visit my sister and get some much-needed cousin time. We flew in late Wednesday night (essentially Thursday morning), on a plane that seemed like a roller coaster for the first thirty minutes of our flight. We were grateful to Tony for picking us up from our delayed flight and for letting us sleep in the next morning.
The Balderrama-Durbin family adopted some miniature horses that arrived this week, and we got to meet Dandilion and Lollipop, and make sure my new camera bag took care of our gear while traveling.
We spent Thursday recovering from the flight and enjoying much-needed family time. The girls went swimming with their cousins, and we grilled burgers and hot dogs, eating dinner outside.
On Friday, we ventured out to Watkins Glen State Park, which is nestled in the middle of town and tucked away within a 2-mile hike that leads to these astonishing waterfalls. We fueled up with a slice of pizza from a Woodfire Pizza shack next to the Colonial Inn.
We started our hike by climbing hundreds of stairs (832 steps, according to ChatGPT). I began to feel the weight of my camera bag towards the end of the climb. Things finally leveled out, rewarding us with breathtaking views.
The trail broke out into an upper and lower sections, where a bridge allows you to look downward to the hikers below:
We doubled back and went downward, staying closer to the waterfalls and streams below. The entire trail is composed of these beautiful stone paths and stairways, lined with both rocks and lush greenery.
Despite the heat, humidity, and challenging climbs, everyone stayed in relatively good spirits. The streams and waterfalls near the trail kept things cool and held our attention.
We reached Rainbow Falls, which had a picturesque view where you could walk under and behind the falls. That seemed a good a spot as any to turn around.
I tried experimenting with a longer exposure, but without a tripod or monopod, I was too shaky to capture streaming portraits. I still managed to get some captivating shots.
After turning around, I took up the rear, capturing Tony and Adrian as they made their way back.
We ended our Watkins Glen adventure by enjoying ice cream from the Colonial Inn.
We were pretty tired, sweaty, and ready to be home after our daytime excursion. I was really glad I made it here, and highly recommend that if you get the opportunity to check out Watkins Glen, you take it!
I’ve had the privilege of running in the same drumming circles as Peter for over twenty-five years. Peter was a longtime staff member and instructor over at the legendary Colorado Drum shop, where I purchased the vast majority of my gear over my thirty years of playing. Peter has been a fixture in our Northern Colorado drumming community, whether it was at numerous clinics, drumming events like The Big Beat, or at other educational opportunities he created for his fellow drummers.
He’s moving to New York to begin a new chapter and will be greatly missed. I was glad to hear that he planned a final show at Avogadro’s Number, featuring his quartet and a reunion of The Atoll, an incredible band that featured Peter on percussion.
It was my privilege to bring my camera and capture a few shots of this fantastic evening, reconnecting with some of my fellow drummers, and being able to give Peter a send-off with gratitude and love.
Peter started the evening playing the drum set with his quartet (which had five members that evening). This group featured instrumentals and tunes with Peter on vocals. It was fun trying to figure out some of the song meters and appreciating all the incredible musicianship on stage.
The Atoll then took the stage, showcasing these incredible musicians.
Lastly, Peter took the stage to give a “goodbye” drum solo to his Fort Collins community. I was glad we stuck around to witness such a sentimental musical gesture.
Thank you, again, Peter, for all of the musical memories and for being such a tremendous influence on my drumming. I wish you all the best in your New York chapter!
After a busy winter, I was able to dust off my camera for the first time in months and photograph FoCoMX in April. Aside from being one of the best music festivals around, it’s also a great chance to shoot several bands in a short time span.
However, being that it is an April weekend in Colorado, the weather isn’t always going to cooperate for an indoor and outdoor music festival. Snow ended up falling on Friday, combined with the bitter cold, made it difficult to shoot bands outside. However, I was still able to get some great shots.
Swashbuckling Doctors
I love watching the Swash Docs play, but the previous year, they were playing at the same time as Heart Medicine. Watching them brave the cold weather on the New Belgium Main Stage inspired me to put my raincoat over my camera and capture a few shots. They turned up the heat during freezing weather.
Atom Son of Man
It was such a pleasure catching my friend Felix’s band, Atom Son of Man, rocking the unique space that is the Art Lab. With their energy, they made that small room feel like an arena.
Old Man Saxon
I couldn’t resist the unique lighting of The Magic Rat and took the opportunity to go see the provocative and prolific rapping of Old Man Saxon. He gave an amazing performance in front of a packed room, making it challenging to stake out a photo spot.
Cactus Cat
We stuck around the Magic Rat to watch the Cactus Cat, an eclectic band that features saxophones. Like many FoCoMX venues, Magic Rat remained crowded, confining me to sneak towards the front of the stage to get a few shots.
I had an early morning at work on Saturday, so we called it a night. After working for most of the day, Heart Medicine played our FoCoMX slot at 830 North.
Drifting West
Our good friends at Drifting West played immediately after us at 830 North, and I had my camera on hand to take advantage of their unique lighting. We go far back with this band, and it’s been a pleasure watching their band mature into their fantastic lineup.
The Pamlico Sound
We left 830 North and went to Odell Brewing Co. to see The Pamlico Sound. They always energize the stage, and in addition to their funkadelic music, they had dancers waving colorful fabric. It was one of the most entertaining sets we saw at FoCoMX!
Kind Dub
The weather got cold again, bringing a few of the previously outdoor bands indoors, including Kind Dub. They still rocked out Illegal Pete’s upper room.
Tim Hanauer
I went behind Illegal Pete’s, into Salt Road Brewing, and caught part of Tim Hanauer‘s set. Salt Road Brewing is quickly becoming one of my favorite places in Fort Collins to watch live music, it’s such a cool vibe!
Eclectic Pickup
I ended the night by catching Eclectic Pickup at Scrumpy’s Hard Cider. I was thrilled to see my friend Rob’s band get to play FoCoMX. It was a great way to end a fantastic musical weekend!
I always have a blast shooting bands and wish that time and opportunity would allow me to do it more often. FoCoMX fills my cup every spring.
Last month, I brought my new Sony A7iv to FoCoMX, the best music festival in Fort Collins. It had been a while since I could photograph bands, and I looked forward to photographing some of my favorite bands.
Common for Colorado, the springtime weather was unpredictable, and Mother Nature brought cold, rain, and snow for the festival. Outdoor performers had to endure the cold, wind, and elements, while the indoor venues all had long lines due to spectators fleeing the weather. When I shot FoCoMX in 2019, it was relatively easy to pop in and out of venues to snap pictures. The long lines and big crowds made it much more difficult this time, and I only managed to capture 6 bands across the two days. Despite all of those challenges, I am happy with the outcome.
Alexa Wildish at Magic Rat
I ventured into the Magic Rat to snap a few pictures of Alexa Wildish. As much as I loved the lighting and stage, the crowded room made it hard to get close enough to take pictures, so I quickly ejected. I look forward to catching her another time.
The 14ers at Equinox Outdoor Patio
The weather cleared enough for me to join friends at the Equinox Outdoor Patio to see The 14ers. I wanted to snap some pictures of their drummer, Clark. The band was playing in a garage, which made for interesting lighting for everyone in the back.
The Waido Experience at Salt Road Brewing
In addition to seeing The Waido Experience, I also got to scout Salt Road Brewing, where my band, Heart Medicine, played the next day. The large garage door cast a large back-fill light against the performers. While not ideal, especially from my angle, I still managed to get some fun shots.
Whether on the patio or in the upstairs bar, I always wish Illegal Pete’s featured more live music. Venture Still rocked that indoor stage while rain fell a few feet away.
Wrenn & Ian with Libelula
These amazing musicians braved the cold to play an outdoor set on the Old Town Stage. Wrenn Van has talent well beyond her years!
This weekend reminded me just how much I love photographing bands and has reinforced my goal to get out and get more musician pictures. If you’d like me to shoot your set, please reach out!
