I met Jamie and Michael for the first time on Sunday. Jamie and I had kind of met when we became Facebook “friends.”
Jamie and Michael are getting married on August 21, 2010. I was first introduced to Jamie’s mother when I received an email from her. That email arrived early December as she had located me via WeddingWire.com. It was around 10PM. A quick glance at my watch and I noticed it was only 7PM in Washington State. I decided to follow-up my email with a quick phone call. We made quick introductions and the rest, as they say is history.
Jamie was finishing her English degree in Washington State and would not be traveling to the Western New York area until July 5th. Michael works full-time and resides in a small town of less than 2000-people just South of Erie, PA.
We discussed venues for the couple’s engagement session and everyone agreed om Niagara Falls. The couple had only visited the Falls on one occasion and had never been on Goat Island thus missing the Horseshoe Falls and Three Sister’s Island. Despite the heat and humidity (you don’t have to shevel it) we all had a great time.
We arrived in the Falls to a packed parking lot, high temperatures and high humidity. Jasmie and Michael were a couple of real troupers. We walked around the island trying to locate as much shade as we could along the way.
Click here for a slideshow of the couple’s engagement photos.
Chris
The forces of nature get together to produce interesting sculptures. Wind, water and freezing temperatures combine to form some of the nost beautiful sculptures on Earth. They cannot be duplicated and as they are made of organic compounds and continue to be exposed to the same forces which developed them, they will change daily. As they grow and change they remind us of the frailty of life. Soon these sculptures will be gone and remain only in our memory. It is my desire to capture these memories for all to see as I have seen them.
I love trees. They have two very distinct personalities; the one we see when in full bloom during the warm, inviting summer months and the one we see during the cold, dark months of winter. The trees have shed their leaves, their personality and stand dormant as once great features of our landscape waiting to bloom once again. We often take these same trees for granted and pass by them without notice. We cut them down arbitrarily when they are in our way and lament their absence when gone and unable to provide us with comforting shade.
Three trees stand a silent vigil on the Western shore of the Niagara River.
Mother Nature’s sculpture as crafted by the wind and water.
More ice sculpture. i can get lost for minutes trying to figure out the exact combination of elements which helped to form such interesting sculptures.
I watched the seagulls from my perch at a nearby picnic table. The wind had picked up and began to ruffle the bird’s feathers; their heads tucked into their breasts to avoid the cold, windy assault.
More ice sculpture.
Additional trees guarding the shoreline of the Niagara River standing silently against the cold breezes blowing across the water.
This is my favorite. As a child I remember listening to Neil Diamond’s “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” over and over. If memory serves me, I needed to replace at least one vinyl LP it was played so frequently. I saw this seagull effortlessly coasting on the wind and I was transported back to the 1970′s and the song “Be” from the Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack. it was very peaceful sitting and watching the birds take flight on such a cold afternoon.
A picnic table absent of people who, when the weather is warmer would be enjoying a meal, a cup of coffee or just the company of another.
It’s not often I see pigeons by the river. This group took flight as I approached. They are beautiful and graceful in their flight.
Coach Eric Jantzi is flanked by Senators Robin Schimminger and George Maziarz. the pair read a proclamation from NYS Governor Patterson. The proclamation explained the members of the Lumberjack football team were invited to Albany and participate in a senatorial session during which time the lawmakers of NYS would recognize congratulate the team. How cool is that?!
This is a copy of the sign which will grace the major entrances to the City of North Tonawanda. Mayor Soos also proclaimed December 2, 2009 “North Tonawanda Lumberjack Football Day.” I know I’ve used this phrase once already, but “How cool is that?!”
The audience was moved indoors as the rain continued. If you can pick out my beautiful wife and/or Casey and Kyle Shreve’s grandmother (no family members allowed) I’ll give you 15% off any photo shoot package. 
The speakers for tonight’s event were numerous local dignitaries. Congratulations to Barb Zellner on her election to a seat in the Niagara County Legislature. Congratulations Barb! I’m sure you’ll do us proud! Barb is also the mother of Jeffrey Zellner who was an outstanding fullback for the Lumberjacks and graduated last year. Jeff now plays football at Utica College.
The cheerleaders kept the crowd involved.
Kujo, Kyle Shreve and Jimmy Rodgers. Kujo is sporting the pullover windbreaker all of the players received as a result of participating in the NYS Championship game on Sunday. This photo was taken in front of the “Wall of Fame” in the NTHS Student Center where I am quite sure a plaque will shortly be adorning the wall in honor of the 2009 Lumberjack Football team. The boys are overjoyed with their success. When I spoke with Kujo and Kyle after the victory celebration both boys agreed “it hadn’t really sunk in yet.” Both of these boys like the rest of the team have maintained a level head and they haven’t allowed the win to go to their head.
