Maple Sugar in Western Mass

If you look carefully, you can see the blue tubes that extract the sugar from the trees.

I miss the snow

It feels like ages ago that I was called to photograph Maple Sugar producers in Western Mass, and I almost forgot about it. That is, until I scrolled to CISA’s Instagram post: It states, “as the snow is disappearing and spring sweeps in, sending our appreciation to the maple producers who've been working their tails off this maple season. Pictured here, Paul Zononi, of Paul's Sugar House in Williamsburg, this past March. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I kind of miss the snow.

Paul and his helper. Can you smell the sugar?

I also visited the wonderful Dufresne Sugar House, and met Jacqueline.

She loves red.

Jacqueline told me the story of when historically people would only use cane sugar when company came over or for special occasions. And that for daily sugar, as it was called, they used maple syrup. Funny how things have become reversed over time.

I went back and visited the sugar house during boiling, at night.

So much has happened since I photographed this lovely season. The snow has completely melted. The daffodils are blooming and trees are blossoming. I’ve photographed so many people and things. I’ll be back with more little stories.

children’s pictures in spring

For years and years, I photographed the Hamilton Park Montessori school pictures in Jersey City. I lived right across the street from the school, in a charming brownstone in an historical neighborhood. I was in close contact with the school administrators as the exact date of the pictures was always a little iffy. Why? Because I took the pictures outside, and during the peak blossom season in the park.

School pictures

to order or not to order

School pictures, order now or forever hold your peace

It’s something that has sort of fallen out of fashion, those school photos with the generic backgrounds and kids with hairstyles combed so perfectly you barely recognize your own child. I for one treasure prints of my kids. In fact, I order prints of my past year’s phone and camera pictures at the end of each year as a holiday gift to myself.

My son goes to a private school, and I am told that beyond the sitting fee, hardly anyone orders prints. What? All the pictures I’ve ever taken for schools, I always require parents to order prints. I know, not fair, but they’ll thank me later.

When you miss the blossoms

For years as I’ve mentioned, I coordinated with the school to get the perfect pictures while the apple blossoms, cherry blossoms and dogwoods were blooming in all of their glory. I even called the sessions Blossoms. One year, though, we missed the boat. I don’t recall why. Maybe it was a bad year for blossoms. Maybe the school had scheduling issues. Maybe I did. But in lieu of blossoms, we purchased some potted flowers. Below you can see the results….. Enjoy!