The biggest ending is of course the loss of our sweet cat Sam. I still have not done a tribute to him here on the blog. Soon.

Assorted leaves hanging out before the pool was closed.

The pool is closed for the season. Its winter cover keeping it tidy for the autumn and winter seasons to come. It’s sad, but it was time. Next year we are looking to install a heater to add several weeks on to the beginning and the end of pool season.

Yesterday also was the end of my photography classes. I wish they offered a more in-depth class to hone the skills I learned but they don’t. So for now I’ll just have to take what I did learn and practice on my own. I was amazed how so many people can talk the talk but can’t walk the walk. They can go on and on about this and that about their camera, throwing all kinds of terms around, but when it comes to actually taking photos they aren’t very good! Yesterday we had to go out into the parking lot and take photos of textures, reflections, patterns, lines and etc. and then come in and do a slideshow. It was enlightening for sure. One girl who claims to have a job in a photography studio didn’t even know what the hot shoe was! She also did not share her photos with the class. (It was optional to share.)

It’s also the end of summer. Even when the days get up in to the 70’s the air is different and you can tell the heat has lost its punch.

My neighbor’s tree.

Little mushrooms are popping up in the yard.

Apples and fall fruits take over the farmer’s market.

In other news, Sam’s death kind of took away the excitement and pleasure of seeing my photo/s in print in two local newspapers. They actually did use them!

The Trends reaches has a large distribution and reaches our whole county. They used their staff photographer’s photo on the front page (boohoo, but hey they have to pay him!) but used my photo on the inside.

I was also surprised and pleased to see that their affiliated paper, Aim West Milford, that is local just to our township used both photos I submitted. (Also on on inside page.)

I was very pleased. And proud. I am thinking they had a lot of photo submissions for the fire and yet they chose to use mine.

So, that’s it for today. Kind of a mish-mash, but there you have it.

Congrats on the photos in the papers! You should show a couple of the photos you took at school. I think they’re cool

What a great photo of Sam.  Did you show the photos you took to the class?  Any comments?  Yes, do post them!  I told you ‘photo journalist’ was in your future!    You got the credit but too bad they didn’t pay you too.

Actually I deleted the photos I took in class! Didn’t know they were anything special. Should I recover them from the trash?

Yes, C, I did show my photos. My instructor made a comment on a couple of them and one person in the class said he thought I had a good eye They seemed to like several of them where people commented.

Another crop of wonderful photos (especially the one of handsome Sammy!). Love the mushroom one, too. I also think your pic of the fire scene was way better than the one they had to use on the cover just because they had to. Your composition is more interesting to the eye.  Very proud of you!

Thanks Bigsis. That pic of Sammy was taken back before we moved to NJ (at the cabin).  Glad you liked my fire pic!

Beautiful Sam!  And you’re in print…congrats!  That is very cool.  Your comment re. walk the walk,talk the talk struck home.  I spent a week in a photo course in New Hampshire with a ‘frienemy.’  I worked so hard to relearn the manual mode and use as many features on my camera as possible.  After the course ended she mentioned that she did everything in auto mode the entire week.  Maybe I took this too seriously but I actually felt like I had been lied to.  Hmmmm. 
Maybe the title of photojournalist is in your future…wonderful shots!

Thanks, Helene! Yes, Sam was a beautiful kitty.  Re your frienemy: boo on her! Not only did she cheat herself but everyone else who took the course along with her. Why bother take the course then?
I think I just got lucky with the fire shots!

Congrats again on your photos being in the newspaper. How cool is that?!

I love the top photo of the leaves in the pool.

Steve, it was very cool! Probably never happen again!

The leaves were irresistible since they were all lined up together and all different! It shows how many different varieties of trees are around the pool deck. Thanks!

You always take awesome shots!  Congrats on getting the in the paper!

Thank you Maggie!