When we take a photograph, we are trying to capture not only what we are seeing, but also what we are feeling at that moment — not always an easy task as the very act of taking the photo can actually alter our experience. Some people who don’t care about the experience as they are super focused on only having a series of photos which justify not only where they were, but also, how they looked. In one way I envy these people because they end up with a bunch of pictures that come from the best angles, highlighting the scenery or themselves in the most complimentary manner. Since I take photos which often have uncentered landmarks, too much or too little light and highlight my extra chin, I am not one of these picture takers. Yet, my imperfect photos are a perfect balance of both capturing and experiencing a moment. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I often take pictures which can fill a whole novel!
I have taken an occasional photography lesson wherein I have been instructed to frame my subjects in a way which gives them context in the space that they are in. This is great advice for capturing images of not only what I see, but also when I am trying to capture images of what I feel.
For example, when I look back at photos on my phone, I may come across a very blurry one taken from the car. Rather than instantly discard it as a mistake, I am convinced that my photo was not only taken within the appropriate context of the subject’s surroundings (from a car) but also effectively captured my feeling at the time of car sickness, which I often experience when there are too many things I try to see whizzing by my window. When I have just climbed or reached a high mountain peak which overlooks a breathtaking view, I not only take a picture of the view, from every side, but I also take a photo straight down, or at least as close to straight down as my wobbly legs will allow. These series of photos do not interfere with my feelings of awe and pride, but rather, serve as a visual reminder of the moment.
Since we are not members of the paparazzi, traveling around taking perfect pictures of our ‘distant selves’, my photography advice is to NOT look back at the photos you are taking until after you have experienced the moment. This ensures that the pictures themselves will serve as reminders of the experience. Critiquing a photo of how you look whilst standing at the top of the mountain means that you are no longer looking at and experiencing the magnificent view. If you look cold, then you probably felt cold. If you look sweaty and unkempt, then you probably felt hot and weary, making the photos you capture absolutely perfect within the context of the moment.
Click! Click!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
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The town of Putnam and Bousquet's Appliances are presenting Steve's River Blossoms in the Quinebaug River through Nov. 5. It is in honor of Steve Bousquet, community advocate. Linda Lemmon photos.
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Make your
woods bird
friendly with
forest grant
The Last Green Valley and its partners announced the next round of $6.1 million Southern New England Heritage Forest Grant Program.
The funds are available to improve woodland habitat for important bird species and to manage woods for wildlife and people. The offer comes from The Last Green Valley (TLGV), the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership (MassConn) and the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District (NRICD).
This program is ideally suited for landowners who have never had a forest management plan and own more than 10 acres of woodlands.
Program requirements vary by state. To get started, contact the lead partner for your state. The partners can assist with the application process. The application deadline for Connecticut and Rhode Island is Dec. 31, but it’s recommended you begin the process early to ensure the application is complete before the deadline. Visit www.thelastgreenvalley.org for links to the application materials, including a list of communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island that are included in this program.
A professional forester will walk your property and coordinate with the Audubon society in your state to produce a high-quality forest management plan with a bird habitat assessment of your woods. The plan will recommend measures you can take to improve the health of your woods. The plan will meet federal and state requirements and may be used to apply for property tax reductions at the local level (where applicable).
Grant funds are available to pay for most of the forester’s costs and to completely fund the bird habitat assessments. Landowners will be responsible for choosing a forester from an approved list and paying for a percentage of the total cost of the forest management plan.
The program is part of the $6.1 million Southern New England Heritage Forest conservation effort, an unprecedented three-state collaboration made possible through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS funding is being matched, bringing the economic infusion into the region to $12.2 million.
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Honored
The Woodstock Academy volleyball seniors were honored during Senior Day festivities prior to their match at Griswold. Photo by Adam Bottone.
The Woodstock Academy girls’ soccer team rebounded from a hard-fought loss in their opener against Killingly for a 6-0 win over Windham Tech Oct. 3.
“We knew the Killingly game was going to be fun, emotional, competitive and it was great to have that experience. This game was nice to get everyone in, everyone playing, everybody happy for the weekend,” said Centaurs coach Dennis Snelling.
The Centaurs scored all six of their goals in the first half.
Last year’s leading scorers, Grace Gelhaus and Peyton Saracina, each scored within the first eight minutes of the game with Adeline Smith assisting on the Gelhaus goal and Gelhaus on the Saracina goal.
Saracina and Gelhaus each added goals later on in the first half.
“It was a confidence booster,” Saracina said. “It was a great game by us. We kind of moved (the ball) around in the second half and worked so much better as a team. We all got really good touches on the ball (Saturday).”
That included freshman Kayla Leite.
She played defense in the 3-2 overtime loss to Killingly in the Centaurs’ opener Oct. 1.
She informed Snelling later that she was really a midfielder and Snelling gave her the opportunity on Saturday.
She responded with a pair of goals.
“On the first day of tryouts, when I saw the freshmen, I was very, very pleased. Obviously, Kayla with the two goals (Saturday), never gives up. She’s a great player and I love her way of playing. Rebecca (Nazer) in net, she is just amazing and she is a good field player too. I’m just really impressed with the improvement of last year’s freshmen, now sophomores, too. I’m just really confident in everyone all-around,” Saracina said.
The Centaurs were challenged in their opener. Lucy McDermott scored in the first half but that would be all for the Centaurs until just six seconds was left in regulation.
A Gelhaus shot hit the bar with the rebound fortuitously finding the foot of Caroline Wilcox who put it into the back of the net to send the game into overtime.
Killingly won the match when it scored shortly into the second five-minute overtime period.
Boys’ soccer wins two to start
The Centaurs boys’ soccer team has already doubled its win output of last season.
A 3-1 win over Windham Tech in Willimantic Oct. 3 raised the Woodstock Academy record to 2-0 on the season.
Ty Morgan scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Centaurs to the win over the Mighty Tigers.
Huck Gelhaus added a goal while both Richard Hickson and Eric Phongsa tossed in an assist.
The Centaurs had it much easier in their opener.
They downed Ellis Tech, 8-0, on their home field at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
Eric Phongsa had the hat trick to start the season and also added an assist to his three-goal effort.
Gelhaus (1 assist) and Hickson each had two goals and Andrew Johnson added a tally.
James Phongsa had two assists in the win.
Volleyball splits 2 on the road
The Centaurs volleyball team opened its season with two matches on the road.
The first one went pretty well, a 3-0 victory over New London, Oct. 1.
But the back-to-back matches took its toll Oct. 2 as the Centaurs lost in Jewett City to Griswold, 3-1.
The Centaurs rolled past New London, winning the three sets 25-10, 25-20 and 25-10.
Senior Gabby Garbutt opened the season with a double-double effort, getting 11 kills and 10 digs against the Whalers.
Fellow senior Aurissa Boardman added six kills and 10 digs in the win.
But the Wolverines quickly ended the hopes of an undefeated season for Woodstock Academy.
Griswold won the first set, 25-21, but Woodstock Academy tied the match with a 25-16 win in the second set.
Griswold prevailed with wins of 25-17 and 25-21 in the final two sets.
Senior defensive specialist Marissa Mayhew had 28 digs and three aces behind the service line in the loss for the Centaurs.
Garbutt had 13 kills, 25 digs and 4 aces while senior setter Tabby Bezanson contributed 23 assists.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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