Following my big birthday celebration yesterday, it was a little difficult rolling out of bed for an 8AM soccer match. Happily my tweaked hamstring from two weeks ago has healed and I managed to play the entire match without further aggravation, even managing an assist on one of our 4 goals. My team is on a real streak, having won our last 15 matches without surrendering a single goal. With half the season remaining, we are now solidly in first place. I returned home in time to bid farewell to my visiting sister, mother, and sister-in-law and then to spend time teaching my nieces to fly one of my drones. Above is a dronee taken by Sophia before my brother and his family traveled to Olin with Jeanine and I to visit Maya. She gave a tour of the campus leaving all the engineers in the family wishing they could go back to school and her young nieces with a glimpse of what a future in college might look like.

Sixty years ago today I entered the world, the first of four children born to Frank and Angela Calabria in Albany, NY.  A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. I am happy to report that I have few regrets and many blessings to be thankful for.

Jeanine conspired with family and friends to throw me a surprise party to celebrate the milestone. Misdirection took the form of a visit to the Boston Aquarium with my nieces, Sophia and Rose, and brother, Mark. This to lure me down to the waterfront where a classic sailing schooner, manned by a large contingent of my family and friends was waiting wharf side to collect us for a sunset cruise of the Boston Harbor. Our group of ~35 then walked to the North End where we dined at the L’Osteria Italian restaurant.  Between appetizers and the main course, guests were entertained by a game in which they had to answer various trivia questions about the birthday boy. The highlight of the evening for me was hearing the words offered by my children in celebration of their father.  A more wonderful day I could not have hoped for.

This aerial photo of the field behind our yard revealed an entire patch of fall color on the right side of the frame.  As soon as we get some sun, I plan to investigate more thoroughly.  This is a very exciting discovery and I can hardly wait for some decent weather.

I made it to CCHS in time to catch the end of a women’s varsity soccer match today.  I was hoping to put my new sports-oriented camera body through its paces.  I could not be happier with the results.  For the record, CCHS enjoyed a hard-fought 1-0 win.

Today after work I picked up a used Sony a9 camera body. It is the camera of choice for sports photography and will be part of the kit I take to  Mexico for the Amputee World Cup tournament a month from now.  I got a highly discounted price on a very lightly used copy which looks to be in perfect condition. Tomorrow I plan to give it a real workout.  The Concord Carlisle High School women’s soccer team has a late afternoon match at home. 

Raptors are some of the most photogenic birds of all.  This one flew across the road as I was driving by.  I spotted where it landed, pulled over, and got out my telephoto lens.  I approached slowly and was rewarded for my effort with this nicely framed portrait against a dramatic blue sky.  Regrettably, I did not have time to hang around while it hunted.

Since I was nursing my hamstring yesterday, I decided to photograph the match. The image above is one of a sequence showing my teammate, Frank, dribbling around the keeper and several defenders to score a beautiful goal.  The full set of images can be found here.

For the sixth year in a row, Jeanine participated in the Three Squares New England Ride for Food. This year she raised $10,250 on the 25-mile ride.  Together her team from Open Table collected $31,500.  She was joined by close friend, Karen Metzold, the wife of my high school wrestling partner. Apparently the ride can be very dangerous so participants must wear really big helmets. Either that or the team from Open Table thought it would be fun to create a headpiece with the organizations new logo on it. My tweaked hamstring is healing nicely but I decided to sit out my match this morning to ensure I will be fully recovered for next weekend when we face one of our toughest opponents.  After today’s 8-0 win we are 4-0 on the season.

Last night on the evening news I saw a story about a local family that created a corn maze honoring Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.  It is hard to explain to those who do not live in the Boston area just how seriously people here take their sports. I’d say these photos make the argument better than I can. Located in Bolton, MA, the Schartner Farm is operated by the 4th generation descendants of Julius Schartner who emigrated from Austria in 1902.  For those who do not keep up with the latest vernacular, G.O.A.T. = “Greatest of all Time.” 

As city halls go, the one in Lowell, MA is quite beautiful. Pictured above with the gold-domed Holy Trinity Church in the background and below with the Tsongas Center in the distance.  I made a brief visit to the city this afternoon for a tour of the historic mills that line the Merrimack River. They were equally interesting but not quite as photogenic.

Construction continues on Mass + Main, a project that will add three buildings and 306 apartments to Cambridge’s Central Square. The taller of those buildings will run to 19 stories and 195 feet, placing it among the highest in Cambridge.  The project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2019.  Soon the building will block the morning sun that falls on the Clover restaurant where I have breakfast most days.  It is a stark reminder that the things we take for granted are rarely permanent.

The remnants of Hurricane Florence have been passing through Massachusetts for the past 36 hours.  Having just reseeded our lawn we are thankful for all the rain.  The ominous skies also contributed to the mood of this image of a bridge over the Sudbury River which I rather like.

Two days ago I secured a reservation for Audi’s first all-electric car, the e-tron, only seconds after preferred customers were allowed to do so. At 12:01 AM this morning, I got my first glimpse of the final design and had a chance to review specifications before entering my order configuration.  I have decided on everything except the color which will probably be one of the two above. I have waited patiently for this day ever since I rejected delivery of a Tesla Model X over 2 years ago.  That saga is recounted here.  The e-tron is a proper all-electric SUV crossover with enough range (~250 miles) to eliminate the need for a traditional gas-powered car, a big increase compared to the 81-mile range of my BMW i3.  While it has been fine for commuting to Boston, I have to trade cars with Jeanine anytime I need to travel further. Delivery is expected within 6 months and possibly sooner given my position at the top of the reservation list.

Today’s photo is courtesy of Kyle who documented his work in the kitchen where he prepared meals for the coming week.  His mother deserves all the credit for teaching her children how to cook and appreciate healthy food.  Sadly, her husband has not benefited from equal measures of instruction and coaching.  It should also be noted that she still accuses him of creating the false impression that he was an accomplished cook during their courtship.  This by virtue of the fact that he owned a mushroom brush and prepared homemade lasagna for one of their early dates.

I do not believe I have ever in my life attended a car show.  As I drove back from my soccer match this morning, I happened on one being held in Concord.  Although classic cars are not exactly my cup of tea, I could not help but admire the beauty of these restored automobiles.  Photographically speaking it was a target-rich environment and I wound up staying for half an hour.  My soccer team managed to come away with a 2-0 win against a very tough Russian team which has moved us into a tie for first place within the division.  My game ended minutes before halftime when I tweaked my left hamstring.  The second half proved to be even more physical than the first and nearly ended in a brawl.  Let’s just say that I am not looking forward to our next match against these guys. 

Kyle returned to Concord yesterday to collect some furniture and other items for his new apartment.  Today, after stocking up on groceries, I drove with him back to the Seaport District but not before making a detour to Olin College so we could visit with Maya.  After dreaming she had fallen from her newly constructed loft sleeping area, I am pleased to report that she has completed construction of a proper railing to prevent any such mishap. She has taken on an exhausting academic load but seems to be very happy with her busy life.  Kyle seems to be settling nicely into his apartment save for a new mattress that is not to his liking.  Once that is replaced, I think he will be very comfortable in his new living quarters.  While driving out of the Seaport District it was hard not to notice the number of young people out and about enjoying themselves in what is one of Boston’s most “happening” areas.

I found myself at Lechmere Canal Park this morning before meetings I had in the neighborhood.  This circular basin forms the terminus of a 750-foot-long canal which was created by walling off an existing portion of the Charles River around which it was filled with landfill.  It is used primarily by the Charles River Boat Company, which operates pleasure trips from a mooring in front of the Galleria. Private boats can also use the moorings there for mall access.

It has been 6 years since I visited Argentina with Kyle, a trip I will never forget.  I will be visiting again in February when my soccer team travels to Buenos Aires to play two international friendly matches.  This evening I began making my travel plans.  I will definitely be visiting the Iguazu Falls area which I was not able to reach last time.  I am torn between visiting several other new areas or returning to the Patagonia region which has some of the most amazing landscapes on the planet. I would like to give myself about a week ahead of the matches for hiking and photography.

This afternoon I shot a couple more headshots of new and old Superpedestrian employees.  The guy above works in the software department as if you couldn’t guess.  Below are some of my favorite shots of the day.

Several times a year, the grass in the field behind our house is mowed and collected for hay.  The timing of the process is very important.  Cutting in the afternoon results in the highest sugar content of the grass. Cutting and gathering in dry conditions prevents mold.  This picture was taken yesterday as the farmer worked feverishly to “make hay while the sun shines.” Today we are experiencing torrential rain which would have ruined the hay crop had it been left for one more day.  While waiting for the tractor to line up for the shot I wanted, I photographed the flowers below out of boredom.  Turns out I rather liked the image.  It makes me feel like the end of summer is approaching.

Today my over-56 soccer team faced Medfield, one of the better teams in division one. I scored my first goal of the season and it proved to be enough to secure a 1-0 win. I ran onto a beautiful pass across the top of the box and just behind the defense, controlled it with my left foot, and finished with the outside of my right.  I am not known for my finishing finesse but this goal enhanced my reputation in that regard.  Later we celebrated at the home of our goalie.  I had beer duty by virtue of the yellow card I earned during our last match.  As a non-drinker, I felt entirely intimidated by the beer selection process and have been worrying about this for the entire week. The consequences of a poor selection would have been unmitigated torment. Fortunately, my pre-purchase research proved to be well informed and many on the squad are looking forward to my next card infraction.

Last week I purchased a new drone, a larger and higher resolution version of the one I have been using for the past year.  It sports a 1-inch 20MP sensor that is a big step up from the 12MP version on its baby brother.  Unexpectedly, it is also quieter in the air, a welcome bonus.  It is more sophisticated in every way and will be my primary aerial camera from here on out.  The smaller one will be my go-to choice for travel and hiking.

Over the years I have photographed this bridge on several occasions.  The Japanese inspired design has always appealed to me as does the serene setting.  It is a great place to visit for serenity and on this day for introspection and contemplation.  When faced with important decisions or the need to relax, I am able to find great clarity and peace in such places.

For some time now I have been wanting to photograph Boston’s iconic CITGO sign from a unique perspective.  Famous as a backdrop to Kenmore Square and Fenway Park, I used a new drone that arrived yesterday for the project.  The radio range is incredible and I piloted this mission from the other side of the Charles River during a lunch-hour stroll to Magazine Beach Park. I also got some nice shots on the return flight.

Taken during our visit with her last weekend, this is a photo of Maya’s dorm room at Olin. She and her roommate, Lauren, have erected a self-standing sleeping loft and access stairs (permissible if not attached to the room in any way) where their beds and dressers are located. This creates a massive lounge-like area underneath, apparently advantageous for hosting parties.  While I admire the project, I can not say I am thrilled by the motive.

We have been doing a good bit of hiring at Superpedestrian lately and I am quick to volunteer when new headshots are needed for our website.  Here are two of the eight.  If I had more time I would have varied the background but there was a lot going on at work today so I just set up a production line.

It has been wonderful having Kyle live with us while he completed his career transition from financial analyst to data scientist.  He now works at Cengage in the Seaport District of Boston.  Today he began moving into an apartment at Pier 4 which is walking distance from his office.  The building is brand new and features several wonderful amenities. 

Pulling teeth is how I would describe the process of obtaining photos of the athletes and coaching staff that will represent the United States at the 2018 Amputee Soccer World Cup.  These photos are required in order to obtain credentials in advance of the tournament to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico in late October.  Since we do not have our uniforms yet, we asked everyone to provide a headshot with a white t-shirt in front of a white wall. My job has been to post-process the photos so that they appear as uniform as possible.

News of Nico’s naming to the US National Amputee Soccer Team made it into the Concord Journal newspaper this week.  Earlier it was posted on their Wicked Local website but seeing the article and photo in print is somehow much more satisfying.