The video, below, features the North Ridgeville 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony held on September 11, 2021 at North Ridgeville High School’s Ranger Stadium. (Details of the program are further down this page.)

I decided to attend the ceremony at the last minute so I grabbed my smartphone to get a couple photos for personal memories. When I arrived, I realized there weren't any professional photographers in attendance to document this important event.

So I went back to my car, dug out some old photography gear and shot photos and video with my less-than-professional equipment. Although this video isn't perfect – it is a record of a historical event that otherwise wouldn't have been preserved.

Please share this post on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. so that others may remember this important day.

The event captured on this video includes:

Host: Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio – North Ridgeville City Schools

Keynote speaker: North Ridgeville Mayor Kevin Corcoran

Flag detail: North Ridgeville Police and Fire Honor Guards

National Anthem: North Ridgeville High School Choir

Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence

Patriotic songs led by North Ridgeville High School Choir – directed by Sarah Miller

Invocation: Pastor Kevin Crow of Harvest Ridge Church – North Ridgeville

Rifle volley: North Ridgeville VFW Post 9871

Taps: retired North Ridgeville firefighter Lou Simonyi

See photos from this event here.

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If you would like a commemorative print of the Statue of Liberty that I created to show our country's resilience, please click here.

Where were you and what were you doing on 9/11? What emotions did you feel when you saw the video of the jets hitting the Twin Towers? Please share them with a comment here.

The post North Ridgeville 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony – Sept. 11, 2021 appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Total Solar Eclipse 2017: A Guide to Viewing and Photographing it — Hudson Henry Photography

Here's a great video with tips and tricks to view the August 21st, 2017 total solar eclipse. The sun will cross the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. This rare event is a great opportunity for photographers – both amateur and professional.

The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in the U.S. was in 1979 in the Pacific Northwest. Here is ABC News coverage from that day with an amazing view from Helena, Montana.

In the video at the top of this post, Hudson Henry explains why the August 21st, 2017 total solar eclipse is special, shares some online maps and electronic scouting tools to help you plan where and how to photograph it, covers what gear you will need to get the best eclipse photos possible and reviews camera settings and technical strategies to capture those images.

When the eclipse reaches totality, you can view it with your naked eyes and stars will be visible. However, during the partial phase leading up to and following totality, you need to protect your eyes and your camera’s sensor. Be sure to view the eclipse using “Live View” on your camera instead of looking directly through the lens using your viewfinder.

WARNING! There is a high risk of PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE when watching the solar eclipse. Learn more at 10:44 of this video: CBC Special: Solar Eclipse Over Winnipeg.

Have fun in your quest to capture some images of a lifetime!

Here are some links to the tools and products recommended in Hudson Henry's video.

The post How to Photograph the Total Solar Eclipse on 8/21/17 appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

It's been a long time since I've attended the Cleveland National Air Show – going back to the days of shooting film. With my digital photo and video cameras in hand – I just couldn't resist the opportunity to go this year!

I kept my photo count down to around 350 shots – unlike the guy next to me who was there all three days – shooting several thousand pics with a variety of extreme telephoto and zoom lenses. And he said he was just shooting for himself!

I captured some nice shots of a few of the stunt aircraft but the high flying Thunderbirds were my main focus as seen here.

Now the real work begins. Editing the video and photos will take some time. I'm just glad I kept the number of photos I took to a “reasonable” number!

Did you attend the air show? What part of the show did you like best? Please comment, share and like this post!

The post Great Photo Opportunities at the 2015 Cleveland National Air Show appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

“Cancel the trip – terrorists have attacked New York!” Those were the words I heard my wife utter over the telephone from work the morning of September 11, 2001.

There weren't any more attacks on the U.S. after that, so just 10 weeks later,  my wife, two young daughters and I spent Thanksgiving weekend in New York City. There was a somber mood cast over the city with the huge loss of life when the Twin Towers fell.

Through it all, the terrorists failed to take away our freedom. Seeing “Lady Liberty” keeping watch over New York Harbor gave us comfort and a sense of pride for our country. It is those feelings that inspired the creation of the above photo.

If you would like to have a commemorative print of the Statue of Liberty as seen in this story, please click here.

The software I utilized to enhance this photo is Topaz Labs Photo Ai – an easy-to-use photo editing software that instantly sharpens out-of-focus images, increases the file size of low-resolution photos, and dramatically reduces noise (grain) in as little as one-click! See my video review of Topaz Labs Photo Ai here: www.SpectraLight.com/PhotoAiDemo

I then adjusted the color and contrast with Topaz Studio 2 to create the first image at the top of this page.

NOTE: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, you'll help support this blog at no cost to you – allowing me to continue sharing information like this for your education and enjoyment. Thank you!

Where were you and what were you doing on 9/11? What emotions did you feel when you saw the video of the jets hitting the Twin Towers? Please share them with a comment here.

The post A commemorative photo of the Statue of Liberty remembering 9/11 appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

I've loaned 17 limited edition AlumaGraphs^TM for exhibition at the Avon Lake Public library. The artwork includes a fog-shrouded Golden Gate Bridge taken from Alcatraz, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island appearing as if it were taken in a by-gone era and a unique rendering of a horseless buggy at Grand Pacific Junction in Olmsted Falls.

I discovered a unique way to “print” my art that sets it apart from all other medium. Instead of using traditional photographic paper, the images are rendered as AlumaGraphs^TM – a proprietary process that transforms photographs into faux paintings and then melds them into aluminum. There’s nothing as captivating as a photo that shines on aluminum with a bright, clear, glossy base and brilliant color that pops.

I've always wanted to create stunning images of landscapes and unusual architecture. Unfortunately, I never did well in art class as a child. I knew what good composition was but just couldn't draw a stick figure to save my life! I then fell in love with photography and was finally able to capture amazing scenes with a camera where an artist brush failed me. Nevertheless, my images still looked like pictures. The digital process I now use has elevated my photographs to look like the paintings I wanted to create since I was a little boy.

Some of my work may be viewed at www.mark-madere.artistwebsites.com.

The library is at 32649 Electric Blvd in Avon Lake. The exhibit runs from March 1^st – 31^st , 2014

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A rare phenomena occurring once every couple years around the world has hit parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio this week.

While driving along I-80 in western Pennsylvania on Monday, a huge cluster of what appeared to be rolls of toilet paper invaded the median of the highway. At first I thought they were stacks of snow covered hay. Later that day I discovered they were “snow rollers” and were so unusual that they became an online sensation on social media sites and regional TV stations.

Snow rollers are most common in mountainous or hilly terrain. Basically, strong winds pick up moist snow and blow it along the ground, eventually building a cylinder of snow, which is often hollow in the middle. When the snow roller grows too large for the wind to propel it farther, it stops.

Here are the optimal conditions for snow roller generation, according to the National Weather Service:

• Existing icy or crusty snow cover, so additional snow will not stick to it
• Additional wet, loose snow on top of the icy, crusty snow cover
• Wind strong enough to scoop out balls of snow and propel snow roller forward
• At least some slope to the ground

A quick search of the Internet search found plenty of photos and videos on the subject.

Snow rollers can be as large as barrels, as you can see in this photo from Du Bois, Pennsylvania captured by nature lover (and my sister) – Marianne Atkinson.

Needless to say, I wish I would have taken some of my own photos along I-80; but stopping for non-emergency reasons on interstates is illegal. In this case I'll just have to adopt a phrase used by Cleveland sports fans regarding their losing teams – “there's always next year.”

Have you ever seen a snow roller in person? Please share your experience with my readers!

Please share this article with you friends on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or via e-mail.

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So how can you effectively combine networking and the Internet to land your next job? By having a complete, free business profile on LinkedIn.

Executives from all 2012 Fortune 500 companies have LinkedIn accounts and 50% of Fortune 100 companies hire through LinkedIn.

A personal, LinkedIn profile gives users an online, up-to-the-minute “living resume” – available online 24-7 to recruiters, hiring managers or prospective clients who may wish to do business with or hire you.

Not sure how to set-up a LinkedIn profile? On Monday, December 9th, from 1:30 – 3:30, I will be presenting a free workshop, LinkedIn UNLOCKED – The MISSING links revealed to help grow your business or land your next job. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to optimize your profile to rise to the top of recruiters’ searches for someone with your skills and discover numerous strategies to uncover individuals who could open the door to your next job. Here's a short preview of some of the info that I'll cover: http://youtu.be/3CiNR-r60m8

One critical mistake that many job seekers make is not having a professionally created portrait on their LinkedIn profile. A professional portrait is key for a great first impression and strong credibility. Self-portraits with a cell phone do not look professional – which gives a bad impression of you.

Recruiters want to see what a potential candidate looks like. LinkedIn profiles with pictures are reviewed more than those without. A study by TheLadders online job search service discovered recruiters spend more time examining a LinkedIn user's portrait than reviewing their qualifications.

The post LinkedIn Unlocked – Missing links revealed to boost your job search success appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Halloween is just around the corner and fans of the season are already shopping for unique costumes in stores and online. So why should humans have all the Halloween fun? Statistics from an October 2012 report by The National Retail Federation reveal an astounding 2.2 billion dollars was spent on costumes with 11.5% of trick-or-treaters dressing their pets.

Every year, people dress their pets in the craziest Halloween costumes! Dog and cat costumes let your pets tag along to dog-friendly Halloween parties, carnival events, and fairs where costumes, characters, and make believe are the prevailing theme.

There are plenty of super hero costumes for pets including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Let your cat be a show-stopper by dressing her in an Underdog costume. Have a Dachshund? Dress him in a cute “wiener dog” hotdog bun costume with your choice of catsup or mustard across your four-legged friend’s back.

What dog doesn’t want to channel his “inner-dinosaur” by becoming a raptor or triceratops? You gotta love the kitty dressed as a lion… roarrrrrrrrrrrrr! Have you seen the cat with a cloth saddle on her back being ridden by a mouse? Or the feline dressed like a pharaoh? Too funny.

For “crafty” people who like creating their own designs, there are sources on the Internet with loads of ideas. With a few materials and some imagination, you can make a “howling” good costume for your four-legged friend. Just keep safety first and make sure your pet isn't constrained in a way that prevents him from hearing, seeing or breathing.

Do you plan on dressing your pet for Halloween this year? What will they be wearing? Please share this article with your friends!

Check out some of the cute costumes this year's best dressed pets will be wearing in the related video! Shop for pet costumes at http://superproductreview.info/PetCostumes.

The post Cute pet Halloween costumes make the best dog and cat photos appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

I'm really excited to be asked to show how to take better vacation photos at the May 20th meeting of the North Ridgeville Arts Council. I will be presenting “Discover 7 Secrets to Better Vacation Photography.” The information can be used to improve vacation photography, pictures of friends and family, sporting events and more.

Topics to be covered include: how to choose a camera, creative composition from unusual camera angles, use of natural light and electronic flash, how to help people look their best, enhancing photos after they're taken, saving and preserving picture files to guard against loss from a computer crash, different ways to display photographs for maximum enjoyment and more.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

The meeting is on Monday, May 20th at 7 p.m. at North Ridgeville Library,35700 Bainbridge Rd, North Ridgeville.

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[Originally written on February 1, 2011]
Punxsutawney Phil is about to do his annual prognostication (OK, prediction) on how much longer we have to deal with cold, snowy, winter weather. After Clevelanders got socked with a rough morning commute to work in near white-out conditions and many schools canceled classes – spring can't come soon enough!

In 2003, I had the opportunity to see the crazy antics of Punxsutawnians during their week long, Groundhog Day celebration. Punxsy (as the locals call their hometown) has a HUGE statue (three-stories tall to be exact!) of a groundhog outside one of their fast food restaurants. The library keeps the real, live “Phil” in a glass enclosure year-round for visitors to observe, the city has a huge, week-long festival with ice sculptures created by a chain saw carver, food vendors (Groundhog Dogs anyone?) and all kinds of “Phil” related items at their annual craft fair.

There's even a “Little Mr. & Miss Groundhog” contest. And who could pass up a screening of the movie, “Groundhog Day” at the Punxsutawney Community Center?

You'll see many of the Groundhog Day activities in the video slideshow from my visit in 2003 at http://youtu.be/iIoqPBAfSjY. Enjoy!

Have you ever been to Punxsutawney to see whether Phil would see his shadow? If not, do you think you'll ever make the trip? Please share your thoughts with a comment here.

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See more photos and videos highlighting what is great about CLEveland and Northeast Ohio on our HOTonCLE website: http://HOTonCLE.com

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See the gear and software we use to create our videos and photos: https://spectralight.com/Gear

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