NE OH Gathering: May 11-13, 2012

We had three wonderful gatherings in October, August and May of 2011, missed a few regulars, gained a few new folks. It is time again for another NE OH Gathering, to get out shooting film, come together to see recent work, climb ledges, walk the OH & Erie Canal, photograph waterfalls, explore the Ohiofarmmuseum.com and have group fun at a gathering of like minded friends and hopefully new faces.

Dolly, the Girls three blond lady Labrador Retrievers and I would like to invite you to our home for a film photography gathering starting 5 PM Friday, May 11th, through Saturday, May 12th and Sunday, May 13th. We have been doing this, several times a year, for five years with attendance ranging from 10-25 photographers. It has been a blast for us. I hope you have enjoyed it as much or will try it for the first time at this event. For more information about the flavor of these events read the threads on earlier "NE OH Gathering."

Most recent:
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum174/...-2-2011-a.html
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum174/...-7-2011-a.html
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum174/...-8-2011-a.html

Lee L has kindly built and maintained a Google Mapbook with most of our previously visited locations. https://sites.google.com/site/neohapug/

Available options we have enjoyed in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park,
http://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm

Within five miles of our house:
Blue Hen Falls http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/bluehen.shtml
Butter Milk Falls http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls...milkCUVA.shtml
Brandywine[/url] Falls http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/brandywine.shtml

Please note the obvious, waterfalls can be dangerous. The day after our May, 2011 event a person unknown to us slipped and fell sixty feet to his death at Brandywine Falls.

Virginia Kendall Ledges
Everett Road Covered Bridge
Maps http://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/maps.htm

Several visitors have been interested in the OH Turnpike bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the three 19th century churches in the scenic little town of Peninsula, OH.

There is often fog early in the morning in the Cuyahoga River Valley and locally over our pond. This can be natural or self induced depending on activities. It can add interesting aspects to your photography. Some have slept in for four years and never noticed. It is your decision.

If nature/landscape is not your thing, Cleveland, the flats, where it is difficult to take a picture with less than three bridges, and five is more likely, awaits you.

“The Ohio & Erie Canal was a technological marvel. The inland waterway incorporated a series of sandstone locks that enabled boats to climb differences in elevation along the Continental Divide. The steepest section of the canal was between Akron and the Little Cuyahoga River. In a single mile, 15 locks, or "steps," were necessary.”

Richfield Ohio’s Jim Fry has created The Museum of Western Reserve Farms and Equipment, dedicated to preserving the tools, equipment, skills and way of life lived by Ohioans in the 1800s. Mr. Fry, a farmer, historian, and artist, has collected 44 buildings including what may be the largest surviving early blacksmith shop in Ohio, the oldest barn in the state, the Stouffer farm smokehouse, and one of the largest surviving post and beam barns in Summit County. The farm is constantly evolving as animals, tools, buildings, machines, in various states of preservation are added or combined into exhibits. This is 1.4 miles from our house. http://www.Ohiofarmmuseum.com/

On occasion it has been too hot, too wet, too tired, to hike in the woods lugging heavy gear. We are fortunate to be located between the Cleveland Museum of Art and The Akron Art Museum. Both have very good photography departments and have been kind enough to have excellent exhibits coinciding with our calendar. We have been known to drop dirty, sweaty gear behind, make a group visit to an ethnic restaurant and attend either or both museums as needed. It is all about like minded individuals sharing an interest.

The event will be in Bath, Ohio, between Cleveland and Akron, five miles south of the intersection of the Ohio Turnpike and Route I-77, meeting at a private home, two miles from the edge of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. For a rough estimate of time and distance use zip 44286 in Mapquest.com. If some visitors want to camp by the garden, they are most welcome. Others can stay at local motels. The Hampton Inn, Richfield, OH (1 800 Hampton) at the OH Turnpike entrance and intersection with I-77, about five miles away is the most popular.

Come as early as Friday, 5:00 PM. Saturday we usually go out to breakfast at 10:00 AM to allow for early shooters and late sleepers. We gather again about 5:00 PM to show prints, tell lies and go out to dinner. Alternatively we have been known to call in pizza. Print showing and pizza eating are done at separate times with a cleaning of paws in between. Sunset shooting is available, but previously showing prints and telling stories prevailed. It is all about the camaraderie of people following a hobby. While you are here the Lady Labradors will entertain with their splashing stick routines. One regular attendee will try to convince you that bacon ice cream is a bit of heaven. There is an orchard-home made ice cream business near by. Quality control visits and inspection checks are mandatory, often requiring multiple tests.

When we learn how many are coming we can order a porta potty if there are enough to pay for it by contribution ($112 divided amongst us). Our home stumbles through on an ancient septic system and well so we must ask you to endure this porta potty inconvenience. We understand new septic systems are about $20k- 30K and don’t always work as well as the old one.

We are trying to have a loose organizational shell under which all cats may be comfortably herded. The plan will evolve until the majority is happy and the protesters fall asleep.

All film shooters are welcome. Who is interested in coming? What other information is needed?

If you have not been here before please PM me with name, address, phone, email and emergency contact in case you do something you shouldn’t have. I will return with directions. If you have been here before but have new emergency contacts please update them.

Welcome to the Powers’ house.
Hosts, John & Dolly Powers
Labradors: Gabby (age 2), Cindy (6) and Savannah (12)

All links were functioning at posting time, though half had gone dead and needed a change since the last event. Please send updates as you find them.

John

the Girls three blond lady Why you old rascal! There were only two last time I was there. Dolly has to be the most understanding wife of all time! ;)

See you in May!

Mike Sherck

"Dolly has to be the most understanding wife of all time! "

I have had to revise the old saw, that this is the only way a 72 year old man can have three young blonds with his wife's approval.

Glad you will be coming in May. Bring some of those other irascible ancients with you.

John

There is a lot more conversation about this event at
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum174/...13-2012-a.html

At this point, April 23, we have 21 people who think they will be coming and quite a few more who would like to come, but aren’t sure about this or that. The more the merrier. Bring your best work, your best stories, your best mood, your film camera and let’s enjoy. We have lots of camping space and there are many motels near by. If you have any questions, please ask either in the thread or PM.

Welcome,

John, Dolly and the Girls.

My wife wants to meet the blonds and has decided to accompany me. She's a big fan of blonds, I guess. And Fiesta dinnerware (I was incautious enough to mention that the Fiesta factory is only two or three hours away. *Sigh*)

:) Mike