363/366 - "Four"

(F/4, 67mm, 1/15 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

My first visit to Calvary Camp was Family Camp I in 2002.  This is when the cabins were the old style that you see in the photo.  Sue and her family have stayed in cabin #4 every family camp session they have attended.  During the years after 2002, camp started a project to replace the cabins with a more modern style.  The year that cabin #4 was set to be retired, I requested that Tim send the cabin number to me.  He did and I had it framed along with a photo that Sue had of the old cabin line.  It is hanging in our house as a reminder of the old cabin and all the good times that were had.  Since the rebuilding of all the cabins they renumbered them and now we stay in #14.

246/366 - "Future Campers"

(F/4, 105mm, 1/125 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

On Sunday we had a blast playing the outside games and listening to the band before and after dinner.  Dinner was great too, even though it wasn't the pig roast that was talked about by Director Tim.  I was able to get a few shots and this one is my favorite.  Kind of makes me wonder if there is a photo somewhere of Sue and Greg as children playing some sort of game.  These two are destined to be campers and probably staff members also.

245/366 - "Determination"

(F/4, 105mm, 1/1000 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

On Saturday morning we decided to walk down to the beach.  Everyone had a great time, playing in the sand, water, and sunshine.  Harper was determined to build a sand castle.

244/366 - "Two Thirds"

(F/8, 47mm, 1/1250 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Back on day 122 I did a self portrait since I was 1/3 of the way through the year.  On Friday I made it to the 2/3's point of this year long journey.  Since I knew we were going to be at camp I planned on doing another self portrait.  This time I would be doing a silhouette style.

223/366 - "St. Michael's by The Lake"

(F/11, 17mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

After dinner I went over to the chapel to get some shots to create an HDR image of the chapel at camp.  Thanks to the Pascal family for vacating the church so I could get this photograph.

222/366 - "The Wrestling Albers"

(F/4, 70mm, 1/250 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

While we were waiting for the annual campers versus staff softball game to start Auggie and Timmy entertained us with some wrestling.  Here you will notice that Auggie is trying to escape from Timmy's bear hug hold.

221/366 - "Pool Side"

(F/11, 17mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

I was able to gain access to the pool just before sunset.  I appreciate the access and I am even happier the way this shot turned out.  This might be my favorite photograph I have taken at camp so far.

220/366 - "SCC Sunset"

(F/4, 73mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

We had some beautiful sunsets.  This is just before campfire on Tuesday night.  I love how all the colors of the rainbow seem to be present.

219/366 - "Hanging On"

(F/6.3, 84mm, 1/320 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

During "Painted Wings" Matt carried Indie and Otis back to the MAC Hall.  Otis was hanging on as tightly as he could.  Finally he realized he could just walk on daddy's calves.

218/366 - "James"

(F/5, 105mm, 1/500 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

We have been on vacation this past week and just got home, so I am going through all the photographs from each day.  On Sunday, we went to the pool and this is James playing hide and seek with me.

14/366 - "Lone Candle"

(F/3.5, 100mm, 1/250 sec, ISO 200, Canon 7D)

At the end of the Friday chapel service during camp, they turn down the lights and pass the "Light of Christ" throughout the church.  Everyone, even the children have a 5 inch candle that they carry back to the cabin line.  With their cabin mates they melt wax on the ground to hold the candles and they form a cross.  As the candles burn down to the ground it forms a giant pile of wax.

I think it is fitting that as many of us head to Father John's memorial service this afternoon, my picture for  today is that of a lone candle.

13/366 - "C"

(F/4.5, 50mm, 1/200 sec, ISO 200, Canon 7D)

Sue has been on a decorating the house kick for the past year, and one of the items she requested for a gift was a large "C", 18 inches to be exact.  She received this for Christmas and it is now in our hallway.  I have had the notion of photographing this since I started the project and figured I would get around to it at some point.  Considering the passing of Father John on Wednesday and his relationship to camp I decided to take the picture today and correlate it to camp.

There is a campfire song that the campers and staff at Calvary Camp (SCC) sing that begins with the lyrics "C that's the way it begins".  Not only is this fine letter the beginning of probably the only camp song I know, it is also the first letter in my last name.

12/366 - "FJ"

(F/7.1, 50mm, 1/100 sec, ISO 200, Canon 7D)

Yesterday, Father John Thomas passed away.  Only being associated with Sheldon Calvary Camp for the past 11 years, my interactions with Father John were very few.  However, my wife Sue and her friends had a much closer relationship with Father John.  Last night, today, and I am sure for the next several days reading Facebook posts will make us all smile and cry as we remember the man we called "FJ".

For those who don't know Sheldon Calvary Camp (SCC) sits next to Lake Erie.  Every year campers and staff collect rocks that have been made smooth over time by the water and sand of the lake.  These rocks are painted during an elective, painted wings, or whenever there is time.  For the 75th Anniversary Celebration there were some of these rocks for sale, and we were fortunate enough to get one for our home.  The painting on the rock is that of the stained glass cross in the chapel at camp.  There are many things that represent camp to everyone and they are different based on the experiences that they have had.  I think everyone would agree that this cross and FJ would be at the top of the list.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Obituary