Fall at the Falls

Lampson Falls cuts through the woods where the St. Lawrence River Valley begins to transition into the Adirondacks. On this crisp fall afternoon, perfect weather accompanied the hikers exploring the groomed trails, campsites, and beach surrounding the falls.

Fall at the Falls

The Oxbow by the Sustainability Farm

St. Lawrence University’s Sustainability Program hosted a Harvest Fest at their farm this weekend, and I was on hand with the drone to get images of the day. The farm in the distance will be the upcoming topic of the next few posts covering events of the day.

The Oxbow by the Sustainability Farm

Sunny Treetops, Shadowy Quad

The quad between St. Lawrence University’s Gunnison Memorial Chapel and Kirk Douglas Hall is a center of activity after 4:00. That also often coincides with the drone photographer’s favorite moment when only the treetops remain bright, while the pathways and grassy places fall into cool shadows.

Sunny Treetops, Shadowy Quad

Setting Up for Commencement

Rows and rows and rows of folding chairs bookend the school year: once in the fall for matriculation, and once in the spring for commencement. Their symmetry overlaps the now-permanent paths that once began as desire paths across the quad.

Setting Up for Commencement

The Hoot Owl and Canton

In the foreground, the Hoot Owl bar sits near Canton’s railroad tracks. Though it used to be the train station, it’s now one of the main student bars. I like to think of it as the guard house between town and the domain of the undergraduates.

The Hoot Owl and Canton

Campus Is Ready

Though we may officially have a couple more weeks, summer has practically ended when schools resume. St. Lawrence University’s campus is buzzing with students and faculty at all hours of the day and night.

Now can we please be done with the summer weather? Bring on fall.

Campus Is Ready

South to the Adirondacks

After a day of rain, the clouds peeled back around sunset to reveal the foothills of the Adirondacks to the south. This bucolic landscape (on the right side of the image) is actually the eastern reach of St. Lawrence University’s 1,000-acre campus.

South to the Adirondacks

Town by the Dam

In the foothills of the Adirondacks, the Raquette River was dammed for hydroelectric power. The town of Colton, New York sits on the resulting reservoir; the rapids in the foreground are the beginning of Stone Valley, an area of trails that I’ve photographed extensively in the past. The contrast between placid reflections in the reservoir and the dark currents of the river proper stand out during the blue hour.

Town by the Dam

Summer Bridge Construction

Heavy traffic isn’t restricted to city centers! This summer, Canton’s bridge over the Grasse river is being repaired, cutting it from four lanes to two. Around 8:00, 12:00, and 4:00, traffic backs up for half a mile down Main Street. (But I’d rather the traffic than skipping the bridge repairs…)

Summer Bridge Construction