Cathaleen Curtiss – » As I see it...

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Curtiss Sugar Bush: telling your family story

It is almost springtime! The clocks have been changed and my Dad has tapped the Maple Trees. For me the beginning of syrup season always symbols the end of winter. This is a great opportunity to share with you photos from my trip home last spring to see my family and document (of course shot on my iPhone) the Curtiss Sugar Bush in operation.

My favorite photo from the trip is not one that I shot (it was made on an iPhone). It is of me with my dad, Stanley Curtiss the “CEO” of Curtiss Sugar Bush. I loved my short visit home and the opportunity to see my dad with three and four generations of Curtiss’ working side by side. It is a lot of work for them but the love and laughter shared in that steamy sugarhouse lasts a lifetime. If only the iPhone could capture the sweet smell of syrup steam.

Curtiss Sugar Bush

With my father, Stanley Curtiss in the Sugarhouse in 2010. photo by Mickey Osterreicher

It was also great fun to “document” the entire process on my iPhone. Continuing my theory that the best camera is the one you have with you. This was a slightly bigger challenge because of the lighting conditions. The Syrup operation goes all through the night so once the sun goes down there is limited light sources. Plus the steam was playing tricks on the iPhone  focus and exposure.

Remind yourself when you are enjoying family events or traditions to take out your camera or your phone and record a family photo story. Look for overall photos that help establish the environment or place the event. For example a photo of the driveway of your home. You know that feeling you get when you return after a long vacation. Think about relationships, not just smiling at the camera, but the interaction or feeling of isolation that happens when you are all together. Then look for the details . . . a photo of Grandma’s fruit salad or the rocking chair that everyone has sat in for 50 years . . . the  “product” shot.  Mostly just have fun and make photos, I am sure you will be glad you did when you are able to share the story with others who couldn’t be there. One word of advice… EDIT yourself, don’t be that person who makes people look at a thousnd bad family snapshots.  So enjoy my family story,  “Curtiss Sugar Bush”.

If you go to PAGES in the menu there are captions with the photos in a scrolling format.