Paddling Past Kurt Vonnegut's Home, a photo from New York, Northeast

Photographer's Note

Alplaus, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alplaus is a hamlet located in Schenectady County, New York, USA. Its name is derived from the Dutch Aal Plaats, or "Place of the Eels".
Alplaus is in the southeast corner of the Town of Glenville.
Some may consider it part of the hamlet of East Glenville; however, it is generally recognized as a separate community. For the 2000 census, Alplaus is part of the East Glenville census-designated place.
Alplaus has the smallest population in a zip code (12008) within the continental United States.
Census data for the ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) associated with Alplaus for the 2000 census had a total population of 431 people in 175 households

Geography
Since Alplaus is not an incorporated area, its borders are not specific. Some may consider the ZIP Code 12008 to define Alplaus, while others may say it is the Alplaus volunteer fire department (officially known as Glenville Fire District #2).
Alplaus is located at 42°51′19″N 73°53′58″W / 42.85528°N 73.89944°W / 42.85528; -73.89944[2]. It has an elevation of approximately 210 feet /64 m at the Mohawk river.
Rexford, a hamlet in the Town of Clifton Park in Saratoga County, borders Alplaus to the East. The Mohawk River borders on the south. Generally, the Glenridge and Schenectady Country Airport represents the western border.
The major natural feature of the hamlet is the Alplaus Kill (creek), which is a tributary to the Mohawk River.
There is one main road (Alplaus Avenue), with several streets branching from it. On this road in the center of the hamlet are three important community facilities: the Post Officeand the Fire House.
History
In 1690, 114 Frenchmen and 96 Sault and Algonquin Indians encamped at the mouth of Alplaus Kill, prior to the Schenectady massacre.
From 1902 to 1941, the "longest trolley bridge in the world" crossed the Mohawk river at Alplaus. The trolley brought visitors from Schenectady to the fairgrounds in Rexford.
The Alplaus United Methodist Church [1] was organized in 1914.
The Alplaus fire department was founded in 1930.
During World War II, the General Electric Company tested jet engines and electronic surveillance equipment at the Schenectady County Airport.
Kurt Vonnegut lived in Alplaus when he worked for General Electric in Schenectady, in the late 1940s. He was a member of the Alplaus Volunteer Fire Department. [2] His recollections of the fire department's extra-loud siren can be found in his novel, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. [www.albany.edu/writers-inst/vonnegutkurt.html]

carper, phwall, Bluejeans, rodgerg, yedirenk, bostankorkulugu, Longroute, asajernigan, Didi, ChrisJ, denisn72, jmcl, Charo ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

jimkil (1706) 2009-12-06 22:39

Hi Tom
Lovely autumn colours, contrasts so well with the blue skies. I like the lead in with the kayak/boat you were using. Reflections look superb too.
Regards
Jim

bracasha75 (24591) 2009-12-06 22:39

Hello Tom
Like on glass!!!!Very very beautiful and very peacefull place.Excellent shot from your kanoo!!!!!
TFS
Cheers,Braca

mkgoyal2004 (837) 2009-12-06 23:30

Hi Tom,

You have nicely framed this fall time autumn natural scene. Coloured trees reflection in the still water is looking beautiful. Excellent photo. Congrats.

carper (96) 2009-12-06 23:46

very nice one Tom,
fine perspective, original pov, good autumn colors, fine photo job here, have a nice day.
regard jaap

TekAli (1361) 2009-12-07 1:10

Congratulations on a great composition and presentation.Ali

phwall (6787) 2009-12-07 1:30

Hi Tom,
The colours of the fall are magnificent.
Another fine capture from your good self.
Regards
Peter

Bluejeans (64251) 2009-12-07 2:27

Ola Tom ,
Que magnifico reflexo com estes tons dourados , ficou um autentico espelho , boa simetria de foto , as folhas das árvores são enormes tem uma bonita passagem de cor de amarelo a laranja , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

rodgerg (55767) 2009-12-07 3:10

Hello Tom,

A very nice festival of warm autumn's colors and a very plesant impression of symtry with these incredible reflections. The bota in the FG give depht to the image and especillay a nice graphic effect.
Have a good week,
Roger

baba_flies (8829) 2009-12-07 3:18

Hello Tom! Back on the water ... floating along with you ... always a great way to discover the neighbourhood, most of us will never see it this way but we have the pleasure to join you, from a dry seat and in a heated room ... which is not bad either :)))) The fall leaves are simply breathtaking, the reflections in the deep blue water another treat. Great shot! Have a good week, Barbara.

Dyerco (10185) 2009-12-07 4:50

Hi Tom
Beautiful fall colours that even reflect in the bow of the kayak. very nicely done.
Phil

jplebrun (21208) 2009-12-07 6:01

Hi Tom
WOW de toute beauté cette photo paysage pleines de belles couleurs qui se reflètent dans l'eau, c'est magnifique.
Amitiés
Jean-Pierre

kingurek (724) 2009-12-07 9:02

Hello,
Very nice idea :)I like the reflections of lovely autumnal colours in the water. That must be a nice place for canoeing. Wonderful autumn :)

Greetings

Kinga

yedirenk (11244) 2009-12-07 19:32

Hi Dear Tom,
perfect reflections with wonderful golden light and amazing autumn colours in the blue waters..great effect..very special atmosphere..this one is superb tour..TFS
Greetings

Cevdet

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2009-12-07 22:52

beautiful autumn colours, cool reflections... i wish i was on that boat/kayak? too... cheers tom...

korkut

Longroute (19600) 2009-12-08 2:02

Oh my! where have you gone with your kayak!
These reflections are nothing short than fantastic, I've never seen a thing like this! You even got reflections on the bow of the kayak!!! And what a lovely light and colours! I cannot help but putting too many exclamatives... the mirror of the water is so perfectly still that the riple of the kayak seems to fold it rather than breaking it! A very fine effect.
An excellent capture.
My best compliments,
Donato

asajernigan (21427) 2009-12-08 2:39

Tom,
This is a great autumn color shot! Your composition is great using the reflection to create depth and balance for the shot. The front of the kayak leads the eye into the shot nicely.
TFS,
Asa

Urs (14082) 2009-12-08 4:03

Hi Tom

Did you not upload a similar picture earlier? What so ever, I like the autumn color trees a lot, then there are their reflection in the pound and this big pipe boosting DOF. I very pleasing composition, well done

Best regards
Urs

Didi (61589) 2009-12-08 9:15

Hi Tom
I feel playing with a joystick in vidéo game :)
Nice picture with warm autumnal colour
Interesting historic comment
Best regards

ktanska (44492) 2009-12-08 23:22

Hi Tom,
Brilliantly colourful autumn scene. Patterns of foliage remind of fractal geometry, especially with the symmetric reflection. Grade from sunny top left to shadow in botom right works well. I can imagine the canoe curving towards sunshine next.
Kari

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2009-12-09 1:54

Hello Tom,
A great capture of this pond with great clarity. I like the composition with the beautiful reflections.
Best wishes,
Achim

ChrisJ (171366) 2009-12-09 8:11

Hi Tom

One of your best. The reflections in the kayak 'make' the shot. The blue vs yellow colors, sharpness & mirrored reflections are impressive. Tfs!

denisn72 (8314) 2009-12-10 18:23

Hi Tom,
A superb reflection of the trees on the calm water. Amazing contrasts and impressive sharpness. The autumnal colours are vivid and magnificent. I like that kind of atmosphere. Well done Tom!
Best regards
Denis!

gneufeld (15890) 2009-12-11 19:24

Hi Tom,
One could easily be jealous - wow, so here you are paddling those gorgeous waterways again. Autumn is such a beautiful season, and this shot definitely does justice to the place you were. Well done and TFs. Gerald

pablominto (53746) 2009-12-12 23:25

Hello Tom,

This must be a lovely place to do some kayaking..!
The calm water, the wonderful autumn foliage as you pass by the banks...
A fine seasonal composition, where the great light and clear blue sky completes the picture..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

mumek (20226) 2009-12-17 4:38

Good morning Tom!
Very charming capture of the autumn. Beautiful fall colours, nice reflections in the water.Very impressive work!.Thanks for posting
regerds
ziggy

jmcl (14535) 2009-12-22 13:55

hi Tom,

Love the image ... the kayak breaking the stillness .. beautiful colors .. nice detail .. thoughtful image. Nice note as well. take care, John

Charo (51290) 2010-01-12 17:30

Hello Tom,
These wonderful fall colors that duplicate the beauty reflected in the water.
Excellent perspective and detail.
Best regards,
Charo