MIKE CRUPI • rochester photo blog

We braved the crowds at Rochester’s Strong Museum this weekend to meet some hard core Star Wars re-enactors. Maybe this isn’t what they like to be called, I don’t know. Anyway, you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting an imperial guard or a bounty hunter. As a father, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your kid shake hands with a storm trooper and high-five Chewbacca, so I’m glad I have these pictures.

The kids meet some larger than life characters at The Strong. ©MIKE CRUPI

I took this photo while I was shooting a freelance assignment at the historic Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse in Rochester. The building dates to 1822. Obviously it’s no longer in use, you may have guessed that by looking at the 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb at the top. The building is open to the public and includes a gift shop and small museum. I recommend it if you’re looking for something to do in Rochester, once temps are out of the 30s.

View of the Genesee River and Hojack swing bridge from the historic Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse. ©MIKE CRUPI

This ended up on the cutting room floor, but I like the feel of it. And I really like photos of musicians in black & white, lets you focus on their face, their body language and their instrument. ©CATHOLIC COURIER

Orlando Nuñez on guitar. ©CATHOLIC COURIER

It’s been a record season so far for lack of snowfall in and around Rochester. But that doesn’t stop snow sports enthusiasts from tuning up their equipment and getting ready for wintry weather. I photographed avid snowmobiler Kelley Fitzgerald for an Excellus BCBS publication.

Kelley, snowmobile and matching coat. ©MIKE CRUPI

I covered a Veterans Day ceremony at St. John Neumann School yesterday. The lights went out for a slideshow, which I thought was a terrible development for me but then one of the teachers played ‘Taps’ on the trumpet and I got this silhouette. I read that ‘Taps’ is traditionally played at night to indicate ‘lights out’ so this is apropos…..that’s right I said apropros.

Teacher Mary Beth Sullivan plays 'Taps' during a Veterans Day ceremony, Rochester, N.Y. ©CATHOLIC COURIER

Kids and adults alike wait anxiously for the National 9/11 Flag to be carried onto Rochester’s Frontier Field Aug. 20. The tattered flag was recovered at Ground Zero and stitched back to health by people all over the United States. ©CATHOLIC COURIER

Waiting to see the National 9/11 Flag at Frontier Field. ©CATHOLIC COURIER

Youth working with the PRYD (Puerto Rican Youth Development) summer program helped turn a vacant Clifford Avenue lot into a community garden this week. Here, several teens help dig a hole for a totem pole. ©CATHOLIC COURIER

Teens work together to dig a hole. ©CATHOLIC COURIER

I visited Camp Koinonia this week, an outpost nestled in the Italy Valley between Canandaigua and Seneca Lakes. Even though the temperature was hovering around 90 degrees the campers were very active and engaged.

Making a handprint rainbow. ©CATHOLIC COURIER

The weather is slowly improving, but there still aren’t many spring flowers blooming. I found these after a few minutes of walking around Highland Park.

Early spring flowers blooming at Highland Park in Rochester. ©MIKE CRUPI