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Oct 24, 2017 09:16:41   #
cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA
 
Hello to you all, I'm new to the site and been enjoying the reads, although it has been a bit of a drain on my time, keep up the posts! I'm Larry Lorusso and started my endeavors in photography in 1973. In that time I worked in advertising for over 25 years (before I realized I should do something else with my time) and started Cytafex Studio (Sight affects) in the mid 80's. Shortly after I began learning about photography I bought a used Calumet 4x5, that was a bit of a beast and can remember getting caught between trees because of the triple monorail and I fell down a couple of times. Then in 1976 I bought a new Deardorff 4x5 Special that I still own. Best part was purchasing a 5x7 back for it that Bernice Abbott owned. I bought the back from Ron Rosenstock who I studied with in the mid 70's and the deal was $90 for the back, 100 sheets of Plus X and a dozen film holders, what a deal! Many years later he tried to buy the back and told him he would have to pry it out of my cold dead fingers!

After many years of working producing images for advertising and realizing it was time for major changes in my life and in 2002 I went from the house, wife and the dog, to just the dog (Hayduke) and started living as a gypsy living as if a leaf to the wind. The changes were prompted by a river trip in the Grand Canyon in 1996. I had started whitewater rafting in the late 80's and while in the Canyon I asked what was I going to do with the rest of my days on the planet. I can tell you life is large in the Canyon, and the answer was it was time to use my heart instead of wallet as to photography. I can say since that time my wallet has been much thinner, but my heart is full and I romped around a bit in the mountains west of Boulder but mostly southeast Utah. Great times hanging with the Utes on a reservation near Blanding Utah and surrounding Canyons. You can bury my Heart in White Mesa in sight of Bears Ears! My Canyon years had me mostly shooting with various Hasselblad's that enabled me to go off for days/weeks at a time backpacking and had some amazing adventures!

I came back East after my Mom died and took up raft guiding full time on the Deerfield River in western Massachusetts when I was 50 and I really enjoyed it but eventually managers who were just kids tried to treat me as a child and it was more trouble than it was worth and stuck to taking friends and family down and not have the bull and just fun and time spent on the river in beautiful places. After the season was over went back to the "Rez" and romped around the Canyons till I met a lady from western Mass who now has my Heart and we live together on a spread with 90 acres surrounded by woods and beauty.

These days much of my work is made with a Nikon, currently a D810 and enjoying working with high ISO's at night. Couple years ago I was diagnosed with lymphoma and was cancer free for 2 years. Second chances are hard to come by and have tried to live life well and actually took a break from chemo to lead a small river trip in the Grand Canyon in 2015, and that was the best part of the treatment!. Recently diagnosed with cancer again and in planning stages of treatment and so far I feel well and will leave you with this, every day is a gift and get it while you can! Sorry I've gone on and on, I couldn't help myself!



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Oct 24, 2017 09:21:16   #
deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN
 
What a full and interesting life you have led - you were brave enough to follow your heart and passions. Much prayer on your recovery and I look forward to seeing your work when you can find the time to post....Welcome!

Side note: When someone asks me what was the best vacation I ever took, I tell them it was a 5 night rafting trip down the Green River, UT - It was the best time ever!

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Oct 24, 2017 09:35:43   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
Great story (and shot) - welcome to the Hog and good luck with this round of treatment.

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Oct 24, 2017 10:00:19   #
cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA
 
Thanks for you kind words, you say brave, but I probably didn't know any better. What section of the Green River did you raft on? While I haven't rafted any of the Green yet, romped all around there from Flaming Gorge to where the Green joins the Colorado in Canyonlands, amazing!

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Oct 24, 2017 10:02:44   #
cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA
 
TriX wrote:
Great story (and shot) - welcome to the Hog and good luck with this round of treatment.
Thanks for the compliment and encouragement, hoping for the best, but deal what comes my way!

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Oct 24, 2017 10:19:43   #
ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas
 
Welcome to the Forum, enjoy.

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Oct 24, 2017 10:57:34   #
deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN
 
To be honest, it was over 30 years ago, and I don't remember the exact location except that we loaded the rafts into the river at a (state?) campground. It was a 5 night trip and those guides were the best cooks! Every night we had a 4 course meal and they would pack everything up on one of the rafts along with our tents and we would take off again in the morning. There were some pretty good rapids for about 3 days and some quiet lazy river days as well mixed in. We were able to get some really great hikes in and it was so beautiful - I've always wanted to do it again!
cytafex wrote:
Thanks for you kind words, you say brave, but I probably didn't know any better. What section of the Green River did you raft on? While I haven't rafted any of the Green yet, romped all around there from Flaming Gorge to where the Green joins the Colorado in Canyonlands, amazing!

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Oct 24, 2017 11:50:21   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
cytafex wrote:
Thanks for the compliment and encouragement, hoping for the best, but deal what comes my way!


I congratulate you for your courage. You have the wisdom of those who have faced death know - each day is a gift, not a given.

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Oct 24, 2017 12:48:46   #
blue-ultra Loc: New Hampshire
 
Your story has me thinking, as I love it out west ever since I went to Colorado and spent 7 nights in the national forest in the late fall. Tents had wood stoves to keep from freezing. lots of snow, but the beauty of the Rockys is, well, stunning. I would like to do some of that again, but not sure my knees will allow it, horses and all!

I pray for your speedy recovery. I certainly hope you are able to do what your heart tells you.

I enjoyed your story, it is inspiring, thank you. Your posted image is also very good and has the wonder of the west in it...

Bob

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Oct 24, 2017 17:53:19   #
cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA
 
deer2ker wrote:
To be honest, it was over 30 years ago, and I don't remember the exact location except that we loaded the rafts into the river at a (state?) campground. It was a 5 night trip and those guides were the best cooks! Every night we had a 4 course meal and they would pack everything up on one of the rafts along with our tents and we would take off again in the morning. There were some pretty good rapids for about 3 days and some quiet lazy river days as well mixed in. We were able to get some really great hikes in and it was so beautiful - I've always wanted to do it again!
To be honest, it was over 30 years ago, and I don'... (show quote)


I'd guess you might have put in at the Gates of Lodore and floated past Steamboat Rock at Echo Park where the Yampa River joins the Green, spectacular country! I've been there numerous times but so far no rafts trip there yet. Once while camping solo at Echo Park late November there was fresh snow and I got up to mountain lion tracks around the tent. I followed the tracks to an old kill, a big horn sheep and also found petroglyphs on a nearby boulder. Those were the days!



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Oct 24, 2017 18:02:59   #
cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA
 
TriX wrote:
I congratulate you for your courage. You have the wisdom of those who have faced death know - each day is a gift, not a given.


Bob, thanks for your prayers and kind words. I enjoyed my stay in Colorado, but I think I was about 30 years late as to Boulder, but the mountains are really something. I never seemed to acclimate to elevation and would have to drag my ass up! I got Bristlecone Pine fever while there!



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Oct 24, 2017 18:31:02   #
deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN
 
What a gorgeous pic of the pine!
cytafex wrote:
Bob, thanks for your prayers and kind words. I enjoyed my stay in Colorado, but I think I was about 30 years late as to Boulder, but the mountains are really something. I never seemed to acclimate to elevation and would have to drag my ass up! I got Bristlecone Pine fever while there!

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Oct 24, 2017 18:34:31   #
deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN
 
Could be - I was 17 or 18 and had a crush on one of my guides LOL! We did hike up to see some petroglyphs and remember how stoked I was. It was absolutely beautiful and wish I had taken pics but ahhh - youth...
cytafex wrote:
I'd guess you might have put in at the Gates of Lodore and floated past Steamboat Rock at Echo Park where the Yampa River joins the Green, spectacular country! I've been there numerous times but so far no rafts trip there yet. Once while camping solo at Echo Park late November there was fresh snow and I got up to mountain lion tracks around the tent. I followed the tracks to an old kill, a big horn sheep and also found petroglyphs on a nearby boulder. Those were the days!

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Oct 24, 2017 19:12:04   #
cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA
 
deer2ker wrote:
Could be - I was 17 or 18 and had a crush on one of my guides LOL! We did hike up to see some petroglyphs and remember how stoked I was. It was absolutely beautiful and wish I had taken pics but ahhh - youth...


What's not to admire in a guide? Amazing rock art in the area and Dinosaur abounds! Better late than never, right?



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Oct 25, 2017 06:29:06   #
Granddad Loc: UK
 
Welcome to the Hog.
Dave.

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