Christmas ride

There was a Santa visit at City Hall, and many people came to see him.  There were rides around City Hall on this horse drawn wagon.  It's very unusual to see horses downtown these days!  No snow, and the temperature was in the mid-50s F.  I was wearing a short sleeved shirt!

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	6.3
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/160
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Kid

This is Kid.  He's a horse at Winter Glen Farm, in nearby Guilderland.  The youngest has been taking riding lessons, and he really likes Kid.  Who wouldn't?

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/25
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

San Antone

I spent 5 days in Buffalo last week.  At the Convention Center, the Erie County Mounted Reserve Unit had several officers on several days.  This is San Antone (Justice is on the other side)..  Both horses I met were wonderful, and the officers extremely friendly and justifiably proud of their companions.  You can guess that I don't see horses all that often; these were a treat.

Albany has a mounted unit as well, but the Erie County Sheriff's unit is somewhat unique in that the officers own the horses and are responsible for all aspects of their upkeep.  I haven't met the Albany horses yet, but now I want to!

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	16.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 32.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/50
Exposure Program	Aperture-priority AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Holiday trolley

On Saturday, the city had a low key holiday celebration.  More like an informal get-together.  The folks from the Dudley Observatory were there with a 6 inch Dobsonian telescope, set up on the steps of City Hall with a solar filter so we could see the sunspots.  Inside there were balloons and crafts for the kids.  Jay St was decked out with sales from the boutiques and these beautiful horses pulled a trolley with smiling people round City Hall.  I don't see horses here in the city very often; it was a treat to be so near them!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	30.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 60.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/25
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire