Pictures tell story of a good life

At 90, plus nine months, I continue to actively pursue my lifelong hobby of amateur photography. You are never too old to take photographs. The continuing technological changes in the world of photography amaze me. Everyone can be a good photographer today, in this day of I-Phones, etc.

My first award-winning photography was published in The Youngstown Vindicator in 1951. It was a finalist in the KINSA (Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Awards) contest. I was a finalist seven more times in these contests.

On display

Seven of the photographs were exhibited in National Geographics Explorers Hall, Washington, D.C., and one in New York City’s Grand Central Station. More than 400 of my photographs have been published in area and regional newspapers and national magazines such as Popular Photography, Country, Country Extra, Farm and Ranch Living and The Draft Horse Journal.

In the 1988 Kentucky Derby Museum/Nikon Photography Contest, 40 photographs were selected for a three-year traveling museum exhibition and my photography of an Appaloosa horse was the only photograph chosen from an Ohioan. The horse was named Boo-Boo and owned by Diane Less of Payless Farms. Some of the museum stops were at the Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Kentucky Derby Museum, National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Nikonhouse Gallery at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, the San Diego Hall of Champions in San Diego, Calif., and the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown.

Amish country

For the past 28 years of my retirement, I have made a photographic odyssey into nearby New Wilmington, Pa., Amish country over 700 times, with a portfolio of more than 7,000 images. I have mainly focused on their gentle giant draft horses, such as sorrel-colored Belgian work horses. These one tonners can venture into wet soil, where a tractor may fear to tread.

As a result of my photographic accomplishments, I believe they were helpful in my being inducted into both the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall Of Fame in 1996 and the Ohio Veterans Hall Of Fame in 2004. Two of my life’s greatest achievements.

Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree and member of the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.