This past weekend I had the privilege to photograph the Winter Special Olympics New York. I also was also assigned to follow and photograph Special Olympics athlete Barney Pedraza. Barney, 37, is a world athlete in the Special Olympics and has been competing for 25 years. He won numerous awards from his recent trip last week representing the United States in the Special Olympic World Games in South Korea. Barney is a resident of Warsaw, NY in the county of Wyoming.
The following slideshow is a mix of the general events and my time with Barney and his family.
If you’d like to see not just my photos but photographs from a team of 19 other photographers and editors then check our RIT’s Imagenation website.
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- For the past 35 years the Pedraza’s have lived a quiet life here in Warsaw, NY. Beverly and Butch prefer the quiet life on the country side. They find that they’re home is a safe haven. The thought of leaving it and heading into Rochester creates fits of anxiety with Beverley.
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- 2/22/13 – BBresident of Warsaw, NY, arrived last week from competing in the 2013 Special Olympic World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea. This weekend Barney will competes in the 2013 Special Olympics New York. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Barney’s Mother Beverly is supportive of her son’s activities in the Special Olympics and certainly proud of his accomplishments but would probably not leave home had it not been for Barney’s participation in the Special Olympics.
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- 2/22/13 – mother, Beverly, plans to make a scrapbook about Barney and his adventures as a Special Olympic Athlete. Barney Pedraza resident of Warsaw, NY, arrived last week from competing in the 2013 Special Olympic World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea. This weekend Barney will competes in the 2013 Special Olympics New York. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Barney Pedraza, 37, resident of Warsaw, NY, arrived last week from competing in the 2013 Special Olympic World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea. This weekend Barney will competes in the 2013 Special Olympics New York. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Barney’s Mother Beverly is supportive of her son’s activities in the Special Olympics and certainly proud of his accomplishments but Beverly doesn’t like to leave home very often. If it weren’t for Barney’s participation in the games Beverly would probably not leave the house as often as she does.
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- Butch is an orphan himself. He was raised with “around 1,500 to 2,000 orphans.” He has been taking care of Barney since he was one and a half years old.
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- During the week Barney’s main chores consist of taking care and feeding the cows, horses, and goats. Barney’s retired father Butch splits the chores with Barney daily. (Photo by Joe Philipson)
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- Part of Barney’s chores is to take care of the farm animals.
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- Barney pauses to tie his shoes before he his appearance at the convention center in Rochester, NY, where the opening ceremonies for the 2013 Special Olympics New York games.
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- Barney Pedraza enters the Opening Ceremonies at Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games at Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- This isn’t Barney’s first opening ceremony. Barney has been skiing in the Special Olympics for 25 years. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney is a goofy guy who can’t help but make you feel happy along with him. His carefree attitude and joyful demeanor seldom comes out but it’s always there on the surface. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney Pedraza sits and waits to be told what to do next. He says he’s bored and hopes the ceremonies start soon. Barney just returned from competing in the Special Olympics: PyeongChang 2013 and win three medals in the alpine skiing events. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- With the help of the Captain Steve Nigrelli, World Special Olympic Athlete Barney Pedraza lights the torch to begin the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games at Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- With the help of the Captain Steve Nigrelli, World Special Olympic Athlete Barney Pedraza lights the torch to begin the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games at Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- With the help of the Captain Steve Nigrelli, World Special Olympic Athlete Barney Pedraza lights the torch to begin the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games at Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Athlete Barney Pedraza, 37, poses for a photograph by WHAM-TV News anchor Donald Alhart at the 2013 Special Olympics New York.
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- Barney Pedraza is dressed by his mother Beverly Pedraza. Barney is 36 years old and is largely cared for by his parents. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Barney Pedraza looks out onto the slopes before the start of the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- World Olympics Athlete Barney Pedraza gets his gear in order before heading out to compete at the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney Pedraza at the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney Pedraza looks forward to competing during todays alpine skiing event at the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney Pedraza adjusts his goggles on his way up for his first run at the top of Swain Mountain to compete in the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney Pedraza waits in line at the gate house for the alpine skii event during the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- World athlete Barney Pedraza leaps from the starting hut in the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney Pedraza receives his first of two silver medals from todays alpine ski event at the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney Pedraza, 36, of Warsaw, NY. Wins two silver medals in alpine skiing events in the 2013 New York Special Olympics. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Barney Pedraza wins his second silver medal in the alpine skiing event at Swain Mountain to compete in the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Barney Pedraza horse plays with a fellow athlete a fellow athlete at the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Suzi Lombardo and her mother Maria embrace after the 2013 Special Olympics New York. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Athletes high five at the awards ceremony during Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games at Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (Photo: Jennifer Waldow)
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- Brandon Whorisky, 9 from the Southern Tier rides the ski lift during the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)
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- Beverly, Barney, and Butch Pedraza
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- Timothy Kelley, Special Olympics New York 2013. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Athletes cheering at the Special Olympics 2013. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Polar Bear at the Special Olympics 2013 New York opening ceremonies. Photo by Joe Philipson
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- Dan Ritzenberg, 36, Gold Medalist at the Special Olympics New York’s 2013 State Winter Games alpine skiing at Swain Resort in Grove, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (Photo: Joe Philipson)