While Ballston Spa Living’s Senior Photographer modestly describes himself as a tinkerer, he is equally proficient with a rake and hoe and a hammer and nails as he is with all things automotive, digital and electronic.
The term Renaissance Man has become almost cliché, but in the case of Antonio Bucca — who was born in a hospital in Pistoia, Italy that was built in the 1100s — it fits like a well-tailored suit of armor.
While Ballston Spa Living’s Senior Photographer modestly describes himself as a tinkerer, he is equally proficient with a rake and hoe and a hammer and nails as he is with all things automotive, digital and electronic. In addition to his extraordinary photography talents, Tony is a skilled carpenter, electrician, plumber and mechanic, as well as a fervent ferroequinologist — a studier of The Iron Horse.
Although the Ballston Spa High School Class of 1971 alum opted to take an early retirement, his professional credits include having served as Senior Photographer for Saratoga Living magazine until 2004.
Other picture-perfect memories cherished by Tony include being chosen to take souvenir photos for the Whitney Galas inside Congress Park’s Canfield Casino for several years.
It would be an understatement to say Tony made an indelible impression on the hearts and minds of many readers. But perhaps most memorable was the manner in which he captured the patriotic spirit of Saratoga County in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our nation. Among Tony’s most poignant images were those depicting twin Statues of Liberty owned by now late Queen of Saratoga Marylou Whitney that had been prominently displayed in between an American flag waving in the breeze on the grounds of the Cady Hill Estate she shared with husband John Hendrickson. It was Tony who took the glorious picture of the statues that was published in a special “Salute to Patriotism” edition with the healing words Marylou and John had chosen to accompany it: GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Other picture-perfect memories cherished by Tony include being chosen to take souvenir photos for the Whitney Galas inside Congress Park’s Canfield Casino for several years. “Something I especially looked forward to at the photo set (always exquisitely arranged by Fine Affairs) was when John and Marylou came up. John would hold his wife as if he was carrying her across the threshold. At one point, we got a picture of Marylou with four gentlemen cradling her, with a sunbeam wide smile on her face! She changed her downtown galas to the backstretch workers party a couple of years after that,” recalls Tony, whose portfolio additionally includes many captivating images of Marylou and John at Saratoga Polo matches.
Other notable accomplishments include having co-authored Ballston Spa: The Way We Were, The Way We Are, The Way We Hope To Be with Ann Hauprich and Maurice “Christopher” Morley. Published by Legacies Unlimited in 2009, the limited edition 300-page volume showcases colorful portraits of some of faces behind village places as well as captivating panoramic scenes crafted by Tony’s digital camera. His vast portfolio also includes images linked to his 16 years as a DJ at The Metro in Saratoga Springs and a diversity of other gigs. Working on an elaborate model railroad system, editing FORM 19, a newsletter serving a regional model railroad group, writing a monthly column for the Delaware & Hudson Historical Society and playing a lead role in the restoration of a vintage caboose form other legacy layers.
In between photo shoots for Ballston Spa Living and other projects, Tony is enjoying roughing in the wilds of Sacandaga in the company of good friends who recently worked together with him to construct the wigwam seen in captivating images found within this section. The rustic Native American structure is aptly named The Hideaway.
Meanwhile, the flowers, fruits and vegetables Tony cultivates on the grounds of his extensively renovated Greenfield Center estate are nourished using water from a pond he dug by hand on the property. Early home improvements included adding a multi-tiered backyard tree house, made accessible via a bridge, where he enjoyed sleeping on warm nights until Father Time and Mother Nature necessitated the structure’s dismantling.
Shortly after a stress crack was discovered, Tony disconnected the bridge only to have a storm take down a third of the tree house – fortunately falling away from his nearby far more traditional single family residence. “I had the rest cut down, but I am thankful rather than sad because I now have a supply of hardwood for my fires!” smiles Tony. “I built a new fire pit on my stone wall and would like to build a wood-fired pizza/bread oven in my backyard this summer.” Fortunately, Tony had already created a time-lapsed YouTube video that documented the four glorious seasons as they unfolded outside his bedroom. The YouTube masterpiece included images of the magnificent tree house.
An avid motorcyclist, Tony has long loved exploring this continent’s back roads as well as those on distant shores. (It helps that Tony is fluent in English, French, Italian and Spanish and is learning Romanian.) The former Street & Competition employee plans to continue riding like the wind on motorized two wheelers long into his golden years.
If this weren’t impressive enough, Tony continues to put in many hours helping The DiDonna Family at the beautiful South Shore Marina on Saratoga Lake. He’s also keen on the idea of developing a web site (www.photonynikon.com) for the purpose of sharing images of our nation’s people, places – and trains – with a global audience. Best of all, visitors will get to hop aboard Tony’s site for free rides because he doesn’t believe in charging for such services.
His parting gift — hopefully far into the future — will be to bequeath his lifetime of photographic images to a preservation foundation or historical society so the pictures may be enjoyed by all for generations to come.