Monthly Archives: August 2013

Nothing Is So Beautiful as Spring

What’s this? Am I channeling Gerard Manley Hopkins? Well, in thinking of an appropriate title for this blog post I didn’t think the great Jesuit poet would object if I borrowed the opening line of one of his best-loved poems. It seems appropriate if for no other reason than that the images I’m about to share with you illustrate the truth of that statement: “Nothing is so beautiful as spring.”

I was just sharing these pictures with the readers of my photo blog and describing how I processed the images. I’ll spare you those details — just thought you might enjoy seeing the beauty of the Northern Catskills in the second week of May, a time of year whose color to me is second only to fall. In fact my son, Anton, once referred to spring as “pre-fall.”

The first two images are actually completely separate photos and not two different versions of the same original. If you’d like to comment, I’d be interested in hearing which of the two you prefer.

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Mountain Top Historical Society, Your Hosts in Haines Falls

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Memberships and magazine subscriptions come and go–I’m sure you know the feeling as well as I do–but there’s one organization of which I’m pleased to say I’ve been a continuous member for a number of years, and that’s the Mountain Top Historical Society (MTHS). Based in Haines Falls along Route 23A (the same daunting road that takes you up (and up C DSC0102 sand up) through Kaaterskill Clove, the MTHS was founded some forty years ago with the mission of “of discovering, interpreting, sharing and preserving the artifacts and documents that tell the story of the towns and the people of the Great Northern Catskills” (from its website). The variety of events offered by its dedicated band of directors and volunteers ensures that there’s something to satisfy all interests — from historical lectures to art exhibits to hikes. The archives preserve invaluable information and artifacts related to regional history, and the quarterly publication Hemlock offers articles of historical interest as well as updates on its activities.

875 small copy sAmong the regular activities of the MTHS is its annual Open House, held on a Saturday in late August. Come along and you’re sure to enjoy entertainment, an informative lecture and possibly an art exhibit, food–and vendors.  Local farms display and sell their produce, local craftspersons their handiwork, and regional artists, including photographers, their works of art. Master photographers Francis X. Driscoll and Larry Gambon are welcome regulars. This year Anton and I will be “vending” for the first time, selling and signing our new book Historic Hudson Valley: A Photographic Tour and ourBook cover photographs. Here’s a sneak peak at a few of the images we’ll be selling.

DSC0195 - HDR adj cr sThe MTHS Open House for 2013 is Saturday August 24 from 11 am to 5 pm. Hope to see you there!