I inhaled the special silence found only in nature. It swept around and through me like a friendly wind, breaking the world’s iron shackles. It brushed out the week’s grime and filled me with new energy to pursue the path before me.
I spent a semester in England in 2007. While there, I visited Scotland, Italy and France. Years later, I’d look back and those photos, dreaming of the day I could capture scenes like this again.
Then, I discovered the Hudson Valley in NY.
I don’t remember what led me to take the Metro-North to Poughkeepsie that first time. I do remember how irritated I was halfway through the trip when I realized I sat on the wrong side of the train. Metro-North’s Hudson line, as the name suggests, travels alongside the Hudson River. And, if you’re sitting on the right side of the train, you get some beautiful views.
Trips on the Metro-North usually last between 1-2 hours but it never feels like because I’d be staring out the window the entire time.
…
(This post has me looking over my old photos. Some are seriously over-edited.)
Fortunately, I can fix them in Lightroom.
…
Sometimes, I’ll hike a trail or visit some Hudson highlight. A few times, I’ll just find a place to write…
…and take some nice sunset shots.
I visited the West Point Foundry Prevere in Cold Spring over the weekend. Scattered across the trails are pieces of an abandoned ironworks.
Good inspiration for a horror story.
Hold on…
That’s better.
It’s also a relaxing place to walk. Some people can live in NY all their lives and thoroughly enjoy all the people and the noise. I’ve been here 10 years and I’m running to nature at every turn. Of course, I bring a journal with me to do some writing and world-building.
Maybe it’s the introvert in me. We get our energy from being on our own. Socializing drains us. Thank God for the Metro-North. Don’t want to think about how I’d be without regular trips to the Hudson Valley.
I have a love/hate relationship with spring. The season’s perfect for flower photography and my neighborhood smells heavenly. But, I have seasonal allergies and I’m bad at taking medicine before going out. My photo sessions usually end with sniffles and watery eyes. On top of that, pollen’s everywhere. It gets caught in my dog’s fur….
You see the hashtag QuarantineLife or the memes that introverts and gamers have been preparing for this their whole lives. They make you laugh, nod your head in agreement. I’m still laughing at this video posted on Twitter. https://twitter.com/keatsdidit/status/1241499048453996545?s=20 Then, you walk outside and the streets are empty. An hour commute now takes 30 minutes…
It’s summer which means 90+ degree weather. I far too often hike in hot weather. My first trip this year in Beacon, NY probably wasn’t the smartest. 90 degrees with little shade. I didn’t wear a hat. I threw my hoodie over me to get some relief from the heat. But that obviously meant I…
I am just going to open with this video. Sorry about the camera shake. I’d suggest watching it with the volume on. You’ll hear how tired I was before reaching this view. I knew this hike was going to be difficult but I hadn’t expected stretches of trails that could scarcely be called walkable paths….
Walking a path through fantasy landscapes. It feels like home. Each season brings its own magic that I can explore and capture. Hiking with my camera feels like I can breathe. It energizes me to create. This time my dog Bambi came along. Hiking Dog I’ve had pets since I was little. My household rarely…
Even small rays of light can shine out of the darkness. This year was a mess but despite that, I was able to take some of my best nature photos. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s happy to see the end of 2020. I’ve lost so many family members and close friends. Most…
These are beautiful shots!