Well, it looks like autumn’s magnificent display of color is over here in the Hudson Valley. There are still some pockets of color, but the hills and mountains are either bare or have leaves that are showing a rust type color.

Overall, it has been a very productive fall photography season, and considering that I am only six months removed from my partial knee replacement; I could not be any happier or satisfied.

Now my attention is drawn to the upcoming months of winter. Let the research commence! Earlier this year, I purchased my first AWD SUV, and I was gifted a second set of wheels (the original set, I upgraded to a custom set)) from the car dealer , so I had snow tires mounted on them, and should feel pretty secure in my travels around the Hudson Valley, and beyond.

What follows are most recent adventures from this past week that show what is left of autumn color. Hope you all like them.

Millpond Waterfall

I must have passed this scene a thousand and one times, and always promised myself that one day, I was going to photograph it. I finally made the decision to go out early on a crisp November morning to do just that.

So, after a major rain and wind event (another one), I crossed my fingers that there were still enough leaves left to create a photo worth sharing. I was not disappointed upon my arrival.

Prior to the rise of the sun, I composed different compositions until I settled on this perspective. Using a 3-stop Neutral Density filter, I was able to achieve a long exposure to create the silky water, and to properly saturate the tree foliage behind the falls just as the sun began to light up the landscape.

This area is located in the town of Monroe, in Orange County, NY.

 

Deliverance

It has been said, that the third time is the charm, and in this case, I could not agree more!

My first visit back in 2015, yielded some nice images, but there was no sky drama, nor mist, foliage color, etc. I returned in 2020, and came away with some magical captures that were loaded with mystical fog, mist and much color in the foliage, but however, no sky action.

This time around, Sky Mother was smiling down upon me.
As I eagerly got set up, I almost dropped my neutral density filter into the drink below me in the waning moments of the blue hour. As the sun began to wake up from its night slumber, the sky began to light up, which was being reflected and absorbed by the waters of the Croton Reservoir, as well as softly illuminated the foliage and mist in the trees above the cliffs. The use of the ND filter allowed me to shoot in a slow shutter speed, enhancing the rapids as well.
I believe, you can call this a “drop mike” moment!

Croton Reservoir/Dam Background Info:
The New Croton Reservoir is a reservoir in Westchester County, New York, part of the New York City water supply system lying approximately 22 miles (35 km) north of New York City. It is the collecting point for water from all reservoirs in the Croton Watershed.
In 1842 the Croton River, a tributary of the Hudson River, was impounded by the Old Croton Dam to create Croton Lake.[citation needed] New York City’s first source of water beyond its city limits, its waters traveled by aqueduct to the Croton Distributing Reservoir in midtown Manhattan.

In 1905 the New Croton Dam was completed, expanding the existing impoundment into the New Croton Reservoir, then the largest in the Croton Watershed, and thus one of the largest in the New York City water supply system to that point. It has a 57 square mile (148 km²) drainage basin, is approximately 9 miles (14 km) long, and can hold 19 billion US gallons (72,000,000 m3) of water at full capacity.

Its waters flow into the New Croton Aqueduct, then into the Jerome Park Reservoir in The Bronx. Water from the Jerome Park Reservoir is normally distributed to parts of Manhattan, The Bronx, and western Queens.

Deliverance: copyright Angelo Marcialis Image Location-Croton Dam

 

Goat Trail Vista

Heading home from my shooting session at the Croton Gorge Park, I decided to pull over at the 202 Overlook to take in the view as the Golden Hour was just about ready to expire.

The sunlight was being filtered by a developing fog bank (out of camera view) which in combination with the November sun’s low angle in the sky produced this billowy texture upon the mountains of the Hudson Highlands, and the Iona Island Bird Sanctuary below them across the Hudson River.

My car being parked right behind me made simple work of setting up and clicking away a couple of keeper images!

This overlook is located off of Route 202, better known as “Goat Trail”, a winding serpentine road that thrills you every time you drive on it.

About the Bear Mountain Bridge Road aka, “Goat Trail”:

Bear Mountain Bridge Road is a three-mile (4.8 km), two-lane section of US 6/US 202 from the west approach to Bear Mountain Bridge to a former toll house in the Town of Cortlandt, New York, United States. Local residents sometimes refer to the road as the Goat Trail.

It winds around the steep, rocky slopes of Anthony’s Nose, the southernmost peak of the Hudson Highlands on the east side of the Hudson River. In its first mile from the junction with NY 9D it climbs 200 feet (61 m) to a scenic overlook that looks out over Iona Island, Dunderberg Mountain, the city of Peekskill and the Charles Point power plant. There are interpretive displays on the history of the area during the Revolutionary War, where the Hudson River Chain was deployed and the Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery was fought.

Near its eastern end, approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from the bridge, is a Tudor Revival-style former toll house. It also served as the toll taker’s residence. In 2002 it was renovated by the Town of Cortlandt and now serves as an information center and gift shop for visitors to the region. A small parking lot serves hikers taking a popular trail along Anthony’s Nose, through lands in the Camp Smith New York Army National Guard base just above the highway, to the Appalachian Trail just north of the bridge.

At its eastern end, before intersecting with US 9 at the Annsville Circle, the road falls to the level of the Hudson River, which it parallels. There, near the entrance to Camp Smith, looking south across a bay and the Metro-North railroad, can be seen the Indian Point nuclear power plant.

Here is a short video I created on my phone that highlights my autumn captures.

Autumn 2021 – Sep 29 – Nov 15, 2021

I am honored to be able to offer my photography of the beautiful Hudson Valley in New York and beyond for all of your purchasing considerations. All of my photographs are available as prints, wall art, home decor, apparel, weekend bags and so much more!

Feel free to contact me with any questions that pertain to my captures.

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