The Widow Jane Mine, Rosendale NY

After getting that taste of warmer weather just a few days ago, it was extra hard to accept the cold-and-rainy day yesterday.  What’s an adventure-photog to do?!

Thinking outside the box a little, I remembered a place that caught my curiosity… a place that would hopefully provide cover from the monsoon-like wetness pouring from above…

The Widow Jane Mine, which is found basically roadside (just behind the Snyder Estate historical house) in Rosendale NY, is rich in history.  It’s origins go back to a time when “Rosendale Cement” was known world-wide as the very best available, and now this room-and-pillar mine is open for exploration… and some other very interesting things, too!

This time of year most of the mine is filled with water… which limits the exploring one can do… but also presents a very neat photographic opportunity, with the body of water protected underground it sits perfectly still, giving a glassy mirror-like reflection of the pillars and ceiling.

QUICK-and-DIRTY Details:

  • In 1891 almost half of the cement in America was manufactured in the Rosendale Cement Region.
  • Rosendale Natural Cement was used in the building of the most enduring landmarks of the nation. The Brooklyn Bridge, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, the wings of the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, Grand Central Terminal, the Croton Aqueduct and dams, the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels, the New York State Thruway, and thousands of public works projects all got their start underground in the cement mines of Rosendale.
  • The mine is now used as a venue for historic interpretation and special events, including musical performances because of it’s unique acoustics.
  • The water of this mine, which gets purified from flowing through the rock, is used by a distillery in Red Hook, Brooklyn for their Widow Jane Bourbon Whiskey!  Check them out!  http://widowjane.com/about/
  • The mine is owned and managed by:
    The Century House Historical Society at the Snyder Estate

Carpe Noctem

Carpe Diem is a well-known latin phrase, meaning seize the day.  It’s an excellent philosophy for any photographer, be it a pro or hobbiest/enthusiast.  Carpe Noctem, you might have guessed, means seize the NIGHT.

If you’re not afraid of the dark, and willing to give up some precious sleep… and dress warm… night time photography has a lot to offer, and can be hugely rewarding!

This image was captured for a client working on a community farming project, and- along with the rest of the images we provided- are meant to convey the beauty of the area and visually convey the opportunities present in living/raising a family in this area rather than in the Metro NY area.

Why are we posting about this today?  Well, this weekend is the New Moon- which is kind of a funny name for what really appears to be no moon at all.  This upcoming Saturday, March 17, the moon will be almost entirely in the Earth’s shadow… Continue reading “Carpe Noctem”

Cool Stars

Last Friday we posted a photo-tip on social media; This recent cold snap brings with it excellent opportunity for some night sky photography.

Cloud cover acts like a blanket over the Earth, reflecting the overnight radiated heat back down.  So it’s not totally coincidental when you see an unusually low temp one night, to also find the skies to be clear of clouds.  And cold air holds another perk for the night owl shooter- colder air can not carry as much moisture in it, and humidity creates an awful “haze” that downs out all but the brightest of stars (or planets).

We took the opportunity on Friday to capture some artistic photos on a local farm for one of our clients, capturing how beautiful it is living here in the Hudson Valley of New York.

Afterwards- since I was already bundled up (and already frozen), and already out late with all my gear- I headed over to capture a different shot that’s been on my mind lately.  Inspired by my buddy Benji, who’s a wicked talented photographer I might add, I ended up with this image.

 

 

Quite pleased with how it turned out, especially considering by this point in the night the moon was pretty high overhead, reflecting sunlight that usually detracts from crisp star captures… but in this case the moonlight helped illuminate the path, the ridge, and even a bit of Skytop Tower at the Mohonk Mountain House!

We are curious… did anyone else brave the cold and capture anything cool?  If you have something you’d like to share email us and we’ll feature you on your blog and social media channels!  [email protected]