Nyack Street Festival In Black & White

I really should pay more attention to this blog project, but with everything going on in my life,  just very difficult right now to dedicate the effort to it which it is deserving.  First, a note of some sadness. Our Nyack modern day equivalent of the penny candy store has closed its doors.  I was walking down  Broadway this evening and was shocked to see the storefront empty, a for rent sign in the window.  This is one of those wondrous shops that make/made Nyack what it is...sad to think I can no longer take a walk down memory lane, sneaking in to get a taste of "Bit of Honey" or perhaps walking out nibbling on some Goobers or Chocolate Covered Raisenettes.

This last weekend saw another one of Nyack's many summer/fall street festivals, both Main and Broadway closed to cars as various vendors sold their wares.  Just a small sampling of the festival in Black & White...hope you enjoy the pictures.

Patisserie Didier Dumas Struck By Lightening...Fire Crews Still on The Scene

Today's storm has done more than dump a lot of rain here in Nyack...one of our beloved Main Street Landmarks has been struck by lightening, and as a onlooker watching the fire crews battle the fire, it looks like the building is going to need some serious work before our beloved Patisserie  Didier Dumas can re-open its doors.  For many of us living in Nyack, for hundreds if not thousands of bikers, this place if more than just the world's best bakery, it is a gathering place, the space you want to go to when catching up with old friends.

It appeared that firemen had to break through the roof of the building, and later on crews were seen  shining their flashlights as they walked around the darkened second floor.  Before the lights went out, you could not see the display cases in the bakery from all the smoke.  In short, it did not look good.  We can only hope and pray for the best of day once dawn breaks.

Don't know how to set it up, but thinking a lot of us who love this bakery and the people who work there would love to help them rebuild and re-open.  Perhaps when we know more, a "Kickstarter" campaign is in order to lend the owner our helping hand as the task of getting back open begins?  Anyone else have any ideas, suggestions on how we as a Nyack Community can help get OUR BAKERY open again?

The good news...does not appear that anyone was hurt in the fire, and the building seems very much intact!  Bad news...it may be awhile before any of us again can enjoy some of the finest baked goods East and West of the Mississippi River.  From my perspective, no one makes a croissant as good as the ones you can get in Didier, and of course it goes without saying that their coffee is just plain old FANTASTIC.

UPDATE...if word on the street is correct, one of the now displaced people from this fire had just moved into their apartment in the building last week.  They might not have had time to get renters insurance...if this is true, we should try to lend them a helping hand as well.

UPDATE....here is a great article on the fire.

The good news is that Didier Dumas hopes to be open in a matter of a few weeks...we will see, as according to the some fire fighters, the building may have sustained structural damage.  Sure every one has their fingers crossed.

HBO's "The Leftovers" Celebrates Memorial Day in Nyack Just Before 4th of July 2014

Love The Five Gallon Plastic Bucket

As I often do, started my day off today with a walk down to our Memorial Park here in Nyack, NY only to find that our park's parking was off limits to the local citizens...seems that once again HBO was doing more filming for, "The Leftovers".  I'm sure our elected officials see some benefit in having the film crew here, perhaps it might even bring some financial benefits to the city treasury...however, a lot of the citizens of our little town along the Hudson River could easy do without the disruption of our daily lives.  Even more so when the film crew wants to chase us out of our own city park.  

SPOILER ALERT...not sure that "The Leftovers" has a very large viewership, but for those who do watch the show, I am going to be spoiling the theme of an upcoming episode.

Seems the writers think it a great idea to celebrate "Memorial Day in Mapleton" just a few days before the 4th of July in our little town of Nyack, NY...filming is later on in the day, so I may post a few cast pictures as an addendum to this article this evening if the crew does not chase me away like they did earlier today.

The central point of focus of the show...a very HOKEY LOOKING Memorial around a statue that interrupts the ability of our town's kids to use the ball field today...so Little Leaguers, maybe tomorrow you can have your outfield back.  Guess filming an HBO show is far more important that letting our kids have a safe place to play during the summer time when school is closed?

The rest of the park including our Gazebo is decked out in traditional Memorial Bunting...all we need now is for a few of our streets to be blocked off so that HBO can host a mock parade down to the park on this special day.

Not meaning to sound unwelcoming here, but Nyack has a serious parking problem, and even more of one right now with all the road work being done in and around town...having HBO shutting down our access to parking at the park just does not work for those wanting to stop by the park for their noon time lunch, or for mothers wanting to bring their children down to the river to feed the ducks along the river's edge.    Perhaps some of the folks down at city hall need to learn how to "Just Say No" to some of these projects and events that greatly inconvenience those who live in and enjoy Nyack.


For those who have not yet caught an episode, if the reviews are to believed, you are not missing much.   Small town of Mapleton suddenly wakes up one day with 2 percent of the town gone, vanished into thin air.

Think Rapture...hmmm...only 2 percent would seem to indicate that a lot of God fearing people are going to get left behind when and if such a biblical event ever occurs.   Pardon me I am drifting...the basic theme of the show is straight forward...small town deals with the aftermath of having two percent of its citizens stolen away.  So compelling and so believable....sort of like filming a Memorial Day Celebration just before the 4th of July just outside of New York city.  

Nyack Privacy Hedges Create Public Safety Hazard

Half of Sidewalk GONE

As a photographer I put a lot of miles on my shoes walking about the town of Nyack, and its various same name counter parts.   When you do that much walking in an area, you notice little things such as a broken water main leaking into the town's storm drains and other such little issues.  You also notice some other issues that might seem not so important at first blush, but actually present some potentially serious safety issues for the citizenry of Nyack.

A normal sidewalk can usually handle two citizens abreast of one another, so that if you come across a passerby heading in the opposite direction you can safely walk past one another without bumping, or without one or the other of you having to step to the side.   However,  there are numerous homes in our area that sit along major traffic roads that present serious danger to those walking on their sidewalks...especially if say a couple is pushing a baby carriage, and you are walking toward them when suddenly the sidewalk narrows down to a point where one person can barely squeeze by, thus causing someone to step aside, sometimes onto the roadway where cars are whisking by.

What you might ask could cause a sidewalk to suddenly narrow, as they are poured concrete, hardened, in place for years, even decades?  Privacy hedges that have been allowed to grow out of control, hedges that though nice and neatly trimmed extend out into the sidewalk easements...in some cases as much as two feet!  Try walking down parts of say Broadway, or Franklin St. (just too name two random streets) on a busy traffic day, and you will come to certain hedges that greatly intrude on to what are supposed to be public sidewalks.  When you come across one of these barriers, if someone(s) are coming in the opposite direction toward you, one of you is going to have to step aside, sometimes into the public street.

So the question then becomes...are there ordinances against this intrusion into the public walking spaces (sidewalks)?  Yes there are such rules in place.  Are they being enforced?  No...according to Nyacks building department, they are simply too busy to police such violations, would need one person just to handle this area of concern.  

So one more question...if we can have so many people on salary walking around issuing parking tickets, why can't Nyack hire someone to walk around and write up violations of this nature.  Doubt that a illegally parked vehicle is going to pose much of a public safety risk, but would venture to guess that forcing people to step out onto streets with passing cars on it could pose a serious safety risk, and also thinking the city would be the first party named in a lawsuit if someone were injured because the sidewalks were allowed to become all but impassable.  So how about it Mayor White..."Can we hire someone who's job it is too walk around Nyack finding blocked sidewalks, pay them to work with the community and home owners to get problem hedges back within the rules, can we pay someone to write up violators when they do not come into compliance?"

Shot Of The Day

I keep trying to get myself organized enough that I can come here to this space and upload a small article or picture on a somewhat regular basis...not having a lot of luck on that currently, but I am trying.  There are so many wonderful things going on in Nyack, and some not so wonderful things as well, so not like there is a lack of things to share.  For today, how about a picture of the day?

It amazes me that the sun light playing on a solid black bird can create so many beautiful hues...love this picture for that singular reason.  Not a great picture, but "OH THE COLORS".

Nyack Skateboard Park...Where Is One?

When I meet some of the young skateboarders, I half jokingly tell them that I am an "Old School Skateboarder" from back in the day.  When I was a kid some 50 years ago, we built our own skateboards.  We would take a long piece of 2x4 (about 30 inches or so) and nail the wheels from a steel skate up through the board using 16 common nails, bending them over on the top to hold them in better.   One pair of skates, two skateboards!

In those days we had no helmets, no knee or elbow pads, no gloves to protect our body parts.  We would grab our primitive boards and head up to suicide hill hoping to get in 3 or 4 runs before trouble reared its ugly head in the smell of smoke...about the time we would smell the smoke is when we would notice the first few ball bearings bouncing down the hill in front of us.  At that point it was just a question of do we ride it out and hope for the best, or bail before the wheels came off...those were heady times.

Skateboards and the sport have come a very long way since those early days.

Hardly a day goes by when I am out walking with my camera that I do not see the younger generation out on their boards, risking life and limb to perfect their board tricks. Go out to almost any public street in town with a decent incline and chances are you will find 3 or 4 teenagers racing down the hill attempting various and assorted maneuvers on their boards, all the while keeping a eye out for on coming cars...which begs the question, "Where is our Skateboard Park in Nyack?"

Seriously, there are hundreds of communities around the country, maybe even thousands who have skateboard parks, and most of the communities I am talking about are not near as financially blessed as Nyack is.  How many people in Nyack live in million dollar homes?  How many millionaires live in our community?  How many households in Nyack earn 2, 3 or more times the average household income for an American family?  Yet, we cannot afford a skateboard park?

Am wondering...are we waiting until someone's child is seriously injured or killed before we as a community decide that a skatepark is a good investment for the community?  We have a basketball court, and a baseball field down at Memorial Park, but how many of you know that more young kids under the age of 18 skateboard than play baseball?

Just a thought...down by the river there is a clean up going on at a Superfund site...you know, one of those horrid sites where a company polluted our environment for decades.  Rumor has it that the site will be finished and cleaned up by the end of December...instead of the site then being sold off to some developer, maybe the polluters and responsible parties should donate the land to the city for another river side park with the stipulation that a part of this new park be set aside as a safe haven and park for our skateboard enthusiasts. 

Just an "Old School Skateboarder's" two cents worth on the subject.

Editor's Note...skateboard parks can be built for as little as $50,000 and some of the most incredible parks can be built for under $300,000.   Maybe someone should consider putting a skateboard park as a business up on Jumpstart and see if the money could be raised that way.  One way or another, it is time we stop discussing skateboard parks, and build one before one of Nyack's children is hit or run over by a car.

According to the census Nyack has around 6800 citizens...if each citizen were to donate just $5.00 we would have enough money to build a world class skateboard park for Nyack's kids.

April See's My Work at Bunbury's In Piermont

Call it a bit of good luck, or the cosmos opening doors...I have been wanting to get my work into the Piermont area since the first day I went over there to take pictures and have a cup of coffee at the charming, great energy coffee shop called Bunbury's.  Imagine my wonderment when I got an email from the owner of this delightful shop asking if I could fill in this month for another artist who was unable to hang there exhibit.  So, for all those who have been asking me where they can see my work, am proud to announce that my work is hanging on the walls at this fine Piermont Coffee Shop through the entire month of April.

Bunbury's Coffee Shop
460 Piermont Avenue
Piermont, New York
(845) 398-9716

May will see my work hanging here in Nyack, and am very excited about July when my work has the honor of gracing the display Window at Vincent's Ear on Main Street here in town.  If your restaurant, cafe or retail establishment is need of some stunningly beautiful walls, please feel free to give me a call.   Have great prices for doctors and lawyers looking to bring quality art work to the walls of their office.  Drop and email to photographybysherwood@gmail.com or call/text (845) 3465-6523 today.

PS...to the wonderful person who liked my work well enough to steal two pieces valued at over $500  at my last exhibit, want to send you out a very special THANK YOU...what a grand compliment to find out that my work is enjoyed enough that people are willing to steal it.  I am honored that my work has found a very special place in your home and your heart.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know...

Name Memorial Park Chicken

As a photographer of life living in Nyack, I get around quite a bit, have my pulse on what is going on in the community, notice when things seem out of place, such as a few days ago when I noticed a broken city water pipe dumping hundreds of gallons of water out onto the street.  Some things seem unimportant, others humorous, while others have you wanting to ask questions.  

One news item that has people talking is the chicken that just showed up one day (about a week ago this past Thursday) at Memorial Park...said chicken was still there today when I passed through the park.   Some folks are worried about it, others are wanting to name it, and the major is looking for said chicken's owners on Facebook.  Guessing here that having one's chicken loose in a city park is in violation of several codes, so not sure any one is going to step forward to claim said chicken, though she (assuming it is a hen) is cute as chickens go.   

My own news item, or perhaps more appropriately, a serious question.   Just past the Yacht Club on the corner of Gedney Street is a "Superfund Site".

That is never a good thing, but being new to the area, I was not overly concerned about the land behind the six foot chain link fenced area until I noticed a lot of preparatory work being done there.  The work itself was not concerning until I saw work crews installing several air and water monitoring devices in and around the property.

Suppose the good news about this is who ever is doing the work cares enough about our health to monitor the air and water while the remediation work is being done.   The bad news though, it would seem, is whatever they are remediating must pose a certain potential risk to the public should it GET OFF SITE, which begs my question(s).  Just what exactly are they remediating, and are those of us who walk by the site on a daily basis being exposed to some certain health risks that we should be having explained to us?  Even with the ground frozen in the area, work crews have been kicking up the dust, and I suspect come summer time we can expect that to increase, and since they have three high tech devices testing the water, are those who dabble their toes in the water on a hot summer's day at any risk from contaminates about to be disturbed in the water?  If there are some potential risks involved with this Super Fund remediation work, am thinking here it is only fair that said risks be publicly posted along all sides of the fencing around the work site and in the adjacent parking lot area.

For those who love rumors, the word on the street has it that the new "CRAFT" food and beer restaurant on Main Street will be opening it's doors on Tuesday.  They have made a lot of progress and the place is looking incredible, but Tuesday might be a tad optimistic.

For those who thought "Father Winter" was through for the year, guess again...seems that we could see a Nor'easter blow through here Tuesday, and temperatures for the week are going to be pretty cold.  If we do get the storm, do you, your neighbors, and our Fire Fighters here in Nayck a favor by making sure the fire hydrant in your yard is not covered in snow.  

PS...if you are tired of the snow, the "New York Botanical Garden" has a fabulous orchid show going on right now that is well worth the trip into the Bronx for.  Have a great week, and if you see me out on the street say hello.

Just What Is a "Professional Photographer"

"What is a professional photographer?  This is a question I find myself pondering of late.  More importantly than this question, I find myself wondering if one can be a professional photographer and not be an artist, and conversely, can one be a "Photographic Artist" without per say being a professional photographer?  For 20 years I was a potter and sculptor, that is what I did for a living, and it was what the world saw me as.  There was never the word "professional" attached to that occupation, and by virtue of my work on display at various shows and exhibits I was considered an artist.  End of story.  No one asked for my qualifications, no one asked if I had ever sold anything that gave me the right to claim the title of potter, sculptor and artist.  I just was.

Photography seems much different.  Someone who takes pictures of used cars for those free car magazines you pick up in the grocery store will tell you that he/she is a professional photographer, as well the person who takes the picture at the local high school football game on a Friday night will do the same.  They seem to claim the title of professional photographer by  mere virtue of drawing a pay check each week for taking pictures of some questionable quality with a camera that is usually some relic from days gone by.   Yet, many art photographers, some of whom who have had one man/woman shows in some very prestigious spaces yet have not actually SOLD THEIR WORK are not considered professionals...does this small detail make them any less  a professional photographer?  If so, then one has to ponder another question, are many of those who profess to be professional photographers not artists?  Should art photographers be looked at differently than professional photographers?  Should there be two very distinct and different classifications?

Sure some people are both artist and professional photographer, but at what point does one cease being considered an amateur photographer, and move on to that space in modern day society where they can say without reservation or guilt that they are a professional photographer?  Does selling a piece of your work, even if it was to your Mom or Grandmother officially make you a professional photographer?  Does learning how to push the button on the camera at the Mall when Santa Clause is in town make you a profession photographer?  More importantly, what distinguishes you as an artist in the field of photography?  Anyone who picks up a camera and takes a picture is suddenly a photographer, but where do we draw the line after that?  Who is a professional photographer, who is a photographic artist?

One can take a class, pass a test and they are suddenly a "Real Estate Agent" even though they have never held a job as such, nor sold one house.  You can get a license to drive a taxi by paying the DMV a fee of $30 so they can send you a new license denoting your eligibility and sudden qualification to be a taxi cab driver, and there is not even a test involved.  In some small towns the mayor becomes judge by mere virtue of having gotten elected despite their lack of experience or qualifications to be a judge.  So, on this night I find myself asking the question, "Just what is a professional photographer?"  Has having a camera built into every cell phone that has the ability to upload a picture to the world wide web down graded photography to a point where most people no longer see it as a true art form, thus creating a situation where you are only a professional photographer when someone is paying you to click the button that activates the shutter on whatever camera they happen to send you out into the field with?

I am pondering this, as I get asked this question in various ways on a daily basis.  "Do you work for a paper or magazine?"  or the straight to the point question, "Are you a professional?"  For the record, I have never held a job as a photographer, not worked for a paper or a magazine in the capacity of photographer.  Photography up to this point in my life has never been a full time occupation or vocation.  So, if having a JOB related to photography is that magic line in the sand, then suppose I am not a professional photographer.  I have though been hired to take pictures at a whole lot of events, even sold many of my pictures to various individuals who felt compelled to have one or more of my pieces hanging in their homes.  I even have my own business cards, and if you are reading this blog you already know I have an internet presence.   I  work diligently at my craft, put many hours in each and every week hopefully honing my skills as a photographer.  Do these facts make me a professional photographer even though I have never held a JOB in the field?  Or perhaps, because I tend to take photographs that are more art than commercial in scope, perhaps I am an art photographer?  If I am an art photographer, where does the whole professional photographer thing come into play, and perhaps most importantly is it a label as an artist that I want, as in my mind that is what I am, an artist?

Feeding Birds At Memorial Park

I try to get out every day for a bit with my camera, am always on the hunt for that one good picture that makes my creative day a success.  Some days i get lucky and far exceed that goal of one good shot, then there are those days when nothing I shot seems that good....today was one of those later type days where reviewing my work was turning up nothing that sang out, 'This is a good shot."  As is often the case on days when nothing seems to be working, I grabbed my camera and decided to go out for a late afternoon shoot, give the camera another chance at capturing something that spoke to me.

As the day quickly moved into late afternoon found myself down at Nyack's Memorial Park as dusk approached when I saw a lady feeding our local army of seagulls and mallards.  Though this is a very common appearance at the park, I snapped a few shots, and when I loaded the shots up onto the computer found one worth a share.

Hope you all enjoy it.

PS...making a trip to the New York Botanical Garden tomorrow to see the orchid display, and would encourage everyone to make the trip as I hear the display is breathtaking.

Lets Help Gypsy Donut Get a Truck!

I happen to like a great donut,  LOVE a incredible cup of coffee...one of the perks of having moved to Nyack is I can get both of these with a visit to the Gypsy Donut shop located on Franklin Street just off of Main!  Seriously, the donuts at David Schloss's place are not your run of the mill mass produced donut you get from those other places that dot every corner of the globe.  These are homemade (on the premise from SCRATCH) donuts that tickle your taste buds, and come in flavors you can only imagine.

This little shop has fast become a community gathering point here in Nyack, and they are  wanting to expand in a new and exciting way, and  are asking for our help.

They want to put Gypsy Donut on the road...literally on the road with a donut and coffee shop on wheels, a truck to be specific.  Being a regular at the shop, and thrilled I can stop in early in the morning seven days a week on my way out for a walk with my camera for a delicious cup of coffee or a latte and a fabulous donut, I feel compelled to give their Kickstarter project a helping hand.  

You can visit their Kickstarter project and get involved here.

Gypsy Donut is here in Nyack today thanks to the support of Kickstarter, so David Schloss and his fine team have a track record of success, so you can rest assured you are backing a small business person with a track record of success.    The goal is too raise $30,000 to purchase and outfit a truck and put it on the road, bringing the joy that is Gypsy Donut's to a whole new audience as they take their show and put it on the road.   They are off to a good start with almost $10,000 pledged, but need our help.  So, if you are reading this how about popping over and making a pledge today, and for those so inclined, sharing this article link, or a link to their Kickstarter project page would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.  Let's together make another dream come true.

Deadline for this project is March 29, 2014 at just after 9 in the morning, so we have just over 11 days to get them to the finish line and see a Gypsy Donut truck on the road just in time for prime biking season!

A Few Tips For Back Yard Bird Photographers

One of the first questions I get asked when walking around town with my camera is, "WOW, what are you shooting with that big lens (Canon l series 100-400 for those who might ask what lens I am shooting with)?  Generally, because I am a big fan of them, it is birds of any type and variety.  They come in all shapes and sizes, are quite industrious, not to mention stunningly beautiful.

Though I end up taking pictures of lots of other things, I am invariably hoping to stumble upon a chance to point my camera in the direction of one of the many fine feathered friends that call our community home.

With the return of spring, the opportunity for some great bird photographs is increasing, so this seems like a good time to share a couple of my own bird photographs (recently taken) along with a few tips for the back yard bird photographers that might happen upon my blog.

Tips For Photographing Birds

1.  Try to photographing them in direct light...simply stated, have the sun behind you, and shining on them.  You want to bring out the detail of the feathers, capture all the fine detail that you can.  Side light is going to cast shadows, and if the sun is behind the bird you are going to get a silhouette of the bird most times.

2.  Patience!  Find a place to roost where you know birds congregate, and wait for them to come into you.   If you are walking a trail, and not sure where the birds might be, again patience is your best friend in capturing that unexpected shot.  Walk slowly...very slowly.  Sudden movements will startle the birds and you have missed your opportunity.  Once you spy the bird, patiently figure out where you want/need to be (if possible) to get the best shot, then ever so slowly (and patiently) move into position.  This said, have your camera at the ready, as any shot is always better than no shot.

3.  Be inconspicuous if you can, take cover.  If you are driving and see a great shot, try to park in a way that you can use your car as a blind.  Walking in the woods and find a promising spot, lean up and into a tree so that the birds see the tree, rather than you.  Carry a chair and park yourself in a thicket of grass.  The key is doing your best to be invisible to the birds so as not to scare them off.

4.  Digital cameras give you the option of continuous shooting....USE IT!  Fact is, there is a certain degree of luck in capturing a great shot, but you can increase your luck by firing off several shots as sometimes one of them turns out to be that masterpiece we photographers love shooting where everything about the shot JUST WORKS.

5.  I like manual focus if I am in close on birds, but use auto focus when shooting birds at more of a distance.

6.  Always...ALWAYS (let me repeat) ALWAYS be ready to take a shot.  You cannot use your camera is it is locked in the trunk, or worse sitting at home on the kitchen counter.  You never know when that once in a life time opportunity is going to be right there in front of your eyes, so never leave home without your camera.

7.  It's the eye!  When you are focusing your lens on a bird, CONCENTRATE on the eye, as that is where the key to the proverbial money shot is.  If you get a great eye shot, chances are you got a GREAT PHOTOGRAPH.

Happy Birding Everyone

Nyack Library's "Captured Reading" Photo Contest Deadline is March 31, 2014

As a photographer I believe contests are a fabulous way to show off  talents, perhaps get a little  recognition from our community.    This month, the Nyack Library is seeking submissions in their, "Captured Reading" contest, and entry could not be simpler.

Snap a picture of someone reading then  email your Jpeg image submission to photography@nyacklibrary.org by the deadline of March 31, 2014.  Be sure you include a signed release from the person who's picture was taken if one is needed...IE, if the shot was taken indoors, rather than in a public place you are going to need a release.

To get you started, here are a couple of pictures I have taken of people "Caught Reading".  Grab your cameras and head out today in search of your own image of someone who is "Caught Reading" and enter Nyack Library's contest for a chance at some great prizes.

From Z-Vents

This Spring, the Nyack Library will be holding a Get Caught Reading contest. We invite photographers of all ages and expertise levels to find their creativity and take pictures of people expressing the joy of reading in all its forms and formats: books, e-readers, magazines, audiobooks, newspapers. These photos can be taken any place you'd like -- indoors or out! !Prizes will be awarded ! Thank you to our wonderful local merchants for their donations.

Library Website