This month I had the pleasure of having my cousin as a model for the project I have been working on of People in water. I am quite excited about the outcome! I am editing now here is a taste of what is to come…. 
South Mountain Reservation
South Mountain Reservation is a large area of preserved land, one small area of it is home to a sculpture garden, dog park, and a wildflower garden. The Wildflower area is a fenced in section of the preserve that is taken care of by volunteers. One side of it was quite overgrown so I tried the other entrance which brought me directly to the wildflowers, they weren’t fully in bloom yet which just means I will have to go back. As I ventured deeper back I encountered a more swamp-like area with more sculptures aside from the ones at the front gate. The area was rich with Multiflora Roses, Ferns, and Skunk Cabbage. I had to look up the Eastern Columbine and the purple flower I still am unsure of it looks to me to be in the rose family?
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Lenape Park
Lenape Park is a small stretch of a paved pathway in the middle of a swamp or marsh area. It follows along the Rahway River and it actually is in the middle of a path that connects four parks total. Black Brook Park, Nomahegan Park, and Echo Lake Park are the other three that you can access from it. Lenape Park had a lot of activity from pedestrians. In fact, the other parks do as well. This was somewhat disappointing for me because it made it difficult for me to try to stop to look and watch for wildlife. At one point I spotted a cottontail rabbit, I stopped to try and take some photos but if I stopped dead I would be a hazard to the cyclists whizzing past or the power walkers. Before I could even get my camera up to snap away someone on a very noisy bike scared it off. They do have protected area for migrating birds so next time I go I will try and get there early enough to do some bird watching. The Stretch of the park that I did walk was utterly taken over by the multi-floral rose which is an invasive species.
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Polaroids
Over the past couple of years I have found Polaroid cameras at various thrift stores. I figure why not use them to create a series. I had my father help me with converting my land camera to take AAA batteries instead of the hard to find expensive one needed. Because of the cost of Polaroid film this project will be a constant effort and very selective with my shots, I am going to be very picky. I cant wait to see how it comes out !
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Cheesequake State Park
These Panoramic images are from a resent winter hike at Cheesequake State Park. I love exploring where I live and I really miss being by the shore.
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Transparencies
I was flipping through my film binders and I realized that I have a ton of transparencies which are positive film placed in plastic slides. This set of images are a few of the images are some of my favorites.
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oxidize
Oxidation is something that occurs all around us. For most people this is a bad thing, an annoyance that has ruined their car, tools, bike, etc. For me though it is amazing, I love the changing of colors, how an object can go from the perfect specimen to an unrecognizable object when photographed close-up to show the layers of texture and color changes. I have always had an obsession with broken, run down places and objects…. as if you couldn’t tell ? Hope you enjoy these images.
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Muttontown Preserve
Muttontown Preserve is a combination of three land plots in Muttontown, N.Y. The land itself is the combination of the former estates and farmland. Some of the images are of all that is left of King Zog the last monarch of Alabania. The other images are from what was left of the Duryea Farm as well as outer buildings and playhouses in the wooded areas close to the Chelsea Mansion. I grew up near this part of Long Island and there is so much history in your backyard that is taken for granted. I do miss hiking the forgotten about wonders of the past.
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Echo Lake Park at Sunset
Last week after our latest snow storm I took a ride over to Echo Lake Park. It was packed with families sleigh riding, but I was able to grab this moment of solitude as I walked back to the car. I did not quite get what I was looking for but that only means hopefully I can get another chance with our next prediction of snow. 
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Holga
Film is one of my favorite mediums in the world of photography, more importantly using toy cameras which are normally plastic based. I have quite a few toy cameras; two that I built from kits and three that were bought. Holga to me hands down are the best, I have a regular 120mm Holga with a 35mm film converter, a Holga 120mm wide-angle pinhole camera, and a DSLR camera lens…I guess you can say I like Holga? The most exciting part about using these types of toy cameras is that you just never know the outcome. You are always guaranteed some form of light leak which I sometimes love, but you can also try to control with only electrical tape. It is also really easy to play with double exposures by either not advancing the film at all, only a little bit, or half way. Even though you don’t always have control of the outcome, you still have creative opportunity in how you choose to mess around while shooting.
