If you have your Picture This Photography 2023 Calendar this compilation of images are your November collection “Central Park in Technicolour”
Fall is my absolute favourite time of year in New York. I love being able to walk around on bright & crisp days crunching the fallen leaves, admiring the fall colours and deep breathing the cool air while wrapped up and clutching a steaming hot chocolate in one hand and my camera in the other!
Central Park is a beauty all year round however in Fall it becomes an artistic masterpiece with golden yellows, rustic oranges, crimson reds surrounded by lush greens & deep bark browns. This collection of images were taken on or around Thanksgiving two years apart.
Image 1-Across The Lake shows the contrasting old vs new view from Oak Bridge to the tall glass apartment buildings of Billionaires Row. The colourful leaves & trees direct the eye across the lake towards a plethora of colour & texture while the tall, skinny, glass buildings draw the eye up the image. While I am not a fan of the soulless (over-priced!) buildings I do enjoy the contrasting looks.
📷This image was captured hand held one fall afternoon from Oak Bridge using a wide angle with deep depth of field, low ISO & daylight white balance.
Image 2-Red Alert at Turtle Pond shows the magnificent red maple tree standing proud in front of the gorgeous Great Lawn on Thanksgiving. The iconic Eldorado apartment building located at 300 Central Park West peeks over the tall trees, I wonder if previous residents Marilyn Monroe or Grouch Marx ever admired the red maple tree like I do.
📷This image was captured hand held on Thanksgiving afternoon from across Turtle Pond using a wide angle with deep depth of field, low ISO & daylight white balance.
Image 3-A red maple tree grows in Central Park deserves a post all of its own (stay tuned) suffice to say I love photographing this tree annually on or close to Thanksgiving as the colour palette drastically changes annually. This particular image was captured on a bright, cold day & I could not take my eyes off the unbelievable colours.
📷This image was captured hand held on Thanksgiving afternoon up close using shallow depth of field, low ISO & daylight white balance, it is not photo shopped or colour edited in any way.
Image 4-Oak Bridge in the Fall is a hidden gem that transports visitors across The Lake from the west side of the park into the wilderness of The Ramble. I have spent many a lost Sunday afternoon (figuratively & literally) wandering aimlessly around The Ramble where Oak Bridge is always a welcome sight. This view is captured by facing south across The Lake and in the right light captures dramatic reflections of the mega tall 57th St buildings. Oak Bridge is constructed from steel & aluminum that is coated to resemble the painted carved oak elements of the original bridge built by Calvert Vaux that was torn down due to challenging attempts at repair due to the constant upkeep of the wood.
📷This image was captured on Oak Bridge on the north west side of the park looking south using using deep depth of field, low ISO & daylight white balance.
Insider Tip-check the official fall foliage map for best spots to visit during mid November. If close to Turtle Pond be sure to also visit Belvedere Castle, Shakespeare Gardens & The Delacorte Theatre. Also, do not try to take a shortcut by climbing down the rocks in The Ramble!
While capturing picture-perfect Fall colours you really get to see “Central Park in Technicolour”