Interesting interview: Josef Koudelka: Formed by the World

November 21, 2013 by Howard Dale Posted in Photographers, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Interesting two part interview with Josf Koudelka on the New York Times Lens.

Josef Koudelka started his professional life as an engineer in Czechoslovakia and switched to photography in his late 20s. He photographed the Soviet invasion of his country in 1968 and published his seminal book, “Gypsies,” in 1975 (a revised and enlarged edition was published by Aperture in 2011).

His new book, “Wall: Israeli and Palestinian Landscapes,” also published by Aperture, is a result of four years of photographing the Israeli-built wall that separates the Palestinian West Bank and Israel. The book came out of a group project, “This Place: Making Images, Breaking Images — Israel and the West Bank,” that was organized by the photographer Frédéric Brenner and included Mr. Koudelka and 11 other photographers.

Mr. Koudelka, 75, has been a member of Magnum Photos for more than 40 years. He spoke with James Estrin in Paris last week. The conversation has been edited and will run in two parts on Lens, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Josef Koudelka: Formed by the World – NYTimes.com.

Part II can be found here

Philipstown, NY

November 20, 2013 by Howard Dale Posted in Places Tagged gallery Leave a comment

Cold Spring is a village in the town of Philipstown. It’s one of my favorite places, appearing in a number of posts on this blog. These buildings are just outside the village and I’ve often driven by them on the way to Cold Spring – each time saying to myself that I should stop and take some pictures. This time I did.

Facade – Philipstown town hall

Broader view of the Philipstown town hall

Rockers on a porch

The Church on the Hill – yes that’s actually what it’s called

Little Stony Point

November 20, 2013 by Howard Dale Posted in Places Tagged gallery Leave a comment

Not to be confused with the more famous Stony Point Battlefield State Park, which is on the west side of the Hudson just north of Haverstraw this site: Little Stony Point is on the east side of the Hudson on route 9d just north of Cold Spring.

You approach the site via a bridge over the railroad tracks.

The trail descends gradually down to a sandy beach with great views along the Hudson towards Breakneck Ridge and Storm King.

If you walk along the beach you can pick up the trail again on the other side. It meanders along the Hudson and finally brings you back to where you started by the railroad bridge.

Boat on the Hudson

It’s a short easy walk. There are small cliffs along the way (I couldn’t find a way up them but then I didn’t try very hard as I didn’t have much time) and apparently there’s also a cave (couldn’t find that either).

Self portrait with dog

November 20, 2013 by Howard Dale Posted in Things Tagged gallery Leave a comment

I was walking around again with the dog when I came across a truck with very shiny rear doors. It also had a plate with a dog on it. The dog seemed to float in the air. I couldn’t see how I could get a picture of this without me in it so I decided to go for a self portrait.

Strange creatures along Secor road

November 20, 2013 by Howard Dale Posted in Places, Things Tagged gallery Leave a comment

Crocodile

If you take the Taconic State Parkway north you’ll eventually, after passing Yorktown Heights and Jefferson Valley come to an exit called Bryant Pond Road. Turn right at the end of the exit ramp. You’d think this would be Bryant Pond Road but it isn’t. It’s actually Secor Road. Pass the mobil station on the right and just past the next stop sign, on the left, you’ll see these strange metallic creatures. I have no idea who made them and my attempts to find out have so far been unsuccessful. Some of them are recognizable (e.g. pig, alligator). Others less so.