Some Stained Glass Windows

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Here are a few of the renowned stained glass windows in Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church. I would have liked to have taken pictures of all of them, but I was attending a concert and couldn’t get to a number of them without going through the orchestra. I tried, but after inadvertently lowering a music stand and knocking over a flute, decided it wasn’t a good idea. After the concert it was dark outside and impossible to take more pictures.

Above: Christ Blessing the Children 1895-1899*.

“The Briarcliff Congregational Church (BCC) is endowed with many wonderful gifts both spiritual and material. One of the church’s priceless treasures is its collection of stained-glass windows, spanning more than 100 years of stained-glass art. All the windows were donated as memorial gifts, a tradition started by the church’s benefactor, Walter W. Law. Most represent specific biblical stories; some show historic persons; one or two allow the viewer’s imagination to have a go; others’ symbolism have multiple interpretations. All are beautiful to see; all change as the light moves with the day. The windows at The Briarcliff Congregational Church are also a reflection of the history, life, and traditions of the church as well as that of the community.

There are 17 stained glass windows in all, representing several well-known studios and decorative arts companies: J&R Lamb, NY; William C. Willett, Philadelphia; John Hardman Studios, Birmingham and London; Woodhaven Studios, Bermuda. Perhaps the most well-known among these is Tiffany Studios. BCC has 7 magnificent Tiffany windows, installed between 1898 and 1906.” (Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church Website).

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Jesus and Nathaniel, 1906*.

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The Boy Jesus in Jerusalem, 1963.

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Jesus and Mary Magdalene, Post 1915.

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Supper at Emmaus, 1902*.

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The East Transept, 1929.

* indicates a Tiffany window.

For more information on the church together with some interesting historical pictures and some beautiful color photographs of the magnificent Tiffany (and other) stained glass windows see “Glory in the Glass. A Celebration of the Briarcliff Congregational Church 1896-1996”, Edited Karen M. Sharman. Copies may still be available from the Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church at 30 South State Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510. Phone: 914-941-4368, Fax: 914-941-1513, info@briarcliffchurch.org. Church Office Hours:Tuesday – Friday 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

The “Windows of the Soul” section of the church’s website briefly explores 10 of these magnificent windows: their art, history, biblical reference, and meaning.

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 35mm f1.4 R

A performance of Handel’s Messiah

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Last Saturday I went to a performance of Handel’s Messiah given by the New Westchester Symphony Orchestra conducted by Steven Huang.

I’ve been to a number of performances of Messiah, I’ve even played in a few, but I don’t think I’ve ever been to a ‘sing-along’ Messiah. This essentially means that the chorus is made up of whoever happens to turn up to the performance and is willing to sing. Scores were provided on loan to anyone who wanted/needed them – to be returned after the performance.

The orchestra’s website describes the orchestra as follows:

Who We Are

We are musicians of all ages and abilities. We rehearse one day a week on Wednesdays, playing great classical music. New Westchester Symphony Orchestra (NewWSO) has three main concerts every year, as well as performances in libraries and hospitals throughout the year. Our concerts are free to the public.

The New Westchester Symphony Orchestra is an audition-free, community orchestra serving Westchester County and surrounding areas. NewWSO offers instrumentalists of all ages and abilities the opportunity to play the same repertoire as professional orchestras, but in a non-competitive and supportive environment. There are no auditions to join, and anyone can play music with NewWSO. We take pride in serving our community and bring music to everyone.

Always something going on

NewWSO performs numerous outreach concerts throughout the year at assisted living homes, rehabilitation centers, local libraries and houses of worship. Our goal is to make classical music inclusive and accessible for all who wish to participate. Come join the Orchestra as a musician or in the audience!

It was certainly interesting and everyone seemed to have a great time!

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Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 35mm f1.4 R

Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church

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“[The Briarcliff Manor Congregational] Church was the outgrowth of a Sunday School held in the little schoolhouse, District No. 6. Some members of the Sing Sing Heights Chapel (now the Ossining Heights Methodist Church) started this Sunday School under the faithful leadership of John Edgar Johnson,Jr. It was the only religious service in a radius of two miles. When George A.Todd, Jr., became Superintendent the need for a Church was so evident that he interested Mr. Walter W. Law in the possibility. Mr. Law’s response was so immediate and enthusiastic that the first part of the structure was completed by Christmas of 1896 with its Norman tower and strong stone walls. The Church, organized October 20, 1896, dedicated January 10, 1897, and officially received into the Congregational denomination November 3, 1897, was doubtless the favorite of all the structures made possible by Mr. Law’s generosity. He also erected the Manse, the addition of the transepts, the Sunday school room (1902) and gave four memorial windows as well as the organ. It is a lasting testimony and monument to his devotion to the religious welfare of Briarcliff Manor.

Mr. George A. Todd, Jr. proved his devotion by giving the stones as a material manifestation of his personal loyalty. Most suitably the Church Flag, within the sanctuary, was presented by the Todd family, in 1942, in memory of the large share he had in the spiritual progress of the Church. The Church is fortunate in its many and beautiful memorials, through which the righteous are held in everlasting remembrance.” (History of Briarcliff Manor produced on the Semi-Centennial of Briarcliff Manor in 1952).

For more information on the church together with some interesting historical pictures and some beautiful color photographs of the magnificent Tiffany (and other) stained glass windows see “Glory in the Glass. A Celebration of the Briarcliff Congregational Church 1896-1996”, Edited Karen M. Sharman. Copies may still be available from the Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church at 30 South State Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510. Phone: 914-941-4368, Fax: 914-941-1513, info@briarcliffchurch.org. Church Office Hours:Tuesday – Friday 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

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Taken with a Nikon D800 and Nikon AF Nikkor 28-80 f3.3-5.6

Dan Winters – Road to Seeing

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Last month I posted a YouTube video of an interview with Dan Winters (See: Interesting Interview with Dan Winters). I didn’t really know his work and It interested me enough that I decided to get one of his books, specifically “Road to Seeing”. I usually order hardcover versions of photobooks, but this time I was impatient and I ordered the Kindle version. The fact that the hardcover version was over six times more expensive may also have had something to do with it! I don’t recommend that you do this unless you have the flashier color versions (or are willing to read it on your computer) as many of the images are in color and you lose a great deal by viewing them in black and white.

In his introduction he states: “My purpose in writing this book is rooted in a desire to share, on a human level, some of the moments in my life that have significance to me as a photographer, and a man” so it is at least in part autobiographical.
The book features many beautiful images. But in addition each chapter tells the story behind the image and how it was created. His focus, however, is not on technical matters. Rather he concentrates on such areas as what he was thinking in the run up to the photograph; how he collaborates with his subjects etc.

In addition to Winter’s own pictures the book contains many photographs from such photographic luminaries as : Alfred Stieglitz, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, Eddie Adams, Gregory Heisler, William Wegman, Nadar, Henry Fox-Talbot, Eugène Atget, William Klein, Saul Leiter, Walker Evans, Henri-Cartier Bresson and many others.

He’s best know for his portraits of celebrities, done in his studio often using sets he has built himself (in an earlier existance he built models for a living and so has expertise in this area.) His work has been featured in National Geographic, Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine and many other newspapers and magazines. This work takes up much of the book.

However, he also produced a lot of personal (i.e. Non-commercial) work and this is where I have a bit of a difficulty. He almost seems to be apologetic of his commercial work almost as if he considers it a bit inferior to his personal work. Personally, I’m not wild about the personal work. Don’t get me wrong – It’s good, but I’ve seen better examples in the various genres that he’s tackled.

Even though it’s quite a long book (almost 700 pages) it’s quite easy to read and I got through it in no time. I very much enjoyed it and I’m glad I bought it. You can get a copy for yourself here.

A mallard

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After investing quite a lot of money in camera gear suitable for taking pictures of birds, I’ve been singularly unsuccessful in finding birds to take pictures of. So when I come across a bird, no matter how ordinary, I can’t resist taking a picture of it. Hence this very ordinary picture of a mallard (a common bird around where I live) swimming in the Rondout Creek in Kingston, NY.

Taken with a Sony A7IV and Rokinon/Samyang AF 24-70 f2.8 FE