The final word

Joe celebrates finding quiet, natural beauty in some surprising places

Following a recent job in Montana, Big Sky Country, I returned to New York City to teach two workshops in

the concrete jungle. There are no big, open skies in the city, just masses of big buildings, all comprised of unfeeling steel and cold glass.

You wouldn’t think the pic above would be, well, available in the Big Apple. But, waiting for my Nat Geo Expeditions group to show up at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, I turned and saw a sprinkler, spraying into backlit trees. I’ve been to the Redwoods a couple of times and this came damn close. Okay, I exaggerate. Those trees are bigger. But such a sylvan scene, in the heart of the city? Made me smile.

And of course, this was just after teaching for Nikon School, which worked to create a truly special photographic opportunity on Ellis Island for a small, lucky group. The Save Ellis Island foundation, working hard to preserve the essence of that historically significant portal to the new world in NY harbour, gave us access to the old hospital wing of the island, abandoned since the ’50s. Another quietly beautiful, evocative place, within the bustling, tumultuous borders of the city.

Ellis is a truly haunting location, filled with memories. The abandoned rooms stand as testament to the bravery, fortitude and daring of all those who came seeking freedom, and a new world. Quiet beauty, right in the hustle of the city.

For the technically minded, both of the above were made with the Nikon D500 camera, sporting the 16-80mm DX lens. It has become my carry-around, photo walkabout mainstay.