That’s right, it’s a week later and I’m still searching for the “silver lining” alluded to in my last column. To that end, I’ve been hitting the road, taking long, slow, solitary sojourns through the hills and valleys of the Upper Delaware River region—camera in hand and pup at my side. 

Over the past few days, I’ve concentrated my efforts on Sullivan County, NY. The weather has been downright gorgeous, so I left White Lake in the beautiful town of Bethel and headed for Kenoza Lake, wending my way through Callicoon, Jeffersonville and Youngsville before winding up by the shores of the Willowemoc Creek in Livingston Manor. All of them were “picture-postcard” towns, many replete with flags flying proudly against a backdrop of impossibly blue skies. 

Each village and hamlet has a unique character, but they all share a common theme in that they are truly emblematic of the “Small Town, USA” vibe that is so distinctly (IMHO) American. I stopped often en route, sidling up to tawny horses flicking their silky tails. They seemed to know what I was up to and showed off for me, preening and nickering as I photographed them under wondrously fluffy-puffy cumulous clouds before moving on. I found myself fascinated by simple bales of hay or insanely colorful art projects beckoning to me from the side of the road. I even saw at least one familiar face and paused long enough to wave and say hi from the inside of my vehicle, mask on and from a distance, as Dharma wagged and wagged. 

All told, I took well over a hundred photos on Saturday alone but have only chosen a select few to share here. Photographer Ansel Adams, who often used black and white images to tell his story of the American West, once said “A good photograph is knowing where to stand” and I heed that practical advice often. Adams’ work and words of wisdom continue to inspire me, but I’m particularly fond of a quote from Dorothea Lange, best known for her depression-era photos, who said that “photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” Maybe that’s where my passion for capturing images stems from. My unspoken desire to just, I don’t know… hold still. 

Got pics? We’d love to see them and maybe feature a few on our social media. Who knows? You might be the next Ansel Adams or Dorothea Lange! Send your favorite photos with your name and what town you’re from to jonathanfox@riverreporter.com. Take a picture! It’ll last longer.