An Abundance of Spring Beauty for Photographers

by Jerry Spette, Membership Host at Color Camera Club of Westchester

Spring is here, and beauty abounds.  What a great time of year to get the photographic juices flowing. The crocus and tulip sprouts are reaching up from the cold barren earth to warm themselves in the long-awaited 60-degree temperature.  Photo-interested people are itching to grab their digital cameras or iPhones and get out of their houses to capture some images in Westchester’s newly warm outdoors. 

Westchester County offers an abundance of colorful subjects to photograph. Besides the obvious array of colors that flowers manifest, fast-flowing streams reflect the deep blue sky, spillways at local dams gush from spring’s thaw, and buds are emerging in the young woodland to produce a palette that photographers can cherish. The light green radiant leaves on these buds, found mostly during the spring season, contrast with the earthen shades of brown. Hey, with a creative eye even skunk cabbage is photogenic. 

One can take a trip to Rye Playland and walk the beach and boardwalk; stroll the many bike paths along Westchester’s rivers; find a flower garden and get up-close-and-personal with the tulips; stroll along the Hudson River in Sleepy Hollow, or on Rockefeller’s Reservation off Route 117.  Up in Yorktown are the extensive trails of Teatown Lake Reservation, and eagles can be sited at George’s Island or Croton Point Park. 

Now is the time to venture out and have some fun; shake off the cabin fever and stimulate those creative juices that are just itching to break out; and capture the abundance of beauty that Westchester County’s open spaces have to offer.

A version of this article first appeared in the May 2022 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.

About Jerry Spette

Gerald R. Spette Pleasantville, NY A lifetime resident of Westchester County, Jerry initially acquired his photographic skills as an aerial photographer while serving in the Republic of Vietnam.  He attained an appreciation for the art of photography during his travels to Block Island, RI, Vermont, Maine and upstate New York. Jerry has studied under noted photographers Allen Rokach, and Lori Rose.   For 24 years, Jerry was a Law Enforcement officer and forensic photographer with the District Attorney’s Office.  Presently Jerry provides Westchester County’s legal community with photographic evidence for trial presentations.   However, his true passion is photographing the aesthetic patters of nature  in  its  splendid  outdoor settings. Jerry is presently the membership host at the Color Camera Club of Westchester  www.COLORCAMERACLUB.com a great club for learning.  Programs are free and guests are welcome.

Jerry is currently working on a unique project of photographing boat’s reflections in the waters of Cape Cod harbors.  These abstract images are colorful eyecatching works that  tease  the viewer’s imagination.