Postcards from Storm King Art Center (and Thoughts on Taking Photos)

My Postcards posts are for places where I think pictures speak louder than words. Instead of detailing every thing I did, I am letting the photos I took show you what I experienced with the hope that you get to experience them for yourself.

I feel like I've been waiting forever for sweater weather and it's finally arrived... in November. Despite the crazy weird weather we've been having this year, I've been determined to throughly enjoy every season (something I could never to when I lived in Texas since there were really only two seasons- winter and summer there). So this past weekend my friend, Megan, and I hopped in a car and drove upstate to the outdoor art museum, Storm King Art Center. Storm King is located in 500 acres of open space where sculptures are spread throughout. It gives people a different perspective on how to appreciate art and blends the artwork so effortlessly with its natural surroundings. Most of you know that I love having photos taken of myself and Storm King was definitely a hot spot for photogenic photo opps. The sculptures combined with the beautiful orange red leaves was the perfect backdrop for a spontaneous photoshoot! I would strongly suggest heading here early in the morning so that there aren't too many people walking about (and interrupting your photos).

I've been asked before over whether or not I feel like I take too many photos of myself when I'm out. There are always mixed opinions on the subject- does taking and posing for photos distract from truly experiencing a place and appreciating it? My personal opinion is that as long as you are being respectful (be aware of certain locations where photography or silly poses is not ok) it is fine to snap away. For me, photos provide me with another outlet for me to immerse myself in my surroundings and grabbing for my phone or camera to capture what I deem beautiful is second nature to me. Similarly, I love including myself in these surroundings and having physical evidence of the memory of myself being there. After all, memories will eventually fade as we grow older or continue to experience life, but photos and film will last forever. When I'm in my 70s and flipping through a photo album or an online photo repository I want to be able to smile at the places I've been and the sights I've seen. When I have grandkids, I want to be able to show them what I experienced when I was younger and living life to the fullest. Another aspect of taking photos is that you are able to share what you are doing with your family and friends who you might not be able to see on a daily basis. This obviously has a limit as to what is the appropriate amount to share and there is a fine line between sharing your experiences and over sharing. But for me, my family and close friends either live in Texas or China so they are not only unable to go places with me, they also are unable to always hear me talk about what I've been doing. So these photos allow them into a piece of my life and keeps them updated on my New York adventures. I don't think it's vain or silly to have pictures taken of you when you visit somewhere and want to appreciate the time you spent there. Instead, I truly believe that photos help capture memories and help you relive them.