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UM, THIS IS JOSEPH SANTE AND, UM, LOUISE CHALIP FROM LIVABLE COMMUNITIES IN WHITE PLAINS.
UM, ACTUALLY TOLD ME ABOUT JOSEPH AND I FIGURED SINCE WE LIVE RIGHT ON THE RIVER, THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM FOR US.
SO I'M JUST GONNA, UM, READ A LITTLE OF HIS BIOGRAPHY.
JOSEPH HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING THE HUDSON RIVER FOR OVER 50 YEARS, DOCUMENTING ITS BEAUTY AND CHALLENGES ALONG ITS 315 MILES FROM ITS SOURCE IN THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS TO NEW YORK HARBOR.
LAST YEAR, THE HUDSON RIVER MUSEUM PRESENTED LENS ON THE HUDSON, A SOLO EXHIBITION COMMEMORATING JOSEPH'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PHOTO PHOTOGRAPHING THE HUDSON RIVER, WELL RESPECTED BY THE HUDSON RIVER COMMUNITY.
JOSEPH'S TALENT AND CONCERN FOR THE HUDSON ENABLE HIM TO DISTILL THE SPIRIT OF THIS NATIONAL TREASURE.
HE WORKS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS RIVER KEEPER CLEARWATER AND SCENIC HUDSON, WHICH HONORED HIM AS A HUDSON VALLEY HERO.
IN 2025, JOSEPH WAS RECOGNIZED WITH A PROCLAMATION FROM THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS DESIGNATING OCTOBER 16TH, 2025.
AS JOSEPH SWAN SANTE DAY IN WESTCHESTER.
THIS WEEK, ARTS WESTCHESTER NOTIFIED JOSEPH THAT HE WAS CHOSEN TO BE THEIR 2026 ARTS AWARD RECIPIENT IN THE ARTIST CATEGORY.
THEIR HIGHEST HONOR JOSEPH'S MISSION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE RI RIVER'S MAGNIFICENCE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY, TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE CAROL, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIVE PLANT CENTER.
HERE AT WCC JOSEPH FOUNDED THE HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY, WHICH CULTIVATES AN APPRECIATION FOR THE HUDSON FOR WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, EXHIBITIONS IN CLASSROOM, AND PRIVATE LESSONS, PRINTS AND NOTE CARDS.
HIS PHOTOGRAPHS ARE, ARE IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL, THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY AND ART, THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM, AND THE HUDSON RIVER MUSEUM.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE WE GO.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
UH, HASTINGS USED TO BE ONE OF MY HAUNTS WHEN I, UH, WAS LIVING IN FLEETWOOD FOR 33 YEARS, AND I'D DONE A NUMBER OF PICTURES THROUGH THE YEARS, UH, OF COURSE, UP AND DOWN THE RIVER, BUT YOU'LL SEE ONE OF THEM FROM HASTINGS TODAY.
UM, SO, UH, AS ANNE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY BEEN A, A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR FOR ME TO, UH, HAVE FOUND THIS WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND REALIZING THAT I HAD SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.
WHEN I STARTED TAKING THE PICTURES IN 1975, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, THE WAY I TELL THE STORY IS THAT THE HUDSON RIVER CAME TO ME, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS I DIDN'T ONE DAY GO FROM MY FLEETWOOD APARTMENT OVER TO HASTINGS OR TO, UH, TO YONKERS TO PHOTOGRAPH THE PALISADES.
A FRIEND OF MINE, WHO I GREW UP WITH IN THE BRONX, BOUGHT A HOME IN TIVOLI, AND TIVOLI IS KIND OF ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF REINBECK, AND HIS HOUSE IS RIGHT ON THE RIVER.
SO I WOULD HELP HIM GO WORK ON THE HOUSE, TEAR DOWN THE WALLS, AND PAINT, AND PAINT THE ROOF.
AND IN BETWEEN, I WOULD GO TO HIS BACKYARD AND MAKE PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND REALLY, I HAD ONLY BEEN TAKING PICTURES FOR, FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE THAT.
AND I FOUND THAT I WAS GETTING AMAZING PICTURES FROM THE SUBJECT OF THE HUDSON RIVER.
I WAS DEVELOPING PRINTS IN THE TRAY IN MY DARKROOM, AND, UH, I, I WAS JUST ENTHRALLED BY THE POWER OF THE SUBJECT, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT I RECOGNIZED IT, AND I KEPT GOING AND KEEP GOING STILL.
NOW, THIS IS MY 51ST YEAR, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S BIGGER THAN ME, AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GIVING BACK AND HELPING THE RIVER, HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT, AND BEING IN PLACES LIKE THIS TODAY TO
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SHARE MY LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPHY.PEOPLE SAY SOMETIMES, JOE, HOW DO YOU DO IT FOR SO LONG? WELL, I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY, AND I LOVE THE RIVER AS MUCH AS I ALWAYS DID.
SO WHY WOULD I STOP? IT'S REALLY A MISSION IN MY LIFE.
AND HERE IS THE MISSION IN WORDS, AND THAT IS THAT, UH, THE MISSION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE BEAUTY OF THE HUDSON RIVER THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY.
DO YOU WANNA SIT SOMEPLACE ELSE? YOU HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING THERE? IT'S GETTING BETTER.
UM, AND I'VE SEEN THIS MISSION AT WORK WHEN I'VE HAD EXHIBITS, AND PEOPLE WOULD COME UP TO ME AND SAY, JOE, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE HUDSON RIVER WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
AND TO ME, THAT'S MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
THE IDEA OF CONVEYING THAT AND SHARING MY LOVE OF, OF THE RIVER THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY.
AND HERE'S A, UH, WHAT I CALL A SIGNATURE PHOTOGRAPH OF A BOY FISHING.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAID I'D GO BACK TO MY FRIEND'S YARD AND TAKE PICTURES.
AND THIS PICTURE HERE WAS DONE IN MY FRIEND TOM'S BACKYARD IN TIVOLI.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE POWER AND THE MAGNIFICENCE, AND, AND PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, JOE, THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS DONE IN THE 1930S.
YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO HAVE TAKEN THAT PICTURE.
WELL, UH, IT'S TRUE, IT DOES HAVE A TIMELESS QUALITY AND A UNIVERSAL QUALITY, AND I THINK THAT ADDS TO THE POWER OF THE PICTURE.
AND, UH, WHEN I TOOK THE PHOTOGRAPH, I OF COURSE ASKED HIS PERMISSION IF IT WAS OKAY, AND HE REALLY COULD CARE LESS.
HE WAS INTENT ON THE END OF THE POLE THAT A FISH WOULD BITE.
AND HE DID TELL ME THAT HIS FATHER WOULDN'T LET HIM TAKE ANY OF THE FISH HOME BECAUSE OF THE POLLUTION IN THE RIVER.
AND, UM, SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS, IN THIS WAS DONE IN 1976, IN 1995, I HAD TAKEN A STUDIO UP IN TIVOLI, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY FRIEND'S HOUSE, RIGHT CLOSE TO THE WATER.
AND, UH, I WAS GIVEN AN EXHIBIT AT THE TIVOLI TOWN HALL, AND TWO WOMEN WALKED IN.
THIS WAS ON EXHIBIT TWO, WOMEN WALKED INTO THE GALLERY AND SAID, HEY, WHAT'S ALAN COON'S PICTURE DOING ON THE WALL?
AND I SAID, I DON'T REALLY HAVE, I DON'T HAVE A MODEL RELEASE FOR THAT, SO WE CAN'T USE IT FOR AN ADVERTISEMENT.
BUT I REMEMBERED ALAN CO, ALAN C**N.
AND, UH, I CALLED THE TIVOLI TOWN HALL, AND A, A LADY ANSWERED THE PHONE, AND SHE SAID, I THINK HE LIVES IN GERMANTOWN.
SO BACK THEN, WE DIALED 9 1 4 1 1, AND I GOT, HE WAS THE FIRST ONE I GOT ON THE LINE, AND I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS POSSIBLE.
I TOOK HIS PICTURE IN TIVOLI BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, AND HE SAID, YEP, THERE WASN'T MUCH ELSE TO DO THEN,
SO I TOLD HIM WHAT I WANTED, AND I DROVE UP, I BROUGHT MY FRIEND WITH ME, AND, UH, I BROUGHT MY CAMERA.
I GAVE, UH, ALAN A PRINT THAT I HAD MADE IN THE DARKROOM OF THIS PHOTOGRAPH.
I PAID HIM A CHECK OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT I DECIDED NOT TO PHOTOGRAPH HIM AGAIN, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO DISPEL THE MYTH THAT THIS PICTURE IS, AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL FOR ME AND TO SHARE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY SEES SOMETHING IN THIS PICTURE THAT THEY FEEL, THEY KNOW THE BOY OR LOOKS LIKE THEIR UNCLE OR THEIR FATHER.
AND, AND, UH, SO THAT, THAT ADDS THE, TO THE POWER OF THE PICTURE.
AND THIS PHOTOGRAPH, AGAIN, THIS WAS DONE IN THE SAME SPOT JUST ABOUT THREE MINUTES BEFORE THE PICTURE OF THE BOY FISHING.
SO I FELT THAT I WAS IN SOME KIND OF A TIME WARP THAT, THAT IN THE 1930S.
AND, UM, AND I, THIS, YOU SEE THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS ARE LOOMING UP ACROSS THE WAY.
THIS IS THE VIEW THAT HE HAS FROM HIS BACKYARD.
SO YOU CAN SEE HOW INSPIRING IT WAS TO ME, UH, TO MAKE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND I, I TITLED THIS BACK AT TOMS AND ANOTHER VIEW, THIS IS FROM TIVOLI LANDING, RIGHT
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IN THE SAME SPOT.AND THIS IS, IN MY OPINION, ONE OF THE THREE MOST BEAUTIFUL VISTAS ON THE ENTIRE RIVER.
THE OTHER ONE WITH THE MISSION STATEMENT WAS DONE IN, IN, UH, PEEKSKILL AT RIVERFRONT GREEN.
AND THIS NEXT ONE HERE IS FROM THE TOP OF MOUNT MARCY.
AND MOUNT MARCY IS THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN OUR STATE IN THE ADIRONDACK PARK.
AND MOST APPROPRIATELY, AND I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO TELL FOLKS THAT THE HUDSON RIVER STARTS ON THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN NEW YORK STATE.
THIS IS LAKE TIER OF THE CLOUDS THAT IS ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET FROM THE TOP OF MOUNT MARCY.
AND IT'S FED IN BY RAIN AT THE TIME.
I PHOTOGRAPHED IT HERE, IT WAS IN 1983.
AND, UH, THEN I'D GONE BACK AGAIN IN 2000.
I WAS THERE IN 1981, BUT WHEN I WENT BACK IN 2000, MUCH OF IT WAS DRIED UP, AND A LOT OF THOSE EVERGREENS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE WERE DEAD.
AND I SHOWED IT TO A COUPLE OF SCIENTISTS FRIENDS, AND THEY COULDN'T BE SURE IF IT WAS ACID RAIN OR A HEMLOCK BLIGHT.
I'D LOVE TO GO BACK AGAIN AND SEE HOW IT LOOKS 25 YEARS LATER.
UH, THIS IS ANOTHER VIEW UP IN THE ADIRONDACKS COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, AND IT'S, UH, LAKE COLDEN AND AVALANCHE PASSED THAT DIP THERE IN THE MOUNTAINS IS WHERE THE AVALANCHE HAD TAKEN PLACE SHORTLY BEFORE WE WENT UP THERE.
AND ALBANY IS A, IT'S AN ESTUARY.
IT GOES 150 MILES AND ONLY RISES ABOUT A FOOT.
SO THE TIDAL, THE TIDES COME IN AND THEY GO OUT EACH DAY.
BUT ABOVE THE DAM, THE HUDSON RIVER IS A WHITEWATER RIVER.
THERE ARE WATERFALLS, RAPIDS, AND FOLKS GO KAYAKING AND WHITEWATER RAFTING AND CANOEING HERE.
IN FACT, UH, IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE SOME, UH, WHITE WATER RAF RAFTERS THERE THAT DAY, BECAUSE I DROPPED MY LIGHT METER IN THE WATER.
YEAH, IT NEVER WORKED AGAIN, BUT HE RETRIEVED IT FOR ME.
AND THE REASON WHY IT'S CALLED THE BLUE LEDGES IS BECAUSE UP, WAY UP ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS PICTURE IS A ROCK FORMATION.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S FROM MILLIONS IN OF YEARS OF EROSION THAT HAVE GIVEN THAT BLUE COLOR TO THE ROCK FACE.
AND THAT'S WHY THE BLUE LEDGES NOW, UH, MY WORK HAS BEEN COMPARED TO, UH, THE HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL OF PAINTERS, WHICH TO ME IS A, UM, A GREAT COMPLIMENT AND A GREAT HONOR, EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE, SOME OF THE EARLY ENVIRONMENTALISTS, THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RAILROAD CUTTING THROUGH AND THE FOREST COMING DOWN.
SO, UM, AND I'VE BEEN REALLY QUITE INFLUENCED BY THEM BECAUSE I'VE STUDIED THEIR PAINTINGS THROUGH THE YEARS.
THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS DONE THE FIRST TIME I WAS UP.
THIS IS JUST COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN FROM LAKE TIER, AND IT'S CALLED THE FLUME OPALESCENT RIVER.
AND WHEN I TOOK THIS PICTURE, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE, UH, PAINTING DONE BY ALEXANDER WYANT IN THE 1870S.
I DID THIS IN 1981, ABOUT 110 YEARS BEFORE HIS PICTURE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE STRONG RESEMBLANCE OF THE PAINTING TO MY PHOTOGRAPH THERE.
WE WERE PROBABLY STANDING ON THE SAME ROCK.
AND, UH, I HAD A REVIEW WHAT THE NEW YORK TIMES WHEN I HAD A SHOW AN A IN 1993.
AND VIVIAN RAYNER, AN ART CRITIC MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THAT I BROUGHT THE HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL PAINTER'S BOOK UP WITH ME TO THE ADIRONDACKS TO RECREATE THE PICTURE.
THAT'S REALLY HOW PRECISE IT IS.
AND, UH, I HAD, UH, SEEN THIS PAINTING THE FIRST TIME IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY, AND I CALLED MY WIFE OVER.
I SAID, CAROL, COME OVER HERE.
IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE MY PHOTOGRAPH.
SO WHAT THAT SAID TO ME WAS, I WAS LITERALLY WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE HUDSON RIVER PAINTERS, AND THIS IS A VIEW FROM ANA, WHICH IS, UH, WAS THE HOME
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OF, UH, FREDERICK CHURCH, ONE OF THE FOREMOST HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL PAINTERS.HE STUDIED WITH THOMAS COLE, WHO WAS THE FATHER OF THE HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL.
THOMAS COLE HAD HIS HOME IN CATSKILL, AND RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER WHERE THE RIP VAN WINKLE BRIDGE IS TODAY IS, UM, FREDERICK CHURCH'S HOME IN HUDSON, NEW YORK.
WE WOULD, MY WIFE AND I, WERE DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY FROM ALANA, AND I QUICKLY PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE, AND SHE SAID, WHAT, WHAT'S THE MATTER? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I JUMPED OUT AND I SAW THIS PICTURE.
AND, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER WHEN SHE SAW THE PRINT, SHE SAID, I DIDN'T SEE THAT.
I, IT IS A LITTLE HARD TO APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BRIGHT, BUT, UM, THIS IS EXTREMELY REMINISCENT OF THE HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL OF PAINTERS.
IN FACT, LAURA LES, WHO'S THE CURATOR AT THE HUDSON RIVER RIVER MUSEUM, REMARKED ABOUT THIS PICTURE THAT IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A PAINTING.
AND SHE ALSO COMPLIMENTED ME WITH HER SAYING THAT, THAT I CARRY ON IN THE TRADITION OF THE HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL OF PAINTERS, A WOMAN, UM, UH, IN MARILYN KUSHNER AT NEW YORK HISTORICAL, SAID, JOE, YOU DO IT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS THE PAINTERS.
YOU JUST DO IT IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
UH, IN PIERMONT, IT'S THE PIERMONT MARSH.
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SAY, GEE, HOW COME YOU DON'T SHOOT MORE COLOR? BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MY WORK AND MY, THE WAY I CALL IT IS MY VOICE IS REALLY IN BLACK AND WHITE, AND I SHOOT COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS WHEN THE SUBJECT IS SCREAMING COLOR, WHERE IT MUST BE COLOR, SUCH AS THIS.
AND THIS IS IN, UH, NEAR THE HIGHLAND FALLS.
AND JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE OPENING, THERE IS WEST POINT.
SO IT'S DONE ON THE WEST SHORE OF THE HUDSON RIVER.
I CALL THIS ONE HIGHLANDS NOOK, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PLACE.
AND, UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT THEY, UH, BROUGHT INTO THE COLLECTION AT NEW YORK HISTORICAL BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP TO THOMAS COLE'S PAINTING AT CATSKILL FALLS.
HE PAINTED A NATIVE AMERICAN WAY UP ON TOP THERE.
AND THE VIEW FROM, UH, ANTHONY'S NOSE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST POINTS IN WESTCHESTER, ANTHONY'S NOSE, IS WHERE THE BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE CONNECTS TO.
AND I'M LOOKING SOUTH, AND HERE'S A VIEW FROM PEEKSKILL, UH, FROM RIVERFRONT GREEN IN PEEKSKILL OF PEEKSKILL BAY AND THE GATEWAY TO THE HIGHLANDS.
AND IF YOU GO AROUND THE BEND THROUGH THE CENTER THERE, YOU'LL GO UP TO WEST POINT AND TO THE BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE, WASHINGTON IRVIN LIKENED PEEKSKILL BAY TO LAKE COMO IN ITALY.
HE FOUND IT TO HAVE A RESEMBLANCE.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY AS YOU CAN AT THIS ONE, AND THE NEXT ONE I LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU IS, UM, IS ONE OF MY TRADE SECRETS.
AND PEOPLE SAY TO ME, JOE, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL YOUR TRADE SECRETS.
AND I, I DO, AND I LIKE TO, BECAUSE I LOVE TO TEACH PHOTOGRAPHY, AND I LIKE TO GIVE PEOPLE TIPS OF HOW, WHAT THEY CAN DO.
SO ONE DAY I TOOK A PRINT, A 24 INCH BLACK AND WHITE PRINT OF THIS PICTURE.
I BROUGHT IT DOWN TO MY DINING ROOM, AND I TURNED THE LAMP ON, ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE, AND THE LAMP REFLECTED INTO THE PRINT, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A SUN.
AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I CAN SHOW IT IS BECAUSE IT LOOKS REAL.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF US, ALL WE HUMAN BEINGS, EVEN IF WE'RE NOT TRAINED IN ART OR PERCEPTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE CAN ALWAYS TELL IF SOMETHING IS A LITTLE BIT OFF.
BUT THIS ONE IS CORRECT TO THE POINT EVEN THAT TRACY BROWN, THE CURRENT RIVER KEEPER, WANTED TO USE THIS PICTURE ON ONE OF THEIR BROCHURES.
AND I SAID, TRACY, IT'S NOT REAL.
THE SUN ISN'T, DOESN'T BELONG THERE.
AND THIS ONE IS CALLED EVENING ON THE RIVER.
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IT'S AT, UH, RIVERFRONT GREEN UP ON THE NORTH END.AND IT'S HARD TO APPRECIATE THE PURPLE COLOR HERE, BUT, UH, IT REMINDS ME OF A STORY OF MY FRIEND'S DAUGHTER, DANA, WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OLD, SHE DID A DRAWING OF THOSE MOUNTAINS WE SAW IN TIVOLI AND BROUGHT THEM INTO SCHOOL.
AND HER TEACHER SAID, THE MOUNTAINS AREN'T PURPLE.
SHE SAID, THEY ARE IN MY BACKYARD.
AND ANOTHER VIEW OF A SUNSET AND TIVOLI, IT'S REALLY QUITE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
WHEN MY FRIEND TOM AND JOY BOUGHT THE HOUSE, THEY HAD GONE INTO A LOCAL DELICATESSEN, AND THERE WAS A, A ITALIAN MAN, THE OWNER OF THE DELI.
AND AS THEY WALKED OUT, HE SAID TO THEM, WELCOME TO PARADISE.
NOW, WHEN I, UM, I WAS ACCEPTED FOR THE SHOW AT THE HUDSON RIVER MUSEUM LAST YEAR, THEY, UM, THE CURATOR, LAURA LES SAID TO ME, JOE, AND THIS IS A QUOTE, SHE SAID, WE DON'T WANNA SHOW YOU BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES BECAUSE WE FEEL THEY'VE BEEN EXHIBITED WIDELY.
WE WANNA DO ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND CONSERVATION.
AND I SAID TO MYSELF, OH, BOY.
AND THE REASON WHY I SAID THAT IS BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF THAT WORK THAT I DID WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, RIVERKEEPER AND CLEARWATER AND SCENIC HUDSON, BUT I REALLY NEVER EXHIBITED THEM.
SO WHAT IT MEANT WAS I HAD TO DIG DEEP INTO MY ARCHIVE OF 50 YEARS AND START PULLING OUT PICTURES AND SHOW THEM TO LAURA AND GO BACK AND FORTH.
AND, AND FINALLY WE PUT IT TOGETHER.
BUT I REALIZED VERY QUICKLY, AND I'M GLAD SHE UNDERSTOOD IT, I SAID, LAURA, WE HAVE TO SHOW THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES.
WE HAVE TO SHOW THE BEAUTY ON THE RIVER TO CONTRAST WITH THE CHALLENGES ON THE RIVER.
AND SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT AND AGREED, AND THAT'S HOW THE SHOW CAME THROUGH THAT WAY.
NOW, IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL, THIS IS WHERE THE MODERN DAY ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT STARTED.
THIS IS STORM KING MOUNTAIN IN ORANGE COUNTY, AND THERE WAS A 17 YEAR WAR BATTLED A WAY, A BATTLE WAGED WITH THE CON EDISON COMPANY, BECAUSE CON EDISON WANTED TO CUT AWAY THE FACE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND, AND BUILD A CONCRETE SPILLWAY LIKE A WATERFALL.
AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS DRAW WATER UP FROM THE RIVER AND POUR IT DOWN THE CONCRETE SPILLWAY TO THE TURBINE ENGINES AND, AND CREATE HYDROELECTRIC POWER.
WELL, THERE WERE NO RIVERKEEPER SCENIC HUDSON AND CLEARWATER BACK THEN.
THERE WERE NO ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS IN 1963, BUT THERE WERE A FEW POWERFUL STAUNCH PEOPLE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND, UH, BOB BOYLE IS ONE WHO STARTED THE HUDSON RIVER FISHMAN'S ASSOCIATION, WHICH BECAME RIVER KEEPER AND FRANNIE REESE, WHO GOT INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT, AND THAT, AND THAT SHE BEGAN SCENIC HUDSON.
IT WAS THROWN IN AND OUTTA COURT.
AND THEN, UH, FINALLY IN 1980, IT WAS STOPPED.
CON EDISON COULD NOT GO THROUGH WITH THEIR PLAN.
AND, UH, BESIDES ALL THE MILLIONS OF FISH THAT WOULD'VE BEEN DRAWN UP AND DIED, AND, UH, THE POLLUTION IN THE RIVER, THE IMPORTANT THING IN MY OPINION, WAS THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT SCENIC BEAUTY WAS RECOGNIZED AS SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT COULD BE PROTECTED BY LAW.
AND A LOT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR RIVER, OUR HUDSON RIVER, GO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I IMPLORE ALL OF US TO, TO BE HYPER AWARE OF WHAT WE DO FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.
AND THE WAY I SAY IT IS THAT WE HAVE TO CARE FOR IT AS IF IT WERE OUR, OUR OWN CHILD, BECAUSE IT'S NOT FOREVER.
HERE'S ANOTHER VIEW, UH, THAT WAS DONE OF STORM KING MOUNTAIN, AND THIS IS, UH, OF A MOON SETTING OVER THE MOUNTAIN.
IT'S DONE AT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
AND, UH, IN THE YEAR 2000, MY WIFE, CAROL CAPAB BIANCO AND I DECIDED, WELL, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT YEAR, A BENCHMARK YEAR, THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA LOOK BACK ON AND SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE RIVER.
SO ANY CHANCE WE GOT, WE'D GO OUT AND MAKE PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE TIMES.
AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO BE OUT AT FOUR IN THE MORNING, AND OF COURSE, A POLICE OFFICER CAME OVER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? AND ONCE I EXPLAINED
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IT TO HIM, HE WAS, HE WAS PERFECTLY FINE.UH, IN FACT, THIS PHOTOGRAPH HERE IS ONE OF THE, I I BROUGHT ABOUT A DOZEN SETS OF HUDSON RIVER NOTE CARDS.
THERE'S FOUR AND A SET, AND THEY'RE $10 FOR THE SET.
BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE CARDS IN THE SET.
AND HERE IS THE GENERAL ELECTRIC PLANT IN HUDSON FALLS.
IT'S IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, ABOUT, UM, ABOUT AN HOUR NORTH OF ALBANY.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE PCBS, THE POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS, WHICH IS A, UH, ELECTRICAL INSULATOR, A GOOPY SUBSTANCE THAT WAS DUMPED INTO THE RIVER FOR 30 YEARS.
NOW, GRANTED, THERE WERE NO LAWS AGAINST IT, BUT THE DAMAGE IS DONE, AND IT'S, IT'S STILL DONE.
AND, UH, THE COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN INDUSTRY AND PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO FISH, AND THE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A MEAL, THEIR DINNER, THEY'RE STILL FISHING IN THE RIVER.
AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE FISH ARE SYNERGETIC, AND THEY HAVE THESE PCBS IN THEIR, IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEY'RE FAT.
AND HERE, UH, I WAS WITH JOHN LIPSCOMB, THE BOAT CAPTAIN FOR RIVERKEEPER, AND HE WAS MONITORING THE DREDGING OF THE PCBS IN THE CHAMPLAIN CANAL ABOVE WATERFORD, NEW YORK.
SO THE STATE SAYS, GO AHEAD, START, YOU KNOW, DREDGING AGAIN.
AND THEN THEY START, THERE'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO.
AND LOTS OF PEOPLE MAY SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DREDGE IT UP, YOU'RE GOING TO, IT'S PCBS ARE GONNA GO AIRBORNE, AND YOU'RE GONNA CAUSE MORE TROUBLE.
BUT I SAY THAT, WHAT IS 10 YEARS IF IT DREDGES IT UP IN A, A 30 MILLION YEAR OLD RIVER? SO WE REALLY HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK BEYOND OUR NOSES.
AND HERE IS A SITE YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE.
THIS IS WASHINGTON AVENUE HERE IN HASTINGS, AND THIS IS ANOTHER SUPERFUND SITE, A STATE SUPERFUND SITE.
AND DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, UH, THERE WAS THE ANACONDA WIRE COMPANY, WHICH YOU PROBABLY KNOW BETTER THAN ME NOW, IS THE BUILDINGS ARE GONE, BUT THE LAND IS CAPPED.
AND, UH, ON TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT WAS FRANK SCOTIA'S BOOKSHOP, AND WE USED TO GO AND HANG OUT IN THE BOOKSHOP.
HE HAD, HE WAS A GREAT GUY, HAD WONDERFUL OLD BOOKS THERE.
AND OF COURSE, THE PALISADES ACROSS THE WAY.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER, UH, IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT IN YONKERS.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE, UH, SAWMILL RIVER POURS INTO THE HUDSON AT THE MOUTH OF THE SAW MILL.
AND, UH, ANDY HUDAK, THE FELLOW ON THE RIGHT, WAS OUR GUIDE.
ANDY WAS A REAL RIVER RAT IN THE TRUE SENSE OF THE WORD.
AND, UH, JUSTIN BLOOM FROM RIVERKEEPER AND RAY CURRAN FROM SCENIC HUDSON.
AND THEY HAD GONE DOWN TO DER AND SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE, BECAUSE UP ABOVE IS LOCKE AND PLAZA WAS THE PARKING LOT.
AND, UH, IN FACT, MY WIFE WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SAWMILL RIVER COALITION, AND SHE GOT IT MOVING AGAIN AT THE 11TH HOUR AND BROUGHT SCENIC HUDSON IN GEORGE PATAKI.
OUR GOVERNOR THEN GOT INVOLVED, AND, UH, FINALLY AFTER MANY YEARS, THE RIVER WAS DAYLIGHTED.
AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
AND THIS IS WHAT I TALK ABOUT HERE, IS WHAT I CALL RIVER LIFE.
AND AS YOU WELL KNOW, AND SOME OF YOU, YOU KNOW, MOST OF YOU PROBABLY ARE HYPER AWARE OF HOW IMPORTANT THE RIVER IS TO YOU PERSONALLY.
AND IT'S REALLY THE BEING CLOSE TO THE WATER THAT, THAT WE FEEL THAT IN OUR BODIES.
AND, UM, SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT OR AREN'T AWARE OF THE RIVER AND THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE RIVER COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE TRAIN AND LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE AND, UH, NOT REALIZE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO BEING AFFECTED BY THE WATER, PHYSICALLY.
AND THERE WAS A, UH, UM, UM, A, UH, WHILE, UM, BIOLOGIST WHO WROTE A BOOK CALLED BLUE MIND, AND THAT'S THE SAME CONCEPT AS WHAT I CALL RIVER LIFE.
AND IT'S HOW WATER AFFECTS US.
EVEN IF WE HOP IN THE SHOWER, WE COULD, YOU KNOW, CHANGE OUR CONSCIOUSNESS.
AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE CHAMPIONS ON THE RIVER, UH, AND SOME OTHER FOLKS.
NOW HERE'S BOB BOYLE, WHO I MENTIONED.
BOB BOYLE WAS A, UH, A WRITER, A SPORTS WRITER FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE, AND A, A FISHERMAN AND A, A REAL BULLDOG OF A GUY.
YOU COULD NOT SAY NO TO BOB BOYLE.
[00:30:01]
UH, AS I MENTIONED, HE WAS ONE WHO FOUGHT AGAINST CON EDISON, AND HE STARTED THE HUDSON RIVER FISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATION, WHICH BECAME RIVER KEEPER.NOW, HERE'S A PICTURE THAT, UM, I LIKE TO SHOW BECAUSE IT, YOU KNOW, THESE FOLKS WHO, UH, WERE WITH RIVERKEEPER, BOB BOYLE ON THE LEFT, JOHN CRONIN, WHO WAS A RIVER KEEPER FOR 17 YEARS UNTIL THE YEAR 2000.
HE WAS THE CHIEF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BACK THEN, I MEAN, BOBBY KENNEDY DID A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR THE RIVER.
UM, UH, JOHN CRONIN WAS INVOLVED WITH THE EXXON, UH, BOAT COMING UP AND, UH, DUMPING OUT WATER FROM SOUTH AMERICA AND PULLING UP FRESH WATER FROM THE HUDSON.
AND FORTUNATELY, HE WAS OUT WITH A, UH, A NEWS TEAM FROM ONE OF THE MAJOR TV STATIONS, AND HE WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE IT ALL ON, UH, ON, UH, FILM.
SO, UM, HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING BIG CHANGES AS WELL ON THE HUDSON RIVER.
BUT THE REASON WHY I LIKE TO SHOW IT, AND IT REFLECTS MY COMMITMENT TO THE RIVER, THEY KNEW ME, THEY KNEW ME WELL, I DID A LOT OF WORK WITH THEM, BUT BEFORE, THIS IS AT BASKETBALL FOR THEIR SHARED FEST IN 2000.
IT'S A BIG FUNDRAISER, AND THEY HAD JUST COME DOWN FROM A, UH, BOARD MEETING BEFORE THE, UH, FESTIVAL, AND THEY WERE BREAKING UP.
THEY COULDN'T STAND EACH OTHER, THEY DIDN'T WANNA BE NEAR EACH OTHER.
AND IT TOOK ME 45 MINUTES, LITERALLY, TO GET THEM INTO THE SAME FRAME.
HE IS, UH, HE WAS RIVER KEEPER RIGHT AFTER, UH, JOHN CRONIN IN THE YEAR 2000.
UH, AND BY THE WAY, HE IS THE SON OF, UH, PETER MATHESON, THE, UH, NOVELIST.
AND FRAN DUNWELL WAS THE HEAD OF THE HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY FOR THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.
AND THAT'S THE, UH, SOUS LIGHTHOUSE IN THE MIDDLE THERE.
AND THIS IS ON ALEX'S MAIDEN VOYAGE DOWN THE RIVER TO MEET KEY RIVER PEOPLE.
THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS ONE THAT I DID, ESPECIALLY FOR THE MUSEUM SHOW.
I WANTED TO DO A PORTRAIT OF THE TWO BOAT CAPTAINS.
AND JOHN LIPSCOMB ON THE LEFT HAD BEEN WORKING FOR RIVERKEEPER FOR 24 YEARS, AND LOUIS MELENDEZ IS THE NEW BOAT CAPTAIN NOW.
AND YOU EVEN NOTICE, I MEAN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING I PLANNED, BUT IF, UH, IF I COULD HAVE, I WOULD'VE PLANNED IT.
JOHN LIPSON'S GOT AN OLD BEAT UP RIVERKEEPER HAT ON, AND LEWIS HAS GOT A NICE FRESH ONE.
THIS MAN, HIS NAME IS FRANK KENDRICK, AND HE WAS A, UH, A LIFEGUARD, A LIFE, UH, SAVER, REALLY, WHO HAD A BOAT, AND HE HAD A, LIKE, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE SHACK ON THE, ON THE RIVER THERE.
AND, UM, HE SAVED 40 LIVES OFF OF YONKERS.
SOME PEOPLE FELL IN, AND SOME PEOPLE JUMPED IN BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO END IT.
AND ON THE 40TH SAVE, FRANK LOST HIS LIFE.
AND THE SADDEST PART ABOUT IT IS THAT THE WOMAN HE SAVED TOOK HER LIFE A MONTH LATER, HIS WIFE AT THE TIME, UH, I GUESS SOMEHOW TO RECONCILE IT, SHE SAID THAT WOMAN WAS HIS GUARDIAN ANGEL.
NOW, PETE SEEGER IN CLEARWATER, UH, PETE, UH, YOU PROBABLY KNOW, UH, HE IS A, UH, WORLD RENOWNED FOLK SINGER, INFLUENCED A LOT OF GREAT ROCK SINGERS, THE BEATLES, AND ROLLING STONES, AND BOB DYLAN.
AND, UM, IN 1969, HE DECIDED TO, UH, BUILD A SLOOP.
IT'S A REPLICA SHIP, 106 FOOT SAILING SLOOP.
THAT WAS LIKE THE SLOOPS THAT PLI THE RIVER.
IN THE 18 HUNDREDS, THE FARMERS WOULD COME DOWN TO THE SHORE, LOAD UP THEIR GOODS ONTO THE SLOOP, AND THE SLOOP WOULD TAKE IT OFF TO MARKET.
AND, UH, THAT BOAT IS STILL BEING USED VERY, VERY WELL TODAY, ALTHOUGH THEY STRUGGLE SOMETIMES WITH THEIR FINANCES, CLEAR WATER.
UM, BUT, UH, THEY BRING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ONTO THE BOAT, AND, AND IT'S LIKE A CLASSROOM OF THE WAVES, THEY CALL IT.
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THE KIDS TO PULL UP EELS AND FISH AND HANDLE THEM, AND MEASURE THEM, AND THEN THROW THEM BACK INTO THE RIVER.AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHEN YOU TOUCH A CHILD LIKE THAT, IT STAYS WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS DONE AT THE, UM, IN BEACON AT THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL IN JUNE OF 2000.
AND EVERYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WAS CHASING PETE AROUND, TRYING TO EITHER GET AN INTERVIEW OR GET A PHOTOGRAPH, A VIDEO.
SO I DECIDED TO LEAVE HIM ALONE.
AND WHEN HE STARTED TO PLAY AGAIN, I TOOK THIS PICTURE.
AND HERE'S THE BOW OF THE CLEARWATER.
THIS IS THE BOW OF THAT SLOOP I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
AND WE ARE THE ESCORT SHIP FOR THE LIBERTAD OF ARGENTINA, THE ARGENTINA'S FLAGSHIP.
AND, UH, WE WERE INVITED ON JULY 4TH OF THE YEAR, 2000 FOR OPERATION SALE TO, UH, BE ON THE ESCORT BOAT, THE CLEARWATER FOR THE LIBERTAD.
AND IT WAS AN AMAZING DAY, AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
HUNDREDS OF SHIPS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WERE COMING UP THE RIVER, AND WE WERE THERE AT DAWN, AND SOME OF THESE SHIPS WERE COMING OFF THE, THE OCEAN.
I MEAN, I COULD HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED BACK FOUR OR 500 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S THE KIND OF MAGIC AND MAJESTY THAT'S OUT THERE.
IT'S JUST, IT'S RIGHT HERE FOR ALL OF US.
AND HERE WE ARE AT THE CLEARWATER FESTIVAL AND, UH, IN CROTON POINT PARK.
THEY HAD HAD IT, MOVED IT TO VALHALLA FOR A FEW YEARS, AND THEN CROTON IS THE MOST GENERAL SPOT THAT IT'S IN.
AND IN THE CENTER IS ARLO GUTHRIE WITH THE STRAW HAT.
AND JUST TO HIS LEFT, OUR RIGHT IS PETE SEEGER.
NOW, THIS IS A COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE GET TO SEE, EVEN PEOPLE THAT ARE BIRDERS, ORNITHOLOGISTS AND SUCH.
IT'S AN INSIDE VIEW OF, UH, BANDING, UH, BALD EAGLES, FIRST TRAPPING THEM, BANDING THEM, MONITORING THEM AFTERWARDS, AFTER THEY'RE RELEASED.
NOW, PETE AND I, UH, WAS THE HEAD OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES UNIT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.
AND PETE AND I IS THE MAN THAT BROUGHT THE BALD EAGLE BACK TO NEW YORK STATE.
HE'S GETTING READY TO CLIMB A 70 FOOT COTTONWOOD TREE TO AN EAGLE NEST.
HE GOES UP TO THE, UP TO THE NEST.
AND IN THE NEST THAT YEAR, THERE WERE THREE EIGHT WEEK OLD EAGLETS, JUST ABOUT YOU, MAYBE 16 OR 18 INCHES TALL.
AND HE WOULD BAND EACH ONE, ONE LEG WITH A FISH AND WILDLIFE FOR NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE, THE OTHER LEG WITH A NEW YORK STATE BAND.
AND, UM, AND THEN HE WOULD LOWER THEM DOWN IN A SACK.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, YOU KNOW, THE PARENT WOULD BE SAILING AROUND AND, AND CHECKING TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
BUT EAGLES DON'T ATTACK LIKE A PEREGRINE FALCON WOULD ATTACK.
I KNEW A FELLOW, UH, PETE, UH, CHRIS NASKI, WHO WAS IN HIS, WHAT, THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
AND HE WOULD MONITOR ALL OF THE FALCON NESTS ON THE BRIDGES AND THE STEEPLES IN THE CHURCHES.
AND THOSE FALCONS CAN COME DOWN UP TO 200 MILES AN HOUR, THEY'LL DIVE, AND HE HAD TO WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND, UH, ON HIS SHOULDERS BECAUSE THEY WOULD COME DOWN AND ATTACK 'EM.
BUT THAT'S A GREAT TRIBUTE TO THESE PEOPLE THEN, THAT WE OFTEN DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, AND THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING IT.
SO HERE'S PETE LOWERING DOWN THE, UH, FIRST EAGLET.
AND HE'LL BRING THE SACK OVER TO CRAIG THOMPSON, AND HERE THEY ARE TAKING THE FIRST EAGLET OUT OF THE SACK TO DO SOME TESTING.
AND THEY'LL CHECK FOR, THEY'LL TAKE SOME BLOOD SAMPLES AND THEY'LL TAKE SOME FEATHERS TO TEST FOR HEAVY METAL.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER DAY WE WERE OUT ON THE RIVER AT DAWN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT, BUT THERE'S A LOG FLOATING IN THE WATER.
THE LOG IS ABOUT 18 INCHES LONG.
AND WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS, UH, CRAIG THOMPSON JUST CAUGHT A FISH.
HE STUFFS THE FISH WITH STYROFOAM, AND THEN HE TIES THE FISH TO THE LOG WITH A
[00:40:01]
LONG, MAYBE 15 FOOT FISHING LINE, A STRING.AND THEN HE FLOATS THEM BOTH OUT INTO THE RIVER.
AND THEN WE TAKE OFF IN THE BOAT, WE GO ABOUT 300 YARDS AWAY, AND WE WAIT.
AND THIS PICTURE, THIS NEXT PICTURE, IS AN EXAMPLE OF HIM SEWING THE, UH, LINE.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT DAY, OF COURSE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, UM, THE, HOPEFULLY THE EAGLE WILL COME DOWN, SEE THE FISH FLOATING, AND, AND GRAB THE FISH AND TRY TO FLY OFF.
AND THE LOOPS THAT HAVE BEEN SEWN INTO THE FISH GETS STUCK IN THE TALONS OF THE EAGLE.
AND WHEN THE EAGLE TRIES TO FLY OFF THE WEIGHT OF THE LOG PULLS HIM INTO THE WATER OR HER IN THIS CASE.
SO CRAIG HAS TO GET TO THIS BIRD REALLY FAST BECAUSE THE EAGLES DO NOT BELONG IN THE WATER.
AND THIS IS A 3-YEAR-OLD, IMMATURE BALD EAGLE.
YOU COULD IMAGINE THE EXCITEMENT THAT WAS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT, PULLING THAT ANIMAL UP OUTTA THE WATER MAJESTIC.
AND THEN HE GETS IT TO SETTLE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, AND HE CRADLES IT, AND HE GENTLY EVEN LOOKS AND, AND TAKES HIS GLOVE OFF HIS RIGHT HAND.
AND AFTER THIS, THEY'LL GO TO A NEARBY BEACH, THEY PUT A LEATHER HOOD ON THE BIRD, AND THEY DO THAT ALSO WITH THE EAGLETS, BECAUSE ONCE THE BIRD CAN'T SEE, THEY CALM DOWN.
ACTUALLY, THIS PICTURE HERE, I CALL MY MADONNA AND CHILD
AND HERE WE ARE AT A NEARBY BEACH.
AND THIS IS, UH, THIS BIRD WAS DESIGNATED AS A FEMALE, 3-YEAR-OLD IMMATURE BALD EAGLE NAMED K 68.
SO THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, STRAP HIM UP SO THAT HE DOESN'T BREAK HIS FEATHERS AND TRYING TO RUN AND TIE HIS TALONS.
AND HERE'S, UH, CRAIG TAKING SOME BLOOD SAMPLES.
AFTER HE'S DONE, THEY'LL PUT A, UH, A BACKPACK, IT'S A RADIO TRANSMITTER, AND THAT THEY'LL TIE IT UP.
AND IT, THEY SAY THAT THESE ARE, THEY'RE TIED BY, UH, TEFLON STRINGS THAT WILL BREAK OFF IN THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
BUT THE IDEA OF THE, UH, THE, THE BACKPACK, THE MONITOR, THE RADIO TRANSMITTER IS SO THAT THEY CAN TRACK THE HABIT AND WHERE THESE BIRDS FLY, WHERE THEY MIGRATE TO, WHERE THEY NEST, WHERE THEY FEED.
AND OF COURSE, UM, MY WIFE AND I WERE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE WE FELT THESE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE REALLY BEING IMPOSED ON, YOU KNOW.
BUT WE FOUND OUT VERY QUICKLY THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS SCIENTIFIC STUDY, NEW YORK STATE BOUGHT HUGE TRACKS OF LAND TO PROTECT THE EAGLE'S HABITAT.
IN 1975, THERE WAS ZERO NESTING PAIR OF BALD EAGLES IN NEW YORK STATE.
NOW, 50 YEARS LATER, THERE ARE FOUR, OVER 400 NESTING PAIRS, AND A LOT OF IT IS THANKS TO THIS WORK.
WHAT THEY DO, UH, THIS IS BRIAN LETTING THE BIRD GO.
WHAT THEY DO BEFORE, UH, THEY LET IT GO, HE'LL TAKE THE EAGLE AND HE'LL HOLD IT BY THE LEGS, AND HE'LL SHAKE OFF ALL THE EXCESS WATER, SO THE BIRD IS BETTER ABLE TO FLY.
AND NOW THESE NEXT FEW PICTURES ARE OF, UH, COMMERCIAL SHAD FISHERMAN, EVERETT, KNACK OF CLOAK, WHICH IS IN COLUMBIA COUNTY.
AND HENRY GORDINE CLOSE BY IN OING.
THEY'RE, THEY, THEY'RE BOTH GONE TODAY.
EVERETT KNACK IS ON THE RIGHT.
AND HE WAS NOT ONLY A, A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN, UH, SHAD FISHERMAN.
AND HERE HE IS PULLING IN THE SHAD WITH HIS FRIENDS.
AND, UM, BUT HE WAS ALSO CALLED IN AS AN EXPERT WITNESS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPENED ALONG THE RIVER.
HE'D GO TO TESTIFY IN ALBANY AND IN NEW YORK CITY, SMOKEY SCHOOLS IS IN THE CENTER, AND AUDREY WYMAN IS ON THE LEFT.
AND, AND THEY USED TO PULL IN UP TO 500 FISH IN NET.
AT THIS POINT, IN 1994, THEY WERE PULLING IN FIVE OR 10 FISH.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S ANY SHED COMING IN AT ALL, A LOT OF IT GETS CAUGHT IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
SO THE FISHERMEN DOWN THERE WILL GRAB IT BEFORE THEY COME UP TO THE HUDSON.
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GAVE ME SOME, UH, OF THE SHAD, YOU CAN EAT THE SHAD, BECAUSE THEY COME UP TO SPAWN ONLY.THEY DON'T LIVE IN THE RIVER LIKE THE STRIPED BASS.
AND HE GAVE ME, UH, THE TWO OF THE SACKS BIG, AND HE SAID, JOE, YOU PUT A LOT OF BUTTER IN THE PAN AND YOU TURN 'EM OVER ONCE, AND THAT'S IT.
AND I MANAGED TO COOK THOSE, UH, SHAD ROW REALLY WELL.
AND HERE IS EVERETT KNACK TAKING DOWN HIS PRIZE SMOKE SHED FROM HIS SMOKEHOUSE.
IT'S A CINDER BLOCK SMOKEHOUSE THAT HE BUILT.
AND, UH, AND THOSE RACKS THERE ARE, ARE MADE OF OAK.
THEY'RE ALL HANDMADE BY EVERETT.
AND THIS IS HENRY GORDINE, MAYBE YOU KNOW HIS NAME.
HE WAS 90 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME I TOOK THIS PICTURE.
AND WE WERE IN THE BASE, HIS BASEMENT SHOP IN HIS HOUSE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, HE TOLD ME ALL KINDS OF STORIES ABOUT WHEN HE WOULD GO FISHING AND, AND SHIP 125 POUND BOXES OF SHED TO THE FULTON FISH MARKET.
AND HE SAID, WHENEVER IT CAME TIME FOR THE, THE LILAC RUN, THE, THEY CALLED IT THE LILAC RUN, BECAUSE THAT WAS EARLY MAY WHEN THE LILACS BLOOMED THE SHED CAME UP AT THAT TIME OF YEAR.
SO WHENEVER THE SHAD RUN OR THE LILAC RUN TOOK PLACE, HENRY QUIT WHATEVER WORK HE WAS DOING.
WENT TO HIS FISHING SHACK ON THE RIVER WITH A FEW GUYS AND FISHED THE RIVER FOR THE SHAD AND VERY, VERY, UH, YOU KNOW, BOUNTY FULL, UH, LIVELIHOOD.
AND THAT WAS IN THE 1930S AND FORTIES.
HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, HIS MOM WAS VERY CONCERNED WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY, BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS WENT OUT TO THE RIVER.
HE LOVED THE RIVER, AND SHE WOULD TELL HIM, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL.
SO ONE DAY SHE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND SHE PUT A DRESS ON HIM.
HE WENT OUT ANYWAY, PLAYED WITH HIS FRIENDS.
AND HERE'S HENRY'S HANDS, UH, A DETAIL OF HIM SHOWING ME HOW TO KNIT A SHARED NET FROM A BALL OF COTTON TWINE.
AND THAT KNITTING NEEDLE WAS WHITTLED BY HIS FATHER.
SO THAT NEEDLE IS PROBABLY 80 OR 90 YEARS OLD.
AND HERE I AM IN NYACK WITH, UH, ROBERT GABRIELSON JR.
AND HIS FATHER, BOB GABRIELSON, WAS ANOTHER COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN AT, WITH, UH, A HELPER.
AND THEY'RE PULLING IN BLUE CRABS AND SOME SAILING SHIPS AND ICE BOATS ALONG THE RIVER.
THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS OF THE REPLICA SHIP OF THE HALF MOON THAT HENRY HUDSON SAILED UP IN 1609.
AND I WAS ON THE BOAT WITH THE CAPTAIN CHIP REYNOLDS, AND HE LOWERED ME DOWN WITH ONE OF THE MATES INTO A LITTLE DINGHY.
AND WE WENT SAILING ALL AROUND THE BOAT, AND I WAS TAKING ALL ANGLES OF PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND FOR THIS PICTURE, I ASKED A FELLOW, UH, WITH ME WHO WAS ON THE, HE WAS ON THE MOTOR AND HE HAD A WALKIE TALKIE.
AND I SAID, CAN YOU ASK CHIP TO JUST TURN THE SHIP A LITTLE BIT TO THE LEFT? AND THAT'S HOW I GOT THIS PHOTOGRAPH.
AND THIS IS A VIEW OF THE HALF MOON FROM THE BACK, THE AFT.
AND THIS IS THE, UH, LETY HOWARD FROM THE ERNESTINA.
THESE ARE TWO EDUCATIONAL SHIPS OUT OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND SOMETIMES I USE CEIA, A CEIA LOOK TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE, OF OLD, LIKE I DID WITH THE PICTURE OF THE BOY FISHING.
AND THESE ARE, UH, ICE BOATS ON, ON THE HUDSON.
THEY'RE NOT ON THE RIVER ANYMORE BECAUSE THE RIVER DOESN'T FREEZE OVER LIKE IT USED TO.
BUT WHEN THEY DID GO OUT ON THE RIVER IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES, THEY COULD GO UP TO 70 OR 80 MILES AN HOUR ON THESE BOATS.
AND THESE ARE NOT REPLICAS, THESE ARE A HUNDRED YEAR OLD ICE BOATS.
AND I, BACK THEN SHOOTING FILM, I HAD ONE CAMERA WITH BLACK AND WHITE FILM, ONE CAMERA WITH COLOR FILM, AND ONE OF THEM FROZE UP ON ME, SO I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE OTHER ONE IN MY DOWN COAT AND CONTINUE SHOOTING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY ENGAGED IN THE RIVER HAVE SUCH HEART AND SUCH PASSION ABOUT THE GIFT THAT WE ALL HAVE RIGHT HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO BE RIGHT ON THE RIVER IN HASTINGS.
[00:50:02]
AND, UH, THE SAME FOLKS, THE, UH, ICE BOATERS JUST KIND OF HANGING AROUND, HAVING FUN TALKING TO EACH OTHER.THEY DO CUT THROUGH THE ICE TOO, TO DO SOME FISHING AS WELL.
WHERE WAS THIS? THIS IS IN TIVOLI, SOUTH BAY.
THERE'S A NORTH AND SOUTH BAY IN TIVOLI.
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO NOWADAYS.
THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE BAYS TO USE THE ICEBOATS AND SOME, UH, INDUSTRIAL PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND LONG BEFORE WE HUMAN BEINGS CAME ALONG, WE HAD THE INDUSTRY OF THE BEAVER.
IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THEIR WORK, I NEVER DID UNTIL I TOOK THIS PICTURE.
AND UP IN THE ADIRONDACKS, THIS IS THE FRENCH, UH, FINCH PRINE PAPER COMPANY AND BANNERMAN CASTLE, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT NORTH OF COAL SPRING.
AND WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS THAT FRANK BANNERMAN IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS, HE WAS A MUNITIONS MERCHANT, AND HE COLLECTED A LOT OF CANNONS, CIVIL WAR MEMORABILIA, CANNONBALLS AMMUNITION.
AND HIS WAREHOUSE WAS IN BROOKLYN.
AND HE GREW TO THE POINT WHERE THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE STARTED TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE, AND THEY ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU COULD FIND A PLACE THAT'S NOT SO POPULATED.
SO HIS SON, FRANK JUNIOR, WAS SAILING ON THE RIVER, AND, UH, HE SAW THIS LITTLE ISLAND, A LITTLE ISLET, AND, UH, THEY PURCHASED THE ISLAND AND THEY BUILT A REPLICA SCOTTISH CASTLE, BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS HERITAGE.
HIS FAMILY HAIL FROM SCOTLAND, AND THIS WAS THE WAREHOUSE.
THERE WERE SEVEN STORIES, AND THERE WAS A BIG FIRE BACK IN THE SIXTIES THAT BURNED OUT ALL THE FLOORS.
AND HE HAD ALSO BUILT A LOVELY LITTLE COTTAGE FOR HIS FAMILY TO COME AND STAY DURING THE SUMMER.
AND NOW THE NEW YORK PARKS HAS TAKEN IT OVER, AND THEY HAVE TOURS THAT GO OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S BIG LARGE STEEL POLES THAT ARE HOLDING UP THE WALLS.
I, UH, IN 2002, I DID A TWO DAY WORKSHOP FOR CLEARWATER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP, AND I TAUGHT STILL LIFE ON THE BOAT AND PORTRAITS.
AND, UH, WHEN I DID THE ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENT, THEY DROPPED US DOWN INTO SOME CANOES AND A YA AND PADDLED OVER TO, UH, BANNERMAN'S ISLAND, AND I TAUGHT ARCHITECTURE OF THE CASTLE.
THIS REMINDS ME THAT I WANTED TO MENTION ALSO THAT IF YOU'RE EVER UP IN PEAKS GILL, THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL INN THERE.
MARY, UH, LIVED THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND THEY SOLD IT, AND THEY SOLD IT IN PROBABLY 2017, 2016, TO MARTIN GINSBURG, THE DEVELOPER.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY, OH BOY, SOME PEOPLE, WELL, I SAID, OH BOY, TOO, WHEN I FIRST KNEW IN 2002 WHEN MARTIN GINSBURG CALLED ME UP FOR PHOTOGRAPHS, AND I WAS SO NAIVE AT THAT POINT, HE SAID, GEE, I DON'T EVEN, I TOLD HIM, I DON'T KNOW IF I WANTED TO GET INVOLVED WITH YOU.
BUT, UH, ANYWAY, WE GOT PAST THAT AND HE BOUGHT A NUMBER OF PICTURES.
BUT I WANNA SHARE THIS BECAUSE I, AS I WORKED WITH MARTIN ON THREE PROJECTS, THE ABBEY IN BEING THE THIRD ONE, I REALIZED HOW REALLY SERIOUS HE IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, BRINGING BEAUTY TO HIS, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS AND, AND, AND TREATING ARTISTS LIKE MYSELF, VERY WELL, PLACING ART IN HIS LOCATIONS, SCULPTURES.
AND SO, UH, WHEN HE DID THE ABIE ABBEY IN, HE REDID THIS BEAUTIFUL CHAPEL AND A 42 ROOM CONVENT INTO AN IN SPA AND RESTAURANT.
AND HE SAID, HE CALLED ME UP, HE SAID, JOE, I WANT TO TELL THE HUDSON RIVER STORY, AND YOU HAVE THE STORY.
SO HE PURCHASED 46 OF MY HUDSON RIVER PHOTOGRAPHS THAT GO THROUGHOUT ALL THREE FLOORS IN THE HALLWAYS OF THE INN THAT TELL THE STORY FROM THE ADIRONDACKS TO MANHATTAN.
SO IF YOU'VE EVER SO MOVED, OR IF YOU'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S WHAT I CALL MOHONK SOUTH.
IT'S A VERY FANCY, GORGEOUS PLACE AND VERY UNIQUE.
THE ABIE INN, THIS IS ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HE SELECTED.
HERE'S A PICTURE FROM STORM KING MOUNTAIN LOOKING AT THE WEST SHORE RAILROAD LOOKING SOUTH.
AND THIS IS A FREIGHT LINE AND THE NEW YORK CENTRAL POWER STATION,
[00:55:01]
IT'S ABANDONED NOW FOR MANY YEARS.I'M SURE YOU, MOST OF YOU KNOW IT, EXCUSE ME.
AND, UH, IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS, THE UH, NEW YORK CITY SAID TO THE RAILROAD, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER FOR YOU.
SO YOU HAVE TO BUILD YOUR OWN POWER STATION.
AND A VIEW OF, UH, TARRYTOWN LIGHTHOUSE AND THE SOYS LIGHTHOUSE BEFORE IT WAS RESTORED AND RENO RENOVATED, I HAVE PICTURES OF IT ALSO WITH THE, UH, SCAFFOLDING AROUND IT AND WITH IT ALL NICE AND NEW AND CLEAN LOOKING.
BUT THIS IS THE PICTURE THAT I LIKE TO SHOW BECAUSE THIS TELLS A STORY OF THE HISTORY AND SOME, UH, FARMERS.
THIS IS, UM, CLAUDE POTT'S FARM IN TIVOLI, THAT'S HIS BARN, ONE OF HIS BARNS.
AND CLAUDE POTTS, HIS SEVENTH GENERATION APPLE FARMER, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS IMPOSING ON HIM THE DAY I SHOWED UP THERE.
AND, UH, AND 'CAUSE HE WAS ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE WITH SOME OF HIS WORKERS, AND HE GOT RIGHT OUTTA THERE, AND HE SAID, JOE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
ANY CHANCE I GET AWAY, I GET AWAY, YOU KNOW, I GET ON.
AND I MADE THIS, WHAT I CONSIDER REAL CLASSIC, ALMOST LIKE AGAIN, A 1930S OR FORTIES, UH, FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PHOTOGRAPH.
AND I HAD GONE TO DO AN ORAL HISTORY WITH CLAUDE, PROBABLY 17 YEARS LATER, AND HE WAS LIVING STILL ON HIS PROPERTY IN A TRAILER.
BUT BY THEN HE WAS VERY FRAIL.
HE HAD PLENTY OF STORIES TO TELL THAT I HAVE RECORDED.
AND, UH, I ASKED HIM IF WE CAN GO OUTSIDE AND TAKE A PICTURE.
SO HE GOT UP SLOWLY AND HE, WE HAD TO WALK DOWN A RAMP FROM THE TRAILER DOWN TO THE, THE YARD THERE, AND HE HELD MY ARM.
BUT WHEN WE GOT CLOSE TO THAT, THAT TRACTOR, HE PUSHED MY ARM AWAY AND JUMPED UP ON TOP OF THE BACK OF THE TRACTOR LIKE HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE SAID OF, OF WHEN WE MAKE A COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING IN OUR LIVES.
AND THIS IS A VIEW OF HIS APPLE ORCHARD IN BLOOM.
NOW, UH, HIS SON-IN-LAW IS MARRIED TO HIS DAUGHTER CLAUDIA.
IT'S NOW AN ORGANIC BEEF FARM,
AND THIS IS A VINEYARD OVER IN MARLBOROUGH.
AND IF YOU LOOK UP ABOVE, YOU SEE THAT BUILDING THERE.
AND WHEN I TOOK THIS PICTURE, I WAS TRANSPORTED TO TUSCANY, AND IT'S ALL RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK.
AND SOME FOLKS HAVING FUN ON THE RIVER.
THIS IS THE WALKWAY OVER THE HUDSON AND POUGHKEEPSIE IS TO THE LEFT.
AND THE WHITEWATER DERBY UP IN THE, UP IN THE ADIRONDACKS NEAR, UH, NORTH CREEK AND ARIUS, THEY, THEY, UH, HAVE THESE RACES AT THE END OF MAY EVERY YEAR.
AND THIS PHOTOGRAPH, UH, WE WERE WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS IN GARRISON AND, UH, DEEP WOODS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD HUNDREDS OF VOICES.
WE WERE WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND SOON AS WE GOT OUT THROUGH THE TREES THERE, WE SAW ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THE WATER, BOATINGS, JET SKIING, HAVING A GREAT TIME.
THIS IS RIGHT ACROSS THE, UH, UH, THE RIVER FROM STORM, KING MOUNTAIN.
IT'S, UH, LITTLE STONY POINT, AND HERE AND YONKERS, UH, AND ONE OF THE OLD PIERS, ROLLERBLADING AND FISHING
AND MY TRIBUTE TO TOM SAWYER HERE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM THE RIVER AND, UH, AND THE WATER.
AND THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE CHILDREN JUMPING IN AND SPLASHING EACH OTHER AND JUMPING UP AND OUT AND IN AND OUT AGAIN, HAVING A GREAT TIME.
THEY'RE ALL GIGGLY AND HAVING FUN.
THIS I LIKE BECAUSE OF DESIGN.
THESE, THE DESIGN, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE SHAPE OF HIS BODY, WHERE HE'S HOLDING UP HIS LEFT LEG, HE'S HOLDING HIS NOSE.
IT KIND OF MIMICS, IT'S LIKE A MIRROR.
LOOK AT THE OLD, UH, PIER THERE, THE SHAPE OF IT.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT THEY SELECTED FOR THE HUDSON RIVER SHOW.
AND ON SOUTHWOOD HERE, I WAS WALKING CLOSE UP
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TO THE PALISADE ROCKS AND, UH, WALKING ON THE ROAD.AND IF I WAS IN THIS SPOT FIVE OR 10 MINUTES BEFORE OR AFTER, I WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN THIS MONOLITHIC FIGURE.
IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOT A HELMET ON AND A BREASTPLATE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE REALLY MAIN FACTOR IN MAKING A GOOD PHOTOGRAPH, IS TO HAVE GOOD LIGHT.
AND THIS VIEW IS OF THE, UH, PALISADES, OF COURSE, IN AUTUMN.
AND I WANT IT TO BE, UH, CLOSE UP.
SO I HAD A STUDENT AT THE TIME, WE PUT A CANOE IN AND WE TRAVELED UP AND DOWN, AND I MADE, UH, MANY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN LEAVES.
I KNEW WELL ENOUGH THAT IF I PHOTOGRAPH THIS FROM THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER, THERE'S ALWAYS A HAZE OF SOME SORT.
SO I WOULDN'T GET THE SATURATION AND COLOR.
AND THIS IS THE TOP OF MANHATTAN, UH, INWARD PARK.
AND UP UP ABOVE IS THE HENRY HUDSON BRIDGE.
AT, AGAIN, ABOUT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, MY FRIEND LIVED RIGHT UP THE STREET THERE, AND HE WAS PLAYING THE FLUTE, AND I WAS MAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE AT NIGHT, I WAS COMMISSIONED BY, UH, THE OWNER OF A RESTAURANT IN WHITE PLAINS CALLED THE HUDSON GRILL IN BISTRO.
AND HE WANTED A PHOTOGRAPH 10 FEET LONG IN THE, IN THE RESTAURANT WHEN YOU ENTERED IN OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.
AND AGAIN, I SAID TO MYSELF, OH BOY, BECAUSE I WAS NEVER ATTRACTED TO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE AS A SUBJECT.
SO I WENT BACK AND BACK AGAIN.
AND THEN THE THIRD TIME I REALIZED I HAVE TO DO THIS AT NIGHT TO MAKE IT ROMANTIC.
'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT, THAT MOVE ME IS THE ROMANCE.
SO I, I HAD CHECKED OUT AND GONE AROUND SCOUTED THE AREA.
AND THIS VIEW WAS FROM WHERE THE WALL YOU MIGHT REMEMBER HAD COME DOWN ON THE WEST SIDE HIGHWAY MANY YEARS AGO.
BUT I WENT INTO THE BACKYARD OF A, PROBABLY A CONDOMINIUM AND JUST LOOKING AROUND.
AND A WOMAN CAME UP TO ME AND SHE SAID, YOU CAN'T BE HERE.
SO I VERY SHEEPISHLY, YOU KNOW, APOLOGIZED.
BUT UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, I WENT BACK IN AND STAYED FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND MADE THE PHOTOGRAPH.
THAT'S WHAT WE PHOTOGRAPHERS DO SOMETIMES WE GET OURSELVES INTO SPOTS WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.
AND THIS VIEW IS FROM THE, THE BOAT, THE CLEARWATER, THE SLOOP THAT WAS DONE.
UM, ONE OF THE TIMES I WAS OUT SAILING, UH, OF THE LITTLE RED LIGHTHOUSE AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.
AND THIS IS A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER THAT I DID IN 1985.
AND YOU CAN SEE UP ABOVE IS THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE AND THE RIVER.
AND I ALWAYS GET A THRILL TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT NEW YORK WOULD NOT BE THE TOWN IT IS WITHOUT THE HUDSON RIVER.
AND HERE WE ARE, SOME SNOW GEESE ON TIVOLI BAY.
AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.
AND UH, OF COURSE, I'LL TAKE SOME QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
AND AGAIN, THERE'S SOME NOTE CARDS HERE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A FEW OF THESE PICTURES HOME.