Congregation Sons of Israel Cemetery, Ossining

by Posted in Black & White, Cemeteries Leave a comment
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The Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society recently organized a presentation on the Congregation Sons of Israel. In his prestation Mr. Irwin Kavy mentioned their cemetery. I’d never heard about it before so of course I had to find out where it was and visit it.

The cemetery is on Havell Street (east of Route 9), adjacent to (west of) the Dale Cemetery entrance. It’s not marked as such but owned by Congregation Sons of Israel, a Synagogue and now located at 1666 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510.

It has approx. 100 graves, all Jewish, from late 19th century to about 1970’s. The cemetery is located on steep hill below Havell Street. Numerous steps lead to about three intermediate burial levels before reaching the main burial area.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a terraced cemetery before.

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Taken with a Sony A7IV and a vintage lens (I don’t remember which one it was, but I think it might have been a Ricoh 50mm Rikenon XR f2 L).

Self Portait

by Posted in Black & White, People, Portrait, Thoughts Leave a comment
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I like black and white photography. In many ways I see things in black and white. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a time before color photography became important. Most of the photographs and movies I saw when I was young were in black and white. Yes, I know that color moviews had been available for quite some time, but the ones I seem to remember were all black and white.

Of all places, this was taken in the men’s room in the building where I work with the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society. The day before I’d been watching a YouTube video about high-contrast black and white photography. As I was leaving the men’s room, bright light streamed in through a high window and fell on my face. It occurred to me that if I could get the exposure right, I might get something interesting.

Many might think that I carry a camera with me wherever I go. But that wouldn’t be true. I don’t usually carry one with me to the men’s room. However, I did have one in a bag, downstairs where I work so I went down to get it.

This is the result. I quite like it.

Taken with a Sony RX100 M3.

Under the overpass

by Posted in Black & White, Buildings/Structures Leave a comment
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I was going to eat at one of my favorite waterfront restaurants: 3 Westerley right on the river in Ossining, NY.

If you’re driving, the usual (there is at least one other) path to follow would be do go down Main Street and then take the overpass which goes up pass the station, crosses over the rail tracks and then curves around towards the restaurant.

I arrived a bit early i.e. before the restaurant opened so I was looking for something to photography that wouldn’t take me too far away from the restaurant. I thought that this picture taken from under the overpass would fit the bill. A black and white treatment seemed the best way to go.

Taken with a Panasonic Lumix GX85 and Leica DG Summilux 15mm f1.7