What a strange, surreal summer it has been. I don’t know how else to put it. It is a new world, and how we navigate its way can testify to that. It is astonishing how life and even how we view the world can change this quickly. Social distancing, masks, sometimes mask, no mask cover, and “oh, you are too close,” and all the awkward moments. All of a sudden, we have a new “normal.” A normal that is in tandem with a social upheaval to boot. As usual, we humans do what we are best at, and we adapt and find ways to even thrive within this new normal.
This summer, we stayed put in the Hudson Valley, waiting for safer times to travel. It has been hot and what felt like a long summer. Still, multiple dips in the pool at home and summer outings involving some more water made it a real summer despite it all. Friends have played an essential part in making it right. I don’t know what we would have done without them. I am incredibly grateful to have so many good supportive and fun people in my life. They are our family away from family.
Hudson Valley is known for its many vibrant communities with numerous festivals and county fairs, which it sorely lacked this year. Still, the nature around us is beautiful, and we could not ask for more. With fall upon us, we have now entered the apple season. It is not for nothing that New York is called the big apple. Upstate is apple farm galore, and Hudson Valley is renowned for its orchards. Apple picking is a big tradition here. I even have a family shoot in one of the orchards coming up this fall.
I am looking forward to shooting in a beautiful setting.
I am sharing a few glimpses of our upstate summer here.
