I find so much value in visiting all of our public lands. I try to get to a lot of our NY state parks as much as I can. Obviously I spend the most time at the ones nearest me. And I speak out ones that have features that inspire me. Mostly that means waterfalls.

I have only been to Stony Brook State Park a few times and each time previously the visit did not go according to plan. This visit was about as good as it gets. Fall colors on a gorge with waterfalls. And kicking it up a notch was sharing this adventure with my wife.

I love photographing fall colors. They are so vibrant yet fleeting. They define an entire season even though we are lucky if the colors and leaves last a few weeks to a month let alone the entire season. Most off fall is lovingly called “stick season”.

But plunk me down in a beautiful landscape with fall colors this time of year and I am in my happy place. And for me the most beautiful landscapes often include waterfalls. Majestic moving matter that shapes the earth and no two photos are identical. Add that splash of color and it is as close to perfection as I can get.

I went for the water and colorful vibes. And I wanted to add another state park to my portfolio of fall public lands photos. I invited my wife to join me on this visit.

This was my wife’s first visit to this park despite us visiting other state parks numerous times together. Watching someone experience a state park for the first time is pretty special. Everyone is drawn to outdoor spaces for different reasons. And you never know what is going to grab someone.

It is one of the things I love most about photography. Two people can be within feet of each other taking photos and create completely different images. What is captivating me may not be what is captivating you. What I love about the landscape may not be the thing that draws you in the most.

I went for the waterfalls. I took over 1,000 photos and id bet 90% of them contained waterfalls. A few were of the gorge walls and fall colors alone without the water.

My wife enjoyed the waterfalls and photographed them as well. But she was captivated by the gorge walls. The shape and texture of the stone. The tiny plants clinging to life literally on the edge.

She took so many photographs trying to capture the plant life and the shapes of the stone close up. She was so excited to show me what she was looking at and trying to capture. Trying to get just the right angle and the right focus to make the image work.

This excitement in others is what brings me the most joy. Sharing nature and art with another person, especially my wife, and seeing how it captivates them and how it brings them to life. Putting real joy in them. Joy that cannot be found scrolling social media or watching TV.

It is so easy for all of us to wrapped up in other things and fail to realize or prioritize stepping out the door and into nature. Just slowing down and looking around. It doesn’t have to be anything majestic.

My wife proved that. Amidst majestic waterfalls she was consumed by the small and seemingly mundane. The things that most people probably do not give any thought to. Most people are probably like me and want to oooh and ahhhh over the waterfalls. It’s obvious. They are right there in front of your face. How can you deny that beauty.

But there is also beauty in the unseen world. The world we pass by without even noticing it.

These are the things I aspire to focusing on more. I often feel unfulfilled when I have not gotten out for a big adventure and taken photos of majestic landscapes or wildlife. But there is much more to photograph and to care about in the natural world than that. Those big majestic things exist only because of the small unseen world we pass by.

Entering the season in the northeast where it can be defined easily as “lack of” everything. It can be hard to find the motivation to get outside. Go for a walk, a hike, a run. Take photos. Create art. But that doesn’t mean it is not there for us to enjoy and pursue if only we give ourselves the chance. And this year I am going to focus on giving myself the chance.

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