Jack's Oyster House | 04.22.2024

Early morning sun fills the former Jack’s Oyster House, now permanently closed and up for sale. Jack’s had been in business since 1913 and had been frequented by every New York governor since.

Albany, New York

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com

All Rights Reserved    

The Teddy Roosevelt Gargoyle | Albany, New York

 The Teddy Roosevelt Gargoyle hiddon on the facade of the former D&H Building
Albany, New York.

You can read about its history here.

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com

All Rights Reserved   

Ethereal | 04.16.2024

Ethereal | 04.16.2024
The Spirit of Life
Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, New York 

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com

All Rights Reserved    

The Unknown Faces of the New York State Capitol Building, Albany, New York

The Unknown Faces of the New York State Capitol Building, Albany, New York 

Here’s another spotlight on the distinctive features of Albany's architectural landscape: The New York State Capitol Building. Much like its remarkable counterpart, the Deleware and Hudson Building, located further down the State Street hill, this structure is adorned with hidden meanings and intricate stonework details. Constructed over a span of 32 years, from 1867 to 1899, it was spearheaded by three teams of architects. The construction carried a staggering cost of 25 million dollars, equivalent to 774 million dollars in today's currency. 

A meticulous fusion of Italian Renaissance, French Renaissance, and Romanesque influences distinguishes the structure from any other in the Capitol District area. 

Embedded within the stonework are lifelike sculptures of numerous individuals. After completing the commissioned faces that were included as a nod to historical figures promoting in New York’s history, the stone carvers—many hailing from places like Scotland, the United Kingdom, and Italy—were granted the liberty to carve personal memories into the sandstone. Some chose to immortalize the countenance of their wives, while others opted for the youthful likeness of a beloved daughter. Both inside and outside the building, an array of stone faces can be found. Some depict prominent figures from the State's history, while others reflect the individual whims of the carvers. Many of these faces are encircled by intricately carved details relevant to the person they portray. Here is a collection of these remarkable stone portraits, along with other concealed meanings and carved elements adorning the Capitol.

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com

All Rights Reserved    

Albany In Bloom | 04.10.2024

Albany In Bloom | 04.10.2024

SUNY Administation Building, Albany, New York

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com

All Rights Reserved    

Found Gargoyle | 04.06.2024

Found Gargoyle | 04.06.2024

If you've followed my previous project mapping the ruins of Grafton Lakes State Park, you'll understand my fascination with uncovering the hidden history of our public lands. Here's a medium-format image capturing a fierce gargoyle just off the grounds of Saratoga Spa State Park. Traditionally, gargoyles were thought to ward off evil spirits, so stumbling upon one in such an unexpected location suggests there may be ruins nearby waiting to be discovered.

You can read up on the ruins of Grafton here: https://www.johnbulmermedia.com/search/label/Ruins?m=1

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

Remembrance | Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery

Remembrance | 03.31.2024
Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery
Medium Format Image 

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

Penumbral Eclipse | 03.25.2024

Penumbral Eclipse | 03.25.2024

This morning’s prenumbral eclipse of a Worm Moon at 3:12 AM. A penumbral eclipse occurs when the outer shadow of the Earth (the penumbra) partially covers the Moon. Unlike partial or total eclipses, where the Moon enters the Earth's darker inner shadow (the umbra), penumbral eclipses are much more subtle because the Moon only passes through the outer part of Earth's shadow. This results in a slight darkening of the Moon's surface, often difficult to distinguish without careful observation. The subtle nature of penumbral eclipses is due to the fact that the penumbra is not as dense or dark as the umbra, resulting in less noticeable changes in the Moon's appearance.

The term "Worm Moon" refers to the full moon that occurs in March. It is named after the earthworms that tend to emerge from the soil as the ground begins to thaw and spring approaches in the Northern Hemisphere. This full moon marks the transition from winter to spring, signaling the awakening of the earth and the start of planting season for many agricultural societies. The name "Worm Moon" has its roots in traditional Native American and colonial American naming of moons based on seasonal changes and natural phenomena.

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

Moon Dog | Nipper and the Rising Moon

Moon Dog | Nipper and the Rising Moon
Albany, New York

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

Red Albany Skyline | 03.07.2024

Red Albany, New York Skyline | 03.07.2024
In Honor of the American Red Cross
Albany, New York 

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

William Kennedy Interview | 02.29.2024

I had the privilege of spending an incredible two-and-a-half hours with William Kennedy, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Ironweed, amongst other classics. We delved into discussions about history, photography, and writing for a project I'm currently working on. Hearing his tales about the vibrant Albany portrayed in his books was an absolute delight. Sincere thanks to Brendan Kennedy.

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

Stairway, Port of Albany | 02.28.2024

Stairway, Port of Albany | 02.28.2024
Albany, New York 

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

The Ruins of Mount Ida | 02.25.2024

 The Ruins of Mount Ida // Troy, New York 

These remnants are all that remain of the once-thriving houses at the base of Mount Ida in Troy, New York. Amidst the ruins, one discovers numerous footings, stairways embellished with handmade railings, foundations, and small compartments. Strewn about are bricks harking back to the early 1900s, clam shells, shattered apothecary bottles, and remnants of handmade fencing. 

Perched atop Mount Ida, Prospect Park in Troy, New York, graces some of the city's most picturesque terrain. Rising 285 feet above sea level, Mount Ida offers sweeping vistas extending up to 20 miles.
Spanning 80 acres, Prospect Park nestles between Congress and Hill Street, crowning the summit of Mount Ida. The park's original design dates back to 1903 and is credited to Garnet Douglass Baltimore, a local landscape engineer and the first African-American graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

Full Snow Moon 30+ Image Super Detail Composite | 02.24.2024

Full Snow Moon Super Detail 30+ Image Composite | 02.24.2024
This composite consists of over 30 RAW images layered to enhance detail and color contrast.

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel | Architectural Details

Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel | Architectural Details 
Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York 

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

Moon Rise Over Site 1 | 01.19.2024

Moonrise over Site 1 of my Grafton Ruins mapping project. This large fieldstone hearth, fireplace, and chimney has been left to the silence of the for the past 60 years.

You can learn about the Ruins of Grafton project here: https://www.johnbulmermedia.com/search/label/Ruins

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   
 

Kaaterskill Falls | 01.10.2024

Kaaterskill Falls | 01.10.2024
Palenville, New York 

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   
 

Night Sky Over Cascade Ridge, Adirondacks | 12.23.2023

 Night Sky Over Cascade Ridge, Adirondacks | 12.23.2023

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmerart.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved   

The Ruins of Grafton | The Windmill

The Ruins of Grafton: The Windmill
By John Bulmer, John Bulmer Photography

Today, I added a seventh site to my ongoing ruins mapping project within Grafton Lakes State Park. Snow persists in the shadows, offering sufficient contrast to discern manmade shapes in the forest. It may be my last exploration until spring, depending on the snowpack.

Today's discovery reveals much that has faded with time, leaving behind a substantial cornerstone of what must have been a grand house constructed with Bleau bricks manufactured in Troy, New York, during the early 1900s. Within its foundation, an intact Clorox bottle from the 1940s adds a tangible link to the past. Notably, this site is at a higher elevation than the preceding six, and nearby lies the remnants of a windmill, its blades partially submerged in the forest floor. Its vane is nowhere to be found. Standing under a canopy of 40 to 50-foot trees, it's difficult to imagine a landscape open enough to support wind power.

To date, my mapping project has documented sites from seven abandoned homesteads, each contributing a unique chapter to the narrative. Seven fieldstone fireplaces dot the landscape, some defying association with known home sites. The scenery unfolds with extensive stone walls, numerous footings, and traces of household items, remnants of the past that once transformed these now-forgotten homesites into someone's home or summer camp.

My project has led me through parts of the park I have never seen, revealing trees of remarkable size undisturbed by human presence. True old growth remains in the more obscure parts of the park. But even in the secluded corners, the artifacts of a forgotten community linger, a poignant reminder of the lives that once thrived in this now-quiet wilderness.

© 2023 John Bulmer Media, John Bulmer Photography.