Tom Ciriello Photography

The Open Road

2012-01-17T13:31:00.000-05:00

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

-Walt Whitman (Song of the Open Road)

Long Pond Ironworks Historic District

2012-01-08T12:22:00.000-05:00

Shots from Long Pond Ironworks in New Milford, NJ. Est. in 1766 till 1882, the village housed ironworkers and their families.
Today, the ruins of three furnaces, a country store and other unique structures still stand in various forms of decay.
Interesting piece of local history and a pretty cool family hike!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T18:02:00.002-05:00

The last sunset of 2011 somewhere in North Jersey.

Wishing everyone a Happy 2012 and many more sunsets.....

Wawayanda State Park

2011-12-29T21:28:00.000-05:00

Celebrating the winter solstice with a short hike at WSP in NJ and my daughter grabs a quiet moment.

Christmas Session

2011-12-11T19:27:00.001-05:00

At the end of a recent Christmas shoot, my exhausted little model decided she'd had enough and collapsed on the rug. I snapped one last pic and it turned out to be one of my personal favorites.

Back in Time at Museum Village

2011-12-06T19:00:00.001-05:00

The holiday season is upon us and being the father of a six year old means its the time of year to visit the mall to see Santa, drive through the surrounding neighborhoods to see the Christmas lights and shiver with your neighbors at the local tree lighting ceremony. This year my wife and I decided to incorporate a little learning with our celebrating by taking a trip to Museum Village in Monroe, NY for their Old Time Christmas Celebration.

For those who have never been, Museum Village is an indoor/outdoor living history museum committed to the exploration, interpretation and preservation of the 19th century. This night included a staff decked out in 19th century clothing posing as blacksmiths, teachers, bakers and musicians. Men roasted chestnuts in the street while carolers drifted from building to building and Santa and his elves greeted the children after a traditional Punch and Judy puppet show. The kids dipped their own candles, created traditional 19th century crafts and decorated cookies. A good, old-fashioned time was had by all.....

Grace

2011-11-22T21:51:00.001-05:00

Emma

2011-11-16T19:15:00.001-05:00

"No man can be condemned for owning a dog. As long as he has a dog, he has a friend; and the poorer he gets, the better friend he has." - Will Rogers

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T11:51:00.000-04:00

The spooky facade of the haunted house at Maskers Orchard in Warwick, NY.

Fall Hike

2011-10-26T16:49:00.000-04:00

I was out doing errands this afternoon and decided to steal a few moments for a quick hike at Wawayanda State Park in NJ today. I'm trying to soak in as much autumn as I can before its gone...

The Steeple

2011-10-23T11:30:00.002-04:00

Captured through the colorful Autumn trees is the steeple of the Beemerville Presbyterian Church, located in Beemerville, NJ.

Apple Cider & A Dog Named Sonny

2011-10-20T23:03:00.000-04:00

Went to Ochs Orchard in Warwick, NY last week to not only pick some apples, but watch and learn how apple cider is made.

Had the pleasure of being shadowed by Sonny, the orchard's "greeter" for the time we were there.

Grand Cascade Lodge

2011-10-16T19:20:00.000-04:00

Crystal Springs Resort in NJ.

Mushrooms & Dragonflies

2011-10-10T22:00:00.000-04:00

Recently paid a visit to the Basha Kill in Wurtsboro, NY for an afternoon hike.

Seeing the Light

2011-10-04T21:49:00.000-04:00

When I'm out taking pictures, I try to stay conscious about light. The time of day, weather conditions, the direction of your subject and the quality of the light all make a difference in the type of picture you end up with.

It's not always easy. While simultaneously adjusting camera settings, composing your shot and dealing with all the other distractions that grab your attention, light is sometimes the last thing we think of, while it's one of the most important factors in taking a great picture.

We've had some awesome storm clouds hanging over the Hudson Valley lately and on Sunday I had my camera at the ready. The sun was occasionally poking through an otherwise hostile looking sky. I noticed this tree being illuminated against a dark and stormy background, making for a dramatic photo.

Happy Autumn!

2011-09-23T13:25:00.001-04:00

To welcome Fall, here are some images taken on a recent visit to Pennings Orchard in Warwick, NY.

A couple of shots from Masker Orchard. These sleeping pigs were just too irresistible not to photograph.

Fall's in the Air

2011-09-18T22:41:00.000-04:00

I'm really enjoying the cooler weather these last few days. My daughter and I decided to take a stroll around Masker Orchards for the first time this season. A chance to get into the spirit.......

Bear Mountain Park & Zoo

2011-08-31T17:52:00.000-04:00

Recently spent an afternoon soaking in the sights and sounds at Bear Mountain.

Bronx Zoo - Round 1

2011-08-17T22:10:00.000-04:00

For my daughters 6th birthday last month, my parents gifted her with a membership to the Bronx Zoo and between us, I'm not sure who was more excited! We decided to make the first of many trips last week and here are a few of the animals that were kind enough to cooperate with me...

Along with the big cats, gorillas are my favorite zoo animals to photograph. If you exercise enough patience, you can be rewarded with some astounding images from their incredibly expressive faces.

At one point, I discovered a couple of gorillas sleeping up against the window of the dark, over-crowded exhibit. Although it initially seemed as if nothing interesting was happening, I suddenly became captivated by the image of one of the gorillas hands - fingers curled up in sleep.

Lessons in Dancing in the Rain

2011-08-08T20:46:00.000-04:00

While most of us run for cover at the first sign of a rainstorm, the average free-spirited 6 year old runs in the opposite direction - straight into the downpour. Last night, during a particularly fearsome thunderstorm, my daughter went one better by leading my wife into the front yard with a series of pirouettes, leaps and twirls, belly laughing the whole time. As adults, we tend to forget how liberating it feels to just follow our instincts - until we witness our children following theirs.

A Girl and Her Sunflower

2011-08-05T21:04:00.001-04:00

If the right picture comes along, I like the challenge of creating "artwork" from it. I spend as much time behind the computer as I do behind the camera (often too much!). This was the case recently on a routine trip to Stonehenge Farm Market in Bullville, NY.

My daughter made a beeline for the sunflowers, then proceeded to lose herself among the rows of colorful blossoms. By this point, impossible to get her attention, I looked for opportunities to catch her interacting with her new "companion".

One picture jumped out at me as a candidate.

After some adjustments with color, contrast, etc., I added a border and a texture layer. I really like the "fiery" shape of the sunflower and the fact that her pinky finger is extended just adds to that gentle feel.

One Cool Cat

2011-07-27T13:42:00.004-04:00

Found this feline relaxing in the shade on a very hot afternoon in Bullville, NY.

Picnic at Browns Point

2011-07-25T21:48:00.001-04:00

Recently had an afternoon with my daughter at Browns Point, a small park in New Milford, NJ on the southern end of Greenwood Lake. She wasted no time kicking off the shoes and getting her feet wet.

Images from the Shore

2011-07-20T22:08:00.001-04:00

Every morning there was a sailing class being given to a dozen or so students. I would have my coffee and my camera ready.....

After taking in some fish & chips, we took a stroll around Viking Village...

A Walk on the Beach

2011-07-13T11:42:00.004-04:00

“The Sea, once it casts it's spell, holds one in it's net of wonder forever.”

-Jacques Cousteau

Getting away from it all.....

2011-07-07T14:26:00.001-04:00

Took some time for a little saltwater therapy and some beach town philosophy.

Happy 4th!

2011-07-04T07:59:00.001-04:00

Images from the fireworks in Monroe, NY on July 2nd.

Around Town - Warwick Village

2011-06-30T12:46:00.001-04:00

At any given moment - perched on a wall, sitting on a park bench or lounging on the grass, you may find someone playing an instrument and maybe singing a song. It's one of the many cool things you'll see while taking a stroll through the village.

Summer Sunset

2011-06-26T13:18:00.001-04:00

Taken off West Ridge Rd. in Warwick, NY.

The Creek

2011-06-16T22:29:00.001-04:00

I recently spent an afternoon at Warwick Town Park and happened upon a mother and daughter wading through the creek. The late day sun provided a nice yellow glow in the trees and in the water.

Love is in the Air

2011-06-04T22:26:00.004-04:00

Went down to the village of Warwick on Friday evening to check out the Bridal Trail, an annual event organized to bring small business and engaged couples together. Etched In Time Engraving provided sidewalk chalk to anyone willing to add their own "well wishes" to the future brides and grooms.

As I casually walked around town, I couldn't help but notice couples young and old enjoying the beautiful weather.

Yesterday's Wicked Weather

2011-05-21T11:41:00.000-04:00

Had some nasty storms barrel through Warwick, NY early Friday, so I grabbed the gear and headed out to do a little "storm chasing". I pulled over on Mt. Eve Rd. in Pine Island and decided to get a shot of the storm clouds over the mountains. It was pouring, so I figured it would be a good idea to wait it out in the car.

To pass the time, I started taking some shots through the rain-smeared windshield. The result, much more dramatic than I expected, looks sort of painterly, don't you think?

The rain never did stop, but it slowed down enough for me and my non-waterproof camera to get out and grab the shot I wanted.

Practicing on Classic Cars

2011-05-15T06:19:00.002-04:00

Once a week, Pennings Farm Market in Warwick hosts a classic car show. I've never spent time photographing cars, so I decided not only to try something new, but to use this as a mental exercise (also an excuse to grab a burger and a beer!).

Before I started, I first spent a few minutes just walking around some of these beautiful cars. I love the challenge of finding something interesting in a stationary hunk of shiny metal, seeing what makes a particular car special, which details stand out and how perspective changes these details. I like to experiment by shooting low, from above, in close or farther back. A combination of one or more of these elements can make the photo and changing one of these elements can create an entirely different picture. Training your mind to not only see a car, but its shape, colors, lines, reflections, etc.

Road Trip - North Carolina

2011-04-26T13:08:00.000-04:00

Spent Easter break visiting friends and family in NC. After a hairy near miss with the deadly tornado while driving into Raleigh, the rest of the week saw beautiful weather.

In addition to seeing loved ones, this was the Nature Museum Tour 2011. If it had dinosaurs, woodland creatures, amphibians or butterflies we were there! Raleigh had alot to keep the littles one busy.

One of the highlights was the Museum of Life & Science and their Magic Wings Butterfly House in Durham. This huge exhibit was set up like a rain forest with an open air butterfly sanctuary. Those who stood still enough were rewarded with a butterfly to pal around with, as evidenced below.

Don't Call Them Weeds!

2011-04-15T18:07:00.000-04:00

My daughter is a nature lover - she finds beauty in everything she sees. From fire ants ("they're so cute!") to the two snakes living in our garden ("I'll name them Rocky & Pebbles.")

Needless to say, she spends much of her time digging around the yard. A couple of days ago, while hanging out in the backyard, she started to pull up some weeds from a patch on the lawn. I thanked her for picking the "weeds" for me. Gasp!

"They're not weeds, they're BEAUTIFUL! Let me show you."

She picked a bouquet and handed them to me...."For you, Dad."

Bear Mountain Bridge

2011-04-10T22:36:00.000-04:00

Spent a cold day at Bear Mountain State Park. Went down to the fishing docks and grabbed a shot of the bridge. My first time there.... After all these years, I don't know why I've never been to this park.

Family Hike - Appalachian Trail

2011-03-20T10:23:00.001-04:00

Taking advantage of these "close, but not close enough" spring-like days, we decided to get a much needed nature fix. We hopped onto the trail in Jersey and took it as far as we could. The recent flooding made it impassable at one point, unless you were prepared to take off your shoes and roll up your pants.

A detour into the woods found us a couple of snakes, holding hands and straddling a log to cross over some water and a walk over a rickety bridge. It was an adventure.

I'd like to be under the sea.......

2011-03-07T19:57:00.000-05:00

Recently, we made our annual pilgrimage to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT. I always look forward to taking pictures there. It's challenging to say the least; the lighting is terrible and most of the exhibits are in near to complete darkness, but it forces you to put the camera in manual mode and really experiment with different settings.

New this year were the Meerkats.

I refused to leave until I captured a good shot of the jellyfish - one of my favorite exhibits. I could sit there all day, watching them float gracefully around that cylindrical tank.

No.....Thank YOU!!!!

2011-02-28T20:55:00.000-05:00

Continuing with my odd fascination with signs. I've been wanting to take this shot for quite some time and I love Rogowski Farm here in Pine Island, NY. One can easily spend a whole day taking pictures in and around this place. In fact, I'm planning to spend some extended time doing just that. In the meantime, you can check out other shots from Rogowski Farm taken last summer... here.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Washington!

2011-02-19T19:18:00.000-05:00

I live for finding little things like this around town; a small detail tucked away along the side of the road. We drive by things like this all the time without noticing them. I can't tell you how many times I've driven past this garage on the Pennings lot and it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I decided I wanted to capture this scene.
I waited for an overcast day - I wanted thick, gray clouds to add some drama to this shot.

Winter Scene 2

2011-02-10T10:11:00.000-05:00

Here is one more from Tuesday morning. I did manage to find some color in this snowy, icy landscape!

Winter Scenes

2011-02-09T11:58:00.000-05:00

Visited one of my favorite places yesterday......Wawayanda State Park in New Jersey. Always an opportunity for a picture.

Winter Horse

2011-02-07T15:49:00.003-05:00

Who can resist stopping to look at beautiful horses along the side of the road?

Weekend with Sydney

2011-01-19T10:49:00.002-05:00

My brother, who is dog-sitting, came for a visit over the weekend. This is Sidney and the camera loves her.

Black Dirt Sunset

2011-01-12T10:01:00.001-05:00

Stopped to grab a pic of the sun setting on the black dirt on Pumpkin Swamp Rd. in Florida, NY.

Evening Snow

2011-01-08T22:00:00.001-05:00

Took a ride out on Friday evening just before sunset. Stopped at the the top of Pelton Crossing and shot this panorama overlooking County Rd 1A.

Winter on the Lake

2010-12-31T11:44:00.001-05:00

The lake at Wawayanda State Park.

Snowed Out?!

2010-12-29T19:57:00.000-05:00

I love it when I venture out to take pics and stumble upon a unique scene. I went to Wawayanda State Park in N. Jersey intending to take some snowy landscape shots. I was standing in front of this boat rental cabin taking pics of the snow covered lake. After I was done, I turned around to make my way back to the car when I see the front of the cabin. Snow covering half the door and a sign that reads "Do Not Enter".
It was too perfect.

Happy Solstice!

2010-12-21T10:13:00.000-05:00

I managed to stay awake long enough to grab a few shots of the lunar eclipse.

Carving Out A Niche

2010-11-20T06:05:00.005-05:00

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

Michelangelo

Jim Haggart is someone I’ve passed for years while driving down Route 94, marveling at his talent, but never really getting to know who he was or why he does what he does. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. Who is this person who can create something so beautiful from something so ordinary?

Within moments of my first meeting with him, he is transforming a gnarled log of wood into an intricate and amazingly realistic sculpture of a bear. Using his chainsaw like a paintbrush, he cuts with precision, effortlessly exposing each minute detail of the bear’s form.

Though artistically inclined as a child, he’d never sculpted or even picked up a chainsaw before carving his first creation. However, after spying a chainsaw in his father’s yard, he carved out a comical face in a tree stump and from that moment he was hooked. When asked if he formally studied art, he replied that he took one art class in college, got a D and dropped it. Not one to be discouraged, he soon found his calling - Jim’s Chainsaw Creations.

He’s been creating his spectacular chainsaw sculptures for fifteen years now, the last thirteen of those years as a full time profession, sculpting on average 450 of them every year. Each of these wooden sculptures takes between one and twenty-four hours to create, and they range in price from $100 to $500. His best seller, the bears….his personal favorite, the eagles. So far, business has been generated exclusively by word-of-mouth and his clients include both locals and tourists, including Paul Teutul, Sr. of Orange County Chopper fame.

His “gallery” is currently an outdoor space at Penning’s Farm Market on Route 94 in Warwick, where one can admire his work, purchase a piece on-site and watch the artist at his craft. He’s there from March through December, every Fri and Sat 10AM – 5PM and Sun 10AM – 3PM, weather permitting. His dedication is admirable – in his words, “If its above 20 degrees, I’m here.”

Just keep your distance when he’s got the chainsaw cranked up, because I’m still brushing the sawdust out of my hair.