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Van Saun Park. Paramus, New Jersey. Fall Colors. 2012.

Well, it is that time of the year again when Van Saun County Park becomes ablaze with colors. I was thinking the other day, wondering what is my favorite month. The truth is, I don't truly know. Never given it a serious thought. Certainly, it wouldn't be January or February. Those months remind me of stiff and desiccated corpses in their dank graves. Deep Winter months have no juice, tinged with gray, and stone cold. I love the Summer months for the heat and the extended hours of sunlight, but not much color. It must be October then. The most beautiful weather in the year occur in the Fall, particularly in October.  My birthday is in October, and I am beginning to treat that day extra specially just like in my younger years. However, it is not for the gifts but for scoring one more against Father Time. The height of the Fall colors comes around mid-October in the New york/New Jersey area, at or around the 40th latitude North. As a bonus, I get a holiday in October, Columbus Day, although it isn't kosher anymore to celebrate his day. 

And so yesterday, I found myself walking the park taking photos with my Nikon DSLR D90. Taking photos at the park has become a yearly ritual for me. I can't just let it go by, and not record it. 

Earlier in the day, I went to the Bergen County Camera in Westwood to see what's up with their used equipment and ended up purchasing a Nikkor-S Auto 50mm F1.4 lens. This lens goes back to the 1960/70s when it was the flagship lens of Nikon. The 50mm F1.4 came with most of the Nikon film cameras sold back then. This lens is considered a dinosaur, lacking the automation and electronics that come with today's DSLRS. But, no one said that the clarity of the lens is inferior. It is just operated manually, meaning you set the focus and approximate the F-stop (exposure). It's refreshing to do the work yourself.

In about a week or two, I'd be out there again. So, here are the photos I took from yesterday, click to enlarge:










Comments

Catherine said…
Lovely photos, thanks for sharing. My favorite place in the park is where they have those little bridges and curvy pathways. It's such a magical place.

You know I should consider Bergen County Camera for my next camera. Why am I so programmed to go to Best Buy for that? Will check them out.

Happy Birthday too!
Ted Teodoro said…
Hi Catherine... It's nice to share with you a love for Van Saun Park. It surely is the park on the top of my list. And thanks for he birthday greeting. I will be 55 this Friday. Bergen Camera is great with service and advice, but they have higher prices than Best Buy and the NYC camera stores.

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