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October Featured Photographer: Ashley from Hudson Valley Adventurer

Date Published: September 29, 2020

What is your name and where can people find your work?

I’m Ashley, but most people know me as the Hudson Valley Adventurer. You can find me on Instagram under @hudsonvalleyadventurer or visit my website hudsonvalleyadventurer.com

Describe your perfect staycation in Dutchess, or your idea of a fun weekend in the County.

My idea of a perfect staycation in Dutchess starts off by waking up on a crisp beautiful fall day, brewing some coffee, grabbing my camera and heading out into the woods. This is the perfect place to enjoy a nice to-go mug of hot coffee while sitting on the banks of the Hudson River, snapping a few photos of Breakneck Ridge. From there I would head off into Beacon to grab a half dozen delicious donuts from Glazed Over. My favorite creation is their strawberry frosted topped with fruity pebbles. While in Beacon, I would be sure to take a nice scenic stroll at Long Dock Park. The views of the mountains from Long Dock are stunning and complement the Hudson River beautifully. Around this time, I would start thinking about lunch. It is well worth the drive over to Wappingers to grab a Food Network’s voted, “Best Burrito in America” from Mexicali Blue. Back at home I would spend the remainder of the evening editing the photos taken earlier, with a donut from Glazed Over in hand.

The next morning would begin with a long beautiful scenic drive to Millerton to visit Harney & Sons Fine Teas. Passing all the farms as you drive through the countryside makes it seem more like the Midwest than New York at times. Harney & Sons is a quaint tearoom that offers tea tastings, lunch and a retail shop stocked with varieties of tea, snacks and accessories. A go-to meal for me would be the tea cheese sampler, curry bowl, a large pot of chai and whatever dessert catches my eye that day. Some of my favorite teas to stock up on when visiting are the Organic Green tea with Peppermint, Paris, Dragon Pearl Jasmine, Cranberry Autumn, Apple Cinnamon, Florence, and of course, Chai. Even though I stock up, it seems the tea never lasts long in my home! Luckily one of my favorite grocery stores, Adams Fairacre Farms, offers a small selection of Harney & Sons teas. Once I finished looking at all the interesting knick-knacks, with my reusable bag filled with tea and any other items that may have caught my eye, I must make the choice of either going to Hyde Park/Poughkeepsie or Pawling. It is truly a difficult choice.

In the Hyde Park/Poughkeepsie area, the first place I'd head would be Vanderbilt Mansion. I love walking through the gardens and taking in the architecture. The view of the Hudson River is a phenomenal backdrop to the already brilliant sites on the property. Not to mention, all the amazing history of Vanderbilt Mansion and of course, Hyde Park itself. If I thought far enough ahead and brought my bike, I would also take the time to go for a nice ride on the Walkway Over the Hudson, a must-see place for anyone visiting Dutchess County. On the way home, I would treat myself to Tea Talk in Poughkeepsie for some delicious boba tea, I usually get the blueberry tea with almond milk, jelly mango stars, green apple, and pineapple jelly. 

There are some natural environments in the Pawling area, that have quite a draw. Dover Stone Church is such a beautiful and mesmerizing place. The brisk walk to the cave and waterfall is extra gorgeous on a cool fall day with all the vibrant yellow, brown, and orange foliage. A truly captivating location and one of the must-see places in Dutchess County. It is one of those spots where photos just don't do justice. The next stop would be the Metro-North Appalachian Trail in Pawling. No matter how many times I visit, or how long the stay is, I can never get enough of this location. Walking over the train tracks and onto the boardwalk with the sea of tall grass is such an amazing moment, as if being drawn into another realm. This trail can be either a very simple short stroll, or you can opt to take a long hike up to Cats Rock. While the hike to Cats Rock can be difficult, the view at the top makes it worthwhile. To make the hike a bit easier and still be able to capture the views, you can cut the trip in half by entering at the trail at W Dover Rd. instead. Exhausted from the long day of adventure, I’d head home and brew up a warm cup of Harney tea. 

As my staycation comes to an end, I would spend my last day apple picking and enjoying the fall weather. Picking my own fresh delicious apples is way more satisfying than buying a bag from the grocer, even if they are locally grown. Fishkill Farms is a perfect place to pick-your-own. Apple picking is always a fun seasonal event, so of course, I would pack up some snacks and make a hot cup of Harney & Sons Cranberry Autumn tea. The amazing selection of organic apples, as well as many other seasonal fruits and veggies, makes Fishkill Farms a great choice. Before heading home, I would stop by Sloop Brewing Co. Sloop is a great local brewery, and in the nearby proximity of Fishkill Farms. Although all their beer is tasty, I would pick up a case of Super Soft, Juice Bomb, and depending, maybe even a NEIPA. Once back at home, I would close out the last day of my staycation with a delicious homemade apple pie, full of freshly picked apples.

What equipment do you use in your photography? 

I currently use my Canon 80D with 18-55mm lens, 50mm lens 1.8, and 55-250mm lens. I also have a few filters for my 50mm lens, but mainly keep on a polarized filter. My drone, the DJI Spark, has recently become a very important part of my camera bag. Sometimes I even use my IPhone 8+ if I’m in a pinch! I almost always try to have a tripod, extra batteries, flashlight and prism in my camera bag!

What is your favorite place to photograph in Dutchess and why? 

It is always tough for me trying to pick favorites, but if I needed to choose, I would pick the Metro-North Appalachian Trail in Pawling. But runner ups would be between anywhere on the Hudson Riverfront or any of the many beautiful mountain views in Dutchess County.

 

Do you have somewhere on your list that you want to photograph in Dutchess, but haven’t gotten there yet? 

I’ve been lucky enough to travel the majority of Dutchess County, but I have yet to visit Bard College/Tivoli area.

Give us a few photography tips:

A few photography tips I could give would be to always shoot RAW especially if you are going to edit the photos. Try to not take “the” picture, the same view that everyone else takes, change it up a little, go from a different angle. Keep your camera at the ready, you never know when you’re going to want to pick it up and snap a quick shot. Don’t forget to take in the moment because only seeing a beautiful spot through a viewfinder isn’t fun, enjoy your time at your destination rather than overthink the photo opportunities.

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