Volunteer photographers capture the changing moods of the Mohonk Preserve

As Hayes pointed out, the group’s meetings do have that “assignment” component, as there are events, landscapes and land management plans that require fresh photos. But they also “share technical advice, invite professional photographers in, guest lecturers. Herb [Chong] generously provides workshops on digital darkroom technique, prolonged exposure…” “He really motivates us,” said Ken Wishnick, a member of the MPVP who is also an Ulster County Legislator (D-New Paltz).

While they get specific assignments and return those images to the Communications Department of the Preserve, each member has his or her own specialty or unique passion. Mizel and his wife are big horse-riding enthusiasts, and he often takes pictures of horses trotting through the Preserve trails. “I think it’s important to remind people and the Preserve that all of these thousands of miles of carriage roads were built over a hundred years ago for horses. The Preserve is so vast that you might see a horse-rider here or there, but you don’t realize how viable and important of an activity it is. Riding a horse along the carriage roads is a magnificent feeling; it’s a great way to enjoy the Preserve.”

Betsy Tully of the MPVP said that she was inspired by reading the late Daniel Smiley’s book and what he described as Mohonk being the “lake in the sky” that the rest of the land was lapping up against. “His love and passion for this land, its biodiversity, has always inspired me. I started with landscape shots, but more recently have been focusing on insects, particularly spiders. I put a macro attachment onto my camera, which lets me capture and see these amazing insects up close.”

Susan Lehrer loves taking pictures throughout the Preserve of the land, wildlife, flora, fauna and people interacting with the Preserve, but she also has something that comes in very handy for MPVP and the Preserve: “My boyfriend owns a two-seat ultralight plane, so I can take a lot of aerial photographs of the Preserve,” she said, noting how she was able to get great shots of the Minnewaska forest fire several years ago that delineated the size and shape and contours of the fire.

“That was also a huge help when the Preserve presented their management plan of the lower lands, where they purchased acreage from the Smiley family, including the Gatehouse,” said Hayes. “There were public hearings and they needed a lot of photos, particularly the aerial photos to give a visual description of the land, its structures, assets and future management plans.”

Wishnick said that what he loves about being part of the volunteer photography is not what “we give, but what we get. We’re a group of people that have come together with a common interest, a love of the Preserve and photography, and we learn a lot from each other, inspire one another, are always improving our skills.”

Although Wishnick predominantly photographs special events and Preserve staff, he said that when he’s able to take the time to go out into the Preserve with his camera, it’s to “capture the spirituality I feel in the Ridge. It’s where I feel my place in the world, my connection to it; and I try to find ways to capture that in images.”

Mike O’Donnell is an aficionado of black-and-white shots, but also time-lapse photography that brings out “dramatic shots. The more dramatic, the better!” he said.

Hayes said that there is no end to the visual splendor and wonders of the Preserve from any vantage point, but in the group’s case, especially from the photographer’s vantage point. “You go a hundred feet and you’re in a completely different ecosystem. You go from a dive in Split Rock to woodland trails, forests, meadows, cliffs, swamps, lakes…it’s constantly changing and we have four seasons here, so it’s our job to capture everything we can as part of our ‘protection’ mission during the splendor of the Preserve year-round.”

The MPVP also has a monthly photography show that’s exhibited in the Conference Room of the Visitors’ Center, and currently it has an exhibition up at the Ulster Savings Bank branch in Gardiner.

To learn more about the group, or if you’re interested in joining, just contact Jamie Hirtz at 255-0919. MPVP has its upcoming volunteer orientation on March 16 at 9 a.m., and you can register with Hirtz to join.