Norman J. Levy Preserve

So I have this job as sort of the unofficial photographer for every nature preserve within 15 miles of my home. Its an unpaid and unappointed position, there are no benefits and no real hours. And now I present the Norman J. Levy Preserve in Merrick (Long Island) New York. Built atop a landfill (to get to it you even have to go thru the entrance of the Dept. of Sanitation), this preserve is a very nice and surprising find. It so appropriately fits into my apparent recurring 'garbage aesthetic'.

Its 50 acres and has some nice walking paths (no wilderness hiking here). Its probably one of the few points in Nassau County where you can actually see the Manhattan skyline.

Beach of the South

I find myself often taking a good number of photos of garbage ... perhaps I need to refine this hobby of mine.



I like the circular framing from the grass in the third photo. All at South Beach, all @10mm.

Everybody Cut Footloose

I mean honestly, whats with these blog post titles? I wouldn't tolerate it as a reader. Taken at Long Beach, some obvious Picasa work applied - sepia filter, contrast adjustment, radial gradient filter.

Trashy lake

Despite these photos, it really is a beautiful nature preserve. Believe it or not, people fish in that lake.

Aged Folks at the Park

A continuation of the OF (Ol' Foggie) series. These were some nice victims at the park.


I had a big zoom lens on and was pointing the camera across the pond. This gentleman was strolling by and said 'Enjoying the Wildlife?'. I than took a picture of him. He would have been insulted - but he didnt know it, because I was using my nifty new right-angle scope. Its not easy to use/aim, but its fun for snagging pics of strangers without looking like a (total) creep.




Both of these were taken with the right-angle scope. If anything about the second picture looks planned ... its not. The scope is extremely difficult to aim... her shoes just got lucky.


Ok, maybe it doesnt belong in the OF series, but there is something OF about it.

The Ole' Ball and Chain

Went for a walk in the park to try out the new cam. Needless to say, I didn't expect to find this kind of cruelty. So sad.