I don’t know if it’s the promise I made to myself to take more pictures or just the weather, but I made it to Prospect Park to take pictures twice last week, and even went to Central Park on Saturday. In general I think Central Park is too crowded and the landscape views are a bit claustrophobic. Of the three rolls of 120 I shot last week, the photos from Prospect Park are looking much better.
While on one of my walks through through the park, I decided to take a path I’d never seen before and discovered the secluded Vale of Cashmere. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been going to the park for seven years now and never discovered this beautiful area (see the photograph from the post below). It’s nestled high up on a hill above Grand Army Plaza, full of birds and squirrels and rabbits, and men hiding in the bushes (oh hey there!). I later learned of the Vale’s somewhat checkered past, known as a cruising and drug spot as well as the site of some anti-gay attacks and at least one murder.
I’m not entirely sure, but I think the perceived possibility of danger in the area makes it even more attractive to me. I will definitely be going back, although I’m wondering if going with a buddy might be a good idea.



Besides sounding like a Led Zeppelin lyric, the Vale of Cashmere is also a prime birding spot especially for hawk watchers. I don’t like to go there without my dog because there’s always sketchy looking dudes there, which doesn’t help my hawk watching too much.
i really like the shot above with the netting/fencing… nice contrast between nature and manmade.
Thanks for the compliment. Tthere are some really interesting birds in that part of the park. I saw something yesterday that looked like a wild turkey?
But yeah, the sketchy dudes were all still there.