When I started this series I wanted to be shots in and around town.  Luckily New Paltz is the kind of town where you can photograph a drum circle, a quaint main street and then drive (or walk) five minutes from town and see beautiful landscapes.  Here are 5 of those from this past week.

On a quiet spring night last week I set out for some shots around town at dusk.  I still made it home in time for SVU  Here’s another New Paltz in 5.

Since New Paltz isn’t Newport, I’m usually met with confused looks when people ask what I did this past weekend and my reply is, “I went to the New Paltz Regatta“.  I think most don’t even realize there’s a river that runs through town, let alone enough crazy people to spend all the time and energy making a water craft that may or may not even float when it’s finally dropped into the Walkill, only to paddle it a quarter mile and often have it fall apart by the time it reaches the finish line!  It’s a great day that begins with a parade of all of the “boats”, as well as music, food and tons of people.  I didn’t get too many shots of the parade, and since it was so crowded in town, I was buried in the woods during the race.  Here are a few of the shots I was able to grab.

New Paltz is an amazing town.  I’ve probably said something to this effect before on the blog, but, there have been plenty of weekends where I get home on a Friday and don’t get back into my car until Monday, all the while being able to hike, bike, eat, drink, shop and see live music within a comfortable walking distance from home. Often I’ll wander around town with my camera, looking very touristy, especially on the high traffic weekends.  There’s such an interesting mix of people and things to see in such a small town, like a roving troubadour playing guitar along the rail trail yesterday, that I feel the need to document it a little more than I have been.  Since I usually shoot landscapes, this is a nice change of pace and a great way to show others some of the beautiful things I see around here every day.  Here are 5 shots from the past couple of weekends — New Paltz in 5!

Local New Paltz bluegrass band Yard Sale playing at In Good Taste