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VALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y. -- Looking at Valley Cottage resident Steve Aaron's sweeping landscape photos, you would never guess that the 56-year-old man behind the lens spends his days working in consumer products and supply chains.
His current work, taken over a series of two to three years, "From the Mountains to the River, Landscape Photography of the Hudson Valley," on display at the Valley Cottage Library now through Feb. 28, takes viewers to hidden places throughout the area that most would never get a chance to view.
A grand opening reception will be held to kick-off Aaron's show from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, at the library, 110 Route 303. The event is open to the public.
Aaron says he spends most of his free time hiking with his camera, hoping to capture places many people would never be able to find.
"I like to hike to rough, hidden, out-of-the-way places that most people would not go to," Aaron said. "It's such a pleasure that I can bring them back for others to enjoy."
Aaron has been seriously taking photos for only eight or nine years. He spent time as a child and teenager taking fun photos, but nothing that would compare to his work today.
When he isn't taking photos for display, he donates time taking photographs for such environmental groups as the Nature Conservancy and Ulster County Tourism. His work has been published in "Ulster Magazine," Ulster County Travel Guides, promotional ads for Ulster County tourism, postcards published by The Nature Conservancy, the 2013 National Landmarks Calendar, and others.
And although he uses a Nikon when taking his landscapes, the artist has also been known to snap a few pictures with his cellphones like the rest of us.
"Sure, I'll see something fun and not have my camera, so I use my phone," he said. "You can find those on Facebook or Instagram."
Aaron lives in Valley Cottage with his wife Lesley, and his daughter.
To view his work online, click here.
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