The Gates in the Snow
Feb 21, 2005
"The Naturalist's Gate" Central Park, across the street from the Museum of Natural History, 6:30 AM. I got up pre-dawn and subwayed uptown to get photos of the snow before it was too trampled.
On the west side of the park, somewhere near 80th Street. It's easy to get lost in the park, there are very few signposts.
The Rambles, long famous as a cruising area. But it was beautiful and quiet in the snow at this time of the morning. I felt like I had the whole place to myself.
Belvedere Castle, the location of Manhattan's weather station. When they talk about the weather in Central Park this is what they are talking about.
A six-photo panorama mosaic taken from the courtyard of Belvedere Castle. Click to see a larger version.

A two-photo pano taken from the base of the castle, south side. Click to see a larger version.

Some photos shot from the same vantage on 2/11 before the saffron flags were deployed.
The castle from the other side of Belvedere Lake. That red ladder-like device is there to help rescue anyone who falls through the ice. The San Remo is in the background.
Wladyslaw Jagiello - King of Poland, just east of Belvedere Lake.
The Beresford in the background.
Around 7 the dog owners show up. The unofficial policy is that pooches can run sans leashes before 9 AM.
Benches with a soft blanket of snow.
This photographer came much better prepared than I did, with a tripod and an umbrella. I was soaked by the wet falling snow by the time I got home with too many blurry photos.
The steps near 79th Street on the east side.
Sculpted by Jose de Creeft, and cast in bronze by Modern Art Foundry of Long Island City, Queens, it was dedicated in 1959. It is low to the ground and children love to crawl over it. Their hands keep the surfaces polished.
Rustic Shelter near 67th Street and Fifth Avenue.
North entrance to the Central Park Zoo.

The Gates - Saturday 2/12/05

The Gates - Friday 2/11/05 - before the safron flags were deployed.