First, an apology to my fellow contributors at ABFriday Forum for publishing a dead link to the Week 23 Forum a few days ago. It couldn’t have happened at a worst time because this week featured the long-anticipated annoucement of the “Reader’s Poll” whereby all readers can vote for the image they would most like to see undergo post-processing by 11 different photographers. Worse yet, I was traveling without a computer and could not repair the damage until now. Here is the actual and, hopefully, correct link: ABFriday Week 23. The poll will remain open until midnight Wednesday November 4th.
And now back to the normal program:
Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, New York City
The Bethesda Fountain is topped by the Angel of the Waters statue, the only statue that was commissioned for Central Park. According to the park’s website, the fountain commemorates the Croton water system, which first brought fresh water to New York City in 1842. The angel carries a lily in her left hand — a symbol of the water’s purity, very important to a city that had previously suffered from a devastating cholera epidemic before the system was established. It was created by Emma Stebbins, the first time a woman received a public art commission in New York City.
photographybykent 
Beautiful shot!
LikeLike
Thank you! I was shooting this from an elevated position on a balcony overlooking the plaza.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful!
LikeLike
Thanks very much. There was a lot of other things going on around that fountain and I hope to post a few more images soon.
LikeLike
The image is beautifully balanced between the bright golden tree, and the dark sculpture, framed and exposed perfectly. Lovely work Robin.
LikeLike
Thanks, Janice. I appreciate your very kind comments. The tree with its fall colors made a perfect backdrop.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Robin, I just returned from my first trip to NYC in 15 years. We stayed in the World Trade Center area, and we took another but tour which included of course driving all around Central Park. I just ordered a book on Amazon with 256 photographs of Central Park. I wonder if your fountain will be one of them ! Thank you for the wonderful photograph….it is really gorgeous.
Annette
LikeLike
Hi, Annette: Thanks for your comments. The World Trade Center is another great area to explore, but I’m glad you were able to see Central Park as well. I’m sure the book you ordered will have at least one image of the Bethesda Fountain. It is one of the best known fountains in the city.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on My Blog.
LikeLike
Thanks very much!
LikeLike
Loving the incredible beauty of this shot, Robin.
LikeLike
Thanks, Dani, I appreciate your comments. The day was slightly overcast, which helped soften the colors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a beautiful fountain made even more attractive with the yellow fall foliage as a backdrop.
LikeLike
Thanks very much, your comments are much appreciated. It’s one of my favorite places in New York City.
LikeLike
Lovely composition here – it makes the statue seem even more regal.
LikeLike
Thank you for commenting. Yes, I cropped out the lower half initially because there was a lot of unrelated activity around the basin. But in retrospect, I believe this would be the best composition even if the plaza area had been deserted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Feels like I haven’t commented in a while but I’m still reading as always – photographs and abfriday have been great recently! 🙂
LikeLike
Ah, so nice to see the head of the statue that I inadvertently cut off in my photo 😉 Beautiful photo, Robin, made even better by the gorgeous fall colors!
LikeLike
Thanks, Stacy. It was really nice of Frederick Law Olmstead to plant that tree in such a perfect location;-)
LikeLike
There is a wonderful harmony in the colors of autumn, the expressive fountain and the still and floating water
LikeLike
Thanks very much, those are very nice words to hear.
LikeLike