Land of the Free | Albany, New York

 

Land of the Free
Albany, New York 

© 2026 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, Nor'easter Films, and Restoration Obscura
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And Still, I Move | 04.03.2026

And Still, I Move | 04.02.2026
Troy, New York 

© 2026 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, Nor'easter Films, and Restoration Obscura
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www.noreasterfilms.com | www.restorationobscura.com

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Poestenkill Falls | Restoraton Obscura

Poestenkill Falls // Troy, New York
42°43'14.79"N / 73°40'42.16"W

Photographers have been making images from this spot since the 1800s, when early practitioners carried heavy cameras and fragile glass plates into the gorge to fix the falls in long, deliberate exposures. Some of the region’s earliest landscape photographs were made right here, recording the same stream and dramatic movement that continues to shape the descent today.

To honor that lineage, this photograph was created through century-old optics, using glass crafted in the era when those first images were made.

Long before photography reached the Capital District, the Poestenkill powered the early industrial rise of Troy. The falls drop into a narrow gorge cut through the Rensselaer Plateau, and that dependable fall line made this one of the city’s earliest and most productive mill sites. By the early 1800s, water from the Poestenkill was being diverted through races and flumes to drive textile mills, tanneries, iron works, and small machine shops along its banks. This industrial corridor shaped Troy’s growth and helped cement its reputation for iron, stoves, bells, and later shirt manufacturing.

The falls remained a landmark even as the surroundings industrialized. Nineteenth-century photographs show mill buildings perched close to the gorge and footbridges spanning the water, evidence of how closely the natural drop and the built environment once intertwined. As industry shifted and many of those structures disappeared, the falls retained their basic form, shaped far more by geology than by the machinery that once worked at its edges.

What survives today is the same stepped cascade that drew early photographers, mill workers, surveyors, and naturalists. The river has carried on through changing eras of industry, decline, and restoration, leaving the falls as one of the most steady and familiar features in Troy’s evolving landscape.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, Nor'easter Films, and Restoration Obscura
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www.noreasterfilms.com | www.restorationobscura.com

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Lightning Strike | 07.12.2025

Lightning Strike | 07.12.2025
Halfmoon, New York 

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, Restoration Obscura, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.restorationobscura.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
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Pinhole Image: Former D&H Building

Pinhole Image:

Former D&H Building, now the SUNY System Administration Building
Albany New York

This pinhole image was made using a homemade camera — lanything light-tight can become a camera. The photo captures spring foliage rising around the building’s Gothic tower, a soft impression of a structure with a long and layered history.

History of the Building:

The D&H Building was completed in 1914 for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company and designed by Albany architect Marcus T. Reynolds. Its French Gothic Revival design — with turrets, stone carvings, and cathedral-like windows — gave the railroad a headquarters that looked more like a castle than an office.

It later became home to the Albany Evening Journal, tying it to the city’s media history as well. In the 1970s, the State University of New York acquired the building, converting it into the SUNY System Administration headquarters.

Hidden Details in the Sculptures:

Every detail carved into the stone tells a story. This isn’t just decoration — it’s a record of the people, industries, and institutions that once moved through these halls.

Look closely, and you’ll see figures worked into the stone: newsboys, railroad workers, and office clerks — everyday faces that reflect the building’s original tenants. Gargoyles and grotesques appear around corners and beneath ledges, some in traditional medieval forms, others with a more local character, almost cartoonish in expression.

There are sculpted trains and sections of track woven into the architectural flourishes, subtle nods to the Delaware & Hudson Railroad that commissioned the building in 1914. Faces carved into keystones may represent company executives, construction workers, or even the architect himself, Marcus T. Reynolds.

When the Albany Evening Journal also occupied the building, additional symbols found their way into the design — quills, typebars, and printing press motifs, still visible today if you know where to look.

Together, these carvings form a kind of visual archive. They anchor the building to Albany’s industrial and journalistic past — a physical record of the railroad men, newspaper staff, and city leaders who once passed through its doors.

Episode one of the Restoration Obscura Field Guide podcast is a primer on how to read the city like a history book. You can listen now on Spotify or any major streaming platform. A new episode drops Monday, May 5.

You can listen at: www.restorationobscura.com.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Maiden Lane Hatch | Restoration Obscura | 04.27.2025

The Maiden Lane Hatch | 04.27.2025
Albany, New York 

At first glance, it just looks like another old hatch set into the cobblestones. Heavy iron framing, a rough rectangle of stones, blending into the worn surface of the Maiden Lane cobble stones.
But Maiden Lane isn’t just any alley.

It’s one of Albany’s oldest streets — the historic link between the Hudson River docks and the heart of the city.

In the 1800s, it buzzed with merchants, dockworkers, and shopkeepers, moving goods up from the waterfront into the city’s booming marketplaces.

Originally, this hatch led to the underbelly of that life. Coal for heating. Dry goods for storefronts. Supplies hauled straight off the riverboats.

But by the time Prohibition hit in the 1920s, the purpose of these hatches started to shift.
Basements once used for storage became hiding spots.

Vaults meant for goods started holding contraband.

And the sidewalk hatches — almost invisible to the casual eye — became perfect drop points for something a little more valuable than coal.

Barrels of bootleg whiskey. Crates of Canadian rum. Cases of illegal beer.

Albany’s location made it a natural stop on smuggling routes between New York City, Canada, and points west — and the network of basements, tunnels, and vaults around Maiden Lane helped keep the flow moving.

Today, the hatch on Maiden Lane looks like just another piece of old infrastructure.
But it’s part of a hidden story — one where cities adapted and survived by turning their very bones into lifelines for an underground economy. Most of the remaining hatches have been purposed for utilities access.

If you know how to read the city, you start seeing these clues everywhere.

We explore how to spot these hidden histories — and how cities tell their stories through the things they leave behind — in Episode 1 of the Restoration Obscura Field Guide Podcast:
“How to Read the City Like a History Book.”

 Open on Spotify

The Restoration Obscura Field Guide Podcast is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music.

For information on www.restorationobscura.com

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

New York State Police EOD | 04.19.2025

 

04.19.2025 | New York State Police EOD investigating a suspicious package following April 19th's Hands Off Protest in Albany, New York 

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Cohoes Falls | 03.18.2025

Cohoes Falls | 03.18.2025
Cohoes, New York

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Bald Mountain Aerials | 03.16.2025

Bald Mountain Aerials | 03.16.2025

The aerials of Bald Mountain in Rensselaer County, New York scrape the underside of storm clouds.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Antiquity Project: The Hall of Springs

Antiquity Project // The Hall of Springs
Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, New York
Large Format Image 

This is the latest image in my Antiquity Project series—a large format photograph of the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs, New York. This ongoing series documents historic and iconic locations throughout the Capital Region using traditional photographic techniques and compositional aesthetics that reflect the craftsmanship of the past.

Photographers of the late 1800s approached their work with a methodical eye, carefully composing each frame with an understanding of light, shadow, and spatial depth. They embraced long exposures, allowing time itself to etch details into their glass plates and film. Every photograph was an act of patience, requiring deliberate framing and an understanding of how architecture interacts with its environment. These techniques shaped how we remember the past—through grand, atmospheric images that conveyed a sense of permanence and place.

That same philosophy guided my capture of the Hall of Springs, a structure built in 1935 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vision for Saratoga Spa State Park. Designed to reflect the neoclassical elegance of the Roosevelt and Lincoln Bathhouses, the Hall of Springs was once the grand entrance to the park’s legendary mineral baths, where visitors came to “take the waters” for their reputed healing properties. With its sweeping colonnade and soaring windows, the Hall has since evolved into a premier event space, but its grandeur remains unchanged. A reminder of Saratoga Springs's storied past. 

Shot on large format film with a long exposure, this image captures the Hall of Springs in the way photographers of the past might have seen it—not just as a building, but as a living piece of history, where light and time converge.

You can view the entire Antiquity Project here.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Antiquity Project: Harmony Mills by Gaslight Carte de Visite

Harmony Mills by Gaslight Carte de Visite // 2025
Cohoes, New York

This image is a modern recreation of a carte de visite of Harmony Mills in Cohoes, New York, part of my ongoing Antiquity Project. Captured yesterday morning, I have digitally transformed it into a scene that could have been photographed in the late 1800s. The horses were added in post-production to complete the historical setting, while the rest remains largely unaltered, aside from atmospheric enhancements for dramatic effect. 

The original image and the intermediate effect image are in the comments.

 

What is a Carte de Visite?
A carte de visite (CDV) was a small photographic print, typically mounted on a card, that became widely popular in the mid-to-late 19th century. Introduced in France by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri in 1854, CDVs were commonly used as portraits exchanged among friends and family, or collected in albums as keepsakes. Their affordability and standardized size allowed photographers to produce multiple copies efficiently, helping them establish a sustainable business. The widespread appeal of CDVs turned photography into a more accessible and profitable profession, enabling studios to thrive in an era when having one’s portrait taken was a luxury. They are still quite common at antique dealers.

The History of Harmony Mills
Harmony Mills, a defining landmark of Cohoes, New York, was once the largest textile mill complex in the United States. Constructed between the 1830s and the late 19th century, it became a powerhouse of industrial production, primarily manufacturing cotton textiles. The mills took advantage of the powerful Cohoes Falls on the Mohawk River, using hydropower to drive their machinery. At their peak, the mills employed thousands of workers, many of whom were immigrants drawn to Cohoes for economic opportunity.

By the early 20th century, the decline of the textile industry led to the gradual closure of the mills, and the buildings fell into disuse. However, they remain a striking example of industrial architecture, with their brick facades and iconic clock towers still dominating the city’s skyline. Today, Harmony Mills has been repurposed into modern loft apartments, preserving its historic character while serving as a reminder of Cohoes' industrial heritage.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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Albany in the Snow | 02.06.2025

Albany in the Snow | 02.06.2025
Albany, New York 

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Antiquity Project: The Fortress

The Antiquity Project: The Fortress
Troy, New York
Large Format Image 

This series is part of my Antiquity Project, capturing landscapes reminiscent of the late 1800s through traditional photography techniques. Photography of that era emphasized expansive views, revealing as much detail as possible. The Fortress, with its imposing form and historical significance, is a perfect subject for the project.

Troy’s “Fortress of Shoddy” stands as a striking reminder of the city’s industrial heyday. Located at 1 Jackson Street in South Troy, this six-story Romanesque Revival structure was built in 1902 as a warehouse for the United Waste Manufacturing Co., a leading producer of “shoddy”—fabric made from recycled wool and cotton scraps. Once essential for workwear and even military uniforms, shoddy’s reputation for poor quality led to the industry’s decline.

The building’s fortress-like architecture, complete with corner turrets, a central tower, and massive brick walls, symbolized the strength of Troy’s industrial power. Surviving hazardous conditions, including a deadly fire in 1908, the structure has since served various purposes. Its raw, timeless design—with towering beams, vaulted corridors, and minimal windows—offers the perfect opportunity to capture images that could have been taken in the late 1800s. The Fortress stands as a symbol of Troy’s industrial past and an ideal subject for my Antiquity Project.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

The Erin Elizabeth | 01.30.2025

The Erin Elizabeth | 01.30.2025

The towboat Erin Elizabeth passed through the open Livingston Avenue Bridge this morning, breaking ice as it eased north along the Hudson River in Albany, New York .

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Antiquity Project: The Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel Stereograph

Antiquity Project: The Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel Stereograph 
Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York 
Large Format Image, Stereograph 

As part of my Antiquity Project, which focuses on capturing and restoring landscapes and historic sites in the Capital Region through century-old photographic techniques, I set out to create something that would connect me to the photographers of the past: my own stereograph. After countless hours studying and restoring stereographs from the late 1800s, examining their techniques and artistic choices, I realized it wasn’t enough to simply research the process—I needed to experience it firsthand.

This project gave me a new understanding of the craft of early photography. From the careful setup for dual exposures to the challenge of capturing light and depth to create the illusion of three dimensions, I learned that these photographers weren’t just documenting—they were crafting stories. Seeing this firsthand deepened my appreciation for their work and the lengths they went to bring their subjects to life.

In addition to making my own stereograph, I designed a historically inspired photographer’s maker’s mark—a personal emblem like those used by studios of that era. Through both the restoration and creation process, I was able to step into the shoes of these early image-makers, gaining insight into their world and preserving their legacy through my own work.

What is a Stereograph?

A stereograph, or stereoscopic card, was like the virtual reality of the 1800s. It’s a pair of nearly identical photographs mounted side by side. When viewed through a stereoscope, the two images merge into one, creating a three-dimensional effect that feels surprisingly modern.

In their heyday, stereographs weren’t just images—they were adventures. They brought faraway places, historical moments, and stunning landmarks like the Gardner Earl Chapel right into people’s homes. Photographers of the time worked meticulously to frame every detail, pulling viewers into the scene. The chapel’s towering spire, stained glass masterpieces by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and ornate interior would have amazed audiences, making them feel as if they had stepped inside this architectural marvel.

Stereographs didn’t just entertain—they educated. They helped people see the world in new ways, shaping perspectives and sparking curiosity. It’s remarkable to think that something so simple could pave the way for modern 3D imagery, but it did. These little cards remind us of how powerful images can be when they’re designed to make us stop, look, and wonder. The Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel is the perfect subject to honor this photographic tradition.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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www.noreasterfilms.com
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Oakwood Cemetery Footbridge Ruins | 01.26.2025

Oakwood Cemetery Footbridge Ruins | 01.26.2025
Troy, New York

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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www.noreasterfilms.com
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Nipper Sunrise | 01.04.205

Nipper Sunrise | 01.04.2025
Albany, New York 

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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All Rights Reserved  

Sunset Over the Palace Theater | 01.03.2025

Sunset Over the Palace Theater | 01.03.2025
Albany, New York 

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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The Kenmore (North Pearl Rain) | 12.13.2024

The Kenmore (North Pearl Rain) | 12.13.2024
Albany, New York 

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved  

Tough Turkey Day in Troy, New York | 11.28.2024

 

Tough Turkey Day in Troy, New York | 11.28.2024
Troy, New York 

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved