Photo of Rudd Pond garners wide exposure for local photographer
Union Vale photographer Julian Diamond shot the photo, “Nighttime on Rudd Pond,” in the spring of 2016; it’s won a number of honors since then and was in an exhibit for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in the nation’s capitol entitled, “United by the Trail.”
Photo by Julian Diamond

Photo of Rudd Pond garners wide exposure for local photographer

MILLERTON — Although he’s only 25, Dutchess County native Julian Diamond has accomplished a lot in his short lifetime. A professional photographer who is self-taught, Diamond continues to collect accolades for his work; just this month he was again honored, this time by Dutchess Tourism as September’s Featured Photographer, for his stylistic work of landmarks throughout the iconic Hudson Valley region. His shot of Rudd Pond in Millerton on a starlit night, entitled, “Nighttime on Rudd Pond,” and of the Stissing Mountain fire tower aglow under a full moon in Pine Plains, entitled, “Lunar Lookout,” are easily recognized by residents of the Harlem Valley. 

The image of Rudd Pond even won him an honor with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to represent New York in an ATC exhibit in Washington, D.C., entitled, “United by the Trail.”  

And one of the young photographer’s photos was used for the magazine, “A.T. Journeys” in the fall of 2018, of an eerily foggy night sky.

“[He’s] one hell of a pro,” said Stancy DuHamel, co-chair of the Harlem Valley AT Community.

“We love Julian’s work!” said Melaine Rottkamp, president and CEO of Dutchess Tourism, Inc. “Dutchess Tourism’s ‘Featured Photographer’ program is all about inspiring people to explore the tremendous beauty that surrounds us here in Dutchess County. In the early days of the pandemic, when people were shut in their homes, it was more important than ever for us to showcase these gorgeous images shared by talented local photographers. Currently, we are focused on helping people do what is exciting and productive: make plans right now for safe travel to Dutchess County for a future date or for right now if they are able. Our wide-open spaces, many of which are the subjects of Featured Photographers like Julian Diamond and our first FP Justin Goodhart, provide safe opportunities for travelers to visit Dutchess.”

According to the most recent numbers from Dutchess Tourism, which were provided to New York State,  visitor spending in Dutchess County was $642.2 million in 2018. That year, visitors to the county contributed $43.7 million in local sales tax and $35 million in state sales tax, reducing the tax burden on each household by $743. Tourism employed 7.3% of the Hudson Valley workforce in 2018, including 11,024 people in Dutchess County. Those numbers will look dramatically different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the state and local economy — and on how it’s affected the tourism industry.

But having local photographers, like Diamond, promote the Hudson Valley region, specifically the Harlem Valley, can only help. 

“It’s so dominating, the landscape of northern Dutchess County,” he said. “It’s very prominent, very mysterious geologically, very historical from the native people to modern developments. It’s sort of mystical, so to speak. And, of course, the weather patterns are such that you often get a lot of misty and atmospheric conditions up there, like at Stissing Mountain, that create favorable plays of light and shadow and fog; it’s relatively unique and special in that area. It’s not something that you experience in a lot of other places.”

He added that “the interface between the natural world and the human influence, of the bustling villages and towns and cities with vibrant art and culture, and five minutes down the road you can be in wilderness, has a special juxtaposition that you can convey through photography.”

Which is something that Diamond does very well. To view his portfolio, go to www.juliandiamondphotography.com; to reach him at his studio by phone, call 845-249-6231.

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