Juan Melli

28 posts

Breaking the Ice

After a week of freezing temperatures, ice floes drifted down the Hudson. As Midtown and Downtown Manhattan lit up at sunset, a lone tugboat cut through the ice, turning an already great scene into something even better.
Tugboat on the icy Hudson River

Snowboken

On January 25, 2026, a winter storm walloped the east coast, bringing a foot or more of snow to parts of the NYC region (Hoboken got 9.8 inches). Here are some scenes taken during the height of the storm.
A man walks along 1st Street past historic Court Street

Go With the Flow

A forecasted sunrise fizzled, but the Hudson River didn’t. On a low-wind, boatless morning, the river revealed its movement — smooth, ordered, and brisk. Sometimes the right image comes from stopping the chase and going with the flow.

The Seals of Sandy Hook

Once rare in Sandy Hook Bay, harbor seals have returned. Cleaner water, healthier fish populations, and stronger protections have changed the story. Each fall, seals migrate south from Canada and New England, hauling out along the bay to rest, warm up, and ride out the winter.
Sandy Hook harbor seals

Painted Buntings in Jersey City

Painted buntings are rare visitors to New Jersey, especially in winter. So when a brightly colored male appeared at a backyard feeder near Harsimus Cemetery in downtown Jersey City, birders from across the region took notice. Against an otherwise gray winter backdrop, the bunting brought a flash of color that felt almost unreal.