Ossining, New York

Ossining sits atop an incline beginning at the Hudson River. Located at the top are the pampered, “no trespassing” lawns you can’t step on. At the bottom are the front lawns that invite you over for Sunday barbecues. These two points, juxtaposed, illustrate a vivid picture of segregation; and between them is where values from both ends meld together in a harmony that seems ironic at times. Initially, I wanted to document my hometown from an unbiased perspective—to create a robust and mature examination of Ossining. Months into the project, I decided to reject this philosophy and focus more on the bottom half, later discovering my affinity towards the people who inhabit it. After much deliberation, I’ve concluded that I feel most at home at the bottom of the hill, closest to the river. -Giovanni Urgelles