NYC Bethesda Fountain in Central Park

This is the Bethesda Fountain, located in Central Park, New York City, near the Bethesda Terrace. The fountain, with its iconic Angel of the Waters sculpture, has been a beloved landmark since its unveiling in 1873.

Chasing Light at Bethesda Fountain
A Memory from Central Park

A few years ago, long before Kass’s YouTube channel came to life, he wandered through Central Park with a camera slung around his neck. The photography bug had already taken hold, a quiet passion that drove him to seek out beauty in the world’s fleeting moments. On this particular day, the air was crisp, the trees bare, and the park felt like a serene escape from the city’s hum. Kass was drawn to the Bethesda Terrace, where the famous Bethesda Fountain stood in all its glory.

The fountain’s centerpiece, the Angel of the Waters, seemed to glow in the soft winter light. Designed by Emma Stebbins, the statue depicts an angel with outstretched wings, standing atop a tiered basin, her gaze serene as if blessing the waters below. Kass stood back, framing the shot through his lens. The angel’s bronze figure contrasted beautifully with the muted grays of the surrounding trees, and the still water of the lake beyond reflected her form like a mirror. He adjusted his aperture, chasing the perfect balance of light and shadow, knowing this was a moment worth capturing.

Kass had read about the fountain’s history—how it was built to celebrate the Croton Aqueduct’s completion, bringing clean water to New York City in the 1840s. The angel, with her lily in hand, symbolized healing and purity, a nod to the biblical story of Bethesda’s pool. But for Kass, it wasn’t just the history that drew him in. It was the way the statue seemed to hold court in the park, a quiet sentinel amidst the bustle of joggers, tourists, and dog walkers. He snapped a photo, then another, circling the fountain to catch the angel from every angle.

As he worked, Kass noticed the smaller figures at the angel’s base—four cherubs representing temperance, purity, health, and peace. They were intricate, almost alive in their detail, and he zoomed in to capture their expressions. The park was quieter than usual, with orange barriers set up in the background, perhaps for maintenance or an event. It gave the scene an intimate feel, like the fountain was posing just for him.

Kass spent nearly an hour there, lost in the act of seeing. He wasn’t thinking about likes or subscribers—those days were still ahead. Back then, it was just him, his camera, and the beauty he sought to preserve. The Bethesda Fountain, with its graceful angel and timeless presence, became one of his favorite captures from that trip, a reminder of why he fell in love with photography in the first place. Years later, he’d look back on that day and smile, knowing it was moments like these that set him on his path.

This story captures Kass’s early photography passion, the serene beauty of the Bethesda Fountain, and the quiet magic of Central Park.