September 30, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

The end of September has arrived and it's that time of the year when plants and flowers die off and the ground becomes covered with falling leaves. But in the midst of this something interesting is happening right in my own backyard. Wildflowers. Now there may only be a few stragglers at full bloom but there is also a lot of buds. I suppose that as long as the weather remains somewhat moderate and the frost stays away they will also come to bloom.

I know that I have posted a similar photo before but hey, who doesn't like a little reminder of summertime? I had a little fun with this one. I hope you like how it came out.

I rarely use the flash on my camera. On board flashes are not generally a photographers friend but that is a topic for a future post. For this however I used the flash to darken the background. It also let me use a lower ISO (Film Speed) and in turn reduce noise (Grain). This was shot at the beginning of dusk and there was a lot of light from the day left. What do you think?

Thanks so much for visiting! I really do appreciate it! If you like what you see please consider following along by using one of the choices in the side bar. Feel free to leave feedback too using the "Contact Me" section. Also be sure to check out the blog's Facebook Group by clicking this link. And let your friends know too!

Until next time...

September 29, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

On Saturday I showed you a couple of photos from our trip to The Daniel Boone Homestead in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. In particular the Boone house and the barn and blacksmith shop. today I would like to share a picture from inside of the house. This is the Parlor.

The Parlor was used for eating and entertaining and at one time was even used as a courtroom. The furniture seen in this photo is of period time but probably not used by the Boone family.

You can read more about The Daniel Boone Homestead and the Boone family here and here. Also if you haven't already read my Saturday post you can get there from here.

Thanks for visiting and be sure to check back soon.

Until next time...

September 28, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Construction is a big business where I live. And there are many quarries to prove it. In fact I live just next to one. I cannot see it well from here but it is just a short, literally, 1 - 2 minute dive away. Well I drove to it this morning and shot some photos. Here is one I would like to share with you.

This is one of two local quarries, both of which are limestone. The other one is not in operation anymore. In fact this one was supposed to stop operation many years ago but somehow is still being used. I have no idea how deep they will dig but it sure is one big hole! I can just imagine what this land looked like before digging started. Here is a satellite view courtesy of Google.

McCoy Quarry Satellite Image

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check back soon and also be sure to check out the Facebook Group here.

Until next time...

September 27, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

How incredible is this weather we are having here this weekend? Today the temperature made it into the low 80's! Not bad at all for the last week of September.

Kim and I decided we definitely did not want to waste such a beautiful day so we made a trip to someplace that neither of us had been to before. Only about a half hour away we drove to The Daniel Boone Homestead in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. Wow! what a hidden treasure. At least it was hidden to us.

Now, I knew about it and have even driven past signs for it but never went there before. When we arrived I was not just impressed with the wonderful historic buildings but the grounds they sit on. Very open and spacious and again, hidden in our modern day hustle and bustle.

Today I am sharing two photos with you. The first one of course is the Boone House.

On this spot originally sat a one story log house built by Squire Boone in 1730. Through the years it evolved into the two story stone house you see here. Daniel Boone was born in the log house in 1734. The Boone family resided here until 1750.

This home holds a very rich history that you can read about here and here. Also, if you ever happen to visit I encourage you to take the guided tour. It only costs $6.00 per adult and is very informative. It is obvious that the guides are not only knowledgeable but really enjoy the history that they offer.

The second photo I would like to show you is of the Homestead barn and the Blacksmith Shop.

Only part of the barn is original and it is Pennsylvania Dutch in design. Also, though Squire Boone was a blacksmith this shop was not original to the property. It was moved there from nearby Amityville, Pennsylvania (not from the famous book and horror movie!) and dates back to 1769.

I will be sharing more in upcoming posts. I shot a lot of frames today and it will take some time to go over them. Please be sure to check back. I will also be posting some other photos and some "behind the scenes" at the Facebook Group. If you haven't had a chance already please take a look at it here.

Thanks for stopping by and as always,

Until next time...

September 26, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Hi again!

About a week a go I bought a new "toy" for my camera. An RF remote shutter release. With it I can set up on a tripod and shoot without touching the camera. The advantage to the RF (Radio) as opposed to IR (Infra Red) is that I don't have to have a direct view of the receiver. This way I can set up and be as far as 60 meters away. It works great with the camera outside and me inside. And that is what I did to shoot today's photo.

I set up the camera on a tripod and aimed it at our bird feeder. I then went inside and watched out the kitchen window for birds to arrive. Well birds did arrive. But I ended up photographing...

A squirrel!

I need to work on the camera settings a little to get a sharper image but I don't think this came out bad. I'm sure I could never have gotten this pose if I were out there scaring all of the wildlife away.

I hope to use this new "toy" a lot more. It was a great investment for $18.95 (with shipping) on Amazon. And the possibilities are almost endless.

Until next time...

September 25, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

What the heck is going on here?

That's a fair question. What you see before you is a group of performers from Australia that call themselves "Strange Fruit". This was shot at a performance they made at Longwood Gardens earlier in September. They strap themselves on poles several feet in the air and act out a story set to music. It was actually quite entertaining and they are very talented. You can read more about them here.

On another note...

I have started something that I hope will be fun and compliment this blog. I have created a public Facebook Group by the same name as the blog, Exploration Photography. You can find it at https://www.facebook.com/groups/explorationphotography/ .

I hope that this will be an interactive experience. It should be a lot easier for viewers to comment and even make suggestions. I will also occaionally give a little background into the Creation of some of the photos I share. I do hope you will check it out.

Thanks so much for spending a little bit of your day here. I appreciate it!

Until next time...

September 24, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

While trying to decide what to post for my Photo Of The Day I realized that I hadn't shared something from our recent trip to Ocean City. What trip to the beach, especially for me, would be complete without the obligatory picture of a...

Seagull!

I mean seriously, how did I miss that? This guy was enjoying the surf before the beach got crowded with people there for the air show that day.

Thanks for stopping by and please check back soon. I have some cool stuff coming up.

Until next time...

September 23, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Today I would like to re-visit the "Witness Tree" at Pawling's Farm in Valley Forge Park. Well I actually did visit it this past Sunday but today I'd like to share a couple of pics of it with you. These don't show the tree in it's entirety but give an idea of how big it is. Take a look.

Aside from just how massive the lower limbs are there is something else that I think is so cool. Take a close look and you will see new branches sprouting out of the old branches. To me this confirms that the old tree has a lot of life left in it. I just hope that after how long it has survived and thrived (more than 250 years) that we as custodians of the world around us continue to protect not only it but all nature.

Until next time...

September 22, 2014 - Photo of The Day

When I go out on a photo shoot I usually have a specific subject in mind. In fact just a few weeks ago I went to Valley Forge and spent an hour or more photographing one tree. But that doesn't mean I stay completely on topic. How boring would that be? Sometimes the trip is just as scenic as the main subject.

Yesterday as many of you know I went to Pawling's Farm in Valley Forge Park to get some shots of "The Witness Tree". On my walk along the trail to get to it I shot this.

So quiet. So peaceful. So serene. And that about sums it up :)

Until next time...

September 21, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Early this morning I drove out to Pawlings Farm, part of Valley Forge National Park, to visit the "Witness Tree" that I have previously written about. i wanted to photograph it in better light than I did last time. My first time there was on a Saturday at about 11 in the morning. It was a very bright sunny day. There is nothing wrong with that unless of course you want to shoot photos outdoors. But early in the morning and cloudy like it was today is a great time. I did get many shots and I will share them in a future post but for today I would like to show you this.

Seems like a great place to hang out if you happen to be a bird. I'm not really sure what this building used to be. It seems way too big to be a barn. Maybe some kind of a mill or factory? Anyhow I am a sucker for birds and give me birds on a 150+ year old abandoned building and I will pull out the camera!

Since I am not sharing any of the tree photos today let me share this with you. A short video I made walking on a back trail to see it.

Thanks for stopping by. If you haven't had the chance please check out a larger post I made earlier. You can find it here. I also have a couple of things I am working on to compliment this blog that I think some of you will like. Please be sure to check back soon :)

Until next time...

Hidden In Plain Site

Have you ever heard the saying "Sometimes the best place to hide something is in plain site"? Well sometimes it's true!

In the town that I live and grew up in there is a cemetery that though it is sort of in plain site, it is not well known about. It's one of those places that you have heard of but every story about it is different. I have heard everything from it being a 300 year old sheriff's cemetery to it being a Native American burial ground.

From what I can tell neither is true. After many years of talking about it I finally "found" it today. Okay, I knew where it was but didn't really know how to access it. In the end it was actually quite easy. When I got there I saw this stone marking it as the "Jonathan Roberts Burial Grounds".

This stone and the few grave markers around it is the only outward signs of the cemetery. I walked behind it however and found this.

And that's not all. There are graves spread throughout and some are in odd places. Here are a few more pics.

As you can see some of these are difficult to read.

Apparently this "Burial Ground" as it is called is the Roberts Family Cemetery as noted in the last paragraph of this very interesting  article at Philly(dot)com. Also check out this Wikipedia entry about Jonathan Roberts. 

Roberts had a political career spanning more than four decades that started when he served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1807 to 1811.

A nice cheerful subject for your Sunday reading enjoyment huh? Cemeteries. Well to me it's all about my local history. A history that helped mold our nation in what is referred to as "The cradle of liberty". 

Thanks for visiting! I hope to have some more posts like this one soon. And be sure to come back later for my Photo Of The Day.

Until next time...

September 20, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

The weather today was picture perfect! Autumn is definitely taking hold but the temperatures are still warm enough for shorts. What a great time for all those outdoor activities that may have been put off because it has been too hot.

Today Kim and I made another trip down to Kennett Square to visit Longwood Gardens. I know it seems like we go there a lot and it is because we do. I just love it there. Not just for the photographic opportunities but because it is so peaceful and serene. Very, very relaxing. 

On this trip we concentrated n the Meadow Garden. We visited there early in the season when it first opened and it was beautiful but wow! What a difference! The meadow is now full of wildflowers and tall grass. The paths are very well defined and maintained and it is just a nice pleasant atmosphere. A lot of walking but being mostly grass trails it is easy on the feet at the same time.

At the entrance there is a large pond. it is very mossy and is loaded with turtles, frogs and all kinds of small fish and tadpoles. They are not always easy to see however because of their camouflage. Today I was lucky enough to have one of the garden employees point out a couple of frogs. For today's photo I would like to show one to you.

I would also like to give you an idea of the environment these frogs live in.

On another note I would like to point out a couple additions to my blog. On the sidebar I added a "Contact Me" section that you can use to send me a message if you like. I also added a couple of links to the photo sharing sites I use. There you will find a lot more images than you see here on the blog. Please check them out.

Thanks as always for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon!

Until next time...

September 19, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Sometimes when I finish a photo shoot I like to go home and process my images right away. Well, at least the same day. Over time however I have been getting away from this habit. I am learning more and more to let some time pass between shooting and processing. This gives me a chance to detach myself from the situation and get a fresh start on the subject. Does that make sense? of course that does not always happen and that is okay too.

Today's photo is an example of "waiting".

Another air show picture. I'm sure I will have a few more to share after this one but I also have some new stuff coming. Please check back!

Until next time...

September 18, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Who can get enough sunrise pics? Not me!

When I got up this morning and stepped out onto our deck this is what greeted me.

A beautiful "almost autumn" morning that turned out to be a perfect weather day. I could get used to this.

Until next time...

September 17, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

I don't shoot many night time photos. It's just not my thing I guess. To continue with the "beach" theme of recent however I would like to show you this.

This was shot last Friday evening on the boardwalk in Ocean City. What a beautiful night it was too. The weather was absolutely perfect. And what trip to the shore is complete without a walk on the boardwalk?

This shot actually consists of two separate images. Through the magic of Photoshop I merged them and was able to get the entire scene.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you come back soon!

Until next time...

September 16, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

While out on a photo shoot there is something I sometimes do that often yields great results. Something really simple yet not as common as it should be. I turn around. I can be shooting an amazing subject but I turn around and get the best photo of the day. This is not always the case but is is something that sometimes works. More often though the image I am able to create is good in it's own right but not necessarily better than my main subject. I believe that to be the case with today's photo.

This was shot from the same place I shot the sunrise photo I shared yesterday. Just in a different direction. I feel that this came out well but I still like the sunrise better. Others may feel differently and that is the great thing about photography and actually all art. It is subjective. That is a great thing!

What is your opinion? I would love to hear it.

Please take a moment and check out some more of my photography here if you like. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Until next time...

September 15, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot resist a good sunrise. Especially at the shore. Yesterday I shared a photo of the Ocean City Aerobatic Airshow with you. That was shot around the time we left for home from a short getaway. Today I would like to share a photo of how my day started at 6:38 am. Here of course is yesterdays sunrise.

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And it was absolutely beautiful. A lot chillier than it looks too. But the chill didn't keep people away. You can't see it here but there were quite a few others around. In fact there was someone on each side of me. Each of us with our cameras set up on tripods. And this brings me to the great part of photography. 

I would bet that although we were all shooting the same scene that none of our images looks the same. This has nothing to do with equipment or ability. It has everything to do with the art of photography. The camera is only a tool. It records the data but the person behind it makes the photograph. It starts with composition and ends with post processing.

I kind of wish I could see the results of the other two guys that were out there with me. They were both very knowledgeable and I believe talented. And best of all I got some really good ideas from talking with them.

Thank you for taking some of your time to come here and letting me share my photos and thoughts with you.

Until next time...

September 14, 2014 - Photo of The Day

Today was the last day of our short three day weekend in Ocean City, New Jersey. We spent most of it on the beach watching the annual air show. We only found out about the show last year and the motel we like to stay at (Thanks for showing it to us Kathy!) The Pavilion has a special rate for this very weekend.

Last year I got some pretty good shots of the planes as they flew through the sky above us but this years turned out even better. I was prepared this year. Well anyway, I have many I would like to share, and I will. Today however I would like to show you one from the finale of the show.

As always I thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you come back to see what else I have to share with you. If you like what you see please share it with your friends and family.

Until next time...

September 13, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

It was a cloudy day here in Ocean City. The forecast was calling for a lot of rain but we were pretty lucky. The rain held off until around 4 PM and didn't last long.

During a stroll up the boardwalk I decided to step off onto the beach and shoot some photos of a jetty with the waves breaking on it. And the waves were strong. Very strong indeed. Take a look.

This goes to show that even in rough waters nature can be beautiful.

Until next time...

September 12, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

A view from the beach. This was our view after dinner tonight in Ocean City, New Jersey. A perfect evening at the shore.

Check back soon. There will be more to come.

Until next time...

September 11, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Yesterday afternoon I went out into our front yard and was prepared to shoot a bunch of bird photos.Well as you probably know that didn't work out. I did get a lot of great squirrel pics though. Well today I went out again and his time I got some birds. I'd like to share one with you.

Not too bad for a handheld shot. What do you think?

This is at the top of our insanely tall arborvitaes. The birds seem to love it though.

Thanks for visiting and be sure to come back soon.

Until next time...

September 10, 2014 - Photo of The Day

Yesterday after work I was shooting birds (with my camera) in my front yard. We get a lot of them here. Might have something to do with all of the seed I put out. I got a few birds but what I really got a lot of photos of is this guy.

He doesn't seem to care that he is eating bird seed. That's okay though. There is plenty for everyone. Click here for another picture of him.

I know that I shared a squirrel pic with you a few days ago but hey, I like squirrels! 

Please visit again soon. You never know what I will have for you.

Until next time...

September 9, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Hi there again. How is the weather where you are? It's been very cloudy here today. At least it's not raining though.

Today I would like to share a photo from a sunny day. This is another from our trip to Longwood Gardens on Saturday. A nice refreshing waterfall.

Please Click To View Full size Image

And it was refreshing too. That was a very hot and humid day. Just standing next to it felt good.

And also as a bonus I would like to show you a short video showing some of the Italian Water Garden at Longwood. Enjoy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Until next time... 

September 8, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

As the weather here today is turning cloudy and a little cooler, and for some rainy, I am constantly reminded that the Fall season is almost upon us. Yes, I know that there are still some nice warm and maybe even hot days left. But they will not last. So in that light I would like to share a little reminder of Summer with you.

Please Click for Full size Image

But don't let this just be a reminder that Summer is coming to and end. No, let it remind you that no matter how cold the Winter may be there is another Spring ahead. A time of renewal. And also use it as a reminder to get out there and enjoy it all while you can. And if you are out there at 6 or 7 in the morning maybe I'll see you. I'll be the one with the camera :)

Until next time...

September 7, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

I have been going over today's photo for quite a while. I think it came out okay but not as good as I wanted it to. There are a couple of issues. I'll start with the second first. Secondly it was the wrong time of the day for photographing outdoors and the sun was brutal. But hey, it's when I was there. A situation that could not be avoided. But the first issue is that I was not prepared. There are steps that I could have taken to be ready. I could have set the camera to underexpose the image. Being that it was sunny I should have already done this. there are a few more things that I could have done but I didn't so when this opportunity arose I didn't get the best image to work with. But I still think it is pretty good. I hope you like it.

Please Click For full Size Image

A lesson i learned a long time ago is that a good photograph begins before I even leave the house. Before I go out to shoot I always have a fully charged battery and I make sure my equipment has been cleaned. I also make sure I have what I may need with me. Tripod, remote shutter release, filters etc. The most important thing though is to know where I am going to be and know what settings to use. This day i simply forgot to check off that last step. Next time, I'll be ready.

Until next time...

September 6, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Today was a hot day. A very hot day. Humid too. But despite the weather Kim and I took a trip to one of our favorite places. Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. It was actually kind of nice. The crowds were small and I was able to photograph a lot of the grounds and buildings without people getting in my way. But that's not what I am sharing with you today. Today I share this squirrel.

Please Click For Full Size Image

A very friendly little guy (or girl, I don't know). Very tame and not afraid of people. I had a short lens on my camera and was able to get close and shoot this photo without him running away.

Tomorrow I have another lucky photo to share. Please come back and check it out.

Until next time...

September 5, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Okay, I hope this is not cheating. Today's Photo is very much like yesterday's. In fact it is the same picture. Except it's in color. 

When I shoot a photo I set my camera to save the image in "raw' format. Basically it saves everything the camera sees and leaves the touch up to me during  post processing using an image editor. In this case Photoshop. 

Now I know many people hear "Photoshop" and think that it is sort of cheating.  That's not the way I see it however. I use Photoshop to adjust tones and color saturation. To adjust highlights and brightness. Sometimes to apply a color "filter". These are all things that serious photographers have always done in the darkroom. Expect now the darkroom is a computer.

So when I shot the photo that I shared yesterday I had my camera set for black and white but since I saved the resulting image as a raw file as opposed to a jpeg all of the data that the camera saw was saved. This is why I was able to go back and e-edit in color. The color data was saved.

Anyhow, enough of my rambling about how cameras save data. Here is today's photo.

Please Click For Full Size Image

Which do you like better? Yesterday's black and white or today's color? Remember there is no wrong answer. Just personal preference.

Thanks for looking and I hope you come back soon.

Until next time...

September 4, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

The end of Summer is approaching quickly and I must say it makes me a little sad. I think it is the fact that it went way too fast. I do enjoy Autumn and the holiday seasons it brings but it is also a cruel reminder that Winter is about to show it's ugly face. After last Winter I am not ready for any more cold weather.

My favorite time of the year is Spring. The arrival of Spring means warm weather and trips to the beach. To me it is also my prime time for photography. Spring is also a great time to go camping because it is warm but not too hot. That is just what Kim and I did earlier this year.

On our last few camping trips I have picked up a habit of bringing home a rock that is local to wherever we are. I know, it's strange, but it's just something I do. And that brings me to my Photo Of The Day.

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This particular rock is actually not from our last trip. It is from a trip a couple of years ago to The Ponderosa Campground in Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey. As you can see I shot this in black and white. I think it shows off the reflections and shadows very nicely. What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by. If you like what you see please feel free to share with your friends. You can also leave a comment if you like. On that note, I have been told that the comments section is not working for everyone. I am looking into this and I hope I can figure it out soon.

Until next time...

September 3, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

One of my favorite photographic subjects, as many of you may already know, is the Moon. I was on our back deck this evening planning another picture for today's photo and I noticed the Moon was pretty clear in the sky. Not as clear as I would have liked but enough for a few shots.

This isn't the best work I have done but I still think it came out okay. What do you think?

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I like the detail but I think it could have been sharper. I think some of it is due to me shooting it in full daylight. Maybe I'll give it another try tomorrow and share it in a future post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

September 2, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

A few weeks ago Kim and I went to Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Like most theme parks of today it is a little pricy but we were lucky enough to find a great deal and score free admission for the both of us!

Aside from just being a theme park Hershey also offers a zoo that is included with general admission. It's a pretty nice zoo at that. So naturally I spent a lot of the day photographing many of the animals on exhibit. And of all of the animals I saw this is what I would like to share with you today.

Sometimes birds and animals in the wild is the best "zoo" there is. Also birds are one of my favorite photographic subjects.

Thanks for checking in and...

Until next time...

September 1, 2014 Photo Of The Day

A concrete ship? Yep! Today I would like to share a photo I shot while at Sunset Beach in Cape May Point, New Jersey yesterday. The S.S. Atlantus. One of twelve experimental concrete ships built during World War I. Though this ship made two Trans-Atlantic trips to bring soldiers home from Europe it was quickly discovered that concrete ships were not very feasible. Obviously due to their weight. 

The Atlantus was launched into service on December 5, 1918 and retired to a scrap yard in Virginia in 1920. In 1926 Colonel Jesse Rosenfeld purchased the ship to use as a ferry dock in Cape May Point. In June of 1926 the Atlantus broke free of it's moorings during a storm and now rests about 150 feet off shore of Sunset Beach. Though many attempts were made to rescue the ship, none were successful.

You can read more about the S.S. Atlantus here and here. And here is the photo.

This is all that remains today. The years, salt water and weather have all taken their toll. Check out the links above for more pictures and you will see what it looked like before going mostly under.

As always, I really appreciate you stopping by and checking out my little blog. I hope you enjoy it and like what you see. Keep checking back. I am working on a longer post or two from our recent trip. Also check out some more of my photos here at 500px.com and here at Flickr.
 
Until next time...