Exploration Photography Daily View - October 31, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Happy Halloween!

Can you believe October has come to an end? It seems that just yesterday Summer began and here we are bobsledding right into Winter. I can only hope that we have another warm one like we did last year.

While at the zoo yesterday we happened upon something rather unusual. We saw Prairie Dogs in the Prairie dog exhibit. Yeah I know that shouldn't be such a strange thing but it is. For about the last four years there has been maybe one or two Prairie Dogs there. And that was only during a couple visits. Most times there were none. I could never get a clear explanation as to why but I have my suspicions. If I had to guess I would say the recent influx of vultures may be the reason. But I can't say for sure. Only the zoo employees can say and I am sure they are not supposed to say anything.

So for today's photo I would like to share this guy with you.

I hope he sticks around for a while.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday October 30, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 30, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

What a difference a day makes. I know we hear that a lot but I mean it. Yesterday was a busy one leaving me with little time to write a "proper" post. Today however while still a little busy I did find time to head over to the zoo and shoot some frames. Well a lot of frames actually! And I have a lot of raw material to work with. Some really good stuff in fact. But good has many faces. There is "technically" good which to be honest I really don't care about. I shoot and share what I think is pleasing to me and my viewers. Oh I am picky when it comes to things like focus and color (or the lack there of) but composition in my opinion is just that. Opinion. And that touches on another face of good. Composition. And that is where I believe today's photo excels. Is it the sharpest picture out there? Nope! But I think you will agree that it is still worthy of sharing.

It was a really nice day today reaching temperatures near 80°F (27°C). And the zoo animals were loving it just as much as we were. They were very active. Especially the River Otters. These guys are so much fun to watch.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Saturday October 29, 2016

And that will do it for today folks. But please be sure to come back soon because there is a lot more coming your way.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 29, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

It's a busy day my friends so I am sharing just one more Valley Forge snapshot with you.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Friday October 28, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 28, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Today I would like to share one more shot from Valley Forge. And I would Like to place it in the "Don't try this at home" category.

I cannot condone shooting a photo while driving but I did make this at a low speed and there were no others cars present. This is a snapshot straight out of camera (SOOC) too.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Thursday October 27, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 27, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Continuing with photos from my drive through Valley Forge I would like to share this with you today.

Looks like Autumn is really taking hold.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Wednesday October 26, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 26, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

For today's photo I would like to share this minimally touched up snapshot from my afternoon in Valley Forge on Saturday.

Shot with my Samsung Galaxy S6 and processed (minimally) with Photoshop

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Tuesday October 25, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 25, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Hoping you enjoyed yesterday's view of one of the little things that make up the bigger picture I would like to share a bigger piece of the picture.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday October 24, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 24, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

No matter how big a place may be it is the little things that make it. The little things that are everywhere everyday. We may not notice them but they are there. Every once in a while I make a point to stop and enjoy these little things and sometimes preserve them via my camera so that they may live on forever. Just like this fallen leaf at Valley Forge.

There are literally millions upon millions of leaves at Valley Forge but this one stood out of the crowd. At least to me. And now I share it with you.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday October 24, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 23, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Well the rain is gone and the winds have calmed but the memories of yesterday's Valley Forge photo shoot are lingering on. Now if you have been visiting here for any length of time you should know what my favorite subject to shoot at the park is. It is what I call "My Favorite Tree". I'm sure there are others out there that enjoy photographing it but I bet few have spent as much time as I have or shot as many frames as I have just trying to make this perfection of nature even more perfect for the viewer.

For the past several years I have been mesmerized by this very dead but at the same time perfect tree. And I cannot be the only one. Just consider that the Park Service has left her standing all this time. I hope I have many more years of opportunity to continue this journey. On a side note I think I may have a picture of this tree while it was alive. I'll have to dig deep into my archives but if I do find it you will see it here.

Yesterday's photo I must say is one of my favorites. And I mean of all of my work. Ever. Today I would like to re-present it to you. This time with the color removed. Please take a look and let me know your thoughts.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Saturday October 23, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 22, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Well folks it seems that the cooler temperatures of Autumn are upon us and Summer is taking a vacation for the next several months. Oh it's not freezing but it sure is chilly. And the rain we had today along with strong wind really made it tough to be outside. Fortunately though the rain ended in time for me to take a drive through Valley Forge to photograph the changing colors of the leaves. And I got lots of good stuff. For today's photo I would like to share this with you.

I've done this scene before but it is one of those places that draws me back again and again. And look, it's in color! But I wonder how it would look in black and white?

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Friday October 21, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 21, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Today we look at one more photo from Pawling's Farm last weekend. And it is once again a Black and White. This is a side view of the Barn I shared yesterday.

This angle really shows where additions may have been added. I see at least two and maybe even three sections that have different stone. Or perhaps there are no additions and they ran out of the original stones? And there is the chance that construction was halted at one point and continued later like the Washington Monument. I'm sure the answer is out there somewhere.

On a different note I wold like to share a video I shot at the cafe this afternoon. It's kind of long but here goes.

As always this is best viewed Full Screen at  1080P.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Thursday October 20, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 20, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Inspired by my last couple of days posts I am continuing with my Black and White theme. I must say that I had a little difficulty with this one. One would think that removing the color from a photo would make it easy to work with but that could not be further from the truth. At least for me. And it did not help that the original shot was over exposed a little. But in the end I think it turned out okay. Though it doesn't seem to have that touch of creepy I was going for. This is a barn at Pawling's Farm at Valley Forge.

Yep, about an hour's worth of post processing. But working with it for a while I did pick up on a couple of things. And I can't believe I hadn't noticed these before. First it is quite obvious that when first built the building was shorter. You can see that from the different stone about half way up the wall. And second if you look very closely you can see where there used to be windows under the current three on the second level. Just like the farmhouse this building is off limits to tourists. Though it is in a lot better condition.

And now...

Yesterdays View...

Wednesday October 19, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 19, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

I am really starting to like presenting some of my images in black and white. I guess it's the whole Autumn and Halloween season. It makes me want to add just the right touch of creepiness. Plus I like the way a black and white photo gives you more to look at. I think it's the fact that removing the color makes you look at it a bit more. And it tends t o be less distracting. In my own humble opinion at least. Anyhow, today's photo is a continuation of my walk through Pawling's Farm at Valley Forge last Saturday.

There is nothing like an abandoned old farm house to get the creepy going. And this one is about as dilapidated as they get. That's why there's a fence around it. But it does look like there is at least some work being done. I would love to see it fully restored but that is probably a long way off. If it even happens.

And now...

Yesterdays View...

Tuesday October 18, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 18, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Today I am sharing an "updated" edition of a photo I posted a couple of days ago. This was shot at Pawling's Farm at Valley forge National Park on Saturday afternoon. Except this time I am presenting it in Black & White. I think it adds a touch of creepiness for the Halloween season.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday October 17, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 17, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Going through my RAW photos from the last few days I have come across a lot that I want to share with you here at my blog. And as such I would not normally post two similar shots two days in a row. But I just had to show you this.

As we've seen in the past tensions can run high here at the Cafe but like always there is plenty of  food to go around and this little squabble ended pretty quickly and peacefully.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday October 16, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 16, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

In yesterday's post I told you about the three incidences of birds getting stuck in one of my bird feeders. Specifically three finches that were trying to find one more bit of seed by sticking their heads under the feeder wall. Luckily we were able to free the bird each time but enough is enough. When it happened for the third time yesterday I threw the feeder right into our garbage can. I then headed for Home Depot and found what I think is a safer replacement and bought it. In fact I bought two. After cleaning and filling the new feeders I set them out and waited for this morning to see if the birds took to them. Truthfully action at the Cafe was slow at first. My patrons seemed to be ignoring them. But I set my camera out anyway and watched off and on from our kitchen. It took a while but finally birds seemed to have found their new and improved dining facilities. And man did it get busy. Check out today's photo to see just how popular the Cafe was today.

This feeder along with the other new one and the two others were filled when we went out around 11 am. When we got back around 3:30 PM they were all empty. I guess word got around.

Before the birds showed up this morning there was a lot of squirrel action going on. And I thought I'd share a little of it with you with this short video. Enjoy!

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Saturday October 15, 2016

Before I finish I would like to wish my Mom, Phyllis a Happy Birthday. We lost Mom 11 years ago on October 31st. Today she would be 85. I say lost however she is not truly lost. Almost everyday I think of her in some way. Whether it be a movie we saw together or what she would say or do in a particular situation or even the odd moment that I think "Mom would love this I should call her" only to then realize I cannot. Her legacy lives on in each of her children and the many people she touched. 

I love you Mom. Tell Dad I said Hi and to have  joke for me when we are together again :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 15, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

How about this weather? Is it Autumn or is it Spring? Whichever I am not complaining. I got to spend some quality time out and about today with my camera. Kim and I of course had our regular errands to run but I did squeeze in about an hour to take a walk through Pawling's Farm at Valley Forge. I was hoping to capture some of the changing leaves but for the most part they are still green. I really think nature is just as confused as we are with the weather. But I did get some nice shots and today I would like to share this one with you.

I was on my way to visit the "Witness Tree" that I have shared in some previous posts and I saw these shadows and just had to shoot them. I am so glad that I did. Sometimes the journey is as good as the destination.

On another note I would like to let you know about an issue I have had in the Cafe. Three times in the last six weeks or so I have had a finch get stuck in one of my bird feeders. What happened is when the feeder emptied a bird would try to get that last seed and their head got stuck under the wall. I am happy to say though that all three times we were able to free the bird. Seemingly unharmed. For that I am very thankful. But as the saying goes, three strikes and you're out! The feeder that is. As soon as the last stuck bird was freed today I threw that thing right into the trash. Here is a picture of the offending feeder.

I very quickly replaced it and will be sharing the new one with you tomorrow. It is much safer for the birds and they should not get stuck. And as a positive side effect for the squirrels it is much easier for them to access. 

I hope the lesson I learned from all of this can serve to warn any of you birders out there to make sure the very feeder you put out to help our feathered friends doesn't backfire and harm them. I know I will be very careful going forward.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Friday October 14, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 14, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Today I would like to share one more photo from Longwood's Nightscape. Again though it is not really part of Nightscape. It's simply some lighted trees along one of the paths. In fact I shoot these every year at "A Longwood Christmas". Nonetheless though I think they stand out nicely.

I would also like to share another video I made the same evening.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Thursday October 13, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 13, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Today's photo was shot last weekend when Kim and I visited Longwood Gardens for Nightscape. It was kind of a rare moment with no one in front of the Pierce-du Pont House.

I love seeing it lit up. I usually visit during the day. Either way it is equally impressive.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Wednesday October 12, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 12, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

In the spirit of the upcoming Halloween Holiday I thought it would be cool to share this today.

I shot this the other day in front of our neighbor's house. Hmm, maybe I'll decorate the Cafe in light of the season? Stay tuned!

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Tuesday October 11, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 11, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Moving from the Moon back to Longwood here is a photo of the waterfall in the Conservatory.

It looks so much different with the lights dimmed for Nightscape.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday October 10, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 10, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

It seems that Autumn is really taking charge around here. The days are very comfortable and the evenings are very chilly. Before we know it Winter will be upon us. As much as I don't like the cold there is one thing that is good. At least for me. The night sky is very clear and free of haze and that makes moonshots a lot easier. And if you add that to the near perfect lighting of a less than Full Moon you get today's photo.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday October 9, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 9, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Yesterday was a long day my friends. We were out and about for most of it and then well into the evening. But the evening was the best part. Kim and I took a drive to Longwood Gardens to see their Nightscape exhibit. If I am not mistaking this is the third year of Nightscape and though a lot of it remains the same I never get bored. If you are not familiar, Nightscape is a light and sound display throughout the gardens and in the Conservatory. And it is spectacular. You can read about it here. Naturally during our visit I shot a lot of photos and even some video. Today's photo however is not of the exhibit. One of the cool things about being at Longwood at night is the chance to see nature in a different light. Or perhaps a lack of light.

I will share a video though. This was shot in the Conservatory.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Saturday October 8, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 8, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Hi friends, today I am in even more of a hurry than yesterday so for my photo I am sharing another snapshot from the zoo. But if all goes well I should have some cool stuff to share real soon.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Friday October 7, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...