Welcome To The Friday View

Today we continue with my recent trips to both sides of Valley Forge National Park. And just like yesterday's photo today's is another macro. Once again I think I could have made a crisper image if the wind was a bit calmer. Still though I am very pleased with the outcome.

Click For Full Size Image

This is from Pawling's Farm.
 
I don't do a lot of black and white flowers. However after working with this one for quite a while I just wasn't happy with the colors. I couldn't tweak them "just right". So I decided to try removing the color altogether and really liked it. I hope you do too!

Technical Info

- Canon EOS 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm lens at 128mm
- Manual Control
- Aperture F8
- Shutter Speed 1/500 Second
- ISO (Film Speed) 400
- Center Weighted Average Metering

Here is the "Before" image.

Click For Full Size Image

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Thursday July 6, 2017

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Welcome To The Thursday View

Despite some light rain today I managed to make it out for a bit and do a little more shooting. I figured I'd better take advantage of some free time that I have. I once again visited Valley Forge National Park but this time I drove to the other side of the Schuylkill River to the Pawlings Farm Trail section. Home of the "Witness Tree". And though I did get a good number of photos of the tree I also played around a bit doing some macro shots. So for today's photo I would like to share one with you. This one in fact.

Click For Full Size Image

There was a light breeze to go along with the light rain and it sure did not make this shot easy.

Technical Info

- Canon EOS 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm lens at 183mm
- Manual Control
- Aperture F8
- Shutter Speed 1/400 Second
- ISO (Film Speed) 400
- Center Weighted Average Metering

Here is the "Before" image.

Click For Full Size Image

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Wednesday July 5, 2017

That's all for now. 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 17, 2015

Hi and welcome to another edition of the Exploration Photography Daily View!

To continue with my recent visit to the "Witness Tree" at Pawlings Farm Trail in Valley Forge National Park I would like to share this photo with you.

A bit of old and new. Some new growing out of the old. And there is a lot of these. I wonder if any of them will be allowed to grow like the other low branches? I hope so. And I hope this old guy makes it another 300 years.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 16, 2015

Hi and welcome to the Exploration Photography Daily View!

Yesterday I shared a little bit of Autumn as seen at the Pawlings Farm Trail section of Valley Forge National Park. Specifically some fallen leaves of the "Witness Tree". Today I would like to share the entire tree.

It's a big one isn't it? I guess being around for nearly 300 years it's gonna be big. And there is every sign that this old guy will be around for many more years. I'll share some examples with you in a future post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - June 22, 2015

Hi there! Welcome to the Exploration Photography Daily View! Today I would like to share a photo that I shot early yesterday morning. If you read my previous post and checked out the video you know that I visited Pawlings Farm in Valley Forge National Park. Well after about an hour and a half there I was heading for my car and spotted some wildflowers. And that is what I would like to show you.

And also check out this quick video. It is a view of one of the open fields from close to the ground. Lots of gnats but a cool perspective.


A View From The Bottom <<< Click Here


Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - June 21, 2015

Welcome to the Exploration Photography Daily View and welcome to Summer! And boy it sure does feel like Summer around here. It is now 7:40 PM as I write this and it is currently 88° F outside. It was even hotter a couple hours ago when Kim and I were in our little backyard pool. And speaking of the pool look who joined us today.

We bought our dog Schnitzel a little inflatable pool and are getting him used to floating in our pool with us. He didn't know what to make of it at first but over time he did a lot better. And naturally we were very close by in case he jumped out.

Aside from taking an afternoon dip it was a very busy day. I was up and out early to do some photographing at Valley Forge and later Kim and I visited our local zoo. Hey, Summer only lasts so long and I try to make the most of it. No sleeping in here! During my early morning journey I made a few videos. Today I would like to share one. Now this one is a little different. At least for me. When  I make a video I am always silent. Usually because I am trying to share what I am experiencing. But there is also a bit of stage freight I suppose. Well for better or worse you get to here a little narrative as I show you the Valley Forge "Witness tree".


Valley Forge Witness Tree <<< Click Here


I hope that wasn't too bad :) Oh, and if you would like to learn more about the Witness Tree check out my post from last year at this link.

Thanks for stopping by my friends!

Until next time...

January 13, 2015 - Photo of The Day (And Then Some)

Hey there! Welcome to my blog. And if your a previous visitor, welcome back! For today's post I am doing another "pick your own" photo of the day. I have been working with some photos that I shot on New Years Eve at Pawling's Farm in Valley Forge and instead of doing one giant post I figured I'd break it down into a few smaller ones. How's that sound?

So to start out I am sharing photos of what was once a farm house. It is now in ruins but there are signs of at least a little restoration. I have posted shots of the house before but this time I went all around it. Take a look.

As I look at the house I try to imagine a time when it was lived in. When it was someone's home. How many people has this front door seen? What are your thoughts? I would love to hear them.

As always I am glad you stopped by and invite you to come back and see what else I have to share.

Until next time...

December 31, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Well another year is coming to an end but that just means another one is beginning. Let this be a time of renewal and opportunity. For my last blog post of the year I would like to share the last sunrise of 2014.

I would also like to share a short video I shot today at Pawlings Farm. I recently shared a series of photos I made there and one of them was a "mystery" building about 50 yards from the farmhouse located on the property. Well I went back today and checked it out and the best I can figure is that it is/was an outhouse.

Sorry that the quality isn't the best but it was very bright and windy out. I also have photos that I'll be sharing in a full post on Pawlings Farm I am working on.

I would like to wish everyone a Very happy New Year. Thank you so much for taking your time to read my little blog. I hope to have a lot of interesting photos to share with you in the upcoming year.

Until next year...

December 29, 2014 - Photo of The Day

Hi there everyone. Today I have one last photo from our Saturday evening trip to Pawlings Farm to share with you. This is another shot of the barn but this time in color.

I had to tone this down a little and lower the color saturation. The Sun was hitting it directly and blew out the scene a bit.

And that's it for today. I hope you have enjoyed your visit. I am working to bring you some interesting new stuff in the days to come. Please be sure to stop back soon.

Until next time...

December 28, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

Yesterday I shared a couple photos that I shot of the "Witness Tree" at Pawlings Farm in Valley Forge. Photographing the tree was my main goal but when I got to the park the sun was setting and there was a lot of opportunity to capture some nice images. So today I would like to share a few of them with you. I hope you enjoy these.

This is a trail that I often walk when I visit. In the background is an old farmhouse. In the Summer months there is a lot of foliage and you cannot see the house. Not from this location anyway.

I'm not sure what this building is or what it was used for. It is in a field directly across from the farmhouse. Probably about 50 yards away. Maybe a shed? I shot this in color but somehow that just didn't do it justice. To me it was meant to be black and white. Just like this next photo.

Actually this looked pretty good in color too and I may share that version at another time. Perhaps in the Facebook Group. This is the barn. A very large barn located near the farmhouse. It was constructed in 1826 with addition added in 1845. I would love to be able to see inside but I'm sure that won't be possible. Maybe someday it will be preserved but for now it's fenced off.

And that will do it for today folks. I have more to share from my visit to Pawlings Farm so please stop back soon. Thanks for reading. If you enjoy my blog please consider sharing it with your friends. Also feel free to use the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time...

December 27, 2014 - Photo Of The Day

What a beautiful day! We had very unseasonably warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Very unusual for December. I have a feeling we are going to pay for it in February.

Kim and I were heading out for dinner this evening and on the way I stopped by to see this.

This is the "Witness Tree" that I have shared before that is located at the Pawlings Farm section of Valley Forge National Park. My previous images were in warmer months and the tree was covered with leaves. I have been wanting to get over there and shoot some photos while it was bare and today was the perfect day. I also got there when the sun was setting and the light was very friendly. Here is another shot I made today with a closer view of the branches that reach the ground.

This beauty is nearly 300 years old.

While at the park I took advantage of the lighting and photographed some some of the buildings too. I will share them over the next couple of days.

As always thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy my photos and my attempt at writing :) If you like what you see please come back for more and share it with your friends. All are welcome.

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...