Wednesday View - 8 December 2021 Edition

Welcome To The Exploration Photography Daily View

For today's view we take a look back at my trip to Valley Forge a couple weeks ago. In particular I would like to share a shot of the house at Pawling's Farm I made as I was walking along the trail that leads to the "Witness Tree". Well at least part of the house. This is all that remains of what was once a very large structure that was probably four times it's current size. And what amazes me is how quickly nature has taken over. There is grass and weeds in place of where the house once stood.

 

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

Until next time...

Wednesday View - 1 December 2021 Edition

Welcome To The Exploration Photography Daily View

For today's view we take a look at the sky as seen through the "eyes" of the witness tree. The witness tree of course is the estimated 250 - 300 year old  at Pawling's Farm at Valley Forge. Just think of how many skies this tree has seen and the generations of people who have viewed them through these sprawling branches.

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

Until next time... 

Sunday View - 28 November 2021 Edition

Welcome To The Exploration Photography Daily View

Today was forecasted to get some snow and cold weather but neither really happened. So I took the opportunity to take a walk at Valley Forge National Park. Specifically Pawling's Farm to photograph the "Witness Tree". The Witness Tree is a sycamore that has lived now for an estimated 300 years. And if you know anything about the northeast United States you know that is very old. The tree is very sprawling to say the least and for today's view I am sharing a few shots I made during my walk. The first shot is a wide view and is followed by a shot of one of it's large branches laying on the ground. I also added a leaf that I just thought was cool looking. And though what you see is bare this tree is very much alive and thriving. It's simply beautiful and amazing

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

Until next time...

Throwback Thursday View - 27 December 2018 Edition

Welcome To The Exploration Photography Daily View

Today we take a look back to December 27, 2014 at the Pawling's Farm area of Valley Forge National Park. This is the "Witness Tree" that I have shared a few times before. At nearly 300 years old this beauty is among my favorites. I can only imagine what it has seen in it's day. Just think, it was probably there during Washington's encampment. Of course it would only have been a sapling then.

Be sure to Click Here to read my original post.

Click For Full Size Image

Click For Full Size Image

And Click Here for yesterday's post.

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

Until next time...

Throwback Thursday View - 20 September 2018 Edition

Welcome To The Exploration Photography Daily View

Today's throwback takes us to Pawling's Farm at Valley Forge on September 21, 2014. Pawling's Farm is home to a few interesting old buildings but the one that sticks out the most is the barn. It's big. Very big. In fact I think it served as more than a barn and perhaps was used as a workshop or even small factory of sorts. Whatever it was used for I think this scene is pretty cool. And it even sheds some light on the age of the building too. Remember to Click Here to see my original post.

Click For Full Size Image

Here is Yesterday's View.

Wednesday September 19, 2018

And that's all for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Welcome To The "Throwback Thursday" View

Today we take a look back to December 28, 2014. This is one of three photos I posted that day. I shot it at the Pawling's Farm Trail section of Valley Forge National Park. You can see the original post by Clicking Here.

Click For Full Size Image

And now, here is Yesterday's View...

Wednesday December 27, 2017

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

Until next time...

Welcome To The Thursday View

Hi and welcome my friends!

I have been going over folder upon folder of images this evening to choose what to use for today's photo. It's been a bit tough this week because I have been adjusting to a new work schedule. But as time goes on everything should balance out. And to tell the truth it's not really that bad. The hours are a little longer but I still have weekends off. And for that I am grateful. But back to the photo.

After browsing through my archives I came across a shot I made at the Pawling's Farm section of Valley Forge National Park that caught my eye. I remember that when I shot it my idea was to use the trees to kind of frame am image of the open field. But after some cropping and color adjustment it looked like it needed something. Or maybe it didn't. 

What it didn't need was the color. And I removed it so I could share this black and white scene with you.

Click For Full Size Image

Technical Info

- Canon EOS 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm Lens at 26mm
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture F16
- Shutter Speed 1/40 Second
- ISO (Film Speed) 200
- Center Weighted Average Metering

Here is the "Before" image.

Click For Full Size Image

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Wednesday July 19, 2017

And that will do it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Welcome To The Wednesday View

For today's photo I share one last (for now) image of a wildflower I shot last week at the Pawling's Farm section of Valley Forge. It is a macro and it is in full color. But to me the best quality it offers is the flowers imperfections. Sure I could have easily sought out a "better" subject but this one drew me in. I hope you can see what I did (do).

Click For Full Size Image

Technical Info

- Canon EOS 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm Lens at 155mm
- Manual Control
- Aperture F7.10
- 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...

Tuesday July 11, 2017

And that will do it for today my friends. But I'll be back real soon with some new and exciting stuff tio share. I hope to see you here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Welcome To The Tuesday View

The more I get out and shoot the more I realize just how resourceful nature can be. I often think about how quickly it would take over if there was no human intervention. But that's not really the subject of today's photo. This is just something that interested me as I was walking along one of the trails at Pawling's Farm.

Click For Full Size Image

Seems this tree also makes a good flower pot.

But seriously if it weren't for humans this place would be a jungle!

Technical Info

- Canon EOS 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm Lens at 26mm
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture F4.50
- Shutter Speed 1/30 Second
- ISO (Film Speed) 400
- Center Weighted Average Metering

Here is the "Before" image.

Click For Full Size Image

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday July 10, 2017

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

Until next time...

Welcome To The Monday View

Today's photo is yet another from Valley Forge. And it's another from the Pawling's Farm Trail section. In full color and at full size here is a panorama looking out over one of the fields.

Click For Full Size Image

Maybe it's me but there is just something about a cloudy day that makes for a nice landscape.

I created this from three separate frames using Adobe Bridge and Photoshop. Though separate each frame was shot with identical camera settings..

Technical Info

- Canon EOS 80D
- Sigma DC 18-250mm lens at 18mm
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture F16
- Shutter Speed 1/40 Second
- ISO (Film Speed) 200
- Center Weighted Average Metering

Here are the "Before" images.

Click For Full Size Image

Click For Full Size Image

Click For Full Size Image

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday July 9, 2017

And that will do it for today. 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 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

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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

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Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - April 20, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Yesterday I shared one of my latest views of the Valley Forge "Witness Tree". Today in honor of Spring and the annual renewal of the season I would like to share this with you.

This is a bud on the almost three hundred year old Sycamore. A promise that for at least another season it should flourish and fill itself with leaves. And when it fills you should see the shade it provides :)

And now...

Yesterday's View...

 Tuesday April 19, 2016

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Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - April 19, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

During my Sunday morning photo shoot I made my way over to what I call "the other side of Valley Forge". I am talking about Pawling's Farm which I have written about a few times before. I call it the other side because to get to it from the main part of the park I need to make a ten or fifteen minute drive which includes a stretch of Rt 422. Pawling's Farm is the home of a nearly three hundred year old Sycamore tree that many refer to as a "witness tree". The name refers of course to the history the tree has witnessed throughout it's lifetime. I have photographed this beauty many times over the past few years and of course I did so again during my recent visit. Here is one of my many shots.

I shot this in color but the lighting and general aura of the scene screamed black and white to me. And the more I look at it the more I like it. But as I often say, Though I take credit for capturing the scene I cannot take credit for the scene.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

 Monday April 18, 2016

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Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - October 15, 2015

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

I had a rare day off from work today and it was a very productive one. I got a lot done around the house, ran a few errands and even had time to visit the Witness Tree at Valley Forge. I will be sharing the tree's beautiful Autumn colors with you soon but for today I would like to share part of the tree with you.

You should see the ones still on the tree. And you will if you come back soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

January 14, 2015 - Photo Of The Day

Continuing with yesterday's theme I am sharing a few photos from Pawling's Farm on New Years Eve. Today we take a look at the barn. I didn't shoot all the way around but I think I got a few good one's here.

I may try to get over there again soon and get some more shots. I also need to do some research about the farm and see what I come up with. Unfortunately a quick Google search didn't show much but I'm sure there is something out there.

And I'll be back real soon with more folks. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...