Wednesday View - 4 September 2024 Edition

Today I would like to share some more shots from Monday. These were made just down the road from the Audubon Center at Pawling Farm, part of Valley Forge National Park. I don't know a lot about the farm but I do know that the very large Sycamore tree is estimated to be around 300 years old and to have been alive during the Winter encampment of General Washington and his troops.

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...

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

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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 - 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...

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...

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 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...