Thanksgiving

Being self employed long vacations don’t exist for me, so Thanksgiving is my biggest break of the year. Needless to say, I am very thankful for Thanksgiving. I am thankful for the many blessings in my life. My life is full with loving family and friends that enrich me every day. Each year I try to think of something new that I should be thankful for, something that I have overlooked, or forgotten, or thought was trivial but isn’t. This year it’s “sunrise”. Every day the world awakens, softly blanketed by the glow of the sun. Each day is fresh and new, like rebirth from another night’s slumber, which brings infinite possibilities.

Bask in all the things you’re thankful for tomorrow and cherish this holiday.

Sunrise at the Quarry

Nikon D800  Nikor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 35mm f/6.3 ISO 100 1/20 second

#TravelTuesday Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens is located in Kennett Square PA roughly 45 minutes west of Philadelphia. The gardens began their long history when the Peirce family bought the land from William Penn in 1700 and turned it into a working farm. In 1798 Samuel and Joshua Peirce started planting an arboretum and in 1906 Pierre du Pont purchase the grounds to preserve them. Over the next twenty five years much of the gardens we enjoy today were created. In 1946 the first fountains were installed. From then until now the Longwood Gardens has blossomed into a world class setting of nature and education.

My wife and I have been members for the past few years and enjoy visits through the seasons. We look forward to the Christmas lighting exhibit every year. My daughter and I have enjoyed a few long afternoons strolling in and out of amazing flowers and watching the fountain shows. During the summer there are firework displays that burst into the sky above the fountains that visitors ogle over. They watch intently from the terrace overlooking topiary wonders.

Spend a Spring morning, a Summer evening, an Autumn afternoon or a Winter night at Longwood Gardens for an enjoyable time. Bring the kids and prepare to walk in amazement in this botanical wonder.

This past summer the Italian Fountains were lit for the first time. We were visiting with our parents for father’s day and (of course) I had my camera.

Italian Fountains at Longwood Gardens

Nikon D5100 Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 @ 11.5mm f/11 ISO 100 5 image HDR

Image not for purchase, Longwood Gardens has somewhat restrictive photo policies.

NASCAR is over for 2012

In an exciting NASCAR season, the championship again came down to the very last race which took place in Homestead FL this past Sunday. Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge race car, finished the season in the number one spot. Congratulations to him and his team for a battle well fought.
This picture was taken just after dawn on race day when we visited Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina back in May for the Coca-Cola 600. These are the trailers where all kinds of gear is sold. From shirts and hats to scanners and model cars. Being at a NASCAR event is indescribable. The sounds, smells and grit of racing life makes the whole experience one that you have to be there to fully enjoy.

Charlotte Motor Speedway trailers

Nikon D5100 Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 @ 11mm f/9 ISO 100 5 image HDR

Hiking, The Time is Now

For me hiking represents many things. Exercise, freedom, clean air, nature, relaxation, the list goes on. What brought this to my attention was last weekend while I was hiking I realized that there was hardly anyone around. Late Fall into early Winter is my favorite time to explore the woods and parks. Southeastern Pennsylvania gets stinking hot and humid in the summer and will soon be dead and frozen as the holidays approach. Right now (mid November through mid December) is perfect for a long walk on a brisk morning. There are no insects to wave off constantly, little worry of sunburn, the rainy season is over so muddy paths are rare, and there are few non serious hikers (you know the kind ... loud, pretentious, on the phone, dropping litter, etc).

When your first deep breath outside chills your lungs and shakes off the cobwebs in your mind, it’s the perfect day for an Autumn hike. Go hiking this weekend, stay safe.

Hike!

Nikon D800 Nikon 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 @ 28mm f/6.3 ISO 100 3 Image HDR

Misconceptions of sunset

Sunset for me as a photographer is a magical time of day, but why, is misunderstood by many people. I remember years ago wanting to get pictures of sunsets. I have one of the sun melting away into the Gulf of Mexico from a pier in Key West Florida. I clicked and clicked away, giddy with results on my camera display. Two minutes after the fire ball disappeared, the crowded wharf was evacuated, and my wife and I headed off to dinner. Little did I know that the sun’s light, stretching around the Earth, could spray buckets of colorful drama into the waning blue sky. Now, when I’m stalking photos, I watch as people leave the scene, smile to myself, sit back and soak in the ebbing spectrum of light that washes over the immense palette above me. Click click.

Purple to Dark Blue Sunset

Nikon D800 Nikon 28-300mm @ 28mm f/3.5 IO 100 1/3 sec