Hark's 2025

[hark]

Back in 2023, I had two rotator cuff surgeries which haven't allowed me to return to everything I used to do. For the most part, I can handle many things, but every once in a while my rotator cuff goes into spasm which causes the deltoid, biceps, and triceps to also cramp up and spasm. Plus I have a lump in my bicep (the joy of having been in a sling twice) making it uncomfortable to constantly lift things.

Last year I got out once in a while but didn't share too much here. So this year I decided I will make an attempt to stick with photography as much as I can. It's just hard getting back into it after being away from it for such a long time.

This is a historic building in Hulmeville, PA named the John Hulme Grist Mill. Recently someone local posted their own pic on Facebook. The building intrigued me. Actually it was the catalyst to getting me back into photography. While I was there, I asked a gentleman if he knew anything about it. Although he didn't, he suggested I stop by the tavern when I finished because some of the patrons would be knowledgeable.

So this used to be a mill that created rope. However, the grist mill wheel is no longer there. The building doesn't sit too far from the Neshaminy Creek. There is still a shallow man-made stream that branches off from the creek which was used to generate the mill's wheel.

Here is another view from the front.

Off to the side of the building is a separate small park that commemorates locals who served in World War I.

Down the street a short distance away is another historic building named Johnson Hall that was renovated. Inside is a Coffee House that is highly recommended although I didn't go inside.

 

[hark]

Next up is Patterson Farm in Yardley, PA. It is a historic farm that is preserved. Over the years, many photographers have captured its beauty. So I decided it was time to stop by myself.

In my previous post, I made use of my 16-35mm f/4 lens – a lens I have seldom used but love its perspective. It works extremely well for architecture so I headed out to capture this farm.

The saying on the side of the building below really caught my attention. Choose joy. Sometimes I think many of us forget we have the option to choose joy over other emotions.

This antique gas pump still sits on the property.

 

[hark]

And here is another subject that someone local shared – it's something I've driven past many times but never knew was there. This statue commemorates George Washington crossing the Delaware. Right across the street and also behind this area is Washington Crossing Historic Park. No clue why this statue doesn't sit on the Park's property unless it was commissioned privately.

So this was the third of three new-to-me subjects so far this year!

 

[hark]

And would you believe I have another new-to-me location?! This is referred to as Neshaminy Falls. However, there is another dam on Neshaminy Creek that is a town or two away (actually this is one of several dams on Neshaminy Creek).

I've seen a few local photos of this waterfalls and decided it was time to see it in person. What I wasn't prepared for was the lack of parking as well as mostly muddy terrain. It was a mess to get to (wore sneakers, go figure) but SO worth it! The thing is I hadn't decided where I would go ahead of time so wasn't prepared for the terrain. My white sneakers are okay though. I tried to walk really close to the thorny bushes instead of in the middle of the very wet and muddy path.

 

[Marilynne]

Glad to see you got out and started shooting again! You're off to a great start!

 

[Needa]

And would you believe I have another new-to-me location?! This is referred to as Neshaminy Falls. However, there is another dam on Neshaminy Creek that is a town or two away (actually this is one of several dams on Neshaminy Creek).

I've seen a few local photos of this waterfalls and decided it was time to see it in person. What I wasn't prepared for was the lack of parking as well as mostly muddy terrain. It was a mess to get to (wore sneakers, go figure) but SO worth it! The thing is I hadn't decided where I would go ahead of time so wasn't prepared for the terrain. My white sneakers are okay though. I tried to walk really close to the thorny bushes instead of in the middle of the very wet and muddy path.

View attachment 416073

Might be a great place for a autumn picture.

 

[hark]

Glad to see you got out and started shooting again! You're off to a great start!

Thanks! I've been searching for new subjects and locations especially with things that are historic. Coming up in April, there should be a Native American event that they hold every year. However, I never knew about it before. Last year I caught it close to the end. But when some of them saw the photos, they said I should try to get there earlier when they perform their dances. The thing is it isn't announced so I need to do a little research to determine the date.

 

[hark]

Might be a great place for a autumn picture.

Thanks, Jeff. That's a great idea!

 

[hark]

On Monday I stopped to see the Hulmeville, PA waterfalls but didn't take a tripod or ND filter so decided to go back Wednesday. I really wanted the long exposure effect. Although I have a few different ND filters, including one that is a variable ND filter, the only one at hand was a 10-stop. So I chose to use it anyway.

However, I do want to find my 3-stop, 6-stop, and variable ND filters. I think I packed them away with strobe items before I had my two rotator cuff surgeries. They'd definitely come in handy for this type of image.

 

[hark]

One short stretch of the Delaware Canal. This canal runs from Easton to Bristol, PA and spans about 60 miles in length. It runs near the Delaware River along the east coast of Pennsylvania.

 

[BF Hammer]

You have a nice start going. Spring can be challenging to find outside subjects. Keep it up!

 

[hark]

You have a nice start going. Spring can be challenging to find outside subjects. Keep it up!

Thanks, @BF Hammer – no leaves to speak of yet. I'm located in the northeastern part of the US where we have lots of deciduous trees. A few people have posted photos of crocuses starting to bloom. That's usually the first sign of spring.

 

[hark]

When I was a kid, there used to be a retired plane called the Super Constellation that became a restaurant in Penndel, PA. Eventually in 1997, the plane was dismantled and taken to the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

The property where the plane used to be located became a gas station. Now they have a small replica (maybe 6 feet in length) in its place.

 

[hark]

The other day I went to Tyler State Park. Initially I wanted to find Mill Dam which is located on Neshaminy Creek that runs through the park, but before I left the house, I read an article that said the dam was to be removed in 2024 – due to issues it created with the ecosystem.

So instead I headed for Schofield Covered Bridge which also resides in the park. It's been a long time since I used a circular polarizer. In fact, it's been so long that I forgot why I stopped using it .... until the day I took these photos.

The color shift from the CP Filter was such a pain to edit. It was as if the saturation slider in Camera RAW was pushed to 100. The colors were awful to edit. So ... NOTE TO SELF ... only use a CF Filter to deal with reflections!

 

[hark]

After reading info on reddit about cliffs in Bucks County, PA, I decided to go in search of some. Unfortunately there were so many fallen leaves, tree branches, and brush obscuring any view of the cliffs that I opted instead to once again photograph Neshaminy Creek (same creek mentioned in my previous post).

 

[hark]

Sunday I headed to Summerseat in Morrisville, a building filled with rich history going back to the days of General George Washington. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington used this building as his headquarters prior to the infamous crossing of the Delaware River.

Last year I took photos of this building while the daffodils were in bloom only to find out later that the plants were mowed down. Most people in the area didn't believe the daffodils would come back again. But some of them blossomed this spring.

 

[hark]

Today once again I set out for Tyler State Park after seeing someone on Facebook post a photo of Mill Dam ... the same dam that was supposed to be removed back in 2023 (I made reference to that in one of my previous posts).

Although I was able to see the dam from an elevated level, I couldn't find access to be at its edge like I saw in the Facebook photo. And there were a lot of trees and brush between the dam and me which wouldn't have made for a remotely nice photo.

So I headed to the other dam in Tyler State Park that is near the main pavilion. I used a 4-stop Neutral Density filter for this image. Honestly I wanted to take a 2-second exposure but wasn't able to stop down enough to do so. In one of my previous posts, I used a 10-stop ND filter. That would have worked much better here.

The downside to stopping down the aperture all the way – f/22 in this case – is I realized my sensor is filled with sensor spots. And I mean A LOT! For some of you long-timers, you might remember the fiasco I had with my D600 and the infamous sensor spots attributed to that camera. Well ... today's sensor spots were WAY more numerous. But then again, I've never cleaned the sensor on this body, and I've had it for many years. Clearly cleaning the sensor is something I need to do. But first, I need to buy more sensor swabs. I'm not even sure if the liquid cleaner I used for my D600 is any good. I used that quite a few years ago. So new sensor swabs and cleaner is on my shopping list.

 

[hark]

The Burges-Lippincott house in Fallsington was built around 1808 for the Lippincott family. One of the family members was a doctor who addressed the needs of families living nearby. Last I knew (several years ago), I'm pretty sure someone was renting part of the house.

 

[hark]

Last year I attended a falconry event where I volunteered to take photos (I started doing that back in 2021). On my way there, I passed an event with people dressed in Indian attire complete with headdresses. After finding out it is an annual event, I put a reminder in my phone and attended this year's event Saturday.

A group of local Aztec dancers as well as from further away come together each year to celebrate Earth Day. They even donate and plant a tree. In fact, there were several trees clustered together that they donated and planted in the past.

The lady who organizes the event was thrilled I took photos to share with them. Here are some of the many images I shared with them.

 

[Silversnapper]

What a superb series of images. I am blown away by the wonderful costumes and can but admire the dedication and skill that goes into making them. Thanks for sharing.