hark 2021
- Thread starter hark
- Start date
Got this in my e-mail today from Birdwatching magazine and thought of you. Any of them near you?
[h=1]PENNSYLVANIA HOTSPOTS[/h]
[h=1]PENNSYLVANIA HOTSPOTS[/h]
[FONT="]Each issue of BirdWatching includes profiles of great birding locations written by local experts — our Hotspots Near You. In this new slideshow, we feature seven great birding hotspots in Pennsylvania and birds seen at each one. Enjoy!
https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/l...ions/great-birding-locations-in-pennsylvania/
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https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/l...ions/great-birding-locations-in-pennsylvania/
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I haven't heard of any of these except one, Marilynne. Three of them are about an hour or less away!
- Peace Valley Nature Park, Doylestown
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Philadelphia
- Discovery Center, Philadelphia
But all of these are interesting and give me something to consider in the future. Thanks!
This first image was from the other day. Since the weather forecast was for rain Saturday, Sunday, and today, I wanted to be sure to capture this Veterans Park while the weather was still nice.
Turns out the forecast changed late yesterday so today was pretty nice. This is the base of the Doughboy Statue which depicts a WWI Infantry Man. The entire statue was cleaned at some point last year.
And here is the Doughboy. They did a really nice job cleaning the statue. Previously it had black in most of its crevices.
And this is the flag that stands next to the Doughboy Statue. I found out the hard way that my D610's sensor needs a good cleaning. :shame: Shooting stopped down to create an in camera starburst from the sun can do that.
Turns out the forecast changed late yesterday so today was pretty nice. This is the base of the Doughboy Statue which depicts a WWI Infantry Man. The entire statue was cleaned at some point last year.
And here is the Doughboy. They did a really nice job cleaning the statue. Previously it had black in most of its crevices.
And this is the flag that stands next to the Doughboy Statue. I found out the hard way that my D610's sensor needs a good cleaning. :shame: Shooting stopped down to create an in camera starburst from the sun can do that.
Today and tomorrow is an event containing a display of over 65,000 American Flags in the shape and size of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. The flags are to remember the lives lost during the war as well as those who were POF/MIA. Volunteers planted over 65,000 flags in memory of those fallen soldiers.
These are one of the bands that performed.
These are one of the bands that performed.
And this is the Veteran who organizes the annual event. The man was quite willing to let me take his photo, but he is very serious about this event. Plus between bands, he gives information.
After finishing this color image, I decided to play with it in The Nik Collection's Color Efex Pro to give it a little but of a nostalgic look.
After finishing this color image, I decided to play with it in The Nik Collection's Color Efex Pro to give it a little but of a nostalgic look.
While I was at a different spot taking a photo of the flag hanging from the crane, an attendee expressed her frustration with the flag not getting blown into a nice position. And honestly I encountered that most times, too. So I felt lucky being in the right place at the right time for this.
Tomorrow June 14th is Flag Day here in the USA. This flag event is to remember the lives lost or who were MIA/POW during the Vietnam War.
Tomorrow June 14th is Flag Day here in the USA. This flag event is to remember the lives lost or who were MIA/POW during the Vietnam War.
I attended a historical reenactment today. Unfortunately it slipped my mind, and I didn't have a flash which would have helped with both images, plus I didn't have my 16-35mm with me.
When taking portraits, I've heard how green grass can be reflected up onto people so it's a good idea to use modifiers to help prevent it. Unfortunately I didn't have a flash with me, and quite honestly I wouldn't have even thought about it. Imagine my surprise when I chose this image as my favorite and saw the color cast. The first is a straight out of camera jpeg only resized for the forum.
I spent time with the adjustment brush in Camera RAW to tone down the green.
In the following image, there wasn't any type of light used other than what came in through the window and the open door. The green and mauve tints really surprised me as the room didn't look this way in person. The 16-35mm would have been helpful here since the room was really small; however, I didn't realize this log cabin would be open. Usually it's only available with guided tours (which they were doing but I didn't know ahead of time).
Once again I made use of the adjustment brush in Camera RAW. I want to go back and darken the face/body of the woman in the middle. Unfortunately my hard drive is full. There was less than 1GB RAM while I was working in Photoshop - and it got to the point where I couldn't edit any additional images. So this edit is it for now.
One thing I had to do was to uncheck the lens profile. When it was checked, the image was stretched on both sides making the two women appear noticeably too wide.
When taking portraits, I've heard how green grass can be reflected up onto people so it's a good idea to use modifiers to help prevent it. Unfortunately I didn't have a flash with me, and quite honestly I wouldn't have even thought about it. Imagine my surprise when I chose this image as my favorite and saw the color cast. The first is a straight out of camera jpeg only resized for the forum.
I spent time with the adjustment brush in Camera RAW to tone down the green.
In the following image, there wasn't any type of light used other than what came in through the window and the open door. The green and mauve tints really surprised me as the room didn't look this way in person. The 16-35mm would have been helpful here since the room was really small; however, I didn't realize this log cabin would be open. Usually it's only available with guided tours (which they were doing but I didn't know ahead of time).
Once again I made use of the adjustment brush in Camera RAW. I want to go back and darken the face/body of the woman in the middle. Unfortunately my hard drive is full. There was less than 1GB RAM while I was working in Photoshop - and it got to the point where I couldn't edit any additional images. So this edit is it for now.
One thing I had to do was to uncheck the lens profile. When it was checked, the image was stretched on both sides making the two women appear noticeably too wide.
I am still testing out my 300mm f/4 PF. However, this time I chose to use the shutter button for focusing and also set the body for AF-S instead of AF-C. This way the camera shouldn't take any out of focus images. Sure enough, everything was reasonably sharp. But I still notice the focus point that is illuminated on my rear screen isn't always on top of my subject. That's because the image shifts just when the shutter is actuated causing the focus point to be partially or completely off the subject. But since I was in AF-S, the focus didn't move.
Memorial Bench that the family keeps decorated.
Different Memorial Bench
Goldfinch that landed on the tree to the left of the first bench after I took some pics of the bench. Cropped somewhat.
Not sure what the following insect is although I've photographed these before. It landed there while I was taking pics. In its usual fashion, after a short period of time, it flew up and circled back around then landed on the branch again. Cropped quite a bit.
Dragonfly - also cropped quite a bit.
Memorial Bench that the family keeps decorated.
Different Memorial Bench
Goldfinch that landed on the tree to the left of the first bench after I took some pics of the bench. Cropped somewhat.
Not sure what the following insect is although I've photographed these before. It landed there while I was taking pics. In its usual fashion, after a short period of time, it flew up and circled back around then landed on the branch again. Cropped quite a bit.
Dragonfly - also cropped quite a bit.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Very nice. It looks like you can walk into it.
There is a fishing pier that goes out at least 25 feet over the water. That's where I was standing - so what you said is kind of true!
Yesterday's Hurricane Ida left 7 tornadoes in its wake between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This one crossed over from New Jersey into Pennsylvania right at the Burlington Bristol Bridge.
The storm left many roads impassable due to flooding from Philadelphia up into New Jersey. By the time I headed out today, either those roads were closed so no way to take any photos, or the water had already receded.
There is a levee in Morrisville - its retaining wall must be 25 - 30 feet high. The people sitting on the bench are on top of the levee. Although the water looks to be immensely high, it must must have been at least 10 feet below the top. BUT high tide wasn't due in until later after I took photos today. And in case you are wondering, yes there is a path that runs along the top of the levee between the Calhoun Street Bridge and the Trenton Makes Bridge.
Below is the Trenton Makes Bridge. The water on my side of the bridge was flowing quickly but smoothly yet when it got to the opposite side of the bridge, the water suddenly resembled rapids.
Then a little further south (probably less than 1/4 mile), the flooding is more evident. The levee is only located in a certain area so anything south of there is at risk for flooding. I don't ever recall seeing the water level this high. Usually these trees are on dry soil.
The storm left many roads impassable due to flooding from Philadelphia up into New Jersey. By the time I headed out today, either those roads were closed so no way to take any photos, or the water had already receded.
There is a levee in Morrisville - its retaining wall must be 25 - 30 feet high. The people sitting on the bench are on top of the levee. Although the water looks to be immensely high, it must must have been at least 10 feet below the top. BUT high tide wasn't due in until later after I took photos today. And in case you are wondering, yes there is a path that runs along the top of the levee between the Calhoun Street Bridge and the Trenton Makes Bridge.
Below is the Trenton Makes Bridge. The water on my side of the bridge was flowing quickly but smoothly yet when it got to the opposite side of the bridge, the water suddenly resembled rapids.
Then a little further south (probably less than 1/4 mile), the flooding is more evident. The levee is only located in a certain area so anything south of there is at risk for flooding. I don't ever recall seeing the water level this high. Usually these trees are on dry soil.
Bikerbrent
Senior Member
Hopefully you had no significant problems!
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Great images.
My brothers' properties are on a river right in the path of Ida in Louisiana. I don't know if it was a Category 2 or 3 when it got to their area, but both had damage to their properties. They were smart enough not to be there when it went through. I think they clocked 147 mph winds in Grand Isle, which is on the coast.
My brothers' properties are on a river right in the path of Ida in Louisiana. I don't know if it was a Category 2 or 3 when it got to their area, but both had damage to their properties. They were smart enough not to be there when it went through. I think they clocked 147 mph winds in Grand Isle, which is on the coast.
Fortunately no problems right here. Yesterday morning I attended a viewing then went out to see the devastation. This off ramp from a state road (which exits onto another state road) was a mess with the tree blocking more than half of the exit. Despite reporting it to the state online, it took them hours to clear it. Unfortunately the township won't step in to help in these types of situations.
People were getting a little anxious because they didn't want it sitting there after dark. Eventually it was cleared not too long before dusk.
Glad they were okay. This area of the US doesn't see many tornadoes at all so we don't have much experience with what to do. Back during Hurricane Sandy, a tornado caused immense damage. That was the first time I ever remember a tornado being anywhere near here. We are at sea level so there aren't any basements in these houses (dig down 6' to 8' and there's water). There aren't any shelters either. :indecisiveness:
I found this article telling one man's experience with the tornado while driving across that bridge. Further down in the article is another view of the tornado. He would have been headed away from the camera and was probably already on the bridge by the time that video started.
Levittown Man Who Drove Through Tornado Recounts Experience - LevittownNow.com