Creek in Black & White
This could be an April Fool’s Day post, only because early April in Pennsylvania has equal odds for being warm and sunny, or having several inches of snow. Speaking of snow, these are a step back to late January when I visited Promised Land State Park for a hike along the East Branch of Wallenpaupack […]
Lee Hill in March
Hiking in March is challenging in many ways. The trails are often wet and muddy as the earth thaws. The temperature can vary across a 40 degree spectrum. And no matter how desperate I am to find green sprouts or new leaves – any sign of life returning to the world – it’s just not […]
Forest Spring
Tucked into the woods past the boundary of the barrens, the trail arcs past this forest spring. Just a small pool with a trickle of an outlet stream, it persists through the year, through winter freezes and summer dry spells. It’s surprisingly challenging to capture a good photo – I’ve tried many times – but […]
A burst of color
Looking back over the past few weeks, I’ve shared a number of winter photos with cold tones, black & white shots, and muted scenes. So it feels like time for a burst of color to warm it up in here! From a walk at Egypt Meadows last autumn, in the later afternoon – it was […]
The Outcrop
For me, this photo is all about shapes and tonality. The angled wedge of the rock face and its facets and cracks; the horizontal shelves contrasting with the vertical lines of the trees; and of course the interplay between the white snow and the full range of grays. I like it for its geometry and […]
The Eales Trees
Returning readers will recognize these trees; the Eales trees, which stand along the first quarter of the Blueberry trail at the preserve. I photograph these trees each time I visit that trail. It has become a sort of aesthetic compulsion, adjusting the framing and vantage point, in different seasons and lighting conditions, to try and […]
Winter Forest
The trails around Kennedy Creek and Lee Hill are some of my favorites at Lackawanna State Park. It’s been my go-to area of the park for years, and now extends up into the adjacent Rowlands Preserve. So with a bit of snow on the ground at the end of a cold spell, it’s no surprise […]
Winter Evening
Another evening out chasing the winter light. The clouds moved in for sunset and dampened the scene more than I had hoped, but that’s just the way it works when you’re courting the natural world. Despite the challenging conditions, I came away with a few photographs that felt worthy of sharing.
Twilight Trails
Winter has some of the best light, if you can mitigate the cold and the snow to reach it. I bundle up in my old ski jacket from the early 2000s – well out of style, but still plenty warm, with an assortment of hats and gloves, and a pair of clunky snow boots. Even […]
Winter Sunset
Wrapping up a late hike a couple of weeks back, I was greeted with a wintry sunset as I approached the parking lot. The color was concentrated on the horizon and fading fast, but the contrast between that orange edge and the cold twilight blues made it irresistible!