Early Season Birding in Franklin Park

I went birding in mid-march, hoping to catch the warblers coming through.    Unfortunately, I was too early for the warblers, but there were plenty of other birds filling the air.


First off, the location.   I've become very fond of Franklin Park.  The park is a short walk from the subway.  has an open field, some 'wild' forest.   And a pond.   Scarboro pond is where many of the birds like hanging out - close to ware and meadow, a walk around the pond will find you many birds.

Bridge over Scarboro pond

New growth coming from the shallow end of the pond

New pine tree brings green to the leaf-less forest

Trees aren't the only place to find birds - many forage not he ground, or hang out in brush near the pond and meadow.

Dark-Eyed Junko scavenging in the ground

Song Sparrow among the brush

Red-Bellied Woordpecker

Tifted Titmouse

Nuthatches were everywhere - they're usually rare to see, but they were on half the trees in the forst.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Red-Winged Blackbird, singing a morning song

Black-capped chickadees were always everywhere as well.   The state bird of Massachusetts, these are fun little birds - never resting on a branch (or a feeder) for more than a moment before flying off again.  They have a nice little color scheme, and a nice variety of calls.  

This Chickadee was apparently hollowing out a nest area.  It would scrape out a mouthful then fly off somewhere else to deposit the debris, then come back for more.

The park also had its share of Red-Tailed hawks.   Unfortunately, I was often in the first when they were overhead, and the camera focused on tree branches more than the birds.   Frustrating, as some were great sights - one was circling quite low, while another seemed to be a pair flying off to their nesting area.

When I was in the open I did catch yet another one circling about.   I just raised the camera up and snapped away, not thinking I had caught anything well.  Once I got home and was able to crop and process the photos, turns out I had gotten some amazing shots!







I'll finish up with the bridge again, done in Black & White





Enjoy all my other photos on my Flickr page.

In your own back yard

Sometimes great shots are as close as your own back yard...

Over Christmas I brought my DSLR with me on my travels.   Then it ended being cold enough that hading out with the camera wasn't very appealing...    But one quiet afternoon I looked out the window to see leaves on the dec.  The leaves were arranged just so, on the faded wooden deck, that it was crying out to be photographed.

One loop around the house was all I got in until my fingers got cold..   Not very adventurous, but my photo eye was in high gear.   I got photos of my leaves.    A lot of shots didn't work out. Many did.   But it was a nice reminder that if you look different, you can find inspiration wherever you go.


Things started off well with the front door

The front yard had a nice pine tree.  Tried several different shots in order to get something interesting.   I ended up getting in close.   Play with exposure.  Convert to Black & White, and got something interesting

"Nevergreen"

Around the corner to the shed.   Nice and weatherbeaten.   Get the right angle, include some background, then some B&W treatment for some extra mood...

"Hard at Work"

A shot of the wooded back hard.   Nice, but didn't do it for me.   It's a nice enough photograph.  but there's no reason for you to look at it.   No real subject.   Nothing for the viewer to focus on.  Doesn't bring the viewer any mood or emotion.   (I also didn't have the big zoom lens, so you can't see the fox way in the background)

The back woods.  

However there were some hydrangea with the petals in tact.   I got down close, focused on a set of petals and set the F aperture for a shallow depth of field. 

Hydrangea, Past

And then my leaves.   They were on a nice grey well worn porch, but the leaves had retained their nice brown colors, and happened to be scattered in some interesting patterns.   Then selected the more interesting ones to share.

Leaf study #4

There was enough texture to convert some to B&W as well.  I love the texture and the play of light that B&W brings out.

Leaf study #3

Not sure if this one worked.   What do you think?    Always a challenge when the wind picks up.

Ended my walk around the house, of course, lying on the ground.  A small almost unnoticable statuette seems to come to life when looked at form ground level.

"Playtime"

Thanks for touring the yard with me.   I hope you've enjoyed the image, and that I've inspired you get out and shoot, no matter where you might be.


Visit my Flickr page for more images.

Rail Destination: Strasburg, PA

This year I decided to extend my PA trip to Allentown for DCI East to include a side trip to the Strasburg Railroad.

The Strasburg railroad is the oldest continuously operated railroad charter in the US.   Today' it's a tourist railroad running several steam trains per day on a short 45 minute excursion trip (an out and back ride - 4.5 miles).   The locomotives and various passenger cars are all historic equipment, restored to running condition.   Trains run hourly, and there are plenty of things to do on site for the kids.   There are occasional special trains, like a Wine and Cheese special, or a Day Out with Thomas.  (They also do limited freight service....)  The rail cars range from an open air coach (great for photos!) to an air conditioned parlor car.

Across the street is the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, a large collection of restored equipment, cars and locomotives, preserved in an indoor climate controlled environment.    It's easy to take in both attractions on the same day (at a discounted price).

The trip is through the beautiful Lancaster county countryside, making the train ride a great way to see the area.  You can see some of my on-train photos here.

If you're ever in the Lancaster area, a trip to Strasburg RR needs to make it on your agenda!

The previous excursion train approaches the station

Train arriving at the station.  

Steam always look great in Black & White - the clouds were an added bonus

Locomotive #90 runs around our train to pull us back to the station

Ironically, the Steam excursion turns around at the Amtrak electrified Harrisburg line.

Our train as we go around a bend.   Farmland runs on either side of us.

An open coach.  

Not the most luxurious, but no windows makes better photograph opportunities

One last Steam photograph

 The RR museum of PA - half the collection, as seen from a catwalk.

You can find more photos from my Lancaster trip on my Flickr pages.

Railfanning: Macungie, Pennsylvania

When I travel for any reason I always do a little research to see if there are any good railfanning spots in the area.   You never know if you're near a hotspot of how much rail traffic might be in the area.

So I'm planning on our annual trip to Allentown for the DCI East Coast finals.   Having driven around Allentown for Drum Corps, I did notice lots of tracks in the area, but had no clue what traffic went where, or where some good spots are.   Plus, not everyone on the trip is a railroad fan.   (OK, none of them are).   But I didn't want them to stop me.

The park

Searching the internet I found a place in Macungie, PA - a park dedicated for railfanning!  I found an article that details the planting of the  Flower Park adjacent to the tracks,  but only this fellow railfan's article on the construction of the station-like pavilion that sits next to the flower park and the tracks.

The only remnant of the original train station is a crumbling curb which was the station platform back in the day...   However, the flower park is quite nice, and worth walking through while waiting for trains.  Even during my August visit the park was in full bloom - the park is certainly well cared for.

Entrance to the flower park off of the main street.   

Tracks are behind the white fence, and the pavilion is off photo to the right.

Macungie station/pavilion.   

Flower park on the left.  Tracks on the right.  Grade crossing near the van in o the left.

As a railfan, it was nice to see a place for us.   Railfanning is often pulling your car to the side of the road or some other out of the way place near tracks where you can see trains and not trespass on railroad or private property.   Here the pavilion is adjacent to parking, provides shelter from the sun and rain, and has plenty of seating!    When I was there Saturday I also ran into some locals there to train spot as well - everyone was very friendly!

But to the trains...

An Eastbound autorack train at the crossing

The action was pretty good at the location.  I was there on a Friday afternoon and Saturday late morning, and saw many trains bother times.  Flow isn't consistent - 4 trains in one hour, then nothing the next hour sometimes.    There were a lot of trains Saturday morning as (we assumed) they were clearing the yard and sending all the trains out...

A Westbound mixed freight.   I'll see this same locomotive again the next day.

If you don't have a scanner, it's still easy to spot when trains are approaching.  Eastbound trains go over 2 other grade crossings before reaching Macungie, so if you keep your ears open you can hear the whistle for those crossings and be ready.

Westbound trains have no grade crossings, but looking west there is an approach-list signal, so when that turns green something is most likely on it's way.   There's also a good sight line both east west, so you can just keep your eyes open.    but trains come through at a good clip, so once you can see a train, it'll be on you within 30-odd seconds.

Looking East (left) and West (right) from Macungie station

If you're ever in the area, I encourage you to visit Macungie.   The railfan park is a great resource.  There's a convenience store across the street.  If you're there on the weekend there may be other events going on in the town (there was a giant flea market and antique car show the weekend I was there).  And, if you're lucky, you'll run into some other railfans there!

Some young kids (with Mom) showed up to railfan, and were rewarded with a wave by the engineer.

Video

While snapping photos with the SLR, I propped up the iPhone for some video.    A compendium is below.

Happy railroading!

More of my photos from Macungie can be found here.

Railfan information about Macungie.

2017 Garden Tour

This past June was the 2017 South End Garden Tour - an event to raise money for the Community Gardens in greater Boston.   I was asked to take some photos at Watson Park, and also took photos at Berkeley Community Garden, where the tour started.

While I took some good photos for the tour, I also snapped a number of flower photos along the way.  Not only did my 'snaps' come out quite good, but the Clematis are amazing in Black and White!!   I definitely want to share these.

Watson Park prepares for guests with Lemonade/Limeade and a basket of fresh cookies

There was plenty of whimsy to be found in the gardens, as each gardener personalizes their space, giving each garden plot its own style..





Being June, there were an abundance of flowers in bloom in the garden.   While all were wonderful, many of the purple blooms had great color - beautiful hues of purple along side the greenest of greens.  

It had rained the night before, leaving droplets on all the flowers, and making the colors a bit brighter.  There was also a heavy fog over the city, giving me nice even light with few shadows.







The clematis proved to be even more exciting in Black & White.   The many purple hues look like veins coursing through the petals.







And the great thing about Black & White - sometimes even your  mistakes end up looking great...




Thanks for visiting!

A gallery of all artistic Photos from the garden tour can be found in this Flickr album.

You can see more photos of the tour itself on these  Berkeley and Watson Park facebook albums.

All involved in this tour are non-profits - if you are interested in visiting, joining or donating any of the organizations shown here, please visit their respective web pages:

Berkeley Community Gardens, South End, Boston

Friends of Watson Park, South End, Boston

tour organize, the Trustees, Boston region.

617 in East Boston, revisited

617 Images and Boston Attitude held another Boston Photo Meet (#bosphotomeet) in East Boston - this time on the other side of Maverick at Piers Park in the Jeffries Point neighborhood.

Was great to meet everyone - some faces from last meet, and some new folks.   Even people who were not with us - we just assumed anyone with a tripod was with our event.  :)

Rick was taking some model shots

Folks staking their spots for the sunset.

Ambient light, ISO 8K.   Love my Nikon 750.   :)

We even had a few brides at the pier for their wedding photographs

We had an amazing sunset, and some great shots were taken by all.

Sun setting over the North End/Charlestown.   Zakim bridge on the left.

Sunset from the pier, with a non-photographer enjoying the view.

But there are only so many Boston sunset photos you can take.    I spent some additional time taking other photos of the area.

Local art

Something fishy on top of a local marina

A container ship docked in South Boston

Containers being unloaded at Conley terminal

Various sailing craft out on the harbour

Red sails make this schooner look more like a junk out of place

And some really big ships, as vehicle carrier Liberty made it's way through the harbour to Subaru pier in Charlestown on the Mystic.  Not sure the sailboat could claim the right of way when you have a ship that can't stop on a dime.

A vehicle carrier arrives in Boston, big enough to block half the skyline

Even an abandoned railroad tunnel,  one of the two portals from the old Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn railroad.  (South portal - I couldn't get to the open north portal on this trip...)

BRB&L old South portal

Many photos also lended themselves to Black & White conversion.   I enjoy using B&W to show the viewer more about a photograph, emphasizing mood and structure and not relying on color alone to carry the image.

B&W can make buildings stand out

Custom house and surrounding buildings

or turn a cityscape into a mood shot.   The sunset/twilight sky lighted the buildings up just enough you can tell them apart, but it was dark enough to for the office lights to show up.

Boston Skyline

Dockside warehouse shut down for the night with a few single lights providing security - and some interesting neon artwork....

All's quiet after dark

Finally, what was once a lively promenade during the day becomes eerily quiet after the sun went down (and a chilly breeze came up).   

An empty promenade

It was a great night, and I look forward to the next 617 event.    And a plug to D'parma, where we stopped for a bite after the shoot for some amazing Italian food.   for a great dinner afterwards.   Perhaps that's why 617 heads to Eastie so often.  :-)


You can keep an eye on 617 Image's Facebook page for the next event if you'd like to join us.

All images from this (and the previous 617 shoot) can be found in my Flickr album.