After several weeks of ‘conversations’ online, we finally gathered at Hibernia County Park for the first Meet-Up of the “Chester County (PA) Photography” – Facebook/Flickr groups!
What is always very interesting at First meetings that start via the internet, is the real person behind the profile icons!
Also helps with not having to create or bring “Hello/My Name Is” name tags!
Anyhow…
We meet at the main parking lot for the mansion at Hibernia County Park, and then drove down the hill toward the “Old Damn” Area, which was already rather full with fisherman.
From the parking lot, we started down the Forge Trail, which follows the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek.
For me, this was a second visit.
The last time that I had been here was seven months ago, just after Tropical Storm Nichole in early October 2010.
On a technical side, this was my first chance in trying out my new Tiffen Digital Neutral Density Filter Kit!
The Kit includes a 0.6ND, 0.9ND and a 1.2ND, and the concept of playing with an additional 9 stops was very intriguing, especially around water!
When the group got to a cleaning next to the water, all the tripods sprung into action, and camera bags flying open in all directions.
Not wanting to be left out, I started to look for a good entrance point into the water, and then waded in.
It was cold, was not too bad.
On the way back to the trail, I did manage to slip, and dunk my arm put to my elbow in the creek!
My vest did touch the water, but the pocket liners kept everything dry!
I did not need to lose another camera to water, like I did back in college at Watkins Glen (NY) when my Canon A-1’s neck-strap broke.
We continued down the trail toward the small fishing pond, where there were many people enjoying the day.
Stopping at the small little bridge, we spread out to capture the sights around us.
One vary popular subject, was the small little water fall on the down stream side of the bridge.
From the bridge, we head down Lion Heads Drive and toward “The Wall”.
After a little stop, we found another interesting area, which had a very strange attribute.
As one walked from the road toward the creek, there is a large area that has an intense orange color in the dirt and a blueish sheen.
Once on the other side of the mess, I crossed a little island, and found a spot.
We turned around at Cottage #1, and headed back to the parking lot.
When we got back to the small fishing pound, Jason headed directly back to his car via the trail, while the rest of us continued up Lions Head Drive.
We passed the Mansion and headed back down the dirt road to the Upper Damn Area parking lot.
In the parking allot, we chatted some more, and tossed out ideas of where and when the next Meet-Up will be. Details will be Posted on Facebook and Flickr groups.
From there, we went our separate directions.
When I got home, I began to transfer and process my files, and while showing my daughter my new images, I was able to show my daughter these two images, which I quickly turned into a combination “Poster”.
All and all, I think folks had a good time!
Thanks to all those folks that came out, and I look forward to our next adventure!
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Attendees
- Nina Cazille
- Jason Macchioni
- Liz Peck & Jason #2
- Andrew Seymour
