Category: Pastures

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Covered Bridges of the Oxford Area – the Book

Looking through Rudolph & Arthur Covered Bridge (1886)
Looking through Rudolph & Arthur Covered Bridge (1886)

I have been playing with the idea of publishing a photography book for some time, and after my experience with producing Madison’s 10th birthday gift, I decided to make a first real attempt.

So what was my first real book going to be about?

Looking back at my recent history, it only makes sense that I do something about covered bridges, and I already had the content from the presentation I did back in October 2012 for Citadel bank.

This time is going to be easier from the standpoint that I only had a limited number of pictures, and a layout with the text.

So after a couple of hours, I was able to put the following together using the simple Adobe Lightroom module, and uploading to Blurb.com.

I invite you to take a look, and let me know what you think.

Covered Bridges of the Oxford Area

With this first book done, and I’m sure that I’ll revisit at some point, I am beginning to put together some ideas on themed books.

This time, using Blurb’s SmartBook application to put together my next adventure, namely because it seems to offer far more options and controls than what is available in the built-in Adobe Lightroom module.

In the meantime, let me know what you think of the book!

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Categories
Adobe Black & White Chester County Digital Painting Nature Nik Software Pastures Photo Journal Photo Manipulation Photography West Chester

Stylized Hay Bales

Folks that live in Chester County, or anywhere hay is harvested, have seen bale after bale just lying in fields.

So on this rainy day, I decided to take a second look at some of my images in my collection…

Between the rows
Long Sides
Hay Bales & Grasshopper
Side View

I am going to have to keep this technique in mind for future use!

If you are interested in how I processed these images, please let me know!

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Categories
Adobe Barn Chester County clouds Location Nature Nik Software Pastures Photo Journal Photography Tone Mapping

GPS Drive – Northern CC

Today, I got out for a GPS drive, to see what had happen after our quick little rain storm that passed through yesterday.

During the height of the storm, the larger than normal black walnuts in our back yard, where falling like small little cluster bombs, hitting the back deck with great thuds, while colorful leaves swirled in the air.

A gourd collection
Wild Grass in the Field
Road through the Woods – East
Road through the Woods – West
Barn view of the hills
Corn field power
Barn in the Corn fields
Corn, Corn, Corn

I did have concern that I would miss the fall colors because of this storm, but as I drove around, I did find that many areas in northern Chester County still had a fair amount of green leaves, but not for long.

This is my favorite time of the year for colors, and the GPS drives are just starting!

Hope you enjoy!

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Categories
Adobe Black & White Chester County clouds Fields Nature Nik Software Pastures Photo Journal Photography Software Water West Chester

Stroud Preserve Springtime in B&W

Some images taken during a recent spring time walk around Stroud Preserve.

All images were shot in ‘traditional’ HDR bracket fashion, and processed into a ‘raw’ combined HDR file.

Normally, I use Adobe Photoshop to do my B&W conversion, but since the Google/Nik Software upgrade, I now had a chance to play with Silver Efex Pro 2.

A pond waterfall
Trails 02
Fields & Clouds
Trails 01
Which way?
Trails 03
Hay pillows

Photoshop is great for doing a straight conversion via the native B&W menu, but to explore other options, quickly, and then build on them, Silver Efex Pro is the answer.

I still used Photoshop to tweak the final files, but I ended up in a different place than I originally envisioned.

So, what do you think?

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Categories
Blogging Chester County Fields Glenmoore Nature Pastures Photo Journal Photography

Monday Afternoon Drive at Springton Manor Farm

Springton Manor Farm
Springton Manor Farm

It was Monday afternoon, and after doing our morning errands, my daughter, Madison and I were in the Glenmoore area of Chester County, and we decide to take a relaxing drive through Springton Manor Farm.

We got to the farm without issue, and proceeded do drive around for a little bit, and finally ended up at the Butterfly House, where the grass parking area was empty, except for a ranger’s truck.

After parking, we walked down the small incline, and got to the Butterfly House just as a tour was beginning.

Since we did not have reservations, we did not join them, but we did comment to one another, that we needed to return with the rest of the family, or with friends, and on a cooler day.

We walked around the exterior of the Butterfly House, and read the various stages of a Butterfly’s Life, and then headed back to the car.

Back out at the main road, we turned and continued further down the road, till we reached the yellow gate posts, and turned around, eventually finding our way to the demonstration farm.

After parking, we quickly surveyed the farm, and made note of the hours, pricing and the reservation policy for the guided tour.

Even though we did not take full advantage of our visit, we did do enough scouting to see that we do want to return at another time, especially when it is cooler.

During the Fall, when the leaves are in full color, Springton Manor will be a great place for a Nature walk with the kids!

If you do wish to take the tours, they are $2.00 per tour/per head, so a family of four would be $16.00.

and don’t forget to bring a blanket and a picnic lunch!

– Andrew
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