Category: Chester County

2010 Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast (Black Walnut Winery)

Post author By Andrew
Post date August 15, 2010

This started as a typical summer Saturday morning… What are we going to do…

I happen to be on my Facebook wall, when I noticed that the “2010 Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast” was being held today!

So I started to plot out the various Chester County wineries, and decided on trying the Black Walnut Winery in Sadsburyville.

I called an old friend, Ben, to see what he was doing, and he agreed that it would be fun to join us.

Madison, Logan and I got to Black Walnut Winery around 3pm, checked in, got some snacks and drinks and easily found a table near the front of the stage with some live music.

Black Walnut Winery (002) – Live Music

Slowly more people arrived, and some started to dance…

Black Walnut Winery (049) – Dancing and Music

Black Walnut Winery (054) – Dancing and Music

When the Official time approached, Lance Castle (Owner), got up on the stage and started the proceedings…

Black Walnut Winery (083) – Toast from Lance Castle (Owner)

the view from backstage…

Black Walnut Winery (088) – Backstage View

and onto the “Formal” group picture!

Black Walnut Winery (090) – On stage View

and finally the “money maker” shot!

Black Walnut Winery panorama Group 02

Don’t let this “thumbnail” image deceive.

The original image is 8525 x 2849 pixels (or approximately 118 inches by 39 inches), and used three different images “stitched” together in a panorama!

Thanks to all the Folks at Black Walnut for the GREAT time!

– Andrew

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Tags Black Walnut Winery, Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast

Blogging Chester County Events Music Photo Essay Photo Journal Photography Sadsburyville

Black Walnut Winery – World Record?

Post author By Andrew
Post date August 14, 2010

Black Walnut Winery - Guinness Book of World Record Attempt - "Largest ever simultaneous wine tasting" - Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast

I had never been to Black Walnut Winery before, but after reading about the attempt on the Guinness Book of World Record online, I thought it might be kind of fun to check out.

It was a sunny day and a perfect temperature of this outdoor event, and as you can see, there was a good crowd early on, and it grew during the afternoon!

Plus there was music…

Black Walnut Winery – Guinness Book of World Record Attempt – “Largest ever simultaneous wine tasting” – Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast

Dancing…

Black Walnut Winery – Guinness Book of World Record Attempt – “Largest ever simultaneous wine tasting” – Great Pennsylvania Wine Toast

And at the appointed time, Co-Owner, Lance Castle, announced the Record Breaking (?) Toast at 4:00 pm…

And here is our Contribution/Documentation for the Record Breaking (?) Event!

Black Walnut Winery - Guinness Book of World Record Attempt - "Largest ever simultaneous wine tasting" — Be sure to Click on the Image to get the BIG PICTURE! (8528×2849)

with MORE images!

As you can see, everyone is having a good time!

But did we set a Record?

If you have info, PLEASE let me know!

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Tags Black Walnut Winery, Dancing, Guinness Book of World Records, Lance Castle, Largest ever simultaneous wine tasting, Music, wine, World Record Attempt

Chester County Downingtown Nature Photo Journal Rivers

Nature Walk on Struble Trail

Post author By Andrew
Post date August 8, 2010

It was another warm summer Sunday, and the kids needed to get out of the house and get some exercise.

We got our water bottles together, and I filled the back packs with them.

The three of us got in the car, and headed for the Dowlin Forge Road entrance of the Struble Trail.

Once there, we parked and gathered ourselves, and the started our walk, heading North.

Near the middle of the big long curve (2.0 mile marker), there was an older couple, looking into the creek with great excitement.

As we got closer, they called us over to take a look at the big Snapping turtle near the edge of the creek.

When we got there, and looked down the ten foot embankment, one could easily see a Snapping turtle who’s shell was easily 15 inches or longer.

The kids looked with some quiet excitement, and we continued on.

We found our little creek trail, darted into the woods, and then quickly found the cold water.

It felt so good!

While the kids played at the water edge, I setup my tripod, and did these images.

Nature Walk hdr 04 (10 Aug 08)

Nature Walk hdr 06 (10 Aug 08)

As you can see, the water level is VERY LOW!

We began to walk up the creek, following the land, an area we have walked numerous time before.

When we got near the Fishing Area, I was able to capture this wonderful image.

Creek Claw – Struble Trail (Downingtown, PA)

I have walked on and around this tree many a times, but have never seen it like this!

So it goes without saying, we need some rain, and these pictures do show it!

Eventually, we got back on the wooded trail, and on to the paved section heading to the Parking Lot.

Dinner and Bed, soon to follow.

“Good Night Moon!”

– Andrew

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Tags Downingtown, East Branch Brandywine Creek, Nature, Nature Walk, Struble Trail, Summer, Walk

Chester County Covered Bridges HDR Photo Journal Photography Projects

Mercer Covered Bridge (1860)

Post author By Andrew
Post date August 4, 2010

Mercer Covered Bridge (1860)

Christiana, Chester county [38-15-19, 38-36-38]

Mercer Covered Bridge HDR 02 (Low Point of View)

On the way to Mercer, I tried to find another small private bridge that I had read about, but after driving by the reported location, I could not find it and continued on.

I was easily able to find Creek Road, and continued through the park until the road split. Bearing left on Bailey Crossroads Road, I finally came upon Mercer covered bridge, which was built in 1860.

There was parking lot for the shots that I was planning I had to drive through the bridge and parked on the corner of Walter Road.

I grabbed my gear and headed back towards the bridge. Unfortunately the sun was shining directly into my face as I approached the entrance. There was just going to be too much lens flare for me to take a decent picture so I continued through the bridge and found my first acceptable location.

I took two different scenes, one from the road as if you were in the car, and the second on left side of the bridge, just below the road grade looking up.

While setting up for the second shot, I kept on being poked by thorns as I moved the tripod around trying to get a good frame on the bridge. Just one of the minor hazards, of working with nature.

After the second shot was complete, I moved back up the bank, across the road, and down the other side, but this time little more into the woods.

Mercer Covered Bridge HDR 03 (Reflections)

It was from this viewpoint, that I saw my shot of the day.

One of the great things about doing picture in HDR, is that water becomes “glass-like” because of the long exposures and multiple shots.

Finishing these HDR captures, I moved back to the road and through the bridge, down another small bank and was finally able to get to a suitable location from underneath the bridge.

From this vantage point it was easy to capture the geometric shapes of the wood beams, and in the background you can also see the location of the three previous shots.

Mercer Covered Bridge HDR 04 (Underneath)

Once I was done with this capture, I looked at my watch and new I had to pack up and start heading home.

I was very thankful that I had the GPS, because I really had no clue where I was.

It was a very pleasant drive home the temperature had dropped a little and felt good as I drove with all the car windows down and my music blaring.

All in all, it was a good day of shooting!

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Tech Talk

Updates

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Tags 1860, 38-15-19, 38-36-38, Bridge, Burr, Chester County, Christiana, Covered Bridges, HDR, HDRI, Keystone State, Mercer, Mid Atlantic, Pennsylvania, Red Covered Bridge, Truss, USA

Chester County Covered Bridges Photo Journal Photostream Projects

Speakman #1 Covered Bridge (1881)

Post author By Andrew
Post date August 4, 2010

Speakman #1 Covered Bridge (1881)

Coatesville, Chester County [38-15-05]

Speakman #1 Bridge HDR 02 (View of the entrance)

Driving south of Coatesville on Route 82, was definitely one of those days where you had the windows down and the stereo cranked up.

Initially I wanted to find Speakman #2 (Mary Ann Pyle CB), but when I got to the end of Highland Dairy Road, I encountered a local resident and asked about the bridge. He informed me that the bridge had been damaged in the recent storms back in June. He had not been there, but he had heard that the bridge had washed away.

I turned around and continued south on Route 82, which only took me deeper into the horse country of Chester County.

It was easy finding DuPont road which led to frog Hollow Road and I parked at the intersection.

This Burr bridge was built in 1881 by Menander & Ferdinand Wood, and is located in a very quiet and secluded area where one could only hear water running of the stream.

Unpacking my tripod and camera gear, I set out to do some interior shots of the bridge from the road.

There was some graffiti scrolled onto the dark walls of the interior which added some color.

I look for position where I could go full-sized shot of the bridge, but the weeds were very thick, and I decided to cross the bridge to the other side.

once on the other side, I found an easy path walking upstream, and was quickly able to find a dried area where I could set up to do my full-length shot.

It was a nice relief walking through the cool stream water because it was such a hot and humid day.

After taking my full-length shots, I started looking around at the beautiful scenery, and just swiveled the tripod head 180°, looking back up the stream, capturing the following image.

I spent a few more minutes letting my eyes take in the beauty, as I splashed cold water onto my head and neck helping to cool me off.

reluctantly I started back downstream and got to the edge of the bridge, where I set up to do my final detailed interior capture.

Here is another example, where I did not notice the lens flare on the cameras LCD screen, but did notice it when I was editing the images and Adobe Lightroom.

I crossed back over the bridge, put my gear into the car, selected my next bridge from the GPS, and headed off to Mercer Covered Bridge in Christiana.

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Tags 1881, 38-15-05, Bridge, Burr, Chester County, Coatesville, Covered Bridges, East Fallowfield Township, HDR, HDRI, Keystone State, Mid Atlantic, Pennsylvania, Photostream, Red Covered Bridge, Speakman #1, Truss, USA