Almost Got it

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I was at an auction and noticed the sky intensifying so I decided to go look for a shot, but as I rushed down the back roads it started to fade quickly. I was forced to stop where I was and try for something/anything before it was gone,which was about a minute after this was taken.Its nothing earth shattering but I like the colorful stream flowing in the foreground.

Sewing Shop Warmth

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I noticed this inviting warm lighting reflecting on the wet road on a cold and raw winter day so I snapped a quick shot. I think it is a sewing shop and it looks perfect with the old architecture.All the action is downstairs the way it looks.

Another Rainy Night

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I pass this lovely home several times a week and always liked the front window under the porch because they have a small scene with an open Bible proudly displayed for those passing by to see. I thought the decorated bushes might look nice reflecting in the wet roadway so I stopped one evening and captured this image. A little snow would have been a nice addition but we are experiencing one of the mildest winters that I recall in a long time here in the northeast.

Heading to Worship

buggy-lights-on-peace-road A buggy makes the pre dawn trek to sunday worship services on a cold winter morning. A light rain the evening before left the road with a little wet shimmer, which reflected the buggy lights. The lighting on buggies has come quite a ways and new bright leds are getting more popular,even with the Amish and you see youth buggies decked out in colored leds underneath and inside as well.

Toddlers pulling Toddlers?

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This is exactly the type of trailer I used to haul my daughter around in while it was attached to my bike, but if the kid is only riding a tricycle that is pulling this,then how small are the passengers?  Wish I had gotten to see it because I am sure it would have been interesting.

Winter Trek

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An Amish buggy makes its way along a picturesque road in Lancaster County,Pa. The temperature was 12 degrees when this was shot so you can imagine they were bundled up. The were using 4 hoof drive so no chance of getting stuck.

Steel History

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If you have never been to the Bethlehem Steel plant to see the facility, I would highly recommend a visit. The minds that created this monstrosity must have been very intelligent,and to see it up close on the catwalk leaves you speechless. The intertwining of pipes, walkways, conveyers and everything else that was needed in the process is just amazing. I spoke to a lady who worked here in its heyday and she said she would come to work and there would be limos lined up with all the big shots arriving at the plant. I asked her about its demise and she said the reason was everything from the unions to cheap foreign steel coming in to other theories tossed about over the years.

The High Ground

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A small corner of this Bethlehem cemetery includes several crosses.The sun was setting behind this scene when I drove past here and I stopped at the bottom of the cemetery to get a shot. The problem was it was surrounded by a 7 foot wall and the gate was locked,so I had to drive around the block to find the open entrance. I hurriedly drove up the lane and jumped out to get the shot before it was gone, but the strange thing was after this shot was done,I went up the hill toward my truck and did a second shot and I am alone in this place and at least a hundred yards from any house and I hear a voice that sounds like it is on the other side of my truck. It was so clear that I walked around my truck twice looking for the person? no explanation for that one but it left me wondering what I heard.

The Smithton

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This B&B is called the Smithton and it was reflecting nicely in the wet roadway on this early January evening. Adding a bit of flash to the building helps reflect more color onto the roadway,which is an absolute nightmare with traffic around supper time,so its lucky I could even pull this shot off. I had around 10-15 seconds to shoot between light cycles on the traffic signals at the intersection just to my right.

Rusty Gold

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This image was taken along the catwalk at Bethlehem Steel. The peeling paint,rusty metal and the various shapes and lines all overwhelm the visual senses. One can only image what this facility would be like in full operation but it sure is neat to look at in its abandoned state.

Nautical Time Conundrum

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I admit it,I can never keep nautical time straight in my head,even though I get the basic concept.My point is I was all excited to capture the full moon last night because I had checked the moonrise time and thought it was just before sunset,which is the perfect time,because you still have ambient light around so it is not a bright moon against pitch black. I get to this spot about 445 which according to my calculations would be just the time the moon would appear. There were clouds around so I called a friend who was out as well to see if he saw the moon yet? He says no I am still at home,moonrise is not for another hour? Well I knew that would be getting into the dark time but figured what the heck,why not hang around? I use photo ephemeris to see where I need to place my tripod when the moon comes up in any given location, so I first set up with the barn image to get the moon in the shot,and the second image was taken as I was walking to my truck in the dark. I could barely guess at focus and this 15 second exposure captured all kinds of color in the sky around the moon,which I was pleased with. One problem with these shots is they are relatively long exposures and the moon is constantly moving,even in a one second exposure it will easily blur,so these look more like a sunrise than a moonrise.

Star of Bethlehem

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This star is laid in the street in the middle of the historic district in downtown Bethlehem. I was hoping to get a photo before sunrise and knew there was very little traffic at 6am, but also did not want to get yelled at by some passing car. I set my exposure,picked an angle and then made a dash to get the shot in about a minute. No cars came but there was actually a police officer eating breakfast in a shop directly to my right and I am pretty sure he saw me but he never came out. Maybe he figured if anyone is crazy enough to set up a tripod in the middle of the street,if they get run over,its their problem? Seriously I found most folks in town were very accommodating and I even asked a bellhop if I could move a small sign at our hotel and he said of course.