Day 210 - A Rainy Easter Afternoon in New Market

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Happy Easter, everyone!  I had all intentions of walking after church this morning, but just as soon as it ended, the rain began.  After I came home and got dinner prepped out, I went to New Market to take advantage of raindrops on flowers, which I knew I would find.

I was happy to see that the fire trucks are now housed again at the newly renovated fire hall in town.  It is looking quite proud of itself!

This is a short entry -- the family is about to arrive, and I have a lamb cake to frost with my grandson!

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 209 - Lilypons Heron Rookery

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Guarding the Nest

Willow Beauty

What a gorgeous day!  We deserved a good one, and today we got one.  I'm so glad I had planned to walk at Lilypons to see the nesting great blue herons.  I could not have picked a better location.

Lilypons is a water garden/pond center near Adamstown, MD.  It has acres of ponds that will be full of water lilies and lotus this summer.  However, it is also a haven for birds, particularly the great blue herons.  This is their nesting season, and every year the herons create great stick nests in a couple of sycamores near the Monocacy River, which borders the property.

Great Blue Heron Maternity Ward

Lotus Leaves

Lotus Abstraction

My friends Norma and Beamie joined me for my walk today, and after making sure we had rope and mud gear, we took off to find the best spot to scramble down the hill from the path.  Along the way, we held back numerous arching branches full of thorns, occasionally needing help from each other to extract the webbed straps on our backpacks from the vicious grip of the thorns that did manage to snag us.

We found the trees, slid down the hill into the old river bed, crossed a stream, and landed at the base of one of the trees, with about five nests overhead.  The other tree was across the river on the other side.

You turn my world upside down!

There were at least five herons, maybe more, either sitting on the nests or standing next to them, enjoying the blue skies and sunshine.  Occasionally a bird would fly by and

we willed it to land on the tree, but they were out searching for fish or just enjoying the beautiful day on the wing.

We climbed back up the hill and took a few more shots from the higher vantage point, but no matter where we stood, branches either were in the way or the birds were positioned behind limbs. 

We returned to the car, dumping our tripods, and continued walking on the property.  There is much to see, and we met quite a few other people out with either cameras or binoculars, all seeking the many birds that are on the property.

I enjoyed finding reflections in the ponds.  The lotus leaves and stems made wonderful abstract designs in the water.

I took the opportunity today to use my new Nikon D7100 on this walk, and I am a little worried that it has some focus issues.  It was the first time I had really used it, and I need to do some more photos with it, comparing it to my older camera in similar shooting situations before I decide that it has a problem I cannot overcome.  I was not happy with the sharpness of many of today's shots.

All in all, it was a great walk at Lilypons, and I will return again when the water lilies and lotus begin to bloom.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 208 - Green Meadows Petting Farm

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

He won't get near a dog, but he will
feed a goat. Go figure.

On the hunt!

I had the grandchildren again today, so I asked for the double stroller.  Around 10:45 this morning I put the kids in sweatshirts and with Easter baskets in hand, we headed for the Green Meadows Petting Farm in Monrovia, MD.  I had seen signs at the farm that there would be daily egg hunts, so off we went.

We arrived at the farm, and I put the kids into the stroller.  First, we did the walk.  I pushed that stroller, with two children, around the perimeter of the farm, to check out everything they offered.  We saw the play area where the egg hunts would be, the tractors ready for a hayride, the tent where kids were lined up for face painting, the barns with cows and rabbits and calves and turtles, and the outdoor enclosures with goats, turkeys, llamas, sheep, a bison, cows, and emu.  In some of the enclosures, the animals were happily mixed together, although the bison let the others know who was in charge.

The bunny kept running away!

Look at those ears!

After our walk around the farm, we lined up for the egg hunt.  I went with Carly in the 1-3 age bracket, and Caden joined the 4-6 group.  The kids fared well.  Each was allowed to find 10 eggs, and there were plenty.

After the hunt, we fed the goats, petted the turkeys and chickens and rabbits, and visited the Easter Bunny.  I opted out of the hayrides, much to my grandson's disappointment, but I told him that the sooner we got home, the sooner he could eat his lunch and then his candy loot.  Worked like a charm.

Happy Easter!

Shall we pet the turkeys?

The photos from today were difficult to get.  The kids were either looking down or looking away at the animals, and for the most part were totally uninterested in having their pictures taken.  However, the first thing they wanted to do when we got home was see the photos.

Obviously, a good time was had by all.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 207 - The Grotto at Mount St. Mary's

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Pangborn Campanile

As one travels on Rt. 15 near Emmitsburg, one can't help but notice the golden statue of Mary looking down over the campus of Mount St. Mary's University.  On a sunny day, the gilded figure just gleams.  This statue is actually part of the Pangborn Memorial Campanile, a 95 foot high carillon topped with a 25 foot high bronze figure covered in gold leaf.  The bells were ringing when I was there today, every fifteen minutes, to mark the time.

I parked at the larger of the two lots at the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, because a sign said the smaller lot was full.  However, it was not full due to visitors, but because a new visitor center is under construction, and workers were going full speed today.

One of the paths

This was my first visit to the site, so I followed one group of people who seemed to know where they were going, making our way around the construction.  There were two gated entrances to pathways up the side of the mountain, and the one I took was the lower path.  Along the way were tiled pictures of various saints and scenes from the Bible.  There were statues and benches and memorial plaques interspersed with gardens and walkways and places to sit and reflect.

Spring water filling station

As I neared the actual grotto, I passed a fountain where people were filling jugs of water from the spring.  The website for the grotto states, "Many pilgrims visit just for the Grotto water. Many believe that its natural properties are cleansing and healthy for the body and soul; others believe it can heal. Although there are no documented miracles, many have reported favors and graces from drinking the Grotto spring water."  Just up from the fountain, which was bordered by a rocky stream, was a small chapel, which is the third one built to replace the original founded by Father John Dubois in 1805.

The Grotto

A grotto by definition is a small cave or cavern, and it is located farther up the hill, behind the chapel.  Constructed of stone, it contains a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and devotional candles, some of which were lit. Stairs lead up beyond the grotto cave to The Calvary Setting.

A number of signs and plaques in the grotto tell the story of the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, America's first saint, who lived in the log cabin at the site for a short while before moving to Emmitsburg.  She founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's and established the first free Catholic school for girls.

14th Station of the Cross

To leave the grotto, I took the other direction, which led me past the stations of the cross.  These were stone structures with copper bas-relief panels; each had a beautiful patina.

View from the top of the cemetery

I emerged back into the parking area and walked up through the cemetery of St. Anthony's Shrine, located on the side of the mountain.  Beyond it, farther up and to the side of this cemetery, was the more modern-day Mount St. Mary's cemetery.  A walk along its paths, through areas designated as groves, gives one not only good exercise but great views of the university far below and the valley beyond.


I'm glad I chose today to visit, because tomorrow is Good Friday, and there are events planned that will ensure crowds of visitors.  This site is well worth a walking visit, even for non-Catholics like myself, to appreciate the beauty and the history and the serenity of the setting.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 206 - Westview Shopping Center

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Grandmother duties had to take top priority today.  My 22 month old granddaughter, Carly, had a fever yesterday and was sent home from daycare, so I was tapped for keeping her at home today.  I am happy to report that she is feeling better and eating and drinking well, so I think she will be able to return tomorrow.  However, by default, she became my walking partner.

The first problem was that I did not have a stroller.  It was in her mother's car, and I forgot to ask for it early this morning.  So we drove to the Westview Shopping Center where my daughter is the director of a physical therapy clinic, and got the stroller.  The wind was picking up, and the temperature was about 45, so I bundled Carly in her polkadot jacket and put up the hood.

We made the entire circuit of the shopping center, with the goal of finding Easter/Spring related things.  We were on the hunt for bunnies, eggs, and flowers.  Unfortunately, we did not find much, at least not in the windows of the businesses we passed.

We ended our walk 30 minutes later at Tutti Frutti, sampling their different flavors of yogurt.  My favorite picture from today is the cool lighting pendants they have in the store.

Carly is napping now, giving me some time to get this done.  I enjoyed the day with Carly, but I promise a better walk and better photos tomorrow.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 205 - Mt. Olivet Cemetery

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Mt. Olivet in the Afternoon

If you want to know more about the history of any town, visit its cemetery.  On my walks through historic towns, I always try to walk the cemetery.  There you see graves with the names of town businesses, streets, schools, buildings, and parks.

Civil War Graves

Mt. Olivet Cemetery, which I walked on Day 2 of this yearlong project and again today, is no exception.  It is very large, with more than 34,000 graves dating from 1854.   There are eight miles of paved roads within the cemetery, making it an easy and safe place to walk. There is a lack of graveyards in downtown Frederick, despite the many historic churches, and the history of Mt. Olivet explains that due to the expansion of town in the mid 1800's, a decision was made to locate a large cemetery outside of town.  That good planning and foresight have resulted in a place that has been dubbed "The Cemetery Beautiful," and there is still room for growth at Mt. Olivet today.

Raggedy Ann

Easter for Zachary

Of course, many of you reading this know that Mt. Olivet has some very famous graves:  Frances Scott Key, Barbara Fritchie, and Thomas Johnson, the first governor of Maryland.  They all have prominent places in history, but there are many other graves there of local names that have deep roots in Frederick, too:   Delaplaine, McCutcheon, Routzhan, Baker, Stauffer, Crum, Bentz, Dorsey, Hood, Detrick, Grove, and many others I am probably not aware of or did not see.  After all, I only walked for an hour today, and that was just on the perimeter of the site.

Soldiers at Rest

Gravestones run the gamut in design.  Some graves are marked with obelisks or impressive monuments; others are faded and eroded marble; some are simple bronze plaques in the ground; some are above ground and most are below.  Time is not kind to many of the headstones; others seem that they will last forever.

This grave was directly across
the street from Grove Stadium.

I have mixed feelings about whether or not I want to be in a graveyard when I am gone.  I don't want my daughters to feel that they have to be tied to this area just so that they can visit my grave and put Easter flowers on it, as several people were doing today.  I know of people who will never move away from where they live because there would be no one to tend their loved one's grave.  I have expressed a desire for cremation, and to let my daughters decide where the ashes will end up.

On the other hand, there is something very peaceful about a graveyard with a towering tree and a beautiful setting, with each grave adding a mark along the timeline of the history of that locale.  But, as with most prime real estate, most of those plots are already taken.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 204 - A Quiet, Wet Walk in the Snow

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

As a teacher and a photographer, I have double the reasons to love a snow day.  Although it no longer matters to me if school is closed for the day, now that I am retired, I still watch the television for closings and know that all those teachers who have the day off are happy to spend an unexpected day at home playing with the kids or reading a book or maybe even just catching up on sleep.

The photographer side of me knows that even if I can't drive somewhere to take photos, I can get some great shots just by stepping outside my door.  As it turns out, the roads were fine for driving on at 9:00 this morning, but there was no need to when I had my whole neighborhood covered in white.

Enjoy my photos from today.  I enjoyed taking them.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 203 - Sugarloaf Mountain

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Eastern Overlook

Today was the first of what I hope will be many trips to Sugarloaf Mountain in northern Montgomery County.  I had to go to Gaithersburg this afternoon to celebrate my mother's 83rd birthday, so I decided to walk at Sugarloaf on my way.

Canine Visitors

I have been to the base of the mountain before, and driven on some of the roads around it, but I was never sure about where to go, where to park, what parts were private, which were public, etc.  And the same was true today.  I arrived at the base of the mountain and found that there were no parking places.  There was a long, low brick building with only a sign saying that it was Stronghold Administration, but it did not appear to be open.  I waited in the parking area until another car arrived, and when it went through a gate and up a road across from the brick building, I followed in my car.

The road took me up the mountain, one way, past picnic areas and trails.  Near the top of the mountain was a sign for the Eastern Overlook, with a parking lot.  I parked in that lot and got out.  I was one of only a few people there, but there were many more cars.

I walked first to the overlook and took some pictures, then took off along the road again, on foot, toward the Western Overlook.  A number of people with dogs on leashes were coming the opposite way, so I concluded they must belong to the cars that were at the Eastern Overlook.  Sugarloaf must be a popular spot for dog walking.

The Fort

I arrived at the Western Overlook, and there was another parking lot there, with more people.  At this overlook was a stone building that looked like a fort.  My later research determined that it is indeed the overlook itself.  One merely had to go into the door of it, to find steps leading to the rooftop.  However, there were no signs indicating such, so I did not know to go in and find the steps.  It did look a little forbidding.

Steps to Summit

There were rough log/stone steps in the parking area of the Western Overlook that lead to the summit of the mountain.  A family with teenagers spilled out of one of the cars as I was walking by.  They were arguing about whether their dog should wear his sweater for the hike to the summit.  The father was also offering gloves and hats and towels and bug spray, fully expecting to freeze and sweat and swat.  The girls were rolling their eyes and teasing their father and making fun of his concerns.  They finally talked him out of everything but the sweater for the dog and took off up the steps.

Western Overlook

Sugarloaf is a privately owned tract, which you can read about on their site; because it is not a government owned/operated park, the signage is not what I expected for helping me know where to go or how to get there.  But it is a beautiful place, and their web site promises loads of azaleas in bloom in the spring, along with many wildflowers.  I will be back, map in hand, to explore its many trails in warmer weather.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 202 - Araby Church Road

 (Click any photo to enlarge.)

Vermont Memorial

Vermont Memorial

On my way to Urbana to teach the photography courses for kids this morning, I parked at the Araby United Methodist Church on Araby Church Road to do my walk.  I've been on this road a number of times on my way to Worthington and Thomas Farms, both of which are part of the Monocacy Battlefield, but I had never stopped at the church to take a look at the Civil War monuments that are along the road.

I walked from the church down to the drive leading to Thomas Farm, and along past the cows grazing in the field.  I was surprised at how much traffic was on Araby Church Road on a Saturday morning, with the majority of the cars going north.

Morning Graze

Thomas Farm Barn

The weather was nice, and spring is in the air, despite the forecast for snow on Monday.  It was a short walk, but it will be a long day, so perhaps it will all balance out.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so

Day 201 - Urbana Market District

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Cedar Waxwing

Not Wall Street

I'm doing a couple of photography workshops for kids tomorrow at the Urbana branch of the Frederick County Public Library, so I went there to check out the space I am using and to prepare for the classes.  Frederick County has such great libraries, and I look forward to working with the kids tomorrow.

A love of reading

While I was there, a big flock of cedar waxwings settled down in the trees in front of the library.  They were still there when I got done, so I decided to grab my camera and do my walk right there in the Urbana Market District.

It was very cold and windy today, so I bundled up and walked the perimeter of the district, discovering places I had not seen before when driving by, like a bridal shop and a post office branch and a hair salon. 

Birds of a feather...you know...

When I returned to the car, the birds were still there, occasionally regrouping to a different tree.  I took a bunch of shots of the little birds as they were swaying in the wind.  They would allow me to get quite close to the tree they were in before they'd hop to the next one.

I even got out my brand new "big" Nikon, to test out its 51 point auto focus system, but with the wind and the swaying branches, either I was confused on how to use it, or it was confused by the moving focal points.  I have some definite learning to do on that camera.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so