My Daily Photo Walk: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Day 271 - Brookside Gardens

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Daisy with morning dew

Can you see me in the bubble?

School children on field trips today at Brookside Gardens were most fascinated by a) the bus ride to the park, b) what they brought for lunch, c) dipping their hands into the pools and fountains when their teachers weren't looking, and d) the butterfly house.

The most perfect rose

This is straight out of the camera!

My friend Norma and I were also on a field trip to Brookside Gardens. We were most fascinated by a) the rose gardens, b) the butterfly house, c) finding shade wherever we could, and d) watching the kids dip their hands into the pools and fountains when their teachers weren't looking.

The promise of more to come

Sipping Pretty

First, we walked the perimeter of the gardens, past the Gude Gardens that are undergoing renovation, through the perenniel and azalea gardens, into the fragrance garden, and then along the aquatic gardens. We did our overall walk with our small cameras, then we returned to the car to fetch our tripods and bigger cameras. We bought our tickets for the butterfly house, then headed back to the rose garden. There, we spent a long time in the very hot sun finding perfect specimens to photograph, and there were plenty of them. One of the workers watering the garden there said that the roses are the best they have been in five years.

Protecting his turf

A veil of bubbles

After the rose gardens, we spent about 45 minutes in the butterfly house, in between hordes of field trippers -- thankfully it was lunch time for most of them. It was steamy hot in that greenhouse-like structure, and even though it was 90 degrees outside, it felt cool when we emerged from the butterfly house.

It was a great walk today at Brookside, with beautiful flowers to photograph. And what will those kids be talking about at the dinner table tonight? Probably about how many slimy quarters they were able to dig out of the reflecting pools. After all, they are kids...

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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

Forward me by email any receipt for an online donation made to the Red Cross for disaster relief, and I will send you a 5x7 print of your choice from any of my daily photo walks or from my website. Offer good until September 2, 2013.

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:

walk every day
the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
post a photo every day
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)
no weather excuses
walk only where it is safe to do so

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Day 270 - Quiet Cove Road

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Wood Poppy

Quiet Cove Road

Many thanks to Harry and Deborah Richardson for allowing me to park at the gallery on their beautiful and historic property overlooking Lake Linganore. I had wanted to walk the dirt road named Quiet Cove for some time now, but the "your car will be towed" signs along the road kept me away. I contacted the Richardsons, both of whom are artists, and they allowed me access to their property and gardens.

Patch of sunlit ferns

Gallery Bell

Today was hot and humid, so I wanted to walk in a shady location. Despite the shade, it was still quite warm. My new summer walking accessories include a wide brimmed hat, a small towel for wiping my face, and a bottle of water waiting for me in the car. All got good use today.

I walked the length of Quiet Cove Road and back. It is carved into a steep, rocky, forested hillside, which tumbles down to Lake Linganore. The sun broke through the overhead trees occasionally, lighting up patches of ferns which grew in large patches on the forest floor. As I walked, I could hear people enjoying the lake far below me. They were either swimming or canoeing, but either way, I could tell they were having fun.

I keep secrets from you...

Mr. Frog

When I returned to the Richardson home, which is part of the Frederick historic landmarks, I got out my Nikon D7100 and my macro lens to spend a little time in the yard with the roses, wood poppies, foxglove, bleeding hearts, iris, azaleas, and daisies. The colors of the roses were especially vibrant.

Quiet Cove is a great little secret, tucked away on the edge of Boyer's Mill. Check out the Richardson Gallery when they have their open houses. Maybe I will see you there.

The Richardson Home

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

walk every day
the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
post a photo every day
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)
no weather excuses
walk only where it is safe to do so

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Day 269 - Funkstown, MD

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Front Porch in Funkstown

Arched Bridge over Antietam Creek

My favorite thing about small towns is the front porches. In a time before air conditioning and television, families used to gather on front porches in the summer to sit in the shade, fan themselves, drink lemonade, and swap local gossip. Kids played on the sidewalks or in the streets, where adults could keep an eye on them.

Funkstown Town Hall

Today I walked in Funkstown, Maryland, just a few miles southeast of Hagerstown, located along Alt 40, aka the Old National Pike. Bordered on three sides by Antietam Creek, the town was laid out by Jacob Funck, in 1767. Originally named Jerusalem, the name became Funck's Jerusalem Town, then Funck's Town, and in 1840 it was incorporated as Funkstown. Some of the log homes from the founding of the town are still used as private homes along the main street, Baltimore Street. On July 10, 1863, the Battle of Funkstown took place as part of Robert E. Lee's retreat from Gettysburg.

Garden Scene

I parked at the fire house, then walked along Baltimore Street, often getting side tracked onto side streets. Many of the homes along Baltimore have been converted to businesses, such as a hair salon, a tavern, a liquor store, a tea room, a cafe, antique shops, and a hobby shop. One of the businesses at the far end of town was named Guten Tag (good day), reflecting the German heritage of many of the town's settlers.

Historic Home

Roses were in abundant bloom today, covering fences and arbors and climbing up garage walls. Peonies were falling over themselves, they were so top heavy. These floral displays made for a very pleasant walk this morning, before the real heat set in.

Rose Covered Fence

Incidentally, I installed a new app on my iPhone, called "Map My Run." I turned it on, and it recorded everywhere I walked, showing me a map of the route I took, my pace, and how many miles I did. Today I walked 2.1 miles in Funkstown. I can see this app as being very useful if there is ever a need for me to retrace my routes in the future.

Log Home on Baltimore Street

Funkstown has an abundance of front porches, and although no one was sitting out on them this morning, I'd like to think that on summer evenings, they are still a gathering place for neighbors, even if they are just sitting out there to check messages on their cell phones.

You know I love these...

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

walk every day
the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
post a photo every day
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)
no weather excuses
walk only where it is safe to do so

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Day 268 - N. Market Street and N. East Street

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

I traveled this road, too!

I almost got myself in trouble today. I left the house to run an errand in north Frederick, planning to do my walk somewhere nearby. I did the errand, then drove to my walking spot, got out of the car, and suddenly realized that I did not have a memory card in the camera. I checked my spare card stash in the glove compartment, and it was empty, too.

Left some fish in the car too long?

I debated driving back home, or finding a place to buy one, but then I realized my little camera has an in-camera memory. I reduced the file size on the camera to 8 megapixels, and now I had 21 shots that I could take. At home, I used the cable that came with the camera to move the photos to the computer. Problem solved. Why am I telling you this? Because there are a few lessons in here, but the three best ones are: check your camera before you leave the house, keep a spare stash of memory cards and a charged battery in your purse or car (and remember to replenish them when you use them), and perhaps your camera has an internal memory, too, for if you find yourself in my spot today.

Such an inviting front porch

Play ball!

I parked at Thomas Johnson High School on North Market Street today, and the first thing I spotted was a little metal sign on a leaning metal pole that said "George Washington Traveled This Road." North Market is also Route 355, also known as "The Great Road" that runs from Frederick to near Washington, D.C. I would never have noticed this little sign had I not been walking. My research tells me that George Washington traveled this road many times on his surveying trips to the west.

Sunny face

Does anyone have a tissue?

I walked between North Market and North East Streets, criss-crossing the numbered streets in between, from 16th Street to 8th Streets. There are a number of neatly kept brick homes and duplexes, with nicely trimmed lawns and shaded front yards. East Street has businesses and North Market has more homes. In between the streets there are alleys that parallel North Market and North East, allowing homeowners access to the garages behind their homes.

One of the discoveries I made today was the home of the Frederick National Little League. They have a nice clubhouse and field tucked away on Staley Avenue.

I'm going to wrap up now, then go and follow my own advice. Let's see...I need to gather up extra memory cards, put them in the glove compartment, recharge the spare battery...

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

walk every day
the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
post a photo every day
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)
no weather excuses
walk only where it is safe to do so

Monday, May 27, 2013

Day 267 - 12.8 Miles on the C&O Canal

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

The Potomac River

Sometimes there is water
in the canal.

I saw an opportunity today, and I took it. Nice afternoon + available company + holiday weekend + time to accomplish the task = a 12.8 mile photo bike ride on the C&O Canal.

Now, before anyone says that this is supposed to be a photo WALK, may I remind you that I am the one who created my own rules? Therefore, I can bend the rules, too. So today, I did. After all, one of the reasons I do the daily walks is to get exercise, and riding a bike for 12.8 miles is certainly exercise.

This is how we roll...

Fragrant wild roses

I have a young woman living with me, Kristin, who is from Florida. She is interning in physical therapy with my son-in-law, and today she only had to work half a day. She has not had time to explore the area, because she is either at work or studying, but today, we found ourselves with an open afternoon, so I suggested we load the bikes on the SUV and get on the towpath at Point of Rocks.

The massive tree on the path

We arrived at Point of Rocks and rode south, with the goal of getting to the Monocacy Aqueduct. As we rode along the tow path, I explained to Kristin the history of the area. I told her about the barges, the locks, the lock houses, and the role of the aqueducts. Kristin loved the cool green shade of the tow path, the towering trees, and the fact that we were riding along a path of American history. We both enjoyed the fresh air, often fragrant with the scent of wild roses. I also taught Kristin what poison ivy looks like.

See the kid on the top of the arc?

Between Noland's Ferry and Monocacy, we came to a gigantic tree that had recently fallen across the path. People were stopped to marvel at the tree, and onlookers were helping bike riders to lift their bikes over the trees, including ours.

The Monocacy Aqueduct -- we made it!

At the end of our ride, we were both feeling the effects of our workout. I think we will definitely sleep well tonight.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

walk every day
the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
post a photo every day
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)
no weather excuses
walk only where it is safe to do so

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Day 266 - The Eyler Property

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

The House

The Barn

The weather today could not have been any more perfect: low humidity, clear blue sky, cool temps. On this fabulous day, I headed to Creagerstown to the property of Chris and Bill Eyler.

The spring house and pond

Nester

As you may know, if you have been following me, I am involved in the big plein air painting competition that is coming to Frederick in June. This year, artists will be painting anywhere in Frederick County, not just in the city, and the web site for the event is listing both public and private sites where painters may want to go. Chris and Bill have a beautiful, historic property that they will open to artists, so I went to meet them and take photos for the web site. I decided that this would also be the perfect location for my walk today.

Spring House Reflected

Koosa Dogwood

The couple met me at their fully restored brick Moravian style home, set on 50+ acres between Creagerstown and Thurmont. At the beginning of their long drive, there is a log home called Breeches Pocket that is rented out for vacationers and short stays.

As we walked the property, Chris told me that their home was pretty much in ruins when they acquired it in 1976. The original home was built in 1794, and they have been hard at work restoring it, building the barn, maintaining the spring fed pond, and caring for the beautiful gardens. It was obvious that they have paid great attention to detail, from the style of the doors to the hardware and the light fixtures. A stream called "Jacob's Branch" runs through the site.

Fern Simplicity

There were numerous walnut trees on the property, along with some ash and blue spruce. The pond was surrounded by yellow iris, and the gardens were full of hostas, ferns, bleeding heart, digitalis, purple sage, and iris.

After Chris and Bill left me, I did my own walk again of the entire property, enjoying the beautiful weather and the beautiful surroundings. Any artist -- or photographer -- would find plenty to catch his or her eye in this wonderful place.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

walk every day
the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
post a photo every day
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)
no weather excuses
walk only where it is safe to do so

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Day 265 - Gettysburg, PA

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Gettysburg College

Doug in a Harley rear view mirror

To mark this very special day, I chose to join an organized photo walk in Gettysburg, PA. A camera club friend, Doug, posted a link to the walk yesterday on the club Facebook page, so when I saw it, I knew I had to join. After all, today is day 265 in a row of photo walks, meaning there are only 100 days left to go.

A REAL church key,
not for opening beer

About 70 people showed up for the walk downtown, meeting at 10:00 a.m. The walk was put together and publicized by Andrew Smith of Visual Realia. It was actually a (re)walk of the original Gettysburg photowalk that he led in September of 2008. We gathered on the steps of the Gettysburg Hotel on the square, where Andrew collected our names and email addresses, gave us some general guidelines (try to stick together until we do the group picture; anything goes; you can walk as long or as little as you want; have fun), and then off we went toward Gettysburg College. (A Flickr site will be set up where photographs from today can be shared.)

Andy gives us the ground rules

I had never been on the campus before, and it was a beautiful place. We gathered on the steps of one of the halls for a group shot, and then everyone dispersed.

All Aboard!

Doug and I had agreed in advance to try to challenge ourselves on this walk today by using only our Lensbaby lens on our cameras, specifically the Composer with the Sweet 35 optic. The Lensbaby has one spot of focus, and the photographer can control the size of the focus spot by selecting various apertures, but everything else around the focus area becomes a soft blur. Then, to add to the challenge, you can also tilt the lens to move the focused area around the frame.

Colorful Doorway

At the church steps

Rubber Duck Wedding

There are three very challenging things to consider when using the Lensbaby. First, the photographer needs to use all manual controls: focus, aperture, and shutter speed. Pointing and clicking and not checking the histogram leads to some very dark or some very overexposed photos, depending on the lighting conditions. Second, it is difficult to tell where the focus area is on the lens. If you tilt it at all, you just hope you are getting the thing you are aiming for in focus. Third, it is much easier to use if you are on a tripod. So, for this photo walk today, we were not using tripods, which added more to the challenge of getting a decent shot. But, practice makes perfect, and this was a great way to really challenge ourselves to work at getting used to the lens and thinking about our shots. I can honestly tell you that I have far more unusable shots than usable, and I am not completely thrilled with any except perhaps the hat detail shot.

Hat detail

At the National Cemetery

Doug and I left the campus and continued walking downtown streets, finding churches and buildings and storefronts to shoot. Then we found lunch at an old fashioned hot dog place called Ernie's Texas Lunch.

Rest in Peace

After Doug left to go home, I went to the National Cemetery. It was quite a moving experience to see all the flags decorating row after row of military graves, and the stiff breeze had the flags flapping in the wind. I could also hear a bagpipe ensemble playing patriotic music nearby. It was a great place to end the walk on my 265th day and to honor our nation's veterans and those in active duty. (I am a proud mother of an Air Force Staff Sergeant.)

If you can get to Gettysburg this beautiful Memorial Day weekend, I encourage you to do so. It is much more approachable now than it will be in July for the 150th anniversary of the battle, I can assure you!

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

walk every day
the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
post a photo every day
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)
no weather excuses
walk only where it is safe to do so

Friday, May 31, 2013

***Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.***

Thursday, May 30, 2013

***Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.***

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

***Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.***

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

***Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.***

Monday, May 27, 2013

***Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.***

Sunday, May 26, 2013

***Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.***

Saturday, May 25, 2013

***Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.***

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.

Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.