Horse Week? /  by Dave Hileman

We walked the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware. It was a bit of a hike but interesting. We watched oysters being raked, saw two light houses, watched the ferry crossing from Lewes to Cape May, NJ and these folks exercising their horses on the beach. It was the first time for the horses and they were a bit skittish.  

Too Close /  by Dave Hileman

This Great White Egret was at the edge of his patience with me as I quietly edged toward him. I did not go any further and he stayed for his portrait. On Assateague Island National Seashore.

Assateague Island National Seashore... /  by Dave Hileman

... begins is southern Maryland slightly south of Ocean City and ends in Virginia near Chincoteague. It is one of my favorite places. Birds abound, more of those later, beautiful, wide beaches with just dunes in view and wild horses. Two distinct herds, one in Maryland and one in Virginia that was made famous by the book "Misty."

This mare is from the Maryland herd. The image was made at sunset in the sand almost at the north end of the island. Thanks to ranger Benjamin at the National Park visitor center for the head's up on her habits.

Worship /  by Dave Hileman

This is the oldest church building in the state of North Carolina in New Bern. They are still an active parish. The impulse to worship runs deep in most societies around the world and a Christian perspective was the dominant position as the country grew and found its identity as an independent nation. (I made an error on this section, the town is Bath, not New Bern. Still learning my new state.)

"Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the lord.
Search for the lord and for his strength; continually seek him." I Chronicles 19:9-11 NLT

Garden at M-B-R National Historical Site /  by Dave Hileman

The actual name is the Marsh- Billings- Rockefeller National Historical Site but that would not fit on the title bar. This is Vermont's only National Park Service site. Why with all the beautiful country and spectacular mountains is this small farm the only site is not clear to me. Nestled near Woodstock, VT and adjacent to the state owned farm is this site that has a relationship to the Rockefeller family. Now maybe I do understand, it was given for this purpose. Still Vermont has other really nice places that ought to be in line for national recognition. This shot is from the garden toward the house. The garden was nearly done when we were there in early October. 

Love the sundial

Love the sundial

Thanks is not enough. /  by Dave Hileman

Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. It was designed to be a reflecting wall. From Wikipedia "When a visitor looks upon the wall, his or her reflection can be seen simultaneously with the engraved names, which is meant to symbolically bring the past and present together. One wall points toward the Washington Monument, the other in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial, meeting at an angle of 125° 12′.

Kings Mountain National Military Park... /  by Dave Hileman

...is just over the North Carolina boarder in South Carolina. This was a critical battle for the success of the American Revolution. The American's defeated a large army of Loyalists and forced Cornwallis to retreat. This booster American moral and suppressed many with loyalists leanings in the Carolinas to not join the British cause. The battle was intense - lasting only a bit over an hour. This is the monument on top of the steep hills where the British troops were captured. 

Timber Canyon /  by Dave Hileman

At Redwoods National Park in Northern California the trees simply overwhelm your senses because they are so much larger than your experience in other woodlands and forests. It feels as if time almost stops in the midst of these giant trees. 

Vote /  by Dave Hileman

Lots of reminders here of the significance of the government over lives everyday. You can see the Capitol, Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, Washington Monument, the Old Post Office, and many government buildings that make up the District of Columbia. Even Arlington Bridge is symbolic as it links the North and South with Lincoln Memorial and Lee Custis House. 

It is the day of decision for the USA. Regardless of the outcome of today's vote there will be significant changes and difficult challenges that will ensue. 

Deep in the Smokies /  by Dave Hileman

This stream usually has much more water but the lower levels allowed for some different perspectives. This fern and flower were growing out of the side of the cascade and I was able to get right at the top of the falls. 

Wonder /  by Dave Hileman

The stillness of the morning and the wash of light over the mountains create an experience that make it well worth the early rise. And for me these photos are great reminders of the beauty of creation. 

"The mountains melt like wax before the lord before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory." Psalm 97:5,6 NLT

Bearly Able /  by Dave Hileman

So I have decided to change the format slightly. The "journey" section is now combined with the "no itinerary" blog. The first did not have enough posts and they were not clearly distinct. This section is now on things I am learning or should be learning on photography and processing as well as camping. I am learning things - though it seems like very slowly learning, often with the help of friends or a web site but occasionally, like today's post, by my mistakes. 

I was shooting in the morning at Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains. It was quite foggy and on my last shot I was facing the rising sun. I stopped and went back to the truck. There I put my camera in the back seat, still on the tripod, as I expected to shoot another tree in the fog a short distance away. On the main loop road I slowed to look at the tree and as began to pull to the side of the road noticed a bear coming out of the woods 200 feet away. I quickly pulled to the side by the fence and could not get out of the truck because I parked too close. Restarted and moved five feet up and two more out. Got out grabbed the camera - remember it is on the tripod and needs to be removed. The bear is actually coming straight to me and is about 100 feet away and closing fast. I get the camera free, raise it to my eye. Black. Remove lens cap, back to my eye, still black. Terrible settings for shooting a running bear in bright light at now 30 feet. Try to remember what I needed to change in my settings and simply could not, Just a mild panic. Not really a significant panic is more realistic. Finally I moved the ISO dial way up, not the best choice but I could see the bear, took a shot, actually four, and the second one is OK, only because it is a bear not a very good photograph. The second shot is from 8 feet and really bad. 

So what is the lesson. When I finish shooting set all the dials back to a known setting and do so consistently. The next time a bear attacks me I can get a good photo. My friend Dennis used my misfortune to post a better explanation than mine at http://www.thewanderinglensman.com

I am sure this blog site will fill up soon with everything I do wrong. But it is a learning curve. 

Still I did get a bear and Dennis did not!

Still I did get a bear and Dennis did not!

Morgan Sculptor /  by Dave Hileman

Morgan is the "sculptor in residence" at the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Site in New Hampshire for 2016. The sculpture is the result of his four months on site plus hours of research. The day we arrived it was completed. It is a large work, several feel long and about 4 or five feet high. The next step is to cut it into sections so casts could be made. We were so fortunate to see the one day the entire work was intact. The process of molding and casting until a metal sculpture is finished will take many more weeks. The work did not have a name but is taken from the crossing of Hades in mythology

Deep Blue /  by Dave Hileman

This is Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. The lake was formed by a volcano and then the caldera, basically a hole left when the magma is expelled, settled and filled with water. It is the deepest lake in the US at nearly 2000 feet and is replenished by rain and snow. 

Bobby Vinton could have sung here. So could Dylon, Diamond and Bennet among others. 

Pretty... /  by Dave Hileman

...but once again I have no idea what kind of flower this is. I still like it. The color, the design, the simplicity and complexity are all fascinating Maybe I need a book about flowers?