Let Us Take a Tour! /  by Dave Hileman

Welcome to the Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg, PA. This farm is now a part of the National Park Service. It is adjacent to portions of the battlefield but a separate entity. The Eisenhower's purchased the farm in 1950 but the renovations (rebuilding actually) was not finished until 1955 while Ike was in the White House serving as the nation's 35th President. He lived here until his death in 1969 and Mamie lived here for an additional ten years even though the property had been given to the country. The Park Service took over in 1980 and the property opened for tours shortly after. Cindy and I visited once before in the mid 80's.

The small attached structure at the front was the Secret Service office.

The small attached structure at the front was the Secret Service office.

Before the Fires /  by Dave Hileman

This is my favorite photo from when I spent four days in the Smoky Mountains at the end of October. The drought was in evidence every place you went as streams were flowing much slower and lower than had been seen in a long time. The leaves were mostly brown except near the source of water like these in the background. Even this photo was taken from a rock in the middle of the stream. A local professional photographer who makes his living with photos from these mountains told me he had never seen "that rock before." Besides the displaced wildlife, scared hills and destroyed buildings, all that will survive, regrow or be rebuilt, there were fatalities. Remember them and those who fight these fires in your prayers. This section of the park near Tremont, as far as the reports I have read, remains untouched by the fires.

Easy Way to Tell... /  by Dave Hileman

...if you are looking at a Snowy Egret? See if his feet look like they were dipped in yellow paint. They are happy to show you. Also, his eyes and his lores are yellow. Just in the off chance that you forgot what the "lores" are, "The areas of a bird's face on either side from the base of the bill to the front of the eyes, but not extending further up or down than the width of the bill base." Of course, that is for someone else who forgot, not you.

Hidden Color /  by Dave Hileman

The blue ocean turns green when the light illuminates the wave. The salt spray is being blown back by the off shore winds. 

"Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light." Ephesians 5: 10-14 NLT

What Better Day... /  by Dave Hileman

...than to view a photo from the National Cash Register Museum than the premier shopping day in America. Hope your day is (pun alert) spent well. And that shopping was a minimum part of it.  And, yes, we are those people who actually went to the museum. 

Purple Mountain Majesty /  by Dave Hileman

Hard not to be thankful amidst this scenery. Yet we need to be thankful for each blessing, each challenge and each joy. They are all fleeting as a morning sunrise and as enduring as these mountains. Happy Thanksgiving.

So ASK! /  by Dave Hileman

The process of trying to capture images at all 413 current National Park Service sites is by the nature of time, effort, expense and season- a bit rushed. And I have a lot to learn because we are not just showing up (usually not just showing up) but are interested in the site, its history and the learning experience. We do not have the luxury of many visits at all seasons therefore we must shoot with great light or poor, with rain or bright sun, in the hours the park is open. The main lesson I have learned is to ask the rangers, "What makes this park unique? What are the most interesting images people have taken here? What photograph might show the essence of the site?" And I get great answers. Most of the rangers are very helpful. In Arlington I got to see graffiti from Civli War solders scrawled on rafters in the attic, at George Rodgers Clark hints on the sunlight filtering in the skylight and at Assateague information on the habits of a couple of horses that allowed me to take this image at sunset. 

Great hint for shooting: ASK.

Moon Rise /  by Dave Hileman

The nearly full moon rose late in the afternoon this day as we watched from the back of the Dickenson Plantation in central Delaware. This house is one of five or six units that make up the First State National Historical Site. We visited three of the five and two, the Village Green in Dover and the Ryves Holt House in Lewes were very disappointing. Not really up to National Park standards. More later on those. The plantation was interesting and the tour was very good. 

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