Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve

Bhavna and I went for a walk in the Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve.

Bhavna and I wanted some exercise. The Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve is not far from home, but it's not quite in my neighbourhood. It's in Princeton, the town next door. While the border to Princeton is walking distance to my home, and I enjoyed (before COVID) meeting with friends for lunch in the restaurants and photo-walking around downtown with my photo groups, my social community is centred around Montgomery Township, where I live.

The sky was overcast, and a cool wind gentle wind made a noise in the leaves overhead. We walked in silence (mostly), stopping once to sit on a wooden bench, to do nothing but sit. I shot all photographs with the in-camera Classic Chrome Film Simulation.

I think the idea behind this challenge was to find opportunities for photography that are closer to home. I guess a lot of other people have been travelling the world pre-COVID. I've been photographing close to home for a while.

Three surgeries between 2018 and 2019 reduced my ability and desire to travel. I wasn't able to travel to the West Indies for my father's funeral last year. Now the global pandemic means continue to photograph close to home. SomeI'vee I've photographed several timeshaven'tven't left the state since 10 March, and my woodland photography is limited to the corners of the counties that border mine; Mercer and Hunterdon. If I had $1I'd, I'd buy a macro lens for my Fuji X-T2 and explore small things.

So nothing to change for this week challenge. Just keep on keeping on.

I think this is the first I've I've left my home in weeks.

Submitted for the 100DaysToOffload project.

Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/4.0 | ISO 6400
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/4.0 | ISO 2000
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/10 | ISO 10000
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm | f/22 | ISO 200
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 44.1 mm | f/8.0 | ISO 4000
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/4.5 | ISO 2000
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 41.4 mm | f/8.0 | ISO 800
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/8.0 | ISO 6400
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 40.1 mm | f/13 | ISO 12800
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 40.1 mm | f/8.0 | ISO 12800
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 27.4 mm | f/8.0 | ISO 12800
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/4.0 | ISO 2000
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm | f/2.8 | ISO 1000
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 31.1 mm | f/8.0 | ISO 12800
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/8.0 | ISO 12800
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 53.3 mm | f/8.0 | ISO 200
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/4.0 | ISO 4000
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 30.2 mm | f/4.0 | ISO 3200
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 44.1 mm | f/5.6 | ISO 5000
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve | Sunday 15 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/5.6 | ISO 10000

St. Michael's Farm Preserve Aunt Molly Trail

St. Michaels Preserve #AuntMollyRoad #BedenBrook #HopewellTownshipNJ #Project365

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Pine Warbler

I spent three hours in the Pinelands with Ray Hennessey hoping to get a photograph of the pine warbler. We could see the birds flying back and forth between the trees that lined the swampy area that Ray had scouted. We waited patiently, but the pine warbler kept out of view the camera. The light was fading, and we were ready to call it quits. Ray suggested that we stay just a bit longer. Our patience and effort were rewarded when this male landed in just the right spot.

NOTE: The light was fading, so the photograph was shot at ISO12800. It's not as sharp as I wanted.

This well-named bird is not often seen away from pine trees, especially during the breeding season. More sluggish than most of their relatives, Pine Warblers forage in a rather leisurely way at all levels in the pinewoods, from the ground to the treetops. This species is only a short-distance migrant, and almost the entire population spends the winter within the southern United States. Unlike most warblers, it regularly comes to bird feeders for suet or for other soft foods.Pine Warbler at the Audubon Society’s website

You can learn more about Ray Hennessy's work and signup for his workshops on his website. You can learn more about the Pine Warbler at the Audubon Society’s website.

Pine Warbler —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ (359.6 mm, 0.002 sec at f/5.6, ISO12800), © Khürt L. Williams