Gusts of wind shook the branch where the bird feeder hung and it fell to the ground. The birds enjoyed unfettered access to the suet.
Tag: Somerset County
Opie's Grist Mill
The Opie's Grist Mill in Bridgepoint Historic District, Montgomery Township during a rain storm in March.
It rained all day. I spent Saturday morning watching the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. Normally on a cold rainy day like this, I would just sit inside and stream a movie or engage in a photo editing session. I wanted a few more cans of the Mittelfrüh Pilsner by Source Brewing. I made a trip out to a package store in Libby's Liquors in Lawrenceville. The roadways in Lawrenceville were like streams and flooded in many areas. When I left the Libby’s I got water inside my sneaker from the puddle in the parking lot.
On the way home, I realised that the weather might provide some interesting opportunities for photography. On Hollow Road at the northwestern border of Montgomery Township, I stopped at Rock Brook near the bridge at Grandview Road. Without a tripod, it was challenging to get long-exposure photographs with my Fuji X-T3 or iPhone 11 Pro.
The Rock Brook runs southeast to Bessie Grover Park at Camp Meeting Road. My friend Chris once lived in a house across from Bessie Grover Park. I tried using some small rocks to balance the camera but without a tripod it was challenging. As I drove slowly along Camp Meeting Road back toward home I remembered Opie's Grist Mill on Dead Tree Run Road.
Opie's Grist Mill is located on Dead Tree Run Road in the Bridgepoint Historic District in Montgomery Township. The mill and the one-lane stone bridge were built in the early 1800s. A prominent, richly coloured red structure, the mill has retained most of its historical architecture, with its traditional wooden build and gabled roof. With the deluge of water from the incessant rain, the water of the Rock Brook had expanded right up to the edge of the Dead Tree Run Road and the mill almost seemed surrounded by water.
I stood on the southern side of the bridge, using small rocks to steady and level the camera. The iPhone 11 Pro was wedged between two rocks for stability with a flat rock underneath to level the frame. I used the Reexpose app from Reeflex to make a 7-second simulated (stacked image) exposure. The app was made for use with their line of iPhone camera lenses, none of which I own. I used a 3-second timer to reduce the effects of any camera shake from pushing the shutter button in the app.
Zion Crossing Park
After checking out the barn on Mountain View Road, I made my way to Zion Crossing Park on Hollow Road. The entrance and the gravel road were still covered in snow. My Acura had a bit of a dance on the snow as I tried to find a spot to park. Stepping out of the car, my sneakers plunged into the snow, which was so deep it came halfway up my calves. The pristine state of the snow hinted that I was the first to come this way.
I walked along the snow-covered bank of the Rock Brook, its waters moving gently beneath the canopy of barren trees towards the wading pool. The bright sunlight danced on the water’s surface, creating a sparkle that contrasted with the shadows of the trees.
The banks of the brook were lined with stones and rocks, some peeking out from their snowy blankets, while others lay hidden, waiting for the thaw. The snow seemed to glow, reflecting the light of the afternoon sun. The tall trees reached towards a clear winter blue sky.
Feeling the cold breeze I framed the shot. Time to go.
