Tag: Historic Princeton

Putting my best foot forward

Best Food Forward

I get the attention deficit thing. I discovered that listening to music on my phone and wireless headphones can help me focus my mind. But wearing headphones means being unaware of my surroundings in situations where sight and sound are essential.

One thing that frustrates me about where I love is that I see these beautiful scenes on my way to and from the office or while driving around town, but the narrow-one-lane-no-shoulder country roads don't allow for stopping, and we don't have any sidewalks here either. It can be a strange site for other motorists to watch a car slow down and stop briefly while the driver rolls down the window and stick out a DSLR camera and lens. It works when traffic is light only.

Princeton Battlefield State Park, Princeton, New Jersey
"Princeton Battlefield State Park in the Fog" — 29 October 2014 — Apple iPhone 6 + iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 @ f/2.2, ISO 800

Sometimes I get lucky, and the scene unfolds before me, traffic is light, and the road has a shoulder. But still, there is no time to pull out a DSLR, set up a tripod, compose the shot, set camera settings etc. Sometimes, there is just enough time for a grab-shot photo on the iPhone. It's the best I can do at that moment.

"View from The High Line, Manhattan, New York" — 28 September 2014 — Apple iPhone 6 + iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 @ 1/10000s at ISO 32

Being without my Nikon1 has forced me to use my iPhone 7. The camera on the iPhone 7 is much better than the camera on my previous iPhones. But I am less happy with recent images taken with the iPhone 7 and less willing to use it in general. But by using a DSLR for most of the pictures I captured over the last few years, I seem to have forgotten how to compose and think through capturing images with the iPhone. Looking back through my catalogue over the last few years, I have many old iPhone images of which I am proud.

Beach, Sunset, Rodanthe, Pier, North Carolina
"Rodanthe Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina" — 3 September 2015 — Apple iPhone 6 + iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 @ the 60s at ISO 32

Why am I so stuck now? Why am I not even trying? Why am I struggling to put my "best foot forward"? Have I become one who thinks one can only capture a good photo on expensive high-end equipment. I hope not!!

Self Portrait, Carnegie Lake, Princeton, New Jersey
"Self Portrait, Carnegie Lake, Princeton, New Jersey" — 5 November 2015 — Apple iPhone 6 + iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 @ f/2.2, ISO 32

For the last few weeks, while driving along Mapleton Road on the border between Plainsboro and Princeton Township, I have observed the beautiful morning sun that illuminates the expensive homes on the western side of Carnegie Lake. There is no place to stop and take a photo. But I am determined, and perhaps tomorrow I will arise before dawn, drive to the southern end of Mapleton Road, park my car at the entrance to the Delaware and Raritan Canal Park Trail, and walk the trail, with the tripod and iPhone 7, north toward that area. I expect the walk will be pretty cold.

Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, Princeton, New Jersey
"Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, Princeton, New Jersey" — 31 October 2015 — Apple iPhone 6 + iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 @ f/2.2, ISO 32
  1. Dropped! Broken! ↩

Gathering at the Princeton Battlefield

#WE35 is a global visual survey and creative research project conducted by explorers from around the world. The goal of #WE35 is to push your creative boundaries, share in each other’s artistic development, and forge friendships that will last a lifetime. All of this, using nothing more than a single 35mm lens.

Today is Memorial Day in the United States as we honour and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Thank you to the dedicated men and women of the United States armed services and those who came before them and laid down their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy each day.

Here's wishing you all a safe, happy and healthy Memorial Day.

This is my fifth blog post for the WE35 Research Project. Expedition May's assignment was to photograph a local gathering, celebration, or festival and tell its story using three images, all shot at a 35mm field of view (FOV). I used my AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 VR lens, set the focal length to 24mm and taped it in place. On my Nikon D5100, that focal length has a FOV that approximates a 36mm full-frame lens.

Princeton Battlefield Park, Revolutionary Re-enactment
Saturday 27 May 2017 · Nikon D5100 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

The three images are of a totem, a moment and a portrait. The totem is a photograph of an object of significance for the event. A creative goal of this project was to remove the barrier between the photographer and the subject. The Expedition hopes you get involved in the event by making a portrait of someone and not standing on the sidelines. The final part of the Expedition was to choose one moment that genuinely illustrates the event's spirit. I think I captured those images, plus a few more.

Civial War Trust Memorial Day Reenactment at Princeton Battlefield Park
Saturday 27 May 2017 · Nikon D5100 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

Meg Martin and Jim Campi at the Civil War Trust and Jeff Griffith, one of the Creative Directors for the Civil War Trust, invited me to photograph the Spirit of Princeton Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, 27 May. I had plans for the day and initially declined but then decided that I would have more fun spending my morning in Princeton instead of at Target and Costco.

I got more than I expected.

Saturday 27 May 2017 · Nikon D5100 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

The parade started at 10 am on the corner of Princeton Ave., and Nassau St. Parade marchers walked the length of Nassau Street south to Princeton Monument Hall on Stockton Street. The parade was a gathering of local organisations, including veterans, Princeton Cub Scout Pack 43, Princeton First Aid and Rescue, MacGregor Pipe Band, Colonial Musketeers, Veterans and Assorted Military Vehicles and many others. After a brief ceremony at the hall at 11 am, the Civil War Trust, the Second Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line and the 43rd Regiment of Foot went over to Princeton Battlefield Park.

Saturday 27 May 2017 · Nikon D5100 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

"[The Second Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line and the 43rd Regiment of Foot]" (http://www.243regiment.com/index.html) is a non-profit educational organisation created in 1966 to accurately depict both sides of the struggle for America's independence. The group is involved in living history programs and historical interpretation of the Battle of Princeton.

The dedicated members of our growing and dynamic group strive to portray the men and women involved in the armies of the American Revolution with fidelity and to bring the past alive at historic sites, commemorations and battle reenactments throughout the region and beyond.

Civial War Trust Memorial Day Reenactment at Princeton Battlefield Park, Princeton, New Jersey
Saturday 27 May 2017 · Nikon D5100 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

I had the opportunity to chat with members of the group. They were enthusiastic, and I could tell they took their work seriously.

Civial War Trust Memorial Day Reenactment at Princeton Battlefield Park, Princeton, New Jersey
Saturday 27 May 2017 · Nikon D5100 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

The group performed a historical interpretation of the battle at Princeton Battlefield Park. The booming sound and smoke of rifles and cannons filled the air.

Civial War Trust Memorial Day Reenactment at Princeton Battlefield Park, Princeton, New Jersey
Saturday 27 May 2017 · Nikon D5100 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

The Photo Frontier's is a global visual survey and creative research project by explorers worldwide. The goal of is to push your creative boundaries, share in each other's artistic development, and forge friendships that will last a lifetime. All of this uses nothing more than a single 35mm lens.

Morven Museum at Night

When I was done capturing what I needed at the Princeton Battle Monument, I packed up and was ready to head around town to find something interesting to photograph. I was cold from standing outside and sat in the car for a while, thinking when I noticed the building behind me was lit up.

I got out and walked along the path between the two properties and loved what I saw. No one was around, but Stockton Street's Morven Museum was lit up.

Morven was built-in the 1750's by Richard Stockton (1730 – 1781), a signer of the Declaration of Independence for New Jersey. After a 1758 fire, the house was rebuilt and named Morven, which means “big mountain” in Gaelic. Members of the Stockton family lived in this house until the early 20th century. From 1945-1981, it served as the New Jersey Governor's Mansion.

Nikon D5100 + AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 @ 35mm , 19 sec at f/11, ISO 100. Captured 28 April, 2015.