Tag: Montgomery Township

Zion Crossing Park's Hidden Gem

Zion Crossing Park is a lovely little park at the end of Hollow Road in Montgomery Township.

On April 30th, I decided to resign from my position at the bank. Why? Two years ago, I joined the bank as a consultant focusing on enhancing the security architecture of their internal and cloud-based applications. It didn't take long for my leadership qualities to catch the attention of the director, and I was soon promoted to a team lead role. It was an exciting opportunity for me but also a new challenge.

Managing a geographically dispersed team across Texas, Florida, Alabama, Arizona, and Mexico was a first for me. Not only did I have to oversee the team, but I also had to juggle the expectations of internal stakeholders. While I enjoyed working with my team and had a supportive boss, I gradually started feeling disillusioned with my role. Most of my technical responsibilities were delegated to others, and my days became filled with back-to-back meetings. I spent around thirty hours a week in meetings, often munching on my lunch at my desk.

In the spring, I was offered an Associate Director position to formalise my existing responsibilities and transition into a full-time employee. At first, I was thrilled about the promotion. However, as I contemplated the travel, my excitement waned.

The new role required me to report to the office in person, meaning I would have to commute to New York City twice a week on a hybrid schedule. I experienced this commute between 2018 and 2019, and I knew I didn't want to subject myself to it again. The whole commuting experience is incredibly stressful.

In the end, I made the tough decision to decline the offer. I realised I needed a change to a less hectic work schedule. It wasn't an easy choice, but deep down, I felt it was right for me. So, starting from Monday, May 1st, I technically became unemployed.

I look forward to exploring new opportunities that align with my aspirations and provide a better work-life balance. It's an anxious and uncertain phase, but I'm optimistic about the future.

Zion Crossing Park Waterfall · Monday 1 May 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 1⁄7 sec, ISO 160 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR at f/8.0

It was raining that morning, but the weather cleared by 10 AM, and the sun shone. I grabbed my camera gear, including my X-T3, XF27mmF2.8 R WR, XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR, XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR, MCEX-16 macro extension tube, URTH ND64, and Peak Design 6L sling, and headed out to Zion Crossing Park. I planned to take photos of the waterfall and wildflowers and hike in Sourland Mountain Preserve if I had time.

Hollow Road is a scenic route from east to west and passes through wooded areas, farmland, and historic sites. It's popular with bikers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts who enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Zion Crossing Park is a lovely little park at the end of Hollow Road in Montgomery Township. The park is situated on a plot of land once occupied by two homes, which have since been demolished. The forest grew back once the houses were taken down, and the land was left vacant. The Montgomery Friends of Open Space contributed a grant of approximately $100k from Green Acres toward the purchase of this parcel and created a park.

The park has a picnic table, bench, parking area, and an interpretive sign to help visitors learn more about the area. The property is a crucial connection to preserved lands in Hillsborough. There are plans to construct a pathway through the property that could someday become a link in a trail along Rock Brook, extending from the northern township boundary with Hillsborough Township down south and east toward Skillman Park. This exemplifies how organisations can work together to preserve and protect natural resources.

Rock Brook, a tributary of the Millstone River, runs alongside Hollow Road and is around 7.4 miles long. It starts in the Sourland Mountain range and flows through several parks and natural areas, including Montgomery Park, Skillman Park, and Zion Crossing Park. Long ago, Rock Brook was used for water power, and you can still see the remains of a dam in the stream as a picturesque little waterfall. Aside from its recreational value, Rock Brook is an essential part of the ecosystem in Montgomery Township. It provides a habitat for various plant species and helps regulate water flow and quality in the area.

Zion Crossing Park is one of my favourite places in the township. It was my go-to spot for peace during the COVID pandemic and when I struggled with my health in 2018 and 2019. The sound of the water rushing over the rocks drowned out the negative thoughts in my head, and I found it to be a calming place. After several days of rain, Rock Brook had a lot of water, which made for some great photos.

I used my URTH ND64 filter on my XF27mmF2.8 R WR to capture the motion blur in the water. The filter provides six light-reduction stops, allowing me to get shutter speeds between 1⁄2 to 1 second. I edited the photos in Adobe Lightroom and used Luminar Neo for cropping recommendations.

One of my entries for Lens-Artists.

Skillman Park

For years, I've been wanting a super-zoom lens. Previously, I rented lenses like the Fujinon XF100-400mmF4.5-4.6 for bird photography workshops. Finally, after saving up, I bought Fujifilm's latest super-zoom, the XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR. The weather was great, so I headed to Skillman Park in Montgomery Township to try it out.

Located in Montgomery Township in Central New Jersey, Skillman Park is one of my township's newest parks. The park is named after the Skillman family, prominent landowners in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Originally, the park was the site of a mental health facility called Skillman Village. However, the facility was closed in 1995, and Montgomery Township purchased the property intending to create a park. Unfortunately, it was discovered that the buildings on the property contained asbestos and untreated sewage. This led to a series of lawsuits. Eventually, Somerset County purchased and rehabilitated the property, creating the park. Since then, the township has acquired additional land, bringing the park's total size to over 247 acres.

Within the park, individuals can find a multitude of opportunities for recreational activities. These include various sports fields and courts for sports enthusiasts, lovely picnic areas for those seeking a peaceful break, a playground for children to enjoy, and extensive hiking and biking trails that seamlessly weave through lush wooded areas and vast open fields, providing for an immersive outdoor experience.

Skillman Park is a haven for a wide range of wildlife, including deer, foxes, bird species, and the American Robin. It's a well-known birdwatching destination; designated birdwatching areas are scattered throughout the park.

I had hoped to capture some photos of birds, but unfortunately, I didn't come across many. Though I could see birds flying above, they were too far away, even for the long end of my lens. Feeling disappointed, I strolled along one of the park's trails.

American Robin

The XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR super telephoto lens I had ordered on Amazon.com a few weeks earlier had arrived, and I was itching to use it. I walked around Skillman Park looking for the early signs of Spring.

The XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR super telephoto lens I had ordered on Amazon.com a few weeks earlier had arrived, and I was itching to use it. I walked around Skillman Park looking for the early signs of Spring. I hoped to find something exotic, but after thirty minutes of walking near Sylvan Lake's edge, I settled for whatever was possible.

Turdus migratorius, the American Robin, is a common migratory songbird in Skillman Park. During the breeding season, male American Robins have bright orange breasts and dark grey upper parts, while females have paler orange breasts and grey-brown upper legs. Both males and females have a white eye ring, a yellow bill, and a distinctive upright posture.

American Robins are known for their melodious song, a series of clear, flute-like notes. I typically see them foraging for food on lawns and in open fields, including my backyard. They use their keen eyesight to search for earthworms, insects, and other invertebrates.

This American Robins was perched on nearby tree branches after hopping across the grass for food. They mate in the area before migrating south for the winter.