Tag: Montgomery Township

Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest

I met Nathan last year at the first Montgomery FunFest. My wife and I met Nathan through a mutual friend, Jean Robinson, who is the president of the Montgomery Business Association. At last year's event, I had promised Nathan I would get some photographs of his car but I got busy at the event and the event was over before I could capture images. So photographing his car and the other vintage cars was the first thing on my agent this year.

Nathan Buck has been working on his 1932 Ford hotrod for about five years.

Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Nathan Buck and his 1932 Ford at 2016 Montgomery FunFest—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

Flash Flood

All of the iPhones in the house were screaming as Dark Sky displayed a flash flood warning notification. We had a lot of rainfall in a very short period this past weekend. I knew that some of the nearby streams were likely filled and were on the verge of overflowing their banks. Of course, this could prove the perfect opportunity to drive to one section of the Rock Brook along Hollow Road in Skillman and grab some “fast-moving water" shots.

I parked near the intersection of Servis Road and Hollow Road. I met a woman out with her camera near the bridge from Grand View. The tripod was placed in a "difficult" spot, half in the water, just to get the shot.

Was I in any kind of danger? Perhaps. Perhaps, the brook could have surged, and I could have been so focused on getting the photograph that I would not have noticed the encroaching water and I could have been swept away along with the tripod. Or maybe the tripod would have become unstable and toppled over into the brook taking my camera with it.

But none of that happened. I was careful and, the woman was helpful and became my spotter. I kept alert. And I got the shot.

Rock Brook
Rock Brook | Sunday 31 July, 2016 | Nikon D5100 | Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX II 11-16mm F2.8 @ 11 mm | 2.0 sec at f/10 | ISO 100
Rock Brook
Rock Brook | Sunday 31 July, 2016 | Nikon D5100 | Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX II 11-16mm F2.8 @ 16 mm | 4.0 sec at f/10 | ISO 100
Rock Brook
Rock Brook | Sunday 31 July, 2016 | Nikon D5100 | Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX II 11-16mm F2.8 @ 14 mm | 30.0 sec at f/10 | ISO 100

Opie's Grist Mill at Night, Belle Mead, New Jersey

The first grist mill, built in 1721, was destroyed by fire about the end of the 18th century.

Since I moved with my family to the Skillman section of Montgomery Township in 2001 I have been interested in the history of the area. What are all these names I see repeated on street names and buildings even in Princeton? Names like Harlingen, van Zandt, and Skillman.

Belle Mead was part of the Western Precinct of Somerset County before the creation of Mercer County. Until 1838, the Montgomery Township border went as far south as Nassau Street. Portions of the town and Somerset County were later ceded to Mercer County and Princeton Township. The township was settled by land speculators from the former New Amsterdam (Long Island) after the land area was ceded to the British.

The first grist mill, built in 1721, was destroyed by fire at about the end of the 18th century. The second grist mill was built in the early 1800s.

Bhavana and I showed up at the Grist Mill site about one hour before sunset. We chatted while I walked around looking for the "right" composition. She wanted to know why we got there so early so I explained to her that sunset to blue hours occurs in a very short time and rushing around while the light faded was not what I wanted. I think she was annoyed by the bugs that were buzzing around. She walked back to sit in the car.

I had some challenges with cars driving over the bridge in the middle of my exposures and soon I grew tired of being bitten by mosquitoes and other insects. After about two exposures I packed up and joined her in the car to head back home.

I think I'll come back another time, perhaps in the early morning, to shoot some long exposures of water flowing over the small dam. It's at an odd angle but I may be able to set up the tripod near the foot of the water.