Duke Farms in Thirds

[Duke Farms] was opened to the public on May 19, 2012, and has been among my favourite spots for photography for many years. Located in Hillsborough Township New Jersey the Duke Farms estate was created by an American entrepreneur James Buchanan Duke who founded Duke Power and the American Tobacco Company. After the passing of James' daughter, Doris, the property was put under the management of the Doris Duke Foundation.

I have walked the property independently and with a group of photographers. In January, I exposed a roll of Eastman Kodak Double-X 5222 black and white film at Duke Farms, which I mailed off to Boutique Film Labs to be developed in February. The negatives were returned in March, so I still had Duke Farms on my mind in April when the weather improved. The weather forecast called for partially cloudy but sunny dies with crisp cool air temperature for the upcoming Saturday. During the early days of the global pandemic, when residents were desperate for outdoor spaces to fend off the prison feelings from the lockdown, the park would fill with people. This created social distancing issues. Duke Farms implemented a pre-registration process for parking and to limit the number of people on the property at any one time. I suggested to Bhavna that we get one of the free parking passes and go for a walk around the property.

According to Wikipedia.

Starting in 1893, "Buck" Duke started to buy land next to the Raritan River in rural New Jersey. His vision was to create a farm similar to those in North Carolina where he had grown up. He engaged a number of architects and engineers to fulfil his dream, including Buckenham & Miller, James Leal Greenleaf and Elizabeth Biddle Shipman. Eventually, he had assembled about 2,700 acres (11 km²) of farm and woodlands that contained 45 buildings, 9 lakes, 18 miles of roads, 810 acres of woodlands, 464 acres of grassland bird habitat and 1.5 miles of stone walls.

Duke died in 1925, and his 12-year-old daughter, Doris Duke, gained control of the property after suing her mother, who had wanted to sell it. She restored it and moved in at the age of fifteen. She was very invested in the property and made it her main residence. She incorporated innovative ecological farming methods she learned from Louis Bromfield's Malabar Farm. Starting in 1958 she created and designed over a five-year period a unique botanical display in the Horace Trumbauer conservatory and greenhouses known as Duke Gardens. Duke Gardens opened to the public in 1964. Doris Duke died in 1993.

23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR

When we arrived, the parking lot was nearly full. We were not the only ones who thought a walk in the park was a great idea. When I described Duke Farms to Bhavna, I learned that she had never visited the property. There are so many small and large trails on the property that I didn't know if I should take Bhavna along the routes I have previously walked or do something new. I opted for something new. We walked around the larger outer loop.

23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR

The Coach Barn clock tower has rustic walls made from fieldstone cut from local quarries. This building was completed in 1903. The Coach Barn contained stables for horses on one end and office space for J.B. Duke and the estate manager on the other end. On the second floor was an apartment used by a carriage coachman but, in modern times, an automobile chauffeur.

23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR

One of my favourite spots on the property is the Orchid Range, designed by Boston architects Kendall Taylor & Stevens. The indoor Tropical Orchid Garden is filled with a wide variety of orchid species from tropical regions, along with some of the magnificent orchids that have been cultivated at Duke Farms throughout its history. It's easily the most popular attraction on the property, and it can get quite crowded. I have spent hours photographing the orchids. We didn't visit the orchids on this trip.

23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR

This week the Lens-Artists Challenge challenge is focused on the so-called "Rule of Thirds", a rule that Tina and Pablo Picasso agree is meant to be broken. Tina provides an easy-to-understand description of the rule of thirds.

Basically, the rule is a compositional guideline that encourages placement of your primary subject on at least part of three equal rows and three equal columns, as illustrated below.

I have nothing to add to Tina's description. While generally, I follow the rule of thirds, I often break the rule when I feel that the composition will have more impact. Sometimes, I crop the photographs in post-processing to improve the composition. I'm not sure all of the pictures I included from our walk follow the rule of thirds. Below are three examples showing the original SOOC JPEG image and the crop that I think closely aligns with the rule of thirds.

Original | 23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Edited | 23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR

I had learned about composition and the rule of thirds in my college 35mm film photography course. Still, after decades of family photography with 35mm film and digital point-n-shoot cameras, I had lost this knowledge. A few years after I bought my first DSLR in 2006, wishing to regain lost ability and improve my skills, I attended a course on composition with photographer Frank Veronsky. Frank helped me regain that which was lost.

I was drawn to the couple on the park bench in the photograph above. The trees frame them, and the green of the grass is duplicated in the man's shirt. In the original picture, there are some extraneous branches in the upper right corner that I found distracting, and the positioning of the bench in the frame felt a bit off. With a little bit of cropping, the couple is moved to where the eye naturally falls, and the distracting branch is no longer in the frame.

Original | 23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Edited | 23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR

I wanted to capture the sense of walking, so I composed keeping in mind the leading lines of the paved pathway and following the rules of thirds. I think I included too many of the tree branches on the right in the original photograph. With a tighter crop on the right and the top, I think I have a stronger image that still adheres to leading lines and the rule of thirds concepts.

Original | 23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Edited | 23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR

In the original image above, the space of the grass is a prominent feature. In the edit, the focus is on the sky and the colourful treeline. I think it makes for a more interesting composition.

Original | 23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Edited | 23 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR

I included the family walking on the path in the original image to give the composition a sense of scale. The cropped edit is more balance and aligns with the rule of thirds, but I think the photograph has lost the sense of scale. This is one situation where I feel I must ignore the rule of thirds to achieve the original vision.

What are your thoughts? How do you focus (pun intended) on photography concepts when making images? When do you ignore the rules and follow your feelings?

Saturday 2 April 2022

Bhavna and I walked on the Millstone Borough section of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park.

It was a beautiful Spring afternoon. Bhavna and I walked on the Millstone Borough section of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. We enjoyed the walk, and I had the opportunity to use my [Fujinon MCEX-16] extension tube. I saw no flowers except for the Spring Beauty.

I still have no Mac with which to edit my images. These are straight-out-of-camera (SOOC) JPEGs created using the Nostalgic Negative Film simulation recipe. I used the wireless transfer feature of my Fuji X-T3 to get them onto my iPad Pro. I uploaded and posted them using the WordPress app.

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park at Milstone · 2 April, 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park at Milstone · 2 April, 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR
2 April, 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
2 April, 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park at Milstone · 2 April, 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park at Milstone · 2 April, 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park at Milstone · 2 April, 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 + Fujinon MCEX-16· XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park at Milstone · 2 April, 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 + Fujinon MCEX-16 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

UPDATED 2022-04-22: My Mac Studio arrived! I have replaced the SOOC images with cropped versions edited on the Mac. No other editing was performed.

CCSP!

Saturday 18 September 2021

A few weeks ago, after several months of study and hours of practise tests, I was scheduled to sit the Cloud Certified Security Professional (CCSP) on 28 August. To build my career and prove my skills, I wanted to earn a globally recognised cloud security certification. But the testing centre had some issues with the roof, the testing centre cancelled the test last minute, and I had to reschedule for 18 September. I was disappointed but went back to preparing myself for the exam which I took this morning.

I PASSED!!!

CCSP
I PASSED!!

After the ISC2 officially validates my test score, I'll update my LinkedIn profile.

But this is the worst test-taking experience I have ever had. The testing centre is inside a small office in the Princeton Forrestal Village.

The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village
The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village | Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 | 1/1800 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 6400

The reception staff asked us to wash our hands as soon as we entered the testing facility, which is not a CDC recommendation for preventing the spread of COVID, so I suspect this is just Security theatre. But what the hell? Clean hands are not a hassle. We had to be vaccinated to take the test, but the testing centre required that we wear a face mask while in the waiting room (30 min) and during the exam (3 hours). That was a challenge.

I get anxious when my face and mouth are covered. Even when I had my radiation treatments for Graves Eye Disease (2019) and had to wear a mesh mask over my face, it was only possible because they dosed me up on Xanax first. I do not recommend taking Xanax before sitting an exam.

At one point, while in the waiting room before the exam, my heart started racing. I got up and went outside. By wearing the face mask, I added to my usual test anxiety. Fortunately, I remembered my deep breathing exercises from when I had hyperthyroidism (2018). That, combined with an intense focus on the test questions, helped me make it through. That is the longest I have ever worn a face mask. PearsonVUE determines these safety requirements.

We endured a pre-exam authentication procedure that made me feel like a criminal. I endure two palm vein scans, two scans for each hand, presented two forms of identification (I used my passport and New Jersey drivers license), sat for a photograph (the type they use in mug-shots), removed all clothing not attached to my body, locked them in a locker, turned out my empty pockets to show that I had no hidden items, etc. The admin told me that sometimes they also do a pat-down.

Then after that first authentication procedure, we were asked to get into another queue behind an opaque wall. We had to show ID again, turn our pockets again, and have our palms scanned again. The exam proctor informed us that the exam room had audio and video recording. I was allowed to enter the exam room with my insulin pump (federal ADA laws), but not my blood glucose testing kit or hard candy (in case I got hypoglycaemia). Before the test would start, I had to read and acknowledge a non-disclosure agreement regarding the test itself.

The ISC2 determines the authentication requirements for sitting the exam.

At the end of the test, I raised my hand, got the proctor and bolted for the exit. The admin staff reminded me to get my stuff from the locker and handed me my test result. I crumpled it up, stuffed it in my pocket and got out.

If they insist on in-person testing, then the ISC2 needs to find a mask-less process. I recommend they move the exam online.


Bhavana and Shaan were excited about my accomplishment. We decided to visit Flounder Brewing for a celebratory ale and rustic pizza from Testo.

Bhavna and Shaan
Bhavna and Shaan | Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 20 mm | 190 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 640
Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 1340 sec at f/2.8 | ISO 640
Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 1340 sec at f/2.8 | ISO 640
Corn and bacon | Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 1200 sec at f/6.4 | ISO 640
Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 1350 sec at f/2.8 | ISO 640
Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 1210 sec at f/2.8 | ISO 640
Testo Pizza
Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 160 sec at f/5.6 | ISO 1600
Testo Pizza
Saturday 18 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 32.1 mm | 160 sec at f/5.6 | ISO 1000

Friday 17 September 2021

Friday 17 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 140 sec at f/2.8 | ISO 12800

Wednesday 15 September 2021

Wednesday 15 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 1280 sec at f/2.8 | ISO 640

When Kiran was born, Bhavna and I were sleep-deprived zombies from taking care of her "still in a diaper" 18-month-old sibling, Shaan. Bhavna had a long exhausting labour experience. My right hand was nearly crushed by providing father support. Father's are so useless. When the nurse requested that I complete the requisite birth registration paperwork, I ended up with some creative spellings for our newest experiment's name.

I spelt Kiran, a gender-neutral Hindi name meaning "ray of light", with a "y", as Kyran, an Irish Celtic male first name meaning "little dark one". Oy! Not at all flattering and the opposite meaning of what we intended.

Kiran learned to spell her name with the "i", which caused issues when she started kindergarten. Why are Americans, predominantly white and black Americans, so bad at pronouncing non-Western normative names? It's not like Asians haven't lived in the USA for centuries. Our district is nearly 40% Asian, so this bothered me. She had more problems later on at college with paperwork, etc.

Recently, I went online looking for how to legally change her name to set her right before things got worse.

Tuesday 14 September 2021

Pachira aquatica
Pachira aquatica | Tuesday 14 September, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 150 sec at f/2.8 | ISO 6400

Like Phillip Caron, I too have an intense dislike of games of chance.

All games that are luck driven are strictly a waste of time after the age of six. Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, Trouble, and War are all on the list. I’m on a warpath against these games. Now, I do play these games on occasion. I have a four year old. These games serve their purpose to introduce young children to games. Children can learn basic rule structures socially and technically. There is nothing better to teach them about the unfairness of life. Having them lose at something that they had no control over anyway.

Beyond that they are useless.

Have you ever seen someone get excited when they beat you at one of these games? Pathetic. You won at a game… of pure chance. There wasn’t a shred of skill used in that victory. Can you even call it a victory? I could have played that game by myself. Your presence wasn’t even required for my loss.


The John Clyde Memorial Native Grassland Preserve, formerly the Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve, is a nature reserve and bird reserve located in Griggstown, an unincorporated community within Franklin Township, New Jersey. I visited the Preserve for the second time last November and for the first time in February 2019. This time Bhavna accompanied me. I have finally got around to posting the images.

The Preserve's meadow is 102 acres, and another 345 acres is woodland. The Preserve connects to 218 acres of the Ten Mile Run Greenway - the Bunker Hill and Franklin Park Natural Areas. It is home to many migratory birds and dozens of other birds and animals that make their permanent home in the surrounding wetlands. Some species found on this meadow include:

  • Grasshopper Sparrow and Bobolink (both New Jersey state threatened species)
  • American Kestrel and eastern box turtle (both New Jersey special concern species)
  • Short-eared Owl (New Jersey special concern species - non-breeding)

The township has engaged in extensive habitat restoration activities to assist these species, including removing 5,800 feet of fence and hedgerow - a vital step in creating 102 acres of meadow. The meadow is restored with a mixed planting of native grasses and native wildflowers. The Preserve has six trails through restored grasslands and mature forests.

Some local Eagle Scout projects have included constructing a kiosk, trail construction and marking, building a Barn Swallow nesting structure, and placing Bluebird and bat nesting boxes throughout the western portions.

There are no restrooms on-site.

Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve | Saturday 21 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | 1280 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 400
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve | Saturday 21 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 500
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve | Saturday 21 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | 1600 sec at f/4.5 | ISO 400
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve | Saturday 21 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 800
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve
Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve | Saturday 21 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | 1/1250 sec at f/2.8 | ISO 400

This is another set of images that I forgot to post. I don't remember all the details but one day in November, after we expected that some of the snow had melted and that the ground might be dryer, Bhavna and I took a hike around the Meadow, Pond and Stony Brook Trail Loop.

Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | Apple iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro back camera 6mm f/2 | 1120 sec at f/2.0 | ISO 20
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1350 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 200
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 3200
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 640
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 2000
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 2500
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1/2900 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 400
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 500
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 1000
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 12800
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 10000
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 1250
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 640
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 3200
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 150 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 12800
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1/2000 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 400
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1350 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 400
Stony Brook Trail Loop
Sunday 29 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | 80 mm | 1250 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 1000