Quiet and calm

After dropping Shaan at the Winter Farmer's Market, I redirected my photography plans from Sandy Hook to Zion Crossing Park.

Shaan needed a lift to the Winter Farmer's Market organised by the Montgomery Friends of Open Space (MFOS) at Village Shopper strip mall. As the associate manager, Shaan was responsible for setting up the MFOS tent by 8 AM and assisting vendors in preparing for the market. My initial plan was a photography trip to Sandy Hook with my Nikon N2020, hoping to capture the lonely stillness of Gateway National Recreation Area. However, after dropping Shaan off, my enthusiasm faded, partly due to the gloomy, overcast weather.

I shifted my focus to Zion Crossing Park, near the Skillman and Hillsborough border, just off Hollow Road. The park, with its quaint waterfall, seemed an appropriate subject for my Nikon N2020. While absorbed in this spur-of-the-moment photo session, I remembered the Spectre app for iOS devices to simplify long-exposure photography. This app is good at capturing light trails and silky water effects, perfect for the setting. However, I met a hiccup – I had forgotten my Glif tripod attachment for my iPhone 11 Pro.

After a moment of consideration, I improvised. I found a small stone, just the right size to wedge between the Arca Swiss bracket and my iPhone. This makeshift setup allowed me to experiment with various shutter speeds, with four seconds producing the best results.

The winter scene was somewhat bland, but that's expected for this time of year. This is a scheduled post, so you might be reading this in January, months after I wrote this post.

Brr

My idea of good weather is based on the acceptable amount of discomfort I can handle while drinking a cold beer.

I had not walked my morning route in two days, but yesterday morning, the air temperature of -2ºC pushed me past my comfort threshold. I don't like this type of weather. It's the inverse of summer, another part of the year I dislike, especially when the air temperatures soar past 32ºC in the shade. My idea of good weather is based on the acceptable amount of discomfort I can handle while drinking a cold beer. The shorter the amount of time, the less I like the weather.

Early this morning...

Early this morning, I ventured out for a walk in my neighbourhood. The sky was a blanket of grey, and a chill hung in the air, the temperature just 2ºC

This morning, I ventured out for my daily walk around my neighbourhood, the sky overcast, casting a soft, muted light on the surroundings. The air was crisp, hovering around 2ºC, fresh and invigorating and filled with the aroma of wet and decaying vegetation. It was one of those peaceful mornings.

As I returned home, I walked along Salisbury Road with my pocket camera, noticing a couple walking toward me on the other side. They walked in tandem, the woman cradling a baby wrapped snugly against the chill. I raised my camera, capturing this simple moment of family and warmth amidst the cold. I smiled, connecting to this brief shared slice of life.

Montgomery Hills, Montgomery Township, Salisbury Road
Tuesday 5 December 2023 · Apple iPhone 11 Pro · iPhone 11 Pro back camera 6mm f/2

Continuing my walk, I climbed the small hill on Salisbury Road. I turned my lens towards the back of the houses lining Jackson Avenue. My attention was drawn to the neat lines of the drains in the run-off area. These drains, often ignored, play an essential role in managing rain and melting snow, channelling water underground to prevent flooding. When covered in snow in winter, the gentle slopes become a playground buzzing with children's laughter. I took my kids to play here when they were younger. They would sledge down, their lively shrieks piercing the cold air, their faces flushed with excitement and cold. I also captured this scene as a reminder of how simple joys persist, even in the most structured of environments, and how every element around us, no matter how mundane, has its own story.