The Art Of Oktoberfest ...

A colorful and artistic view at this year's Oktoberfest
on Nineteenth Street in the quaint West End Theatre District,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

On The Delaware ...

"Wrinkles should merely indicate
where smiles have been."
                               ~ Mark Twain
                                                ~ 1835-1910

When I saw this man fishing on 
the Delaware River in Phillipsburg, New Jersey
on an early September evening, I wondered from his
expression what thoughts and memories were
crossing his mind. The man was fishing near
the historic Northampton Street Bridge,
commonly called The Free Bridge, which spans the 
Delaware River between Phillipsburg, New Jersey
and Easton, Pennsylvania. The Free Bridge was completed in 1896 
and survived the damage from massive flooding from
Hurricane Diane in 1955. It undersent a thorough
restoration in 1990. 

Mr. Chips ...

This adorable chipmunk poses on a sunny September day at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

Perched At Wehr's Dam ...

This Great Blue Heron may well be contemplating how fast the summer flew by while perched at the historic Wehr's Dam on a late September afternoon.

The dam, built in 1904, is next to Wehr's Covered Bridge, which dates back to 1841, at Covered Bridge Park, Orefield, Pennsylvania.

A Hint Of Shangri-La ...

"Your kisses take me to
Shangri-la ...
A land of bluebirds and fountains ...
For anywhere you are is Shangri-La."
                                    ~ "Shangri-La"
                                           ~ Carl Sigman, Matty Malneck and Robert Maxwell
                                                                   1946 
            


With the Jordan Creek gently flowing under a sparkling 
September sun, it seems like Shangri-La on a late summer
afternoon at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
The historic Schlicher Covered Bridge is in the background.
It is a wooden, 108-foot-long Burr Truss Bridge constructed in 1882.
It has vertical plank siding and a gable roof. It recently reopened
after needed restorations.

Great Blue Sunset ...

 

Great Blue Heron high in the trees
is awash in the glow of a summer sunset
at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The Summer Wanes ...

"The summer knows ...
one last caress
it's time to dress for fall ..."
      ~ "The Summer Knows,"
           Theme from "Summer of '42"
                ~ Michael Legrand, 1971

Bright pails, a melancholy mood ...
A few autumn leaves scatter around pails
left behind by children catching tadpoles
in the Jordan Creek at Trexler Nature Preserve,
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
On this September afternoon it reminded me
the waning summer will soon give way to fall.

Bridging Twilight ...

"Twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with a star."
            ~ Lucy Maud Montgomery
                   ~ 1874-1942                                                              
Twilight begins to steal across the waning summer sky like a painter of dreams over Easton, Pennsylvania as viewed from across
the Delaware River in Phillipsburg, New Jersey next to the historic Northampton Street Bridge, commonly called The Free Bridge.

The bridge that spans the states was completed in 1896 and survived damage from massive flooding from Hurricane Diane in 1955. It underwent a thorough restoration in 1990, and is one of my very favorite places to photograph.
 

Sweet Dreams Of Youth ...

 

"Dream no small dreams ..."
                                     ~ Victor Hugo
                                                          ~ 1802-1885

This sweet white-tailed deer fawn will grow to be
a proud buck one day. But on this August evening
grazing in the park he had only to dream of what will be.

I've been blessed to photograph this fawn's mother doe
and her fawns for more than two years, and it's a true joy
for me personally and as a photographer. 

A Country Red ...

  

 

"In summer, the song sings itself."
                                      ~ William Carlos Williams
                                                    1883-1963

Geiger's Covered Bridge paints a pop of red 
to the country landscape in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
 on a picturesque summer day.

The bridge is an historic wooden covered bridge. It is a
112-foot long Burr Truss bridge, constructed in 1860.
It has vertical plank siding and an entry portal of
stepped square planks. It crosses the Jordan Creek
and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980. It can be accessed from The Covered Bridge Trail
of the Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

 

A Simple Peace ...

"I found the poems in the field
and only wrote them down."
                             ~ John Clare
                                          ~ 1793-1864

The words of the English poet John Clare came to life
to me when I photographed this scene just before sunset. It
was a waning summer evening just off the Ironton Rail Trail, 
Whitehall, Pennsylvania, with the chirp of crickets and the 
soft coo of a mourning dove the only sounds filling the air ...
a simple peace and a beautiful reminder to me of why
I love nature photography. 

A Fair Night ...

This little tyke in a stroller has the best seat in the house
to navigate the crowded midway one evening this week at 
the 162nd Great Allentown Fair, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Neon Spin ...

"Colors must fit together as pieces in a puzzle
or cogs in a wheel."
                                       ~ Hans Hofmann
                                                       1880-1966

The ferris wheel lights up a summer night with spinning neon this week
at the 162nd Great Allentown Fair, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

The Eyes Of Love ...

Beautiful white-tailed deer doe casts a watchful, loving
eye on her fawn. Someday this sweet fawn will be
a proud buck, but on this late summer evening in
the park he was happy grazing with his mother.

I've been blessed to photograph this doe and
her fawns for more than two years, and it's a 
real joy!

A Summer Place ...

"There's a summer place ..."
           ~ "Theme From A Summer Place"
                                      ~   1959                                          

You can almost hear the strains of "Theme From A Summer Place" on a perfect August evening at Manassas Guth Covered Bridge, South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania.

The historic wooden bridge that crosses the Jordan Creek was constructed in 1858 and rebuilt in 1882. It is a 108-foot long Burr Truss bridge with vertical siding. It was placed on the  National Register of Historic Places in 1980. 

Fawn In The Waning Summer ...

This beautiful white-tailed deer fawn will one day 
be a proud buck, but now he enjoys a waning
summer evening in the park.
I've been blessed to photography this fawn's 
mama doe and her fawns for more than two years, 
and it's a joy!

Let The Sun Shine In ...

"This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius ...
Let the sun shine in
Open up your heart and let it
shine on in ..."
                       ~ "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In"
                                           ~ "Hair"
                                                     ~ 1967

When I saw these almost magical sunflares
just before sunset at Trexler Memorial Park,
Allentown, Pennsylvania, I thought of the song
"Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In." I shot this
just a little while before the Supermoon in August. 

Ford Every Stream ...

"Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream ...
Till you find your dream."
                  ~ "Climb Every Mountain"
                                       ~ "The Sound of Music"
                                                 ~ Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1959

Even the family dog seems to enjoy the summer morning ride to 
Ford the Jordan Creek at Trexler Nature Preserve,
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.  
For more than 50 years kids and kids at heart have
enjoyed driving through the creek. 

What, No Tadpoles?

The simple joys that make a child's summer magical are 
captured as this girl tries to catch tadpoles in the Jordan Creek on a summer afternoon
at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

Sweet Memories ...

"Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind,
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine ...
Laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you.
Memories, memories, sweet memories."
                                                                     ~ "Memories" 
                                                                          ~ recorded by the great
                                                                                   Elvis Presley, 1968

                                             

 Geiger's Covered Bridge evokes sweet nostalgia on a summer morning
in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. The bridge is a 112-foot-long
Burr Truss bridge, constructed in 1860. It has vertical plank siding and an
entry portal of stepped square planks. It crosses the Jordan Creek and
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The  bridge can be accessed from The Covered Bridge Trail
at the Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

Welcome To My World ...

The expression on this Elk's face seems to say "Welcome To My World"
on a summer afternoon at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

Savoring The Sweet ...

"We live in the world when we love it."
               ~ Rabindranath Tagore
                  ~   1861-1941                                                                        
Beautiful monarch butterfly savors summer's sweet nectar on a recent morning at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

It's Only A Paper Moon?...

"It is only a paper moon ...
It is only a canvas sky ...
But it wouldn't be make-believe if
You believe in me."

                           ~ "It's Only A Paper Moon"
                                      ~ written by Harold Arlen
                                          lyrics by E.Y. Harburg & Billy Rose
                                                                    1933



 The supermoon of August 10, 2014 - 
the largest full moon of the year -
rises in beauty at Trexler Memorial Park,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

                        
                   
                              

The Morning Hunt ...

A Great White Egret, also known as a Great White Heron, is on the hunt in the sun splashed waters of the Jordan Creek
on a summer morning at Trexler Nature Preserve, 
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

The Innocence of Youth ...

 

Beautiful white-tailed deer fawn poses on a summer evening
just off the Ironton Rail Trail, North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania.

Colors Of Main ...

 

The Martin Building colors the corner of South Main and Stockton Streets
in the historic downtown of Phillipsburg, New Jersey on 
a summer evening.
 

Silence Is Golden ...

"Silence is golden, but my eyes still see ..."
                                ~ "Silence Is Golden"
                                          ~ The Four Seasons
                                                                      1964

A man takes in the silent beauty of a summer
golden hour at Leaser Lake, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania. 
The lake's namesake is Frederick Leaser, who in
September 1777 with his farm team hauled
The Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown where it was concealed 
in Zion Reformed Church. His homestead is located one mile
to the north of the lake. 
 

                                                         

Eye Of The Papillon ...

"Life is like a butterfly, you can chase it,
or you can let it come to you."
                                       ~ Ruth Brown 
Though he has an intent gaze and orange and black coloring, this is not a tiger, but an Eastern Comma Butterfly.

This beautiful papillon pauses at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania on a summer evening before once again taking flight.

Once Upon The Long Ago ...

"Some days in late August at home are like this,
the air thin and eager like this,
with something in it sad and nostalgic and familiar..."
               ~ William Faulkner
                        ~1897-1962
             ~ Southern American author 
           & Nobel Prize Laureate

         "The Sound and The Fury"
                             ~ 1929
A high contrast monochrome and painterly view of the Lehigh Valley on a summer evening from one of the beautiful summits at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. 

How Green Is My Valley ...

"How green was my valley then ...
and the valley of them that have gone."

                                        ~ "How Green Was My Valley"
                                                       ~ Richard Llewellyn
                                                                                1939

The Lehigh Valley is wrapped in the lush  green
of summer in this view from one of the beautiful
summits at Trexler Nature Preserve,
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.