Trailscapes is a place to find the beauty of nature in my original photos and videos of nature set to music. Find the beauty, inspiration and whimsy in nature! There's beauty all around us, we just have to look for it in the simplest things!
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"There's a certain nostalgia and romance in a place you left." ~ author David Guterson, born 1956
Diners ... a favorite of locals and weary travelers, sharing their joys and sorrows over a steaming cup of coffee. Diners are a comforting haven, a slice of nostalgia to go with that slice of cherry pie, especially on a rainy evening.
Here, the Hamilton Family Restaurant (known as the "Ham Fam"), a '50s era landmark in the West End of Allentown, Pennsylvania, beams it's retro neon welcome during a rainy September twilight.
"... Wild, wild, like the deer and the dove Wild and free is this land that I love ... A dream grows wild in the country... And here with a dream in my heart Part of the wild, wild country, am I."
~ "Wild In The Country" ~ The title track from the 1961 dramatic film "Wild In The Country," recorded by the great Elvis Presley
Beautiful and regal looking six point white-tailed deer buck pauses from grazing on a warm September evening along the Saucon Rail Trail, Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania.
"Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it." ~ L.M. Montgomery ~ 1874-1942
Sometimes life whirls by so fast it's a bit of a blur, so it's good to remember the simple joys, like going to the fair on a sweet summer night. This high contrast monochrome shot captures the ferris wheel spinning on the September opening of the 163rd Great Allentown Fair, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
"I see nothing in space as promising as the view from a Ferris Wheel." ~ E.B. White ~ 1899-1985
The Ferris Wheel whirls in tandem with a smaller spinning wheel, coloring the sky over the Midway with happiness on a warm September evening, the opening of the 163rd Great Allentown Fair, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar." ~ Bradley Millar The first Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar I've ever seen dallies on on August afternoon along the Plainfield Township Recreation Trail near the Stockertown (Belfast Junction), Pennsylvania portion of this rail trail.
"... In Dixie's Land, where I was born in, early on one frosty mornin'... I wish I was in Dixie ... Away, away, away down South in Dixie!" ~ "Dixie" ("Dixie's Land")
Striking up a banjo and fiddle on a sun streaked summer's day, this couple fills the air with the sweet sounds of Dixieland.
I loved hearing these wonderful tunes echo through Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania as I snapped this candid scene. Perhaps they are wistfully thinking of home as their music makes the summer even sweeter.
"If you want to go quickly, go alone, If you want to go far, go together." ~African Proverb Beautiful white-tailed deer doe receives a spoonful of love in a sweet nudge from her white spotted fawn during a precious moment captured on a summer evening in the park. I've been blessed to photograph this doe and her fawns for more than three years, and it's a true joy to me personally and as a photographer.
"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator." ~ Mahatma Gandhi ~ 1869-1948
A stunning summer sunset echoes and shimmers on a Saturday evening across Leaser Lake in the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge, 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 north of the lake.
"I've got to follow that dream wherever that dream may lead I've got to follow that dream to find the love I need ... But when a dream is calling you, There's just one thing that you can do Well, you gotta follow that dream wherever that dream may lead You gotta follow that dream to find the love you need Keep a-movin, move along, keep a moving ..." ~ "Follow That Dream" ~ from the 1962 musical film "Follow That Dream" ~recorded by the great Elvis Presley This Slinky follows it's dream to spring toward therolling hills of Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania on a beautiful summer day, a great reminder to always follow that dream! Slinky is a toy, a precompressed helical spring invented and developed by naval engineer Richard T. James in 1943.
"Who made the mountains, who made the trees Who made the rivers flow to the sea And who sends the rain when the earth is dry Somebody bigger than you and I ..." ~ "Somebody Bigger Than You And I" ~ Written by Johnny Lange, Hy Heath & Sonny Burke
~ Recorded by the great Elvis Presley ~ 1967 God's handiwork creates a sweet and perfect summer morningat Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
The serenity is palpable as an adorable beagle splashes near the ford of the Jordan Creek, the only other sound the chirping of birds. This image paints why this is one of my very favorite places to be and to photograph, and epitomizes the words of my most favorite Gospel hymn, the beautiful"Somebody Bigger Than You and I," recorded by the great Elvis Presley in 1967.
Stevie Wonder's beautiful and melancholy "All In Love Is Fair" sets the mood for this reflection of winter showcased by my original photos. My greatest joy as a photographer is harmonizing my favorite original photos to music to create a lingering snapshot of the season. Enjoy! Also on my YouTube channel at
"Blue moon, blue moon, blue moon, keep shining bright. Blue moon, keep on shining bright, You're gonna bring me back my baby tonight, Blue moon, keep shining bright. I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining ..." ~ "Blue Moon of Kentucky" recorded by the great Elvis Presley ~ 1954 An artistic view of "Blue Moonshine" illuminating the summer sky over Cedar Creek Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania during the Blue Moon of July 31, 2015. A Blue Moon is defined as any time there is a second full moon in a calendar month, according to NASA. The next will occur January 2, 2018. "Blue Moon of Kentucky" is the official Bluegrass song of Kentucky, written by Bill Monroe, "The Father of Bluegrass," in 1946. The great Elvis Presley - an artist who occurs "once in a blue moon," - recorded his fantastic rockabilly version in 1954.
"What the heart once owned and had, it shall never lose." ~ Henry Ward Beecher ~ 1813-1887
Beautiful North American female cardinal waits for her true love - a North American male cardinal fluttering nearby - to return to her side a few weeks before Valentine's Day at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The Latin phrase "Solvitur Ambulando" ~ "It Is Solved By Walking," seems to capture the essence of the sight of a man walking during a winter sunset at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Here, he is alone with his thoughts, hopes and dreams in the beautiful, peaceful quiet that follows a snowfall.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) wrote in "Country Life" in 1857, "It is the best of humanity, I think, that goes out to walk."
"We try acting grown up but as a rule We're all little children fresh from school ... Keep them handy, flowers and candy Roses and lollipops and lollipops and roses."
~ "Lollipops and Roses" ~composed by Tony Velona ~ recorded by Jack Jones ~ 1962
Yellow roses in the Allentown Rose Gardens bloom under a bright rainbow Whirlypop lollipop in Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania in an Alice In Wonderland type way on a summer day in this whimsical abstract inspired by the song "Lollipops and Roses." Because aren't we all kids at heart?
"And I know you think that I'll be ... Crying you a river that winds and winds and winds Oh but baby I'm down to my last teardrop this time." ~ "Down To My Last Teardrop" ~ Written by Paul Davis ~ Recorded by Tanya Tucker ~ 1991
The last teardrop of a summer rain lingers on a beautiful tiger lily on a June evening at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
~ "Best Friend" ~by Harry Nilsson ~ "Theme Song of The Courtship of Eddie's Father" ~ 1969-1972
A man and his furry first mate set out in a small kayak on a perfect summer day at Leaser Lake, in the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania. The sight of this man and his adorable dog - both in life jackets - brings to life the words of that iconic song, "Best Friend."
Leaser 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 north of the lake.
"America ! America ! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! ... America ....!"
~"America The Beautiful" ~ 1910 ~ Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates, Music composed by Samuel A. Ward
Festive fireworks festoon the summer sky like confetti as if to say, "Bravo, America!" during the 2015 Fourth of July Fireworks set off from J. Birney Crum Stadium, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
How wonderful it would be to have fireworks - and the fire of patriotism - in our hearts every day!
As the fireworks ended I heard a little boy say "Bravo!" I couldn't have said it better myself.
"May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely than this our own country!" ~ Daniel Webster ~ 1782-1852
Red hot fireworks paint the sweet fire of patriotism in the summer sky during the 2015 Fourth of July Fireworks set off from J. Birney Crum Stadium, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
How wonderful it would be to have fireworks - and the fire of patriotism - in our hearts every day!
As the fireworks ended I heard a little boy say "Bravo!" I couldn't have said it better myself.
"In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous." ~ Aristotle ~ 385-322 B.C. There are few sights sweeter than a young and innocent white-spotted fawn, such as this beautiful white-tailed deer fawn pausing from grazing in the park on a June evening.
I've been blessed to photograph this fawn's mama doe - who was closeby - and her fawns for more than three years and it's a true joy to me personally and as a photographer.
Autumn is a beautiful season tinged with a sweet saddness, just as the song "Softly, As I Leave You" performed by the legendary Bobby Darin, which sets the mood showcased by my original photos. My greatest joy as a photographer is harmonizing my favorite original photos to music to create a lingering snapshot of the season. Enjoy!
Also on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=54&v=0OatqfUU4d0
"Quiet thoughts come floating down And settle softly to the ground Like golden autumn leaves around my feet I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories ..."
~ "Memories" ~ Recorded by the great Elvis Presley ~ 1968
A peaceful silence whispers of quiet thoughts and sweet memories at a place where the trees seem to shoulder the October sky at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
"First the tide rushes in Plants a kiss on the shore ... So I rush to your side Like the incoming tide ..." ~ "Ebb Tide" ~ Carl Sigman, lyricist ~ Robert Maxwell, composer ~ 1953
The morning sun sweeps and swirls the colors of October like a dream in a crest of the Little Lehigh Creek, Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
"All good things are wild and free." ~ Henry David Thoreau ~ 1817-1862 Great Blue Heron peers with a hunter's gaze perched in the sunshine and shadows of an autumn morning on the banks of the Little Lehigh Creek, Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
"Sweet memories of ... twilights trimmed in purple haze And laughing eyes and simple ways And quiet nights and gentle days with you Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind ..." ~ "Memories" ~ recorded by the great Elvis Presley ~ 1968 Twilight trims the spring sky 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 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 spring full of sweet days and roses, a box where sweets compacted lie." ~ George Herbert ~ 1593-1633
Sweet mallard ducklings swim close to their mama as a June sunset kisses them with light on the pond at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
"On the first warm day in May I hope you'll come a-callin' ... We'll climb the hill ... where all is still ..." ~ "The First Warm Day In May" ~ recorded by Rosemary Clooney ~ 1952
A sun dappled afternoon at Geiger's Covered Bridge is the perfect place to spend the first warm day in May. This is one of my very favorite places to be and to photograph. There's a simple beauty and tranquility here in the stillness and I love to capture that essence in my photography.
Geiger's is an historic wooden covered bridge in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. 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 Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
