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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"Autumn paints in colors that summer has never seen." ~ Author Unknown
Brushstroke by brushstroke, a painter captures on canvas the glorious autumn beauty God has painted this October at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
I took this candid shot of the artist and her easel nestled in a picturesque spot between the ford of the Jordan Creek and the pedestrian bridge at the preserve.
"Flowing water is at once a picture and a music, which causes to flow at the same time from my brain, like a limpid and murmuring rivulet, sweet thoughts, charming reveries, and melancholy remembrances." ~ Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr ~ 1808-1890
The waters of the Monocacy Creek spill like memories between the morning sun and shadows dancing on the dam - commonly called Monocacy Falls - on a beautiful October day at Monocacy Park, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in this high contrast monochrome shot.
"... Deep in December it's nice to remember The fire of September that made us mellow Deep in December our hearts should remember And follow, follow, follow." ~ "Try To Remember" ~ from the 1960 musical "The Fantasticks"
The fire of September suffuses across the waning summer sky, painting a gorgeous sunset at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
"Butterflies are self-propelled flowers." ~ Robert Heinlein ~ 1907-1988 Beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly alights on the thistle as a bee is already enjoying the nectar on a sweet summer day at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul ..." ~ Hebrews 6:19 Hope is illuminated in pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October atop the iconic PPL Building in downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The PPL Building, formerly the Pennsylvania Power and Light Building, is a 24-story, art deco/art moderne skyscraper at Ninth and Hamilton Streets.
It is the tallest building in Allentown and the second tallest in the Lehigh Valley, and serves as headquarters for the electric utility, PPL .
The building is often uniquely illuminated at night, especially during the Christmas season. During the 1960s, PPL supported the local United Fund community drive program by using the building's brightly lit windows to spell out the abbreviation "U.F." to remind area residents to contribute to the fund drive.
The PPL building was built from 1926-1928. The building was designed by architect and skyscraper pioneer Harvey Wiley Corbett, who would later have a hand in designing New York's Rockefeller Center, and was supervised by by his assistant, Wallace Harrison, who would later design Lincoln Center, La Guardia Airport and the United Nations Headquarters Building. The building has exterior features bas reliefs by Alexander Archipenko. In 1930, the PPL building was named "the best example of a modern office building" by Encyclopedia Brittanica, and also featured the world's fastest elevator.
"Simple days bring simple joys ..." ~ Emily Lawless ~ 1845-1913 The sweet morning light of summer dances and shimmers into beautiful bokeh around a buddleia flower on the banks of the Jordan Creek at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania ... the magic of ordinary days.
"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.
