Day 243 - Lehigh Valley Zoo

Now for the last 5 years, every Saturday morning, I take the grandchildren to swimming.  Every Saturday Morning before packing them in the car, I always pack the swimming gear 1st.  But on this Saturday, yes this Saturday for the 1st time in 5 years, I didn't need to go into the water because the last grandchild has moved up from too good, too little classes.  So I didn't need to pack my swim suit this morning.  Not only did I not pack my swim suit, but in the excitement of not needing to go into the water, I didn't pack anyone's swim suit.  OOPs, so tomorrow we head out for their make up class.

So we then decided to take them to the Lehigh Valley Zoo today instead of tomorrow.  They had a fun time:

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

The got to see all kinds of animals, there were the

Penguins..

And the Otters

THe Kangaroos

And the Camels to Name a few

Then there was the scream that was heard all over the Zoo when

this little fellow decided to visit Nana

On her arm.

Of course it was a hot and humid day and they began to get tired

For this last images I switched Lenses to the EF-M 18-55mm

Thanks for Stopping by & Looking

Tom

Day 242 - Allentown Fair

Well for today's lunch outing, the wife & I went to the Allentown Fair to have a little fair food and checkout what was happening at the Allentown Fair.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

 Now for these images, I switched Lens to the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5 - f/4.5

22mm @ f/4.5

17mm @ f/4.0

 15mm @ f/4

10mm @ f/3.5

Thanks for stopping by.

Tom

Day 241 - Application For MFT Licensure Exam

Today is a momentous occasion.  Back in 2004 I started on a journey that changed my career goals.  In May of 2008 as the 1st milestone completed when I graduated with a Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy.  In August of 2010 was the 2nd Milestone on this journey when I retired from AT&T after 31 years of service. Now today the 242 day of the year in 2013 I've completed  3rd milestone by officially applying to set for the MFT Licensure Exam after completing 3000 hours of Office/Clinical practice and 150 hours of Supervision.  Now there is two major milestone left and that is the State accepting my application and then taking and passing the the exam for becoming a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

Application sealed and ready for mailing.

See you all Tomorrow.

Tom

Day 240 - Walk in through the Bethlehem Cemetery

Today I did my morning walk through the Bethlehem Cemetery.  While on my walk it started to rain do there I was, taking Pictures using a Tripod and a umbrella.  The images I took I did as HDR due to the flat dreary lighting:

Both were from 4 images between the range of -2 2/3 to + 2 2/3

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

Thanks for Stopping By

Tom

Day 239 - Kreidersville Covered Bridge

Today after work I decided to head over to the Kreidersville Bridge.  The Kreidersville Bridge is the 7th and last covered Bridge in the Lehigh Valley.  The bridge crosses over the Hokendauqua Creek and is the oldest covered bridge in Lehigh Valley and one of the oldest in Pennsylvania. It is the only remaining covered bridge in Northampton County and has been known as Hummel’s, Koch’s and Solt’s Mill Bridge. Built in the Burr arch truss design with stone and mortar abutments and wing walls capped with concrete, the bridge is distinctive with no openings along the sides to light the interior.  

The Bridge is 100 feet long
Built in 1839
Currently opened for Pedestrian Traffic

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

This Image I used a Cokin 003A Red Filter

The Next 2 images I used a Cokin 120 Graduate ND Strong Filter

The Next 2 images are HDR Images created from 6 images from -3 to +3.

The Final Image of this grand bridge.

Thanks for Stopping By

Tom

Day 238 - A Yellow Kinda Day

Well, been busy today and was not able to get out for a walk today before heading into the office, so I thought I would do a Still Life that I been meaning to do of a pair of shoes and a purse she got.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

So WDYT?  Do they go with her red car?

See you tomorrow

Tom

Day 237 - A Garlicky Day

Today there were lots of options in the Lehigh Valley.  There was the Air Show at the Lehigh Valley Airport.  Then there was the Wheels of Time Car Show in Macungie, and then there was the Garlic Festival at Bear Creek.  So yesterday I presented these 3 options to my lovely wife and I could immediately tell by her facial expression that the Wheel's of Time was a no.  So that left the Air Show or the Garlic Festival.  Well we went to church, so after the service, it would of been tuff getting to the Airport on time to see any of the shows, so we opted for the Garlic Festival, which made my bride happy.

And we all know that a happy wife is a happy life.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

And the Star of the Festival

Something interesting

Chocolate Chip Garlic Cookies

So many Vendors wanting you to buy their wares

But there were only 2 vendors that were worth mentioning.  The 1st was Mrs MacNabb's Bake Beans. What was unique about these bake beans where they were made from Lima Beans.  Now I hate Lima Beans.  I avoid Lima Beans.  I have not eaten Lima Beans since I left home @ 18. However this woman almost made me a Lima Bean Lover as these were the best tasting bake beans I have ever eaten.  And yes we did indeed by a tub of her beans.  The next Vendor was Taste Artisanal Market for their Rosemary fig infused honey made from local honey.  

Of course what would a Garlic festival be without some blue grass music

and a fiddle player

Then on our way out from Bear Creek we met the Bear Creek Mascot

After leaving Bear Creek I did stop along a country road to get this photo of a working farm

4 image Panorama

Thanks for Stopping By

Tom

Day 236 - A Berry Interesting Day

Well today for the 1st time in 30 years a passenger train was to come from Hoboken, NJ to Bethlehem, PA w/16 passenger cars, some dating back to 1940's.  All the cars were booked with passengers and they were headed to the Sand's Casino for Lunch.  They were to pass across the Delaware River around 11:20 as it headed west towards Bethlehem, then cross the Delaware at 13:45 as it headed back East.

So since the newspaper recommended that a good spot for viewing the train would be Scott Park in Easton, I thought what a good opportunity to use this event for some images for my blog.  So after putting the youngest grandchild down for a nap, the two oldest wanted to go with me to see the train, so off we went to Scott's Park to get some historic photos.  Well we arrived and scouted out the place for a prime spot to get theses images.  And so we set up the camera and while we were waiting I was teaching my grandson to cast his fishing rod.  13:45 came and went, no train.  Then at 14:10 we heard the whistle of a train as we were about to leave.  Here it comes.  The 1st passenger train filled with passengers crossing the Delaware in 30 years and we were ready only to see that the train did not cross over the main bridge, but the bridge behind it.  Not much of a view from Scott's Park, at which my 6 year-old grandson stated, "That was boring Pop-pop!"

So with no images of this great event after getting home, I took a couple of shot of blackberry bush that was crushed during hurricane Sandy producing some fruit this year.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

Although not the historical event I thought I would be photographing today, a historical event none the less as we were not expecting any fruit this year.

Thanks for Stopping

Tom

Day 235 - Little Lehigh Parkway Path

After my wife got home from work today (Friday's she works 1/2 day) we headed over to Jake's Wayback for one of the best burgers in the Lehigh Valley.  After Lunch we headed over to the Little Lehigh Parkway Path to walk off some of the lunch before picking up the grandchildren.  Our walk took us on a 3.6 mile loop around the Monocacy Creek.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

Old Stone building

No Filter used

Cokin A002 Orange Filter Used

HDR 6 Images 3 are -2/3 stops apart and 3 are +1 stop apart

This image was shot @ f/7.1 w/ND Variable Filter

Thanks for Stopping by

Tom

Day 234 - Rose of Sharon

For today's image I thought I would get a couple of blooms from our flowering Sharon before they are gone.  Nothing special, just the camera and some dark room techniques.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

For this bloom I processed this in LR, Elements 11 for the OOB effect

and Color Efex Pro 4 for the border

This is the same as above except that while in Color Efex Pro

I created a pastel look to the colors which I kinda like this one.

Lastly this image was done in LR then Silver Efex Pro 2

Which one do you like?

Tom

Day 233 - A Walk in Jacobsburg State Park

Today's images came from my walk on the orange & blue trails at Jacobsburg State Park.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/ EF-M 22mm f/2 STM @ f/3.5

With these images I used a ND Variable Filter & a 002A Orange Filter

See you all tomorrow.

Tom