Bucks County, Pennsylvania in Autumn, 2022: Landscape Photographs

"Like a river that don't know where it's flowing,

I took a wrong turn and I just kept going."

Bruce Springsteen

Last week, my 98-year-old mom hosted Thanksgiving, and we were so fortunate to share it with family and friends. This was our first in-person Thanksgiving with the Friedman side of the family since before Covid, so being together was particularly special. 

The holiday offers a chance to reflect on the many things for which I am grateful, including close relationships, health, meaningful work, a loving wife and two sons who make me proud every day, and many other things. Regarding my photography, I am fortunate to have a good camera, lenses, filters, and editing software. However, I believe photography is much more than equipment. It starts with pausing, noticing and appreciating those things in our surroundings that are beautiful or interesting. From an early age, I saw how my mom noticed little things in her surroundings, and how she approaches life with a sense of awe and curiosity. To this day, she appreciates the beauty of the trees which form a canopy over her back yard, the tulips which decorate the front of her house each spring, and the unique beauty offered by each season and each day.  Quite often, she still goes to a local beach or marina evening to enjoy the day's setting sun. How lucky I am to have a role model who pauses to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, and who has nurtured my own creativity!

In Bucks County, our historical sites and natural beauty are all enhanced by fall foliage, dense fog, or a hint of morning frost.  What follows is collection of photographs that I took this autumn, between September 20th and November 29th. This includes some of my favorite local spots, such as the Delaware Canal and Towpath, Yardley's Lake Afton, New Hope, the Delaware River, and Patterson Farm.

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving, and I hope my photos encourage you to pause to appreciate the unique beauty of each season and each moment.

Old Tree in Fog, River Road, Washington Crossing,
Pennsylvania, September 20, 2022.

Delaware Canal, Towpath and Footbridge in early morning
fog, Delaware CanalState Park, New Hope,
Pennsylvania, September 20, 2022.

View of New Hope Pennsylvania in early morning fog, as
seen across the Delaware River from Lambertville,
New Jersey, September 20, 2022.

Bowman's Hill, New Hope, Pennsylvania, October 8, 2022.

Delaware Canal, Washington Crossing,
Pennsylvania, October 18, 2022

Delaware Canal and Towpath, New Hope,
Pennsylvania, October 18, 2022.

Unknown Soldiers' Grave, Washington Crossing Historic Park
(North Section), New Hope, Pennsylvania, October 18, 2022.

Washington Crossing Historic Park (Southern Section),
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, October 25, 2022.

Tree in Fog, Aquatong Road, New Hope,
Pennsylvania, October 25, 2022.

Delaware Canal and Towpath, Yardley, Pennsylvania, (view facing north from Black Rock Road), October 26, 2022.

Delaware Canal and Towpath, Yardley, Pennsylvania,
(View facing south, near Black Rock Road), October 26, 2022.

Delaware Canal and Towpath, New Hope, Pennsylvania,
(view facing north, taken a few minutes before sunrise,
in the northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park), October 30, 2022.

Delaware Canal and Towpath, New Hope, Pennsylvania,
(Early morning fog, just after sunrise, a few miles north
of town), October 30, 2022.

Virginia Forrest Recreation Area, Delaware Canal State Park,
New Hope, Pennsylvania, October 30, 2022.

Lake Afton and the Old Library, Yardley,
Pennsylvania, October 31, 2022.

View across the Delaware River from the Centre Bridge section
of Solebury Township, Pennsylvania towards Stockton,
New Jersey, November 8, 2022.

Old Tree and Rising Sun, Yardley, Pennsylvania, (next to the ramp between Yardley Newtown Road and Route 295), November 12, 2022.

Washington Crossing Historic Park (south section), Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, November 12, 2022.

Lake Afton, Yardley, Pennsylvania, November 15, 2022.

Patterson Farm, Yardley, Pennsylvania, taken about 10
minutes before sunrise, November 19, 2022

Durham Boats on the Delaware River, Washington Crossing
Historic Park, Pennsylvania. (view facing south,
taken about 20 minutes before sunrise, in the south
section of the park), November 28, 2022.

Durham Boats on the Delaware River, Washington Crossing
Historic Park, Pennsylvania. This is the view facing north,
about 15 minutes before sunrise, in the south section of the
park, November 28, 2022.

Delaware Canal, Yardley, Pennsylvania. (Taken
at sunrise from the bridge on E. Afton
Avenue), November 29, 2022

 

Bucks County Mornings: Landscape Photographs from Spring into Summer 2020

“Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What that legacy

 will be is determined by the people of that generation.

 What legacy do you want to leave behind?” 

John Lewis

Over the past few months, as the Coronavirus pandemic has limited travel and other activities, early morning photography outings in Bucks County, Pennsylvania have continued to provide a break, a change of scenery, and a chance to clear my mind. The collection of photographs below is largely a continuation of my last post (Winter into Spring 2020).  I was fortunate to catch several beautiful sunrises, as well as mornings when low-lying fog blanketed and partially camouflaged the familiar landscapes.  Fog can make the familiar seem like something new.  At times it adds a peaceful and serene feeling, while at other times it adds an element of mystery. On a few mornings, the way in which the fog altered a scene reminded me of an impressionist painting.

This post is dedicated with love to the memory of my mother-in-law, Dr. Paulette Rubin, who died a few weeks ago.  There’s an old saying that you don’t just marry a person, but you marry into a family. I’ve been exceptionally lucky in this regard. Paulette brought love, support, fun and laughter to the lives of her family and friends.  We will all truly miss her.

New Hope-Lambertville Bridge, seen from
Lambertville, New Jersey (4/12/20)

Cuttalossa Creek with Rising Sun,
New Hope, Pennsylvania (6/9/20).

Patterson Farm with Rising Sun,
Yardley, Pennsylvania (6/16/20).

Delaware Canal and Towpath, New Hope, Pennsylvania (6/16/20).

Washington Crossing Bridge in Morning Fog,
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (6/21/20).

Monument to General George Washington, in morning fog,
Washington Crossing Historic Park,
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (6/21/20).

Sycamore trees in morning fog, Washington Crossing
Historic Park, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (6/21/20).

Rowboat in the Delaware River,
New Hope, Pennsylvania (6/21/20)

Sunburst shining through trees between the Delaware Canal and the 
Delaware River, Solebury Township, Pennsylvania (6/23/20).

Monument to General George Washington with Rising
Sun, Washington Crossing Historic Park, 
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (6/30/20).

The "Old Library" reflected in Lake Afton, in early
morning sun, Yardley, Pennsylvania (7/5/20).

Patterson Farm in early morning fog,
Yardley, Pennsylvania (7/7/20).

Sycamore Trees lining the road into Tyler State Park, in
early morning fog, Newtown, Pennsylvania (7/7/20).

Delaware Canal and Footbridge in early
morning fog, New Hope, Pennsylvania (7/9/20).

New Hope-Lambertville Bridge crossing the
Delaware River in early morning fog, as seen from
 Lambertville, New Jersey (7/9/20).

Old Fence with haystacks in early morning
 fog, Solebury Township, Pennsylvania (7/9/20).

The rising sun reflected in the Delaware River,
under the West Trenton Railroad Bridge (7/15/20).

Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge crossing the 
Delaware River, under an early morning sky (7/23/20).

Old shed at Cuttalossa Farm,
Solebury Township, Pennsylvania (7/23/20).

Core Creek Park in early morning fog,
Langhorne, Pennsylvania (7/25/20)

Washington-Crossing Bridge cutting through the
early morning fog over the Delaware River,
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (8/8/20).

Haystacks, rolling hills mist, and the rising Sun
 in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania (8/11/20).

Winter into Spring 2020: Landscape Photographs of Bucks County, Pennsylvania

"...you know, the darkest hour,

is always just before the dawn."

David Crosby (Long Time Gone) 

Throughout our country and the world, 2020 has started unlike any year in my lifetime.  As the Coronavirus pandemic necessitated social distancing and other safety measures, so much of our time has been in our own homes.  We have been physically separated from friends and family, and many have had very limited access to their familiar surroundings and the outside world.

My wife and I have been very fortunate to have our two sons (one who lives and works in New York City, and the other who goes to college in Philadelphia) back home with us for an extended period. For us, this has really been a "silver lining" in a difficult circumstance.  
For me, regular solo photography outings have provided an opportunity to clear my head from the "stay at home" measures. Additionally, there has been a feeling of normalcy in seeing some of my favorite Yardley and Bucks County locations, coupled with the rising and setting sun, the moon, blooming flowers, goslings, foggy mornings, and the gradual transition from gray to green.

In most instances, the timing (e.g. very early morning) and physical setting provided plenty of social distancing.  For the first time in my life, a mask and hand sanitizer became regular additions to my camera, lenses, tripod and other equipment.

At the tail end of the period covered by the following photographs, our country has become focused on long simmering racial tensions, reminding me of the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." In light of the current racial, emotional, medical, and financial difficulties that so many Americans are facing, this post is intended as a brief respite. I took all of these Bucks County photographs between January 18th and June 2nd.

The "Old Library" in Snow, Yardley,
Pennsylvania. January 18, 2020.

St. Andrew's Church reflected in Lake Afton
in Winter, Yardley, Pennsylvania. January 18, 2020.

Patterson Farm, Yardley, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. February 9, 2020

Tombstones of Revolutionary War Soldiers (Mostly Unknown),
northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park.
New Hope, Pennsylvania. February 9, 2020.

The Lower Trenton Bridge (commonly called the "Trenton Makes" Bridge) crossing the Delaware River between Trenton, New Jersey and Morrisville, Pennsylvania. February 21, 2020.

Sunrise over the Delaware River, with the American Flag,
as seen from the Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge,
Lumberville, Pennsylvania. February 22, 2020.

1940's "International" Truck, Point Pleasant,
Pennsylvania. February 22, 2020.

Cabin Run Covered Bridge, Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania.
February 22, 2020.

Before Sunrise at Patterson Farm, Yardley, Pennsylvania.
February 29, 2020.

Sunrise on the Delaware Canal and Towpath, Yardley,
Pennsylvania. March 3, 2020.

Sunrise over the Delaware River and the West Trenton
Railroad Bridge, seen from Yardley, Pennsylvania. March 10, 2020.

Calhoun Street Bridge crossing the Delaware River in fog, before sunrise, as seen from Morrisville, Pennsylvania. March 20, 2020.

Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge, crossing the Delaware River, with the rising sun. Lumberville, Pennsylvania. March 22, 2020.

Lake Afton before sunrise, Yardley, Pennsylvania.
March 26. 2020.

Sunset at Patterson Farm, Yardley, Pennsylvania. March 30, 2020.

Rising Moon behind the American Flag,
Yardley, Pennsylvania. April, 2, 2020.

Spring reflections in the Delaware Canal, Erwinna, Pennsylvania. If you look closely, a family of deer are crossing the canal in the background.  April 5, 2020.

Sunrise at the historic Thompson-Neely House, in the northern
 part of Washington Crossing Historic Park. New Hope, Pennsylvania.  April 12, 2020.

The Bucks County Playhouse (in New Hope, Pennsylvania)
reflected in the Delaware River, as seen from
Lambertville, New Jersey.  April 12, 2020.

First light on Lake Afton, Yardley, Pennsylvania.
April 14, 2020.

First rays of sunlight on the top of Bowman's Hill
 behind the historic Thompson-Neely Mill. New Hope, Pennsylvania. April 19, 2020.

The rising sun over the Delaware Canal and Towpath,
New Hope, Pennsylvania. April 19, 2020.

The Delaware Canal and Towpath, in Delaware Canal State Park,
New Hope, Pennsylvania. April 21, 2020.

American flag with blooming tulips.
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. April 21, 2020.

Blooming Dogwoods, The "Old Library", and Lake Afton,
Yardley, Pennsylvania. April 25, 2020.

Close up of Dogwood flowers in front of the
"Old Library" and Lake Afton, Yardley, Pennsylvania.
April 25, 2020.

Delaware Canal and Towpath, Solebury, Pennsylvania.
April 28, 2020.

Historic Mill at Cuttalossa Farm,
New Hope, Pennsylvania. April 28, 2020

Wildflowers at Sunrise, Point Pleasant,
Pennsylvania. May 2, 2020.

New Hope-Lamberville Bridge, crossing the Delaware River
at Sunrise, as seen from New Hope, Pennsylvania. May 5, 2020.

Goslings along the Delaware Canal.
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. May 5, 2020.

Patterson Farm with setting moon,
Yardley, Pennsylvania. May 9, 2020.

Fonthill Castle in Spring with Dogwood Tree,
Doylestown, Pennsylvania.  May 12, 2020.

Setting moon over the Fonthill Castle, 
Doylestown, Pennsylvania.  May 12, 2020.

Tombstones of Revolutionary War Soldiers (Mostly Unknown),
northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park.
New Hope, Pennsylvania. May 17, 2020.

First light on the "Old Library", reflected in Lake Afton,
Yardley, Pennsylvania. May 19, 2020.

Wildflowers along the Delaware Canal,  "Virginia Forest
Recreation Area" section of Delaware Canal State Park,
New Hope. May 26, 2020. 

Tree in morning fog, Core Creek Park,
Langhorne, Pennsylvania. May 27, 2020.

Thompson-Neely House, Washington Crossing Historic Park (North),
New Hope, Pennsylvania. May 30, 2020.

Washington Crossing Bridge, seen from
Washington Crossing historic Park,
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. June 2, 2020