2023 Year in Review: Josh Friedman's Photographs

"And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make." Paul McCartney and John Lennon

2023 has been an exciting year for my photography. It continues to provide me with moments of peace and creativity in our world's difficult and frightening times.  In addition to numerous photo excursions throughout Bucks County, Pennsylvania, this year I photographed waterfalls in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains; The magnificent Eiffel Tower in Paris, France; historic, honey-colored cottages in England's Cotswolds region; the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, D.C.; the "Marginal Way" trail in Ogunquit, Maine; the Philadelphia skyline; the sun setting over the ocean in the Bahamas, an historic bridge in York County, Pennsylvania; and a breathtaking sunrise in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As much as I love the history and natural beauty that surrounds me in Bucks County, my travels have provided new and gratifying opportunities for creativity.

Additionally, 2023 has been exciting in terms of a several photography-related projects.  I gave a presentation on HDR (high dynamic range) photography for Allen's Camera. Actor and former theater professor Gary Sloan and I collaborated on two video projects. First, we completed our tribute to Washington's historic crossing of the Delaware River, using his poem, narration and bagpipe with my photographs of Washington Crossing Historic Park and the Delaware River. We also collaborated on a video for the St. Andrew's Church, in Yardley.  I was honored to have one of my photographs of Lake Afton and the Old Library featured as a wall-size mural at the ShopRite store in Yardley. Finally, I continue to sell prints of my photographs through my online ETSY shop. I have now shipped prints to about 45 states in the U.S., as well as multiple other countries. 

What follows are 40-ish of my favorite images from 2023. I had asked a few friends and family for feedback in narrowing down my collection (from my initial list of about 65 images). Whenever I do this, I end up being struck by the subjectivity of art. One person's absolute favorite is completely ignored by someone else.  While one person is moved by a dramatic black and white image, another person is drawn to the emotion of rich color.

In addition to my gratitude to family and friends, and am tremendously thankful to folks who follow my photography. I genuinely appreciate your support and positive feedback, and I hope your 2024 is filled with peace, contentment, good health, laughter and creativity. As always, I am eager to hear which are some of your favorite photographs from my 2023 collection. 

Lower Slaughter, Early Morning Reflections, The Cotswolds, England. September.

New Hope (Bucks County, PA) and the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge, Reflected in the Delaware River, Lambertville,
New Jersey. June.

West Trenton Railroad Bridge, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. April.

Bushkill Falls, Boardwalk and Cascade,
The Poconos, Pennsylvania. April.

Fonthill Castle with Fall Foliage, Doylestown,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. November.

Lincoln Memorial in Early Morning,
Washington, D.C. December.

Delaware Canal and Thompson Neely Bridge Sunrise,
New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. November.

Apache Pier Sunrise, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. March.

Delaware Canal and Towpath in Morning Fog,
Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. July.

"Marginal Way", Tree at Sunrise, Ogunquit, Maine. July.

Delaware River and West Trenton Railroad Bridge Before Sunrise, Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. April.

Eiffel Tower and Seine River Before Sunrise,
Paris, France. September.

Cabin Run Covered Bridge with Fall Foliage,
Pipersville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. October.

Core Creek Park, Langhorne, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. March.

Philadelphia Skyline Reflected in the
Schuylkill River (from the South Street Bridge),
Philadelphia Pennsylvania. April. 

Bucks County Playhouse Sunrise, New Hope,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. November.

Shohola Falls, The Poconos, Pennsylvania. April.

Veteran's Memorial Bridge (officially the Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge), Wrightsville, York County, Pennsylvania. July.

New Hope and the Delaware River with Fall Foliage,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania (seen from Lambertville,
New Jersey). November.

Continental Tavern at Night with Light Trails, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. December.

Sudeley Castle Stairs and Flowers, Winchcombe,
The Cotswolds, England. September.

Cuttalossa Road with Fall Foliage, New Hope,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. October.

Shady Brook Farm Fireworks, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. September.

Spring Sunrise on the Delaware Canal and Towpath, Solebury, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. May.

West Trenton Railroad Bridge Reflected in the Delaware River at Sunrise, Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. October.

"Big Ben," the Palace of Westminster, the Westminster
Bridge and the River Thames, Seen Through a 
Pedestrian Tunnel, London, England. September. 

Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge with a Foggy Sunrise, Lumberville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. August.

Washington Crossing Historic Park with Durham Boats on the Delaware River, Before Sunrise, Washington Crossing, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. December.

Thompson Neely Farm and Bowman's Hill Tower,
New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. October.

New Hope Railroad, New Hope, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. December.

Eiffel Tower Before Sunrise, from Place du
Trocadéro, Paris, France, September.

Bahamas Sunset Over the Atlantic Ocean,
New Providence, The Bahamas. December. 

Delaware and Raritan Canal, Lambertville,
New Jersey. August.

Fonthill Castle Before Sunrise, Doylestown,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. November.

Snowshill Cottages, The Cotswolds, England. September.

St. Andrew's Church at Sunrise, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. October.

Patterson Farm Before Sunrise, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. October.

New Hope Lambertville Bridge in Morning Fog,
New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. November.

Princeton University Sunrise (seen through Holder Hall), Princeton, New Jersey, September.

Calhoun Street Bridge Before Sunrise, seen from
Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. August.

Cuttalossa Farm, New Hope, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. October.

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