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

 

2021 Year in Review: Josh Friedman's Photographs

"When one side of a story is heard and often repeated, the human mind becomes impressed with it insensibly." - George Washington

This "Year in Review" post is long overdue, but President's Day seems strangely appropriate, as this year's collection includes sites made famous by Washington and Lincoln. It was an exciting year in terms of my photography. While I primarily focused on the beauty and history and surrounds us in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I was fortunate to photograph such places as California's "Bay Area," New York City, Gettysburg National Military Park, The Bahamas, and Valley Forge Historic Park.  

This past spring, I was honored to be included in the 2021 Bucks Fever Artists Studio Tour. Also, I enjoyed leading a workshop at the beautiful Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, focusing on photographic composition. In the winter, several of my Bucks County covered bridge photographs were featured in an article in Princeton Magazine. Also, many of my Bucks County landscape photographs were featured (along with other local photographers) in the fundraising notecards published for Yardley's Veteran's Square Monument.

For me, photography offers a chance to be creative and fully "present," in a variety of locations, seasons and weather conditions. It offers moments to pause, and to put the rest of the world on hold, and appreciate the peace, beauty and history of a particular place at that particular moment. What follows are some of my favorite photographs that I took during 2021, presented in chronological order.  About two-thirds of the images are of Bucks County, and the rest are from assorted travels.

New Hope-Lambertville Bridge crossing the partially 
frozen Delaware River, at sunrise, with the setting moon, seen
from Lambertville, New Jersey. (1/30/21)

Lake Afton, Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (1/31/21)

The Van Sandt Covered Bridge in falling snow, 
New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2/2/21)

Delaware Canal, towpath, and the Thompson-Neely Camelback bridge, 
in falling snow, in the northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2/2/21)

Thompson-Neely Mill, in front of the Bowman's Hill Tower, in 
falling snow, in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2/2/21)

Pennsylvania Route 32, facing south, in falling snow, near the historic Thompson-Neely House, and the northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2//2/21)

Partially frozen Lake Afton, in falling snow, 
Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2/7/21)

Creamery Road in falling snow, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2/7/21)

 Sunset behind the statue of George Washington crossing the
Delaware River, Washington Crossing Inn, 
Washington Crossing, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2/8/21) 

  Historic Taylorsville Store, reflected in a puddle at the side of General Washington Memorial Boulevard (route 532), Washington Crossing, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2/16/21)

  Core Creek Park in falling snow, Langhorne, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (2/19/21)

Sunset at Patterson Farm, Yardley, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. (3/1/21)

Princeton University Sunrise, at Holder Hall,
Princeton, New Jersey (March 14, 2021).

Van Sandt Covered Bridge, New Hope,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (4/6/21)

Lake Afton and the Old Library with Morning Light,
Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (4/6/21)

Mahlon Taylor House with the Rising Sun,
Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (4/21/21)

Sunrise at the West Trenton Railroad Bridge, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (4/24/21)

Stone Bridge at Bowman's HIll Wildflower Preserve, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.(4/24/21)

Stone springhouse at Bowman's HIll Wildflower Preserve, with flowering Redbuds in the background, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (4/24/21)

New Hope-Lambertville Bridge and Delaware River at Sunrise, seen from Lambertville, New Jersey. (4/27/21)

Sunrise at the Manhattan Bridge (New York City), seen from the "DUMBO" section of Brooklyn. (5/10/21)

Manhattan Bridge, seen from Washington Street, in the "DUMBO"
section of Brooklyn, New York City. (5/10/21)

Evening sky over Patterson Farm, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (5/13/21)

Sunset at Patterson Farm, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (5/13/21)

Lower Manhattan and Freedom Tower from
Jersey City, New Jersey. (5/16/21)

Tombs of Unknown Revolutionary War Soldiers, Northern
Section of Washington Crossing Historic Park,
New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (6/5/21)

Delaware Canal and Towpath with Rising Sun, Solebury Township,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (6/15/21)

Golden Gate Bridge in Morning Fog, seen from Baker Beach,
San Francisco, California. (7/2/21)

Cathedral Grove, Muir Woods National Monument,
Marin County, California. (7/3/21)

Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park, 
San Francisco, California. (7/4/21)

Stanford Memorial Church, on the Main Quad of the
Stanford University campus, Stanford, California. (7/5/21)

Purisma Creek Redwoods Preserve,
Santa Cruz Mountains, California. (7/5/21)

Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey. (7/11/21)

Continental Tavern and Reflection, Yardley, 
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (7/18/21)

Old Library and Echinacea, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (7/18/21) 

Pine Hall and Rising Sun, Princeton University,
Princeton, New Jersey. (7/20/21)

Lower Manhattan and Freedom Tower after Sunset,
seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (7/25/21)

Chrysler Building and Reflection, Manhattan,
New York City. (7/29/21)

Sunrise over the Delaware River, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (8/1/21)

Delaware Canal, Towpath, and Thompson Neely Camelback Bridge in the Northern Section of Washington Crossing Historic Park, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (8/1/21)

"Artillery Park", Valley Forge National Historical Park, 
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. (8/31/21)

Sunrise at the Garden of Reflection, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (9/6/21)

Foggy Sunrise over the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge and the
Delaware River, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (9/7/21)

Centre Bridge-Stockton Bridge in morning fog,
Centre Bridge, Solebury Twp., Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (9/7/21)
 

Centre Bridge-Stockton Bridge in morning fog, 
Centre Bridge, Solebury Twp., Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (9/7/21)

Monument to Major General Oliver O. Howard, Gettysburg National
Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (9/11/21)

Cannon at Sunset, "The Angle," Gettysburg
National Military Park. (9/11/21)

Washington Crossing Bridge before Sunrise, seen from
Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (9/21/21)

Lake Afton and the Old Library Before Sunrise, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (9/24/21)

Sunrise over the Delaware Canal, Towpath, and Thompson Neely Camelback Bridge in the Northern Section of Washington Crossing Historic Park, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (10/16/21)

Rising Sun over the Frankenfield Covered Bridge and Tinicum Creek, Tinicum Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (10/19/21)

Cuttalossa Creek in autumn, Solebury, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. (10/30/21)

Delaware Canal and Towpath in Autumn, Northern Section of
Washington Crossing Historic Park, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (10/30/21)

Delaware and Raritan Canal in Autumn, Lambertville,
New Jersey. (10/31/21)

New Hope, Pennsylvania, over the Delaware River, as seen from Lambertville, New Jersey. (10/31/21)

The Pond, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City. (11/7/21)

Lake Afton and the Old Library, Yardley,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (11/9/21)

Rising Sun Over the Delaware Canal and Towpath, Delaware Canal
State Park, Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (11/13/21)

Patterson Farm, Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (11/14/21)

Fonthill Castle, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (11/20/21)

Empire State Building in Thanksgiving Colors,
Manhattan, New York City. (11/25/21)

One World Trade Center ("The Freedom Tower"), Financial District,
Manhattan, New York City. (11/26/21)

The Hamptons After Sunset, with Fence and Sand Dunes,
Long Island, New York. (12/4/21)

The Hamptons After Sunset, Long Island, New York. (12/5/21)

Durham Boats in Morning Fog, Delaware River, Washington
Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (12/11/21)

Durham Boats in Morning Fog, Delaware River, Washington 
Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (12/11/21)

Sunrise in the Bahamas, Over the Atlantic Ocean,
New Providence, The Bahamas. (12/21/21)

Palm Trees and the Atlantic Ocean in Early Morning Light, 
New Providence, The Bahamas. (12/21/21)

New Hope and Ivyland Railroad Steaming Up, New Hope,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (12/24/21)

Delaware River and the West Trenton Railroad Bridge Before Sunrise, Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. (12/27/21)