Greater Philadelphia Photo Safari

Last post was about a flea market/auction I visited early July 2012. That place got me to thinking about 

1. my knowledge of such locations that are loaded with photographic opportunities
2. my desire to share photographic knowledge with other photographers to help them create better images
3. my love of food

After a few hours of additional thinking, I combined those three thoughts into one package.

So, on Sunday 22 July I will be leading my first group of photographers on a photo safari though an interesting location in Philadelphia. What, you may be asking yourself, is a photo safari? Let me elucidate.

A photo safari is a walk with a loaded camera. A safari, if you will, to create (place the word shoot here, if you must) photographs while being guided by qualified photographers. During the safari the photographer guides will supply tips on composition, lighting and exposure: how to stalk and shoot your prey (again, if you must). Your guide will customize the session to your level of photographic skills. If you wish to become a better photographer, the relaxed atmosphere of a photo safari is a great no stress venue to learn.

The safari will begin with introductions of the safari attendees and the photographer guides. As the group enters the wilds, the guides will help each photographer sharpen their photographic skills, help with camera knowledge and operation while answering questions that may arise at the moment. When the safari ends, members of the group will have the option to stop for a drink, some food and a period of Q and A. Later, the participants will be able to upload your photographic trophies from the safari to a private website for critique by peers and the photographer guides.

The main goal of dativer safaris is to uncover and develop your photographic skills. The fact that you will be exposed to colorful areas of the greater Philadelphia area and their signature foods will be what make these adventures clearly different than any other photo safaris being offered.

If you miss even one dativer safari, you will come to regret it.

Send for more details today. Contact at dativersafari@gmail.com

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Photographic Opportunity:Country Auction/Flea Market

I visited a country auction and flea market this week. It has been at least seven years since I visited this place. There are acres of flea market and at least one acre of auction space. It is a wonderful resource for all kinds of collectables, antiques, junk and photographic opportunities. In the past I visited to buy at the auctions, this time my purpose was to capture photographic images.

This auction/flea market started as a cattle auction and has operated in the same place since 1938. The location is about 40 miles outside of Philadelphia. Beyond the suburbs, this location is definitely country.

6:49am

The flea market offically opens at sunrise. Many of the vendors are in place the night before. Not to miss out on a treasure, customers often rummage around in the dark before sunrise with hand held flashlights. 

At 7:18am, "Two dollars!"

Auctioning begins soon after sunrise. Not just one auction but several auctions at once. On this visit there were three auctions operating by 7:15am. At 9:00am the property was swarming with people buying, selling, looking and socializing with five active auctions. The action was beginning to get hot.

 

At a country auction you have got to expect country people driving rusty pick-ups wearing free advertising caps and John Deere suspenders. This place does not let you down. Without a doubt some of the best entertainment at the auction/flea market is people watching.

I arrived at 6:45am. The smell of food frying on a flat top wafted from the building housing the office. Even with the odor of frying pork sausage, onions and bell peppers filling my nostrils, it was difficult but, I opted out of eating, first thing. Instead I wondered around looking for photo ops. The sun was already above the horizon but tall trees to the east of the property kept the sun's direct rays from falling directly on the ground. I strolled towards the western end of the property where the direct sun light would first evaporate the morning dew from the gravel.

7:23am

The open sky to the west provided a very soft, diffused light. This type lighting is desirable in some situations. I wanted more direct hard sunlight to provide dramatic lighting with interesting shadows. So I waited and continued to stroll. 

6:48am

Not much time elapsed before direct sunlight began to dry the gravel spread upon the roadbeds. Time had arrived for dramatic lighting.

Time waits for no man

It seemed like only minutes passed when the shadows shortened.

He who hesitates is lost

6:36am

Morning sunlight changed to hot sun. The temperature inched toward 91ºF/33ºC. I wouldn't be staying much longer. I had another event on my schedule. I strolled back to the building that housed the office. I bought that pork, onions and green pepper on a roll sandwich with a large cup of coffee. The cup was too large. I watched some of two auctions under the cover of a tin roof. I reminded myself that I wasn't there to make any purchases. The desire was strong. The coffee wasn't. I had accomplished my goal. It was time to go. I left the grounds with several good images and no antiques, collectables or junk.

Not even a tomato!

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Using Remesh for a Trellis

The week of June 26th, the full sized indeterminate tomatoes, planted in the square foot garden plot, were of a size that demanded support. The weight of the fruit pulled the vine down to its natural growing position on the ground. Because the small surface area of square foot garden, vining plants must be grown vertically.

A second trellis was always in the garden plan. As with the first trellis, recycled materials were planned to be utilized. However, suitable recyclable material with which to construct the trellis was not forthcoming. That material just never materialized. The tomato plants were beginning to spread along the soil surface. A trellis was needed immediately.

42"x84" concrete reinforcing mesh

A piece of remesh was purchased to make the second trellis. Remesh is concrete reinforcing wire mesh with 6"/15cm spacings. That spacing allows a hand to pass through in order to pick ripe fruit. Any spacing smaller than 6"/15cm is not recommended.

Photographed in late April

Earlier in the spring, two wooden frames were constructed using 2"x2" (50mm x 50mm) lumber and some plywood gussets. Only one of those frames received a wire grid as you can see in the above photograph. The grid was saved from the trash at Lowe's, zero cost to me. The time had arrived to add wire to the second frame. Wire that needed to be purchased.

To start the project both wooden frames were removed from the plot. Each was supported by two 6'/1.2m lengths of 1/2"/13mm concrete reinforcing bars driven several feet into the ground. Each leg of the frames was tied in two places to the rebar using rebar tie wire. The first wire several inches above ground level and the other wire a few inches below the top of the rebar.

The frame with the Lowe's rug grid was moved to the center dissecting the plot north to south. The two rebars supporting the frame were pulled from the earth and again driven several feet into the earth at the center of the plot. Rebar tie wire was again used to secure the frame to the rebars.

The second frame was placed flat onto the patio concrete. The remesh was laid upon the frame with the bottom of the remesh about 6"/15cm above the bottom ends of the frame legs. The 6"/15cm allowed for some room for uneven soil. The cucumber and melon vines will be able to span that 6"/15cm between the soil and the remesh.

Three screws were inserted into the middle of the 2"/50mm width of the bottom wooden cross brace of the frame. The spacing wasn't critical. Eyeballing the center, left to right, a screw was driven into the wood leaving enough screw exposed to allow the wire between the head of the screw and the wood. Two additional screws were inserted into the wood, as above, 12"/30cm out from the center screw in each direction. Repeat the same on the top wooden cross brace. These six screws will support the weight of the remesh and the weight of the vines and fruit.

Two correct sized fender washers are encircled. Also in the photograph are the screw , small washer and larger  holed fender washers.

To keep the remesh in that position required several more screws, each with an a fender washer. Fender washers have small center holes compared to the overall width of the washer. Four fender washers were found a pile of saved hardware in the garage. However, only two of the four fender washers were the correct size. The holes in the other two were larger than the head of the screws. The larger holes would allow the head of the screws to pass though. Something had to be done in order to use the larger fender washers.

In the same pile of unused hardware were found small washers that would not allow the heads of the screws through but were too small to hold the remesh on the frame. These smaller washers were first placed on the screws followed by the larger holed fender washers. Then the four screws and with fender washers were driven into the wood above the wire to hold the remesh onto the frame. 

Explanation of the above photograph to follow.

Once the remesh was attached the frame was wired to the rebar as described above. Two trellises were now in place in the square foot garden plot, ready to support tomatoes, cucumber and melon vines. 





©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

A Heavy Wet Hot Blanket is Difficult to Breath Under

Weather Underground

Summer arrived on 20 June. Counting 20 June the temperature has risen above 90ªF/32ºC on six of the eleven days to the end of the month.

It is hot.

Then there is the humidity.

I worked outdoors changing billboards for most of 34 years. Back in the 70's and early 80's, when we were still drinking at lunch, I remember the crew leaving an air conditioned bar after 4 or 5 cold mugs of beer. As soon as we walked through the doorway into the sun, it felt as though a heavy wet hot blanket was dropped on us. It was hot, sticky, hard to breath and it felt like a we were each carrying a ton of bricks on our shoulders.

Some of those times the crew just turned around and went back into the bar until it was time to drive the trucks back to the shop to clock out.

I don't miss working outside, at all!

www.wunderground.com

July is just around the corner.

There are 31 days in July.

Historically, of those 31 days the record high for the day has risen above 100ºF/38ºC on 17 of those 31 days.

I can't wait.

The heat is drying everything outdoors.

The grass is turning brown.

The garden needs to be watered frequently.

I guess it is a good thing the garden can't drive to the bar for lunch. It might never come back. 

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

In the Garden Summer 2012

Almost one week since summer began. This is what is happening.

Harvested the first square(on the left) of mixed lettuce. Already have bush beans in that square.

Mixed lettuce in a bowl getting familiar with the a food setting.

Super Sweet 100 Tomato. Just hanging.

Flower bed at the bottom of my driveway. Red, white and blue petunias, Tritoma flowering. Petunias not quite filled in. Poppy died back. New England Aster growing in the center. Brown Eyed Stella in remission.

Hosta

In shade.

Butterfly bush:Buddleia x weyeriana 'Bicolor'. Awaiting butterflies.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

First Day of Summer's Eve 2012

Below are some images captured the evening before the first day of summer.

The above daylily - Hemerocallis - is of unknown variety. It was purchased from a local hybridizer.

Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Tritoma - Kniphofia uvaria
This plant was started from seed some 15 years ago and never moved or divided.

Butterfly bush - Buddleia weyeriana "Honeycomb".
Purchased as a plant via mail order again some 15 years ago and never moved.

Honeysuckle - Lonicer sempervirens "Alabama Crimson".
Purchased as a plant via mail order again some 15 years ago and divided at least once from a self-rooted low hanging branch. Purchased to attract hummingbirds using natural red trumpet shaped flowers, it has worked well doing just that over the last four years.


The 2012 growing season continues in USDA zone 6b.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Snow Peas Are Finished, One Cherry Tomato Harvested

Snow pea seeds were planted on 4 April. On Sunday, 17 June, all the snow pea plants were cut at the soil line. Snow peas are finished for the spring.

Once cut down, a total of 57 plants were counted. From those 57 plants were harvested 298 grams/10.5oz of fresh, crisp, tender snow peas starting on 28 May and ending today.

Already planted are watermelon and cucumbers seeds in the four squares in the rear of the square foot plot recently occupied by 2/3 of the snow peas. A tomato plant is also already in one of the interior squares occupied by snow peas.

A Husky Cherry tomato was harvested today. It weighed in at 18g. Waiting to taste that with a salad.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved