Deep Cut Gardens

Deep Cut Gardens is a fun little-hidden gem. They have a beautiful gated garden teeming with butterflies. All of the plants are labeled for easy identification, that is if you appreciate knowing what you are looking at. what I thought was a great idea was the scavenger hunt they created to help engage kids into enjoying the garden. They have small garden figurines of gnomes and fairies hidden for children to find. It is a great place to take family photos which were happening quite a bit on the day that I walked around.

You can always see more of my work on Instagram and Facebook @caralphoto

August 11, 2017August 9, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: Nature PreserveTags: butterflies, Deep Cut Gardens, Estate Gardens, Explore where you live, ExploreNJ, Go Outside, Historic Estate, light leaks, nature, nature hike, Nature Photography, Nature Preserve, nature walk, painted lady butterfly, preserved gardens, roses Leave a comment

Duke Farms

Duke Farms is an Estate that was home to James Buchanan Duke who was an entrepreneur and American Tobacco Company owner. The place was awesome but it is a lot of walking! They provide a trolley for anyone who has handicap needs and they also provide bike rentals. The orchid house, I would say is the main attraction it is beautifully maintained. As far as the main house itself the only thing that is left of it is the foundation, which would have been the basement. It is unfortunate that the upkeep was too costly it would have been a wonderful attraction to the property.

August 10, 2017August 9, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: Historic Sites, NatureTags: caralphotography, Duke Farms, Explore where you live, ExploreNJ, go explore, greenhouses, Hillsborough Township, nature, Nature Photography, Nature Preserve, orchids, photos, somerset county, Travel 1 Comment

Rutgers Gardens

Rutgers Gardens is part of the New Jersey State University’s School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The grounds themselves make for a beautiful walk. Full of blooming flowers, insects and birds. As I walked around I was also shooting film I am still working on some of the rolls. I hope to get them developed soon.

August 9, 2017August 9, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: NatureTags: caralphotography, Explore where you live, ExploreNJ, flowers, garden, Gardening, Go Outside, nature, nature hike, Nature Photography, nature walk, Photographer, Photography, rutgers, Rutgers Gardens, SUNJ Rutgers Leave a comment

Cross Estate Garden

When we arrived at Cross Estate Garden in the Jockey Hollow area the smell was amazing! The volunteers were just finishing watering the garden and I have to say that is an awesome smell. Everything has a fresh, earthy smell and the water droplets make the plants look dewy and vibrant. As I mentioned it is a small garden but wonderfully maintained, I highly suggest checking the whole area out.

August 3, 2017August 3, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: Historic Sites, Landscape, NatureTags: Cross Estate Gardens, day trips, Explore where you live, ExploreNJ, flowers, garden, historic site, history, Jockey Hollow, Morristown, Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown NJ, Photographer, Photography, photos, Plants, summer, summer travels, Travel, walking gardens Leave a comment

Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park is an amazing hidden little treasure. The park itself is broken up into four sections.  I have not seen the whole park yet, but I do plan on seeing it entirely. In the heart of Morristown you have the Museum and Washington’s Headquarters at Ford Mansion, Then you have Fort Nonsense, Jockey Hollow, and then the New Jersey Brigade Area which has a small beautiful very well maintained garden called Cross Estate Gardens. During our exploration, we only saw a small section of Jockey Hollow and the Gardens.  I can not wait to go back and see the rest of it. History is amazing, especially when it is in your own backyard. I also keep hearing about great restaurants in the area, so I can’t say no to that! The images you see here are from Cross Estate Gardens, More is to come so stay posted!

July 27, 2017July 27, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: Historic SitesTags: caralphotography, Cross Estate Gardens, Explore where you live, ExploreNJ, flowers, gardens, go explore, Go Outside, history, Morristown, Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown NJ, National Historical Park, National Parks, nature, NJ, Njphotographer Leave a comment

Leonard J. Buck Garden

Leonard J. Buck Garden is a nice little oasis hidden deep in the woods, just like most of the gem spots I have been finding throughout New Jersey. This small very well maintained garden is sculpted around huge natural rock formations which were deposited by glaciers. It has a large pond full of fish, tadpoles, and home to a couple of snapping turtles that are right in the center of the garden which is broken up into three sections but they all feed into each other by a creek.

July 14, 2017July 13, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: Historic Sites, Landscape, Nature, UncategorizedTags: Bucks Garden, garden, gardens, glacier, glacier deposits, hike, Leonard J. Bucks Garden, nature, nature hike, Nature Photography, nature walk, NJ, Njphotographer, Photographer, Photography, rock deposits, rocks, walking gardens, wildlife Leave a comment

Abstract Fireworks

The fireworks show that I went to this year was a slight disappointment. Aside from everyone just being rude by pushing and shoving when the fireworks started, half of the show was blocked by trees.  I was able to get a few abstract shots playing with long exposures and my camera movements.

July 12, 2017July 12, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: Artistic, UncategorizedTags: abstract, abstract photography, art, caralphotography, Explore where you live, ExploreNJ, fireworks, Njphotographer, Photography Leave a comment

Great Falls National Historical Park

No better time for a government shut down like Fourth of July Weekend. These Images were taken at Great Falls National Historical Park in Paterson, New Jersey. I am still learning about what New Jersey has to offer, it has a lot to explore but not much can be done when they close all the beach and parks.

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July 3, 2017July 2, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: Historic Sites, Nature, Nature Preserve, UncategorizedTags: caralphotography, Facebook, great falls, instagram, National Historical Park, national park, New Jersey, NewJersey, Njphotographer, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Patterson NJ, Photographer, Photography, twitter, waterfalls Leave a comment

Person in Water

Here are the rest of the images from my shoot with my cousin Erin. I am finding some aspects of shooting a person in water frustrating. Space is the major downfall my bathroom and tub are small to get the desired effect. however, I am quite pleased with how this set of images have come out. Now I just need a larger body of water and a few volunteers. Perhaps I will attempt this in a new environment like in a pool or at the beach, Ideas for me to think about ?

July 2, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: ArtisticTags: abstract, abstract photography, art, artist, artistic, caralphotography, family, model, Photographer, photographing people, Photography, studio photography, water Leave a comment

Person in water

This month I had the pleasure of having my cousin as a model for the project I have been working on of People in water. I am quite excited about the outcome! I am editing now here is a taste of what is to come…. 

June 25, 2017June 25, 2017 by caralphotography Categories: ArtisticTags: art, artist, artistic freedom, caralphotography, Njphotographer, Personinwater, Photographer, Photography, photos, water Leave a comment