Your images are outstanding. Sharpness and color are always spot-on, literally jumping off the screen when viewed on my Apple LED Cinema display. If you don't m,ind me asking, what color profile and WB setting do you shoot with on your 5D Mark II?

This was a great series of "feel good" shots. It is comforting to know that there are still many people who work hard and have many skills to keep farming alive. I know that I couldn't do it but I do appreciate what they can do and like it that you captured such a variety of shots in the short time you were there.

You have been capturing great photos of farm life.
The little farmer is adorable !

load that gold
til the truck is draggin'
big yellow screw-driver
and a shed that's saggin'
that's no 9-volt,
so please don't lick it
if she don't start soon
get out and kick it
now I know a swingin' spot
just don't mind the bull
the corner's a bit messy
but the soup is good
it's got a missing combination
and tractor seats for contemplation
a can of washers, every man needs that
hey bro, you got a problem with my hat?

(Though each is worth a thousand words, I'm short again Kathleen:)

Beautiful, as always. And "Little Farmer"--could that photo be any cuter or sweeter?

I love farm photos, the corn is really cool. The last shot, however, is awesome, my 14 YO son loves the hat!

I am glad you were there to picture this. I would not like the fog.

Love the minimalism. Nice.

through the clouds peep tips of land
like islands in the sky
who's to say where she doth stand
who knows where the rivers hide
and wisely wrapped in brilliant colors
a fog photographess should be seen by others
lest as she clicks, she doth forget
visibility is poor and roads are wet

TJS: As I mentioned at Eric's Eagle Scout ceremony today, either you know the river very well or you saw me on the bridge in my fluorescent orange hunting jacket, haha! Good job. :)

Fantastico!

La Nina is confusing us all and the further north the greater the confusion. All we can do is make the best of it and enjoy our lower fuel bills.

Kathleen, I always love the river "Shots", even though you can't see the river. My guess on where it was taken, from the Riegelsville Bridge, looking north?

Kathleen,

I too love to capture the early morning fog. The scene speaks of quiet and serenity.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for bringing this kind of beauty to the rest of us.

Tim

Some say that snow is sleep. I say
That snow is but the rest
Of clouds upon earth's surface laid
To soothe the forest's breast,
To calm the souls that linger there
Beneath an age of leaf
That hides within it's brindle flesh
Whole galaxies of seed.

Some say that snow is chill. I say
That snow is but a shawl
Draped over stones of silence,
That such silence shelter all.
And in such silence seal within
The brook beneath the glass,
That when the spring shall set it free
All dreams to sea shall pass.

Some say that snow is death. I say
That snow is but the prayer
Said when soul in winter's glade
Calls the body from its lair,
To stand within the last of light,
Becoming less than air,
To leave behind what came before
In the shadows dawn prepares.
~Gerard Van Der Leun

Winter, for a few moments, has become rather dogmatic,
Captured in a picture that is basicly achromatic.
The landscape, the reflection, beautiful because it is simple.
Cast a rock into the water, make another dimple.

Gorgeous, Kathleen. You've captured the winter light perfectly.

This is a beautiful shot without the reflection in the water, but having the reflection makes it even more special. We've not really had snow here this winter - it is nice to see the white covered beauty that we are missing.

Agree, the water is very glassy, ghost-like, mirror-like. I'm enjoying your return to photography.

Wonderful image Kathleen. I really find the grey refection on the ice to be what brings the image to life for me.

I can feel the cold and hear the quite broken by the sound of your boots crunching in the snow.

I am so pleased that you have returned from your hiatus and this corner of the internet is once again a place of fresh beauty.

Beautiful. Not any snow here yet, but it is getting colder. WHo knows, februari might surprise us :)

This is so coooool !... ; )

gray
soft
glass
quite
trees
asleep
limbs
riot

Serene and beautiful. Nicely done.

Lovely image Kathleen!

Cheers,
Henry

I love living in rural Pennsylvania. Your photos are like a beautiful, handmade quilt. They are lovely and comforting - right down to the bones.

What a delicious find this afternoon. This really hit home to see how totally different some peoples lives are when compared to mine and what I do every day in suburbia. I truly admire men who care for animals and tend to the land, and it is wonderful to see you record so much of what he did there.

What rich colors to fest my eyes on. Absolutely wonderful series....
Lauren Reagan

Another wonderful series of the farm and all its wonder.

Kathleen,
I always love the photos you do at the farm, but these are absolutely stunning! You evoke a whole sense of history in just a few photographs.

I am one of your ardent followers. I particularly love in this series how you have taken a mundane scene and really 'worked' it; worked the angles; worked the light; worked the selective focus. The leg in amongst the corn and the falling corn kernels are prime examples. Just primo!

C'est magnifique Kathleen, comme toujours... ; )

Kathleen...I enjoy following your blog. A few weeks Ellie Seif sent you an email and asked if you would consider speaking at the Cheltenham Camera Club on April 17,2012. It may have ended up in your spam. We have about 50 people at our meetings and would be very interested in hearing about your philosophy and seeing your images.

Please contact me via email or call at 215-248-4894. Thanks. I look forward to hearing from you. Carolyn Johnson

Your photos of Jamie and his farm are some of my favorites, and this series is no exception. Great job of documenting the non-stop work of a small farmer.

Hay Kathleen, that's a lot of great shots for 90 minutes in a barn. (Even an antique barn.) The opening "Bale" and the Steer portraits are my faves, and the formal balance of elements in "Steer II" is a hoot! "Corn Falling Out of the Wagon" is exceptional too. --both for the title and the image:)

Dear JPH: Thank you for your immediate attention to that matter.

What a lovely picture that you have posted for us to enjoy. I'm a newbie here and I really look forward to checking your site out from time to time. So glad that my friend turned me onto you. Awesome photos are always such a turn on for me since I am stuck inside most of the time. Gotta love how the Internet brings most everything right to our finger tips these days.
A new fan,
Sheila Winston

Peek-a-Boo! LOL - Love it!
Darlene MacKenzie

Things should go from worser to fairer
Since I realized my fingers typed in error.
Dactyloctenium aegyptium is now spelled right.
Thank you Jenny,Jenny for bringing my fault to light.
It is not as difficult as it seems,
Egyptian crowfoot grass is what it means. :-)

JJ, I get the impression this group is very close:)

just one more among your legions of lurkers
very glad to find you back

David Tinnon:

Sure do know Miss Molly
I know Lucille and Miss Anne too.

Jenny, Jenny, do you know Miss Molly by any chance?

Who is that masked man?
Good to see him through you and meet you through him.

JPH: Huh?

Mz Connally; The Apparitionist. A warm touch of the spiritual, creating the impression that your subject is partially there, partially not.

--(Could also be a dramatic image with which to publicize a lawn care service, as in, "Now's the time to get the jump on your spring landscaping needs" ...OK, probably not:)

Welcome back! What a lovely surprise to find a new photograph. And Hello to Crowfoot Johnny -

We all missed you lo these many months.

superb!! just amazing...

Vision in the swamp is minimum,
Blocked by the Daltyloctenium aegyptium.

Sooooo glad to see you back!

Wow. This does some interesting flips of scale and space. And completely dreamy!

I love this photo also

Glad your back! Thanks for the Gene Autry.

Add my voice to the others. Welcome back. Missed you and worried.
Nice shot - I've never been able to take a photo from inside a plane without reflection problems, but I always sit next to the window and look out as much as possible.

Ohh congratulations with the 9th anniversary of your blog. Good luck in the futures.

I wasn’t expecting a new post when I checked back…. but 21?! What a nice surprise to see your blog up and running again. You have one of the best photoblogs out there. Glad you are back, and I hope all is well. I am not sure what happened, but I hope 2012 is better for you than 2011.

Just wanted to chime in with everyone else that I'm so very happy to see new photography from you. Hope the new year treats you well and much luck on the book writing.

Thank you, everyone! It's a joy to be back to work here. I appreciate your kind comments very much!

Welcome back! You were missed! Looking forward to seeing lots of pix of Stouts Valley from Ballek/Steely Hill points (if you are so inclined). Your latest are stunning! I'm so glad you're back again! Happy 2012!

I'm so glad you're back!!

So glad to see you back Kathleen, and with such an inspirational photo to boot!!

Also looking forward to reading up on your recent trial/adventure? Whatever it was, it can either make you bitter or better. Somehow I think you'll be all the better for it!!

How Appropriate : That you were brought back To us from
"EMERALD CITY " Via ( A modren day Balloon ) Back to what a lot of us have to thank you for : Showing us the Land of the Real "OZ"

'A Heart is Not Judged By How Much You Love,
But How Much You Are Loved By Others'

Welcome Back & Much Thanks for sharing your work

As Gene Autry was the Singing Cowboy,.. Annie Oakley of Durham is to Photography ! So Glad you have returned to grace us with your passion , Theres know place like Home !! Much thanks from Seaside

Miss Molly,

Sorry. Lived in California since 1969.

-Rob

As everyone here, I am delighted to see your latest photos again!
Meilleurs voeux pour 2012 !... :o)

I clicked, once more, expecting the September 5 post to appear, and what joy! What ecstatic joy! You have been in my heart and prayers, and I am so happy you are back. Love and hugs from Lancaster, PA.

Kathleen is back! That is what I call a Happy New Year.Now, to go see those 21 presents you placed under the tree.

Yeah you are back! What a fantastic surprise to check today and see that your lovely, unique and inspiring images of our area are back again. I've truly missed your work.

She made many of us shout with a joyous cry,
"She's back!" with a shot of PA from the sky.
Once again our lives will be filled with rapture
As we view the latest Kathleen capture.

Rob Baker - Are you the Bob Baker who once lived in Philly, worked in the 1st PA Bank then moved to Bakersfield, Calif.?

Welcome Back Kathleen!!! Glad to hear all is well, and will look forward to the book. - Love all the photos since 9/5 but really appreciate Traugers Crossing photo. One of my favorite drives thru every season. Noreen

Dear Kathleen,

You have been truly missed. Every day, as I browsed through my favorite sites, there was an emptiness every time I visited here. When your Twitter and your Big A 365 Project fell empty as well, I was sad and worried. I think I may have shouted out loud when I saw your first Tweet a few weeks ago. I know I am being a little selfish in being happy you are back, and am not forgetting that it probably took a lot on your part. Best wishes and positive thoughts from California.

-Rob in Vacaville

Kathleen ,
Hope your health continues to improve . So pleased to have you back .You put joy into all our days .
Adolph

Soo glad you're OK! It's strange how modern technology reduces the 3500 miles between us and our different worlds to a click, and somehow bridges the gap between two people who have never met. I enjoy your blog and like many others was very worried when you disappeared. Let me know if you ever come to the UK...

You obviously remember Blake and

...see a world in a grain of sand
and a heaven in a wild flower...

Welcome back! HNY!

John B

Yay! You are back! I saw part of your lovely state in December -- Gettysburg to Lancaster and back. Beautiful -- even through the pouring rain of one of those days!

Thank God your back,I have missed your photographs,greetings and blessed 2012
from The Netherlands.

We've been patiently waiting for you, and now see that your photos are better than ever! Take care.

Ah, the world's a little better now you're back! So pleased.

Good to see you back! Your images are always inspirational and take me back home. I grew up near Durham and miss it.

Best,

Paul

Ahh your back. I am once again inspired to do better already. Thanks Ed W

A return flight in more ways than one. Bravo, Kathleen!

I like this shot, also nice b&w.

a nice holiday moment ... the afterglow of the holidays ?

This one made ma laugh. Thanks.

i have a 10-year-old, and can totally relate to the child being in his own world, happy and not noticing the grown-ups. they take their background role, and the joy of music and play is central.

I like this picture. Nice depth of field and I can emotionally relate to the content and the title.

Blues? I don't see any blues.

hehe, one guard the window and the other the door, would like to see two dogs do that with such grace ;)

Excellent! Love the composition.

mice don't read
neither to rats
just fine I'm sure
with these two cats

Nature (Like a comedian) abhors a straight line.

I love the fleeting detail in this one...great work!

This is a beautiful photograph.

Very mysterious, somewhat ominous trees in deep blues!

The river gets high
and we get the blues
after the drought
this flood is good news

ooonnnn my ownnnnnnn......
when I wander from this wonderland alone........

wooden squiggles
slowly drawn
who'd have noticed
then you came along

just to think
makes me smile
Kathleen saves a forest
as a digital file

Such a well composed squirrel amid the art nouveau vines. Beautiful.

Quiet beauty

Trees in the fog they always look alive or even ominous, wicked...but the sheep? They brought Monty Python's Flying Circus and all the sheep jokes\skits to mind...snicker, snicker...!

C'mon lady, we're sheep, and sheep don't say cheese.

there's a dark spirit rising up from the right
or perhaps a stray digit is blocking the light
the truth of the matter i can't really say
it's pretty, mysterious, and i like it that way

A dark spirit looms at lower right,
or an errant digit cross lens' light?
What dark matter this? It's hard to say!
You've a lovely image anyway:)

Albert: Good idea - need to remember to carry that around!

what, no ND filter? ;)

Fog sporting a copper jacket.

Stunning play of light and dark. Beautiful capture.

"Where there's fog, there's fire!" --The flaming corn doth proclaim.

silent take-off
solo flight
the moment comes
the time is right
spreading wing
rush of air
i see it all
for you were there

Just one, quoth the Raven and perhaps then, nevermore

This was our wedding day!

Awesome!

If you say they grow on trees, that's good enough for me.

Johnson & Johnson's cotton clouds. Now available in these convenient sizes.

Like two-dimensional pasteboard pop-ups, these "Hollywood" hills must have have gotten lost.

That accent of 62-27-11-0 at the top which slips down into the mist, making the warm tones below explode into the morning. Very much the painting!

Some Pig! Like the other comment, I immediately thought of Charlotte's Web when I saw this. Templeton the rat is lurking somewhere.

You captures the dusty light of barns. Wonderful composition and light.

Looks like Charlotte's Web. Is that the spider??

I so totally knew that, Kathleen.

It's a lightbulb!

Is that an egg sack, or do Durham spiders collect tennis balls? (I'll let somebody else can climb that ladder:)

this is beautiful!!!!

Love this photo! It reminds me of some of my favorite roads in Western NC and Virginia. I also love the backstory. I'm the only non-morning person in the family who frequently missed the bus when I was a kid. :D

This is BEAUTIFUL!

Looks to me like the happy couple just beamed up from the Enchanted Forest to the Mother Ship. --or Issac goes to Magic School. (I've made the "over-sleeper's commute" at least half a dozen times this year, but I don't get THAT view Mz-fortunate:)

This is like watching a film, waiting for
Guinevere and her charming Knight of the Round Table to come riding around the bend

These "fog-O-rama" shots are greatly effected by each viewer's monitor. At the office, I get a copper-tone on the lower right which vignettes into a dusty rose on the left. By the time I get home, the hues will have shifted and the contrast will go up considerably, then I have to review all these images again... (Whew!) ...well that's OK, I like this job:)

Man's best planned signs, like his best laid plans, gang aft agley, but 'tis the poor drowned mice what gets the worst of the bargain.

Thank you, Lucille! I knew there was a familiar look, but I did not make the connection to that old French pond painter.

A Monet painting

a purple haze as I recall
looks near enough when out of reach
from another life on another shore
about which this is not the place to speak
so share briefly this dreamy bit of day
and soon enough be on our way
better perhaps for having taken
a stolen dream, to then awaken
on the banks of the flooded Musconetcong
feeling "something's missing" but nothing's wrong :)

Purple Haze. Oh yeah.

Hard to find words for this gorgeous picture.

Looks like the private property is a little under the weather. Guess the owner rowed into town for a "No Fishing" sign, fresh towels, and a dehumidifier.

Tis darkest just before the dawn.....

Kathleen - Has the blog closed down? I miss your wonderful photos!

By staring directly into the center of the fog for 3 months, it then appears to be lifting.....(or is that just me?)

fantastic atmosphere of this picture. BRAVO

I'm attempting to reconfigure the 10-day forecast AP to also alert me to your pending return. ('t will be a fair day indeed:)

Dear Ms. Connally,
From time to time we are all lost in the dense fog of our own dark reverie.

Then, with the Solstice a new light shines to signal the Yuletide and to bring forth the New Year and, once again our paths, no matter how twisted, rocky, or steep, are illuminated and the way is clear.

The Brightest Blessings of the Holiday Season to you, your family, friends, and many admirers around the world, Kathleen. God rest ye merry while we all patiently await your triumphant return to these pages.
Warmest Regards,
Le Monsieur de le Coin Bureau

Kathleen - Wishing you a holiday filled with magic, music and peace along with a Happy Healthy New Year.

Play Misty for me....LOL
Loving it
Cheryl Backham

Guys. Kathleen does have a Twitter account, which is linked from this site's front page. She updates it frequently so I think it's safe to say she's alive.

I too miss the regular photo posts here, but everybody needs a break now and then. Especially when it comes to creative work, sometimes a few months away from a particular project is absolutely necessary in order to avoid/recover from burnout, or for any of a number of other reasons.

Great shot with fabulous atmosphere.

Brings to mind the song "Play Misty For Me" - loving it BTW.
Lauren Reagan

Kathleen, it's now been three months (an entire quarter) since your last post. Is everything okay? Just a quick note to reassure us would be appreciated.

I hope that she will soon recover so that we shall have the great pleasure to see her magnificent photos again.

In response to John's inquiry, --and since there are hundreds of us who frequent this site, often from a great distance, in order to take away some sense of beauty, inspiration, humor and the occasional surprises which Kathleen has so generously shared-- it can be said that for now, another challenge along another path has arisen which has temporarily commanded our dear friend's attention, (for she surly would not for light cause have abandoned such a delightful crowd as we:). Therefore, we shall bide the time and await her welcome return to the Shire, ...or in this case, Township, and as one great company, again resume the creative journey we have shared. (...and, bless her heart, we do miss her:)

Gorgeous treeline fog here!

As one of your many UK followers I'm also worried. All photographers need to take a break at times, but it is now 25th November and this unheralded gap suggests we are right to be concerned. If anyone has news I hope they post it here...

Great picture.

Pray for Kathleen, who is going through a very tough time (saw it on her Twitter feed.)

We are thinking of and praying for you, and hoping for comfort and peace, Kathleen!

Sad to see you are too busy with other things to share any photographs. I miss my eye candy.
Trust you are well and perhaps just distracted with real life.
Missing you and your talent.
Your friend in photography,
Ed

Exellent shot with fabulous atmosphere. BRAVO

Kathleen, it's been a long time since you have posted anything. We are kind of worried about you. Is everything all right? Miss you. It would have been a wonderful picture of all the snow on October 29th, but oh well, hopefully you are okay, and will post something soon. Take care. We love you.

I can see why you have won so many awards here, love it.
Dr Saxe

We're missing you...hope all is well.

outstanding photograph, love the mist above the trees, excellent work!

this image is so nice, camera settings is so nice, looking good

I have driven home many mornings from the graveyard shift here in Tennessee, but the fog never looked as mystical as this. Nice photo of something that I've never looked at with such a kind eye as this.

I really like this photo. Seems like another place than this earth!

Wow this is just stunning!! I love the pink tones and the clouds, such a beautiful photo!!

Really nice photo!! Just looking at the fog makes my knee hurt!

Had to do a double take. I was just at my daughter's doctor's office and was gazing at a photo that is so much like this one, but your photo is way better!
Cheryl Beckham

nice!

Been showing up here pretty much every day for a month. You haven't posted a photo since September 5, a month ago. Starting to feel like a chump.

nice photos....and thanks also for the ukelele lessons!

Once again, you have taken a wonderful photo.

Kathleen, this is a fabulous image. You have captured the mood by the river this morning so fine!

This is just lovely! The lighting, the colors, the composition, the mood - wonderful

Kathleen ,
What a joy you are to be in tuch with . We're having a long gental rain here .
Adolph

nice shot
I feel I have a recollection of this scene... looks so familiar to me although I know i have not seen it before... well done, really like it
also the other shots...:)

Love all the layers in this shot..

Morning porch view 2? I feel like I floated here before:)

Dear Kathleen,

I've been looking at your photoblog--what great shots you've been able to take just a few miles up the road from me!

Would you be available to speak to the Huntingdon Valley Camera Club on "GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD" on Wednesday, October 19, at 7 PM. We meet in the All-Purpose Room of the Huntingdon Valley Library, 645 Red Lion Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. You can learn more about our group at www.meetup.com/huntingdon-valley-camera-club.

Thank you for considering our request.

Sincerely,
Edie Krieger, Secretary
Huntingdon Valley Camera club

Absolutely stunning!! Love scenes like this - when the landscape is blanketed in fog and mist!!

Excellent shot! Lovely tones. Well done

Durham wakes to a blanket of fog;
KC wakes, another picture to log.
Cool temperatures and moisture perfectly mixed;
Captured for all, leaving us transfixed.

The color is amazing. Perfect.

Kathleen, this is wonderful. How high above the trees were you?

I feel like I'm teetering in the top of a tree, but view is excellent, and the company good, so I shan't complain! (I was burned of by 9AM too, but that's another....)

Kinda freaky there, but still cool and a great photo. You keep making me come back for more.
Allison English

Love how the river and banks disappear into the fog. Very nice composition too.

JPH, you had a chance to use 'worser' and missed it.

Trees line the bank of the muddy Delaware River,
Tainted by silt, to the ocean will deliver.
Irene gave a glancing blow to Township Durham.
People nearer the coast had to pack up and scram.
Many for just a few days had to suffer;
Many, many others, have it much tougher.
Great opportunities to help your fellow man.
Reach out and meet a need, if you can.

Kathleen ,
Keep ypur feet dry . Hope your rain is over . Your work just gets better .
Adolph
p.s. Keep enjoying !

Nice power shot! --red enough, but not d Nile:)

What a striking image!

gorgeous frame, the river's a lil' stained by makes me wanna jump in the car, grab my gear and go bass fishing

Oh how I'd love to be standing where you were when you took this shot!
Penny Satterwhite

Another super shot from you here. Composition and color, layers and depth is amazing! You did a great job :-)

Beautiful colors, and a great collections of textures, from the corn all the way back to the fog. Great photo.

This photo does remind me of a painted landscape. It might be fun to run it through the special effects that Picassa offers now. I have just dabbled with it to remove red eye, etc. But this might be fun to play with the textures. Nice shot, btw.

yes yes! lovely lines and layers.
i hope all is well with you, kathleen - especially after the recent storms.

my shoes are getting wet
there's a chilly breeze and yet
i'm enjoying all i see
this is a good place to be

wonderful scene ... vibrant like a watercolor

Thanks for posting the camera info. Very instructional--I would have thought that there was more post-processing involved to create the high ISO grainy look. Now I'm inspired to replicate the shot in my area. I wish we had mist...thanks.

Nothing quite like the time after a storm on the farm making sure crops and equipment survived and nothing blown away by the winds.

Gorgeous! It looks something out of a story book, the many different layers leading to the thick storm clouds... Really nice.

Magical mist and late summer light. Love the layers of color here.

You have some dramatic photos in your repertoire and I like this image...very much. Brilliant expression of the moment! I keep track of your work through my Google reading list. Keep them coming!

Another stunning photo! Thank you for sharing the beauty of your world.

The corn drinks in the rain,
we drink in the view.
Very refreshing all around,
and so, thank you:)