We came for the waterfalls but found a lot more.
Ricketts Glen State Park
One of the nicest things in the Endless Mountains is Ricketts Glen State Park. Depending on what trail you take, it is possible to see up to 21 waterfalls. We hiked the 7.5 mile option to see them all. I was also there in the fall to photograph this place with the fall colors in the background. You can see those photographs here.
Ricketts Glen in the Spring by Richard Lewis 2015
A Pennsylvania Slot Canyon
One morning I went to Worlds End State Park to photograph the sunrise from one of the beautiful overlooks in the park. While all sunrises are beautiful, the one that morning didn’t really wow me. So I hiked over to investigate something called the “Rock Garden”. This is an interesting set of rock formations with a few little slot canyons. I happened to notice that the course of the early morning sun would line up with one of the little canyons so I got the camera ready.
While slot canyons are cool, this one just doesn’t compare with those stunning canyons out west, even with the sun peaking through. So what this scene lacked in drama I made up for with the lens choice. Fisheye lenses do one thing and they do it really well… Take in an entire scene. The ultra wide field of view and depth of field shows a clear view of the lichen on the rocks that were right next the camera right all the way through to the sun which was a bit farther away. The natural distortion of a lens like this makes a more dramatic composition as well.
Pennsylvania Slot Canyon by Richard Lewis 2015
Abandoned Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, especially the rural areas, have had a mix of good and bad economic times coupled with a few environmental disasters. As a result, the landscape has its share of old and abandoned buildings. This beautiful old, but dying Victorian Italianate farm house is a little more upscale than what we usually found. Luckily there were some well placed clouds in the sky that day.
Old Farm House in the Endless Mountains by Richard Lewis 2015
Down a back road we found an abandoned 2 seater outhouse. That is a structure that should be on the bucket list of every photographer interested in abandoned places.
Pennsylvania Out House by Richard Lewis 2015
The Endless Mountains were a great place to spend a few days. We’ll head back there again I’m sure.
Enjoy
I will have to visit the Endless Mountains some time. Your photos make it an enticing prospect.
Laura, I think you would really like it there.
Some nice images here, the slot canyon and abandoned outhouse being my favourites
Thanks Derrick. Those are my 2 favorites of the trip too.
😀 Really beautiful photos Rich! What kind of fisheye lens do you use, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m feeling really restricted by my Sigma 17-70mm, especially inside the city i want something really wide. The photo of the abandoned house is definitely my favorite one, it’s a lovely house, the colors are so nice and i love how the sky reflects on the windows! 😀 A small detail but for me it makes the photo even more special 😉 Wishing you a great week!
Thank you Alex. I am using a Canon 8-15mm fisheye. It is circular at 8mm and fills the frame at 15mm which makes it a pretty interesting lens to use. In the city I think something like this or even a regular ultra wide regular lens would allow you do really do some great things. I’m glad you mentioned the reflections because I had a polarizer on lens and after I removed the reflections with it, I took it off because I liked it better with the sky. It sort of merges the two things, the house and sky, together. Thanks for noticing. I wish you the best of weeks also.
Thank you for all the info Rich! 😀 Unfortunately i don’t own a full frame camera and i see that the Canon 8-15mm works best on one of those! It’s definitely a great lens and with a very interesting range. I was thinking of getting the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 for my Canon 60D but it’s also a bit too expensive for me at this point. So i decided to go with the new Canon 10-18mm f4.5-5, i got it for only 230$, very cheap but the reviews are all very positive. For the beginning i think it will do, when i’ll be able to upgrade to a full frame camera i will definitely look into getting the 8-15mm 😀
I have to agree with you about the 8-15 being best used on a full frame camera. I also use a 7D which is a cropped sensor and the lens works, but not as well as on the 5D. I’ve also heard great things about the 10-18mm. I had the Canon 10-22 before I bought a full frame camera and it was a very sharp lens. I’m sure the new one will also be the same.
Beautiful images!
Thanks for the compliment and for being a loyal follower of this blog
The slot canon pic is impressive…it really speaks to me.
I had no idea there was such a thing as “two seater” outhouses! You don’t see two seater toilets today…I wonder who thought that was a good idea back then? 😀
One has to wonder what purpose they would have served. Kind of an unusual place to seek companionship.
Thanks for taking us along your hike. Really love the abandoned structures.
Thanks Beth. I’m glad you enjoyed the hike.
Good stuff, Rich. You almost make me want to return to Ricketts. It’s tempting but even though it was downhill, it was difficult for me. Looks like I need relatively flat surfaces from now on.
I’m glad you’re thinking of returning. In spite of the hike, it is a beautiful place. we found a lot to see and photograph all around the area an little required too much walking. Of course we are nuts enough to hike to an overlook that has perfectly good road to it, but that’s us.
Its those non-descript places that somehow bring out and or offer up the best. The star canyon brings me back to it for a second and third look!!!!
Thanks Mike. I love the name “star canyon”. It was a neat little spot that I want to physically go back to a few more times.
Not sure how I missed this one! Absolutely beautiful BW conversion on that first image. I saw your ‘star canyon’ picture on FB… wonderful! Great find on the old farmhouse too. I think I will miss the diversity of abandoned structures the east has to offer. Here in CO I have found some but they are mostly simple cabin structures.
Sometime, when you can, stop in the old Town of Jim Thorpe. You will find it interesting, as I did. See the Old Carbon County Jail that is now a museum and where the Molly Maguries were hung. It is said that the Jail is haunted by long dead inmates that once were there. There are lot’s of places in PA that are old and Historic.
We go to Jim Thorpe often but it is usually to hike. We should really start exploring the town more. It has an interesting story, especially changing its name to Jim Thorpe from Mauchunk. PA has some great history and I have started to explore it. Unfortunately all the great old and abandoned places are starting to disappear.