Burnside Plantation

This historic 6.5-acre farm-in-the-city opened doors to early American agricultural life. The property includes a restored 1748 / 1818 farmhouse, two 1840s bank barns, a large kitchen garden and orchard, a corn crib, and wagon shed.

James Burnside, originally from County Meath, Ireland, traveled to Georgia, and in two years suffered much tragedy – two devastating fires and the death of his first wife. He befriended a member of the Moravian Church in Georgia and came north eventually becoming a Moravian missionary. His daughter Rebecca died at the age of six of smallpox. The following year, he married Mary Wendover, a Moravian widow from the Moravian congregation in New York. In 1747, James and Mary Burnside decided to not follow the choir system of Moravian Bethlehem and purchased 500 acres just north of the Moravian settlement of Bethlehem. Their farm, Burnside Plantation, was the first privately held property in the settlement and first private home. In 1752, James was elected as the first representative to the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly from the newly formed Northampton County. He was a contemporary of Benjamin Franklin serving with him on the Committee for Indian Affairs. Three years after his death, Mary sold the farm to the Moravian Church, and it became Plantation #4 in the Moravian farming system. Three Moravian plantations were located in what is now South Bethlehem.

The use of the word plantation comes from a German word meaning “plantings.” A Moravian plantation was a working farm that produced crops for the entire community.

What’s in Bob’s Bag?

  • OM1 Mark II
  • OM-D E-M1 Mark III
  • M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 300mm F4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
  • M.Zuiko Digital 2X Teleconverter MC-20
  • M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 45mm f/1.2
  • M.Zuiko ED 20mm f/1.4
  • M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro
  • M.Zuiko ED 20mm f/1.4 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 45mm f/1.2 Pro

A Day at the Zoo

Lehigh Valley Zoo located in the heart of the Trexler Nature Preserve, is home to more than 325 animal ambassadors representing over 125 species.

Founded in 1906 by General Harry C. Trexler, a local industrialist, the Trexler Nature Preserve has played a significant role in saving the North American bison from extinction by providing a place where both bison and elk could roam freely undisturbed. In 1935, the County of Lehigh took ownership of the Preserve and, in 1974, construction began on the Preserve’s 29-acre Zoo. In 2004, Lehigh Valley Zoological Society assumed management of the Zoo, as well as the daily management of the bison and elk herd and the palominos in the 1,100-acre Trexler Nature Preserve.

Snow, Ice & Tress

Collection of images taken in my backyard during the last few snow storms.

Butterflies, Bees & Wildflowers

Photos taken at the Butterfly Garden in front of the Jacobsburg State Park Visitor Center and the Hummingbird area.

What’s in Bob’s bag?
OM-D E-M1 Mark II
M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko ED 300mm F4.0 IS Pro
M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
M.Zuiko Digital 2X Teleconverter MC-20
M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye Pro
M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
M.Zuiko 17mm f:2.8 Lens
M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro

Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head
Manfrotto 265CB CF Tripod
Manfrotto 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
UV Filters

Frogs at Jacobsburg State Park

Located in the Hummingbird area of the park is a small pond with frogs. I went there recently to photograph Hummingbirds, I did not find any birds instead I found frogs.

What’s in Bob’s bag?

  • OM-D E-M1 Mark II
  • M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 300mm F4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
  • M.Zuiko Digital 2X Teleconverter MC-20
  • M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko 17mm f:2.8 Lens
  • M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro
  •  Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head
  • Manfrotto 265CB CF Tripod
  • Manfrotto 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
  • UV Filters

Snow Geese at Green Pond Marsh

Green Pond Marsh, a small wetland (about 20 acres) in Bethlehem Township, PA is an Audubon Society IBA (Important Bird Area) where over 180 species of birds have been sighted.

The flooded fields of Green Pond Marsh is located on Green Pond Road in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County is one of the best areas for wetland birds in the Lehigh Valley. This area has been attracting birds since the 1970’s. Wet areas such as this provide important resting and feeding stops for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and other species.

Green Pond Marsh has attracted over 20 species of migratory waterfowl.

 

What’s in Bob’s bag?

  • OM-D E-M1 Mark II
  • M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 300mm F4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
  • M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye Pro
  • M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
  • M.Zuiko 17mm f:2.8 Lens
  • M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro
  • Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head
  • Manfrotto 265CB CF Tripod
  • Manfrotto 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
 

Aruba Underwater Photo Safari 2018

This was our seventh Aruba Photo Safari. This year we spent more time touring and photographing the island. In the sixteen years I have been visiting Aruba I have never seen the water as rough and currents as strong as this year. Carlos from Mermaid Sport Dives told us it was because of high winds and storms out in the Atlantic.

Barcadera Reef

Barcadera Reef

Dantchi’s Delight Reef

Photos Around The Island

Olympus OM-D/EM1 Mark II in a was PT-EP14 Underwater Housing and PPO-E04 Dome Lens Port use for the underwater photographs. Lighting was two Fantasea Radiant 1600 Video Lights. OM-D/EM1 Mark II was used for all the land photographs.

What’s in Bob’s Bag:

OM-D E-M1 Mark II
M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 Pro
M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS Pro
M.Zuiko 17mm f:2.8 Lens
M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro
ED Zuiko 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens
Zuiko 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Lens
MMF-3 Four Thirds Adapter
EC-14 1.4x Teleconverter
Olympus Tough TG‑4
Pen E-PL7

For more information Aruba Underwater Photo Safari 2019 visit our website
www.underwaterphotoclasses.com/workshops.html