Category: People

I was lost in Morgantown, Pa. trying to find a Lowe’s that I spotted from the turnpike.  The GPS didn’t show it as it’s a new store.   The old point & shoot was in the car and lo and behold, I end up behind a horse & buggy for MILES.  I dare not pass as we’re on a narrow winding 2-lane road.  In the back of my mind I’m thinking – “Must take a photo!”   So, I snapped a quick one through the windshield.  This is it.  Could be better quality, but this is the ultimate example of “buggy-pooling” [instead of car-pooling] in this 6-seater!  Clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop!

This little girl was adorable with her blond pigtails and flowered dress at The Kutztown Folk Festival.   I always feel uncomfortable photographing people unless I ask their permission first.  Quite often I will photograph from the side or back so that they remain unrecognizable.  Then I feel more at ease if I decide to post the image on my blog or website.  I processed this one as a painting which I find is a nice compliment to my love of images in soft focus.   To see more images from The Kutztown Folk Festival, visit:  http://www.betsydallasphoto.com/Kutztown%20Folk%20Festival%202010.html

 

This photo is from the Civil War Encampment last month and features a little girl in period clothing working at the campsite.  I love that you can only see her profile beneath her pretty plaid bonnet.  The above image was processed as a painting and the original is below.  There was perfect soft light in the morning when I photographed this event.   A number of children were playing together and they were very active, so it was a challenge to get a good photo without specifically asking them to pose.  Rather than interrupt their fun, I chose to take candid shots.  This is a favorite.

I was watching a few Pennsylvania Dutch children woodworking at the Kutztown Folk Festival.  They were all dressed in traditional clothing – straw hats and suspenders for the boys and pretty flowered dresses for the girls.  I couldn’t help but notice that several of the children were barefoot.  They didn’t seem to mind running and playing without shoes on the macadam, grass, straw and dirt.  In contrast, some of the boys wore heavy leather boots which seemed out of place in the heat of the summer on a child.  This image perfectly captures what I remember about that scene.

I don’t know this man, nor did I have an opportunity to talk with him.   He was sitting by the lake watching the kayaks and fishermen.  I sensed that he was alone but he seemed to be enjoying the evening by the water.  Still I felt sad that he was by himself … especially on Father’s Day.  Later in the evening I visited a different lake and on the beach I saw a woman sitting in a lawn chair reading a book.  She was alone, too.  I should have played matchmaker and introduced them to one another!  🙂