2016 Philadelphia Flower Show

In Philadelphia, one of the first signs of spring is the annual Philadelphia Flower Show, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Each March this event is held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Dating back to 1829, the Flower Show is an amazing display of gardening and design. The theme for 2016 the 100th Anniversary of The National Park Service. Given my love of national parks, I knew that I had to attend the 2016 show! DSC_0064

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Plus, I knew that I would have endless opportunities to capture the beauty of the flowers, gardens and displays honoring the National Parks. It was truly a photographers dream! Needless to say, I took many, many photos (400+)! I have so many favorites, but I picked out just a few to share here. To see many more, check out my photo website to see more – ParkerNorth Photography.

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Looking At the World Through the Lens of a Camera

Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed taking pictures. I would document family gatherings, events or good times with friends. Having my camera with me become the norm and I was always ready to capture the moment. Over the last several years, my interest in photography has become more of a passion. I find that I now look at the world through the lens of a camera. I am always wondering, would this make a great photo? When possible, I feel compelled to stop to get the shot. On an ordinary day, I may not have my camera with me, but thanks to my i-phone, I can usually capture the photo. (more on camera phones vs cameras in a future post)

I suppose at this point I am almost obsessive with taking photos whenever I can. You just never know when you will see something of interest. When walking my dog, I make sure I have my phone with me. I have missed some beautiful sunrises and sunsets when my phone is not in my pocket! Here are two winter sunrises captured on morning dog walks.

January sunrise. Noticed it when taking my dog to the Vet’s.
Another pretty winter sunrise captured when walking my dog.

Photography has now become more than a hobby. I am always on the look-out for potential photos for my portfolio. But, it still comes down to the sheer enjoyment of capturing the moment and sharing it with others. Besides capturing a photo that I just happen upon, I now venture out on photography jaunts. Most of the time, these little trips are not planned in advance but are usually spur of the moment. My local day trips have been eye-opening experiences (pun intended). I enjoy the pure beauty and fun of taking photos. Living in the Philadelphia region provides so many photo opportunities. From the changing of the seasons to the historic sites, parks, rivers & lakes and sporting events.  I am never bored and have a long list of photos that I want to capture! I also enjoy traveling and those trips provide many photo opportunities. Future posts will showcase photos from my travels as well as local photos.

Why? Part Two

In my first blog post, I explained my love of photography and the reasons behind the blog. I forgot to mention that besides writing about photography and showcasing my photos, I will also cover other topics. There are many stories behind the photos including the history of the subject matter. But I am sure that I will also blog about many of my other interests — travel, dogs, sports of all sorts, books, cameras and things I have seen or experienced in my lifetime. So stay tuned and I hope you enjoy my blog!

 

Why?

Why this blog?  A life-long love of photography has grown into more than just a hobby or taking pictures of events or trips. As my love of photography has grown over the past several years, I realized that I wanted to do more and learn more about photography. I started my photography business in 2015. I post photos on several photography websites and have won numerous awards while gaining a tremendous amount of feedback. I recently launched my new photography website where I can display and sell my photos parkernorthphotography. I also realized that I wanted to write about my photos, as I have many stories to tell. And yes, as a marketer, I know that having a blog can help my photography business, but that is secondary!

Why this title? Digital cameras have given everyone the freedom to take as many photos as you like, without incurring the cost of film or getting the film developed. I can snap as many pictures as I want! But it seems that a certain member of my family repeatedly says, “why do you need to take so many pictures?” My answer is a simple one — “that’s the beauty of digital!” I shortened it to create the name of my blog, which will always remind me of why I love digital photography! (Thanks to my brother for always asking me and my sister-in-law that question!)