And now for something completely different. I made my way to Batsto Village on Sunday. Autumn peak is still a ways out, but the short jaunt made for a solid photowalk regardless. Temperatures were warm with mostly masked park goers aplenty. It was one of those dress for all seasons kind of days. Toasty in the sun, cool in the shade. As my friends played about with their tiny humans, I meandered listlessly about the old iron works village. Some noticeable changes since my photowalk in 2014, including the loss of some large maple trees. Such is the passage of time.
I spent ten minutes with my camera making photos of a building I once described as a weird barn-esque pseudo covered bridge type building sided in evenly spaced, repetitive wood slats. The leading lines speak to me. There is an old, weathered door with a rusted iron loop which once made part of a locking mechanism. Above is the photograph, treated in sepia to lend visual to the structure’s age. I’m not certain what to call this kind of photography? Street? Architectural? Nonsense? I suspect this is one of those photos I enjoy but doesn’t land well with the masses. But that’s OK!
Music and the world lost an icon and virtuoso today. Rest easy, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen. The stardust of the riff master has returned to the universe.
West side manse — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250
Batsto Village—Wharton State Forest—Hammonton, New Jersey
There’s much to love about New Jersey and its southern pines. But for me Batsto Village in Fall just may hold the Pinelands top spot. Rich in maples, colors come alive transforming this once thriving iron works village into a canvas of orange wonder amidst architecture of an era gone by. With its history reaching back to the late mid 18th century, a near decade before the shot heard ’round the world, Batsto Village has gone through several historical periods of development before its final purchase by the state of New Jersey in the mid 1950s. It has served dutifully as a great public destination ever since.
A couple weekends ago, I made the thirty minute drive with some friends to photowalk these hallowed Autumn grounds. Conditions were ideal—roughly a week or so before foliage peak with near perfect golden hour light. In the parking lot, unsure which lens to rock, I opted for the 14mm prime and ditched the tripod. I committed to myself to walk, shoot, and enjoy. Nothing more, nothing less. So that’s precisely what I did, and I hope you enjoy some of my favorite pictures from that one fine October afternoon.
The Batsto Mansion
The 32-room Mansion, sits at the heart of Batsto Village, and served as the former residence of generations of ironmasters and reflects the prosperity enjoyed during Batsto’s industrial years. In the late 19th century, the structure was renovated into the elegant Italianate style of architecture by Joseph Wharton, a Philadelphia businessman. Fourteen rooms, including the parlors, dining room, library and bedrooms, are currently open to the public for tours. — source
I’ve yet to take the tour, but I must get in there with my camera someday soon. For any Disney World fans out there, the Batsto manse has Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion written all over it.
Fall colors creeping in — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 3 Bracketed ExposuresWest side manse — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250A square deal — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/160Framing maple — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/100
The General Store
When Joseph Wharton acquired Batsto Village, he moved the entrance to the General Store from the side of the building, which faced the Mansion, to its present location. During the 1800s, the store was usually open six days a week. Here, workers from the Village could purchase a variety of goods, ranging from fruits and vegetables to guns and farm equipment. — source
If you can remember back to the five day black and white challenge I recently finished up, this building has one hell of a porch. I didn’t get any color shots of it here, however, and in the shots below we’re left looking at the general store’s backside. The old country porch (think Old Country Buffet) was loaded with photographers and subjects maximizing the perfect lighting conditions.
Oh that autumn glow — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/800On matters of hobbits — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/30
The Batsto Village Grounds
Along the lakeside is one of the finest maples on the entire property (right there with the Mansion maple pictured above). Tall and regal it’s proven difficult for me to frame up and photograph. Pictured below, set behind the bench, we get but a glimpse of what this tree has to offer. So for now it is a subject that remains on the ever growing things to shoot better list.
The transient nature of leaves — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/80
Going into this post I didn’t quite know what to expect. I’ve never done a comprehensive collection like this. Now that I’ve wrapped up writing and am tidying up the edits, I think I’m going to make this an ever growing collection of Batsto Village Fall Photography. Hopefully throughout the years ahead this post will continue to grow and evolve, showing more of Batsto’s Autumn splendor. In the meantime, if I get to pick a personal favorite so far it’s On the matters of hobbits.
This old gristmill — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/100
I’m going to the well once more. Here’s another photograph from the 184 shots I made Saturday afternoon photowalking Batsto Village. For day four of the five day black and white challenge, I went with the old Batsto gristmill we see above. In the interest of full disclosure, I had no idea what a gristmill was until mere moments ago. Thanks Google! For those just as out of the loop as me, a gristmill is used to process and grind various grains (wheat, corn, etc.). This particular gristmill was, “built in 1828 and originally operated with a wooden water wheel. In 1882, the wheel was replaced with a more efficient “side winder” water turbine.” As with the rest of Batsto Village, the building has been wonderfully preserved and will transport you back to the early 19th century. Batsto in Fall is a great way to spend an afternoon. I cannot recommend enough, New Jersey people.
Tomorrow’s the last day of the black and white challenge. What lies ahead?
Crossing the line — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/30
When shooting wide angle have some fun working angles in tight spaces. It’s here where these rectilinear lenses really shine. Photowalking Batsto Village yesterday, I poked my nose inside this weird barn-esque pseudo covered bridge type building sided in evenly spaced, repetitive wood slats. I only call it weird because I’ve never seen anything like it and surely have no idea what it’s called. Anyway, leaning inside there was about two feet of space at the base, gradually widening as it moved upward. Here’s the shot I quickly framed up with the afternoon sun pouring in and shadows filing in perfect order.
Wow that really tells a story. I don’t know what story, but yeah.
Some friends and I made our way to Batsto Village this afternoon. Founded in the late 1700s, this preserved iron town is one of the pearls of Wharton State Forest. We, and about four dozen other photographers, made the best of the rich afternoon light, and I made the best of one of my favorite porches on the site. A simple wooden porch that creaks off the page of a Mark Twain novel. I spent a good ten minutes photographing this bench, the floor and the angles, trying to get the movement and shadows just so. All the while this composition hung in the back of my mind as one of my black and white possibilities for day two of the challenge.
As soon as I applied a low key black and white look with a dose of grain I knew this was a winner. Almost immediately my buddy Jon looked over and uttered the words above. While utterly simplistic and overtly amorphous—almost Yogi Berra like—it actually hits the mark. This photo tells its own story, and certainly one far better than I’ll ever tell. Enjoy.
Aside: two days in and I am really enjoying the 5 day black and white challenge.
