Flexaret VTwin Lens Reflex As one follows the park loop through the woods a wonderful big meadow emerges about one third of the way through. In the middle of it an old well house stands and right next to it used to stand a tall tree with a crooked top. I used to call it The Watchman. Unfortunately, The Watchman succumbed to age and weather and was eventually cut down completely. As I follow the curve out of the woods my eyes still automatically go to the well house and to the empty position where The Watchman used to stand tall. After a moment, my eyes start to wonder around scanning for a few other remaining old faithful trees. Unfortunately, their numbers are dwindling.

The pine below is one of them. At least I think it is a pine. However, on a walk just a few days ago all of the pines around still had their deep green in the needles while this one seemed quite dry. Is it not a pine? Is it a different king of a pine? Or is it slowly dying too? I took some close up photos and will try to get to the bottom of it. I hope that when spring comes it will find its green again!

Big Meadow PineChestnut Ridge Park

Big Meadow Pine, Chestnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a medium format Flexaret V TLR on Fomapan 200 Black & White Negative Film

Another favorite subject of mine are the old deteriorating well houses. The deteriorating part is not. I wish there were funds and will to save them as they complement the natural environment of the park very well. The county has done a great job maintaining the bridges and keeping their stone walls instead of installing ugly guard rails so maybe there's hope. I am not sure though. These old shelters no longer fulfill any function and thus may be left to their fate. As this playing out I still have time to enjoy looking at them and documenting them in my photographs.

Well House in the WoodsChestnut Ridge Park

Well House in the Woods, Chestnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park, New York
Photographed with a medium format Flexaret V TLR on Fomapan 200 Black & White Negative Film

And why the prequel title? You'll see when the sequel is out. Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. And for more black and white photography hop over to the World without Color photo collection.

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