Irish Festival

We made the visit to the Maryland Irish Festival for the second straight year. The festival is held at the Maryland State Fair grounds, which offers plenty of room for the event. The festival is celebrating 36 years this year.There are many photo opportunities and I enjoy the bands with the changing light. Speaking of bands, the music was great and is worth the price of admission just to listen to the tunes. While we were Saturday we got to see and hear NUA, Crossing Celtic, Finbar Furey with Brian Gaffney and Brendan's Voyage and the Screaming Orphans. It's amazing to watch the crowd as they dance, clap and how many of them know the words to the songs and sing along. The Screaming Orphans bring a lot of high energy to the stage. You see it often, there is something for everyone and that is very true at the festival, as there is a moon bounce, arts, Irish Wolfhounds and Greyhounds, history, learn at many of the workshops, and crafts for sell. You don't have to be Irish to enjoy the event, so if you are looking for something to do to today head to the festival. The food is great, so you wouldn't have to cook today. If you don't make it today look ahead to November next year.

Morgan Run

One of the places we like to visit and is just minutes from the house, is Morgan Run. We go to the lot used by fishermen to park. I like to take photographs and the granddaughters like to work on their skipping stones skills. I was there in the summer and returned again about a week ago. During the summer I shot with the water stopped, while in the last visit I used a lower shutter speed to get flowing water. I like the lower shutter speed, but you have to remember to pack a tripod and a graduated neutral density filter helps. The filter cuts down on the amount of light going to the camera, which is nice on a sunny day. I hope to go back soon before the last of the leaves falls.

Friday Morning

Finally the rain stopped and we headed out for a few errands. On the way I told Shirley I wanted to go Sykesville for a possible photograph. I saw this possible shot about a month ago while babysitting the granddaughters along River Road. As happens, the image wasn't what I thought it would be. So many times the image in my head doesn't match reality. But all wasn't lost as I came home with some nice images of the leaves and a heron looking for a meal. On the way to do the errands, we saw Sykesville had their equipment parked in front of the fire hall for a nice image.