From Summer to Fall

September 2026
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Joe Benning

From Summer to Fall

Summer is gone, the fall is here, the ocean is getting rougher, and of course it is hurricane season. The water was sufficiently treacherous over the past weekend that 35 people had to be rescued from the surf in Belmar, according to the Mayor. The Mayor said that 35 people had to be pulled out of the water by lifeguards, police, the Coast Guard and…”water rescue staff”. If not lifeguards I wonder what the term “water rescue staff” is supposed to refer to.

Anyway, off to the Finger Lakes region in New York State soon, where we hope to get some nice autumn shots. Some Spring Lake beach shots below.

Waves from rough Atlantic seas smash up against the rocks of a jetty at the Jersey Shore.

Waves roll into the beach on a cold gray rainy morning

Waves come crashing onto shore on a rainy, gloomy morning

Rainy, foggy morning with a storm on the horizon

Photo of the Spring Lake boardwalk on a wet and foggy fall morning.

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Joe Benning

Kessler Foundation Stroll and Roll

The Kessler Foundation is a public charity dedicated to helping people afflicted with disabilities caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain and other injuries, to improve their lives. Kessler, which funds research and prepares people with disabilities to re-enter the workforce, is one of the world’s leading organizations in rehabilitation medicine. Joe Benning Photography is an enthusiastic supporter of the Kessler Foundation and is a sponsor of the Annual Stroll and Roll. The 16^th annual Stroll and Roll took place today in Verona Park. Some photos from the event are below. Please take a look at the Kessler Foundation Website to learn more about their work. Here is the web address: http://kesslerfoundation.org

Cyclists preparing for the kick-off of the annual Kessler Foundation Stroll and Roll.

Ellen, Mary Anne amd Sally are walking in the Kessler Stroll and Roll.

Team Halchek participating in the annual Stroll and Roll.

Participants in the Annual Stroll and Roll.

A close-up of a small stone bridge over a section of Verona Lake, in the park.

Trees and foliage are reflected in the Verona Park Lake on an Autumn morning.

The leaves on the trees around Verona Park are starting to change colors.

Quiet lake in Verona Park, NJ in Autumn

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Joe Benning

Dorbrook Recreation Area—Monmouth County Park System

The Monmouth County Park System is reportedly one of the best in the country. A link to the system with a description of its parks is here.

One of the more interesting parks is called the Dorbrook Recreation Area, in Colts Neck. Among other things (like a model aircraft field) it has a small farm on the property. I was lucky enough the other day to catch a tractor plowing the fields—it looked for all the world like it could have been in Idaho. Anyway, it’s well worth a visit.

Click on any of the photos below to see a larger version.

A barely visible tractor kicks up a lot of dust while plowing a field.

A barn and stable on a rolling hill of green grass as autumn approaches.

Leaves are turning colors on the trees as Autumn approaches

A white barn on green grass with a dutch syle roof under threatening skies.

A tractor kicks up a lot of dust while plowing a field.

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Joe Benning

Batsto Village in Burlington County, NJ

We recently made a trip to Batsto Village, a historic site located within Washington Township in the Pine Barrens. It is listed on both the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places and administered by the Division of Parks and Forestry, part of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection.

An ironmaster by the name of Charles Read built the Batsto Iron Works along the Batsto River. It would eventually grow into the Batsto Village. Over the years it changed hands a number of times, with the last private owner being Joseph Wharton, who purchased it in 1876. Wharton, a founder of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, refurbished many of the buildings in the Village. In addition, launched a number of forestry and agricultural projects, including cranberry farming and a sawmill.

In the 1950s the State of New Jersey bought the Wharton properties and it is now a State Park with a Visitors Center and a small museum. It is well worth a visit.

Batsto Village, Hammonton, NJ USA — August 28, 2017 Barns , fencing and a meadow in the historic town of Batsto, NJ, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Batsto Village, Hammonton, NJ USA — August 28, 2017 The Blacksmith and Wheelhouse shop in the historic town of Batsto, NJ , listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Photo of Batso Lake in HIstoric Batsto Village

Batsto Village, Hammonton, NJ USA — August 28, 2017 The Mansion House in historic Batsto, village, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

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Joe Benning

A visit to Tanglewood and Saratoga Springs

It’s tough to beat the natural beauty of New England. We recently took a trip up to Saratoga Springs to visit the track, then on to The Clark museum in Williamstown, and then onto Lenox Massachusetts where we were able to see Yo Yo Ma play with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood. And we got to see a boat go through lock #4 in New York State.

The Clark Museum in Williamstown, MA.

Looking at the stage from inside “The Shed” at Tanglewood.

Horses come around the bend in Saratoga Spring race track

Horses race for the finish on turf

Two silos, trucks and a barn on a green crop field under threatening skies in New England.

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Joe Benning

Parks and Recreation

The Monmouth County Park system is often thought to be one of the finest in the country–and with good reason. The parks are meticulously maintained; they are stunningly beautiful, and they are brimming with activities for all ages. So not too long ago I paid

Geraldine Thompson

a visit to Thompson Park in Lincroft. Thompson Park which includes the former home of Geraldine Thompson, and now serves as the Thompson Park Visitor’s Center. The park, which was established in 1968 totals 667 acres, of which 215 were donated by the estate go Geraldine Thompson. The park, which is truly magnificent, features the Marlu Lake (pictured below) is not to be missed.

A scenic lake surrounded by green trees on a summer morning. Two canoes are in the distance are on the lake.

Two canoes float lazily along a lake surrounded by green trees.

A path out of a heavily wooded area to a clearing that goes between large two trees.

Two trees up a slope in a green meadow with a dramatic sky in the background

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Joe Benning

On the Beach ...

Summer is here and the best time to see the beach is early in the morning before the crowds arrive. Here is what it looked like this morning.

A life guard station turned on its side on the beach next to a lifeboat before the crowds arrive

Lifeboat on the beach

An empty life guard chair and boat on the beach early in the morning

Life guard station and boat early in the morning before the crowds arrive

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Some Sights Around Spring Lake

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Asbury Park Photo Walk

A beautiful summer morning—just right for a photo walk with Michael and Beverly Miller in Asbury Park. We started at Convention Hall early when we had the pale morning light, and wandered around taking photos as the sky brightened and the beach and boardwalk began to fill up.

Here are some photos from the walk.

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Joe Benning

Glorious Day for a Race

Saturday May 27—a glorious day to kick off the summer season with the 41^st running of the Spring Lake 5 mile race. About 12,500 runners participated in this 40^th anniversary of the original race, first run in 1977. The rain that threatened the night before didn’t show, but blue skies did.

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Spring Lake NJ, USA — May 27, 2017 A trail of discarded water cups on the street as the race begins to wind down. Editorial use only.

Spring Lake, NJ USA — May 27, 2017 Runners race down Ocean Avene in the annual Spring Lake 5 mile Race. Editorial Use Only.

Spring Lake, NJ USA — May 27, 2017 Three competitors in the annual Spring Lake 5 mile race sprint down Ocean Avenue. Editorial Use Only.

Spring Lake, NJ USA — May 27, 2017 Runner takes an early lead in the annual Spring Lake 5 mile race. Editorial Use Only.

Spring Lake, NJ USA — May 27, 2017 Female joggers out for a morning run on the boardwalk in Spring Lake. Editorial Use Only.

Discarded water cups in the wake of the runners

Spring Lake, NJ USA — May 27, 2017 A police barricade blocks off a street. Editorial Use Only.

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Joe Benning

Bell Works

Bell Works in Monmouth County is a revitalization of the famous Bell Labs facility, originally designed by architect Eero Saarinen. The new facility is one that tries to blur the lines between work and play, home and the office. Whether that works remains to be seen. In any event, much of the building is open to the public. Today, Monmouth Arts Council sponsored a Art Walk through the building led by Michael Miller of Visions Photographic Workshops.

Here are some photos from the workshop.

Lobby of Bell Works

Unusual arrangement of unusual furniture

Unusual furniture in an unusual lobby

Silhouettes of both the Photographers and the Subject

Open space in the lobby of the Bell Works building

Patterns on a floor leading to an empty wall

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Joe Benning

A Little Macro Photography

Macro photography, which entails close-up photos of a subject, is particularly well suited for nature photography. So in order to learn about the art of macro photography, composition and technique, I went to a Visions Photographic Workshop run by Michael S. Miller. I might add that Michael’s classes and workshops can benefit any and all photographers, from beginners to more advanced practitioners. Michael is a great teacher, and his classes and workshops are a lot of fun to boot. Try going to the Visions Workshops website to have a look. You also might want to check out the Visions Facebook page.

Anyway, for the Macro Photography workshop Monday evening, the light and weather were perfect. So we spent the evening on the beach crawling around in the sand to get some close-ups of seashells and other stuff lying around in the sand. Here (below) are some of the resulting photos.

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