Farm Spots PA

Howdy,

I was hoping someone could recommend a good place to snap some shots

of farm areas, fields, things of that nature come foilage time. I

live in Philadelphia, so some place in the surrounding counties would

be helpful

 

Thank you,

Jason

The Amish country around Lancaster has some really unique photo opps.

You can't go wrong (unless-and I'm speaking from experience here, you don't get the film leader into the take-up spool)

North central part of Pa. might be worth checking out. Up near

Penn State college. I am going up there sometine next month. I am

not familiar with the area but I think it is worth checking out.

As far as fall foilage goes in Pa., I think it is going to suck

this year. In the SW Pa. we had almost no rain at all. That will

have a drastic effect on the leaves. Another trip I got planned this

fall is to western N.Carolina to do water falls. They had lots of

rain there so the leaves might be better. A good farm area is

"Amish Country" in Ohio. I like it better than the Pa. one. Look for

towns like Sugar Creek, Walnut Creek, Berlin, SW of Canton. Drive

the country roads in that area. Lots of farm areas and not as

commercialised as Lancaster. Lots of luck. Gus

A good piece of technique for shooting farms is to do it on the weekend. This way the odds are better that someone will be home when you ask permission to walk out/drive (depends on the size of the farm) the farm roads to get a better composition. In general, I have never had a problem getting permission to shoot from a farmer when they were home.

 

Another good piece of technique is to talk with the locals, they know the area and you can learn about special places from them. Also, the locals will know where the local foliage is best.

 

enjoy,

 

Sean

Drive, to the border of PA with Maryland and then go west. I used to drive to Hazelton from Perryville Maryland and took all back roads. You will find Amish, large expanses of farm land and miles of back roads. Just be careful of other motorists. Maryland has some nice Farm fields and parks for Fall colors. If I remember right I lived 36 miles south of Philadelphia, which would put the border at about one half hour from you. (Depending on the traffic) Good shooting. - Sean

I like the idea of the courtesy of asking a property owner for permission to photograph on a farm. Might even get a few suggestions as to views, and it would be easier to take your time for detail and closeup work.

Jason,

 

For something nearby, I second/third/whatever the suggestion to head to Lancaster County. There are some covered bridges there as well, but I don't know where they are exactly. I'm sure a search on the internet will divulge their locations. Parts of it are very commercial, as already noted, but if you just drive around the back-roads, I'm sure you'll come across something of interest. Check out the little towns like Bird-in-Hand, Paradise, and Blue Ball.

 

Have fun,

Bill

Check out dozens of spots in Chester County. Off of Rt322 between Honeybrook & Guthriesville you will find Springton Manor Farm. Open to the public with farm animals a pond and right now I believe they have a live butterfly display. Drive the back roads and you will find many farms with great scenic views. Others have suggested Lancaster Co. That's a great location too. Again, stick to the back roads. Get yourself lost and you will find more photo ops than you can imagine! We will have to wait and see if the fall colors are even worth photographing this year. Good luck!

Lancaster is always good. Someone mentioned North Central, PA. I get up around the PA Grand Canyon quite a bit. Rt. 6 is scenic most of the way across the state, too. Very pretty. Haven't had much color the last couple years though. It's usually a great ride chasing down the covered bridges as well.