Photograph info: Last week I was in lovely Ephrata, Pennsylvania, two hours southwest of Durham Township in Lancaster County. I visited the intriguing Ephrata Cloister, former site of a semi-monastic religious community called the Mystic Order of the Solitary founded in 1732 by Conrad Beissel.

"The Solitary" lived, worked and worshipped in beautiful Germanic-style buildings, many still standing and all open to tour. Seeing the interior architecture is thrilling, as well as original furniture, tools, clothing, printing and pottery in true context.

From Conrad Beissel's book Rules of the Solitary Life: "Do not be wise in yourself before you have traveled the path of foolishness, else you will possess foolishness for wisdom."

Camera settings and post-processing: Both photographs shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Canon 85mm f/1.2L lens. First at f/1.4, 1/5000s, ISO 400. Second at f/1.6, 1/200s, ISO 400, shot through 18th century bullseye glass, hence the distortion. Both are camera JPEG files with no post-processing.

Thank you for visiting Durham Township!

--Kathleen

Gorgeous, Kathleen.

I especially like the simplicity of the first shot. Very strong. The second shot is nice too with this unusual distorting effect...

Kathleen - again, your pictures are awesome. Sometimes I think you and Andrew Wyeth share the same genes, as your photos are so reminiscent of Wyeth’s paintings. A few years ago my wife and I drove up to Rockport Maine for a weekend. We visited Christina Olson's house (Christina's World). Your image here is exactly what stirred the spirit of Wyeth, at Olson's and at Kuerners in Chadds Ford.

* I have a photo book by Frank Monaco titled "Glimpses of the Cloistered Life." You and your fans may enjoy his photos.

http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Sisters-Glimpses-Cloistered-Life/dp/B0007YJ3SE

Blessings to you and yours!!

Interesting to see the sparse interior of the semi cloister community. Not many are invited to view the inside of a regular convent much less cloister. I love your information.

I have been following your work for some time, and I think these photos are among your best. I wouldn't have thought it possible to photograph "stillness" but you have done it here. And that stillness speaks. Thanks for this.

Remembering a time when life was more simple,
A plain shelf with pegs holds the white whimple.
A capsule from yesteryear preserved for us to view,
Whether life was better or worse that is for each of us to construe.
So just down the road from Durham in Lancaster County,
Lies this collection of historical bounty.

Kathleen - wonderful images as always. I first viewed them on a grayscale monitor at work, and I think they are even more powerful as B&W. The meditative atmosphere really came through to me. Thank you so much for what you do!

David

Excellent pair of images! Kinda spooky feeling.

As the upper image appeared, I first thought you'd captured a spirit....then I realized you hadn't ...then I realize you had..... again.* Not a bad piece of work on the way to the Printer's.** As for Mr. Beissel's first path, --been there, done that-- ....nothing to do now, but sit back and wait for the wisdom business to kick in so I commence all that construing as prescribed by JPH, AWTDT's resident semi-monastic religious mystic.

*Insert "Thank you, dear lady" here.
**Too much ambiance for a windshield,--took it for a rear view mirror shot. Bull's eye either way ya' know, Ms. Oakley :)

It would be easier to view both pictures if they were posted side by side instead of one above the other. (If you don't know how to do this ask your son, that's what I do!) Either way, keep the pictures coming. :-)

JPH, I wonder how many sub-teen capitalist currently double their "income at home" by furnishing mom and pop with IT support?

KC,...and speaking of Mystic Orders, Kathleen, I should like to place one --for a lifetime's worth of Mystic Imagery....installment plan....one here, a couple there....Just kidding, that would be redundant. After all, you already provide Mystic Imagery Support to the multitudes. (But isn't that a little Socialistic? E-Communalistic? Time to double click on the left turn signal, comrades? :)

JPH: Simple as that idea sounds, it requires some significant structural changes and coding within the blog software. But I'll keep that idea in mind for the next incarnation of AWTDT. Thank you.

kay ! creative! thought it was an old lomo shot,you got me there!
love your blog, keep it up!

Simple and thought provoking of time long ago.

Love the lighting, the composition, and to know that a such a beautiful photographic location exist! Thanks for sharing this very tranquil picture.

Hanging Bonnet or Snoopy's Ghost? Vote Now.

wow! that's something totally fresh here. "Hanging Bonnet" is a perfect photo. one day, when I have my own (really MY O W N) place, I'll get a print and hang it on the wall.