Nothing Special Chris

@freeformchris.bsky.social

857 Followers 534 Following

Writer, photographer, mechanic, and dreamer. Photos are all my own, most archived at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/xenotar/ Dampfpflugen Horloges à voir Little British Cars Glass Audio 🎼🎵These are a few of my favorite things🎼🎵

A color film photograph of outdoor art at the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton, NJ. After serving as a grist mill for more than a century, the Dunham-Parry Mill was purchased by a group of local residents with a vision of creating an arts center. The Hunterdon Art Museum is housed in a stone mill that sits on the Raritan River’s south branch. The original mill built on this site in 1763 supposedly ground wheat for General George Washington’s revolutionary army during its encampment in Morristown. From 1810 to 1828, Ralph Hunt owned this mill and the Red Mill across the river. The Hunterdon Art Museum educates, challenges, and inspires community through the arts. Hunterdon Art Museum aspires to be an inclusive and essential community resource that fosters transformative experiences and enriches the lives of everyone through contemporary art exhibitions and programming.
A color film photograph of the Triumph line up at Red Mill British Car Day. An outstanding group of TRs here, with TR6s being the majority, a TR3A, and TR250. My TR4A is way in the back - you can just see the white hardtop. The backdrop is part of the old limestone quarry that was active here in the 19th century. Beautiful day!
A color film photograph of The Red Mill in Clinton, NJ. Since 1810 this mill has (at various times) processed wool, grain, graphite, talc, and was also an operating limestone quarry. Quite a nice little museum, it is also home of the Red Mill British Car Day event, organized by the Austin Healey Sports Touring Club.
A color film photograph of a (very rare) Pembleton Booklands some absolute legend brought to the Keystone British Car Club Gathering in Hellertown, PA on June 14. This gem was powered by an R series BMW twin and featured cycle wheels and suspension from a 2CV. Inboard brakes all around!
An iphone photo of a miniature Nikon D850+24-70/2.8VR from a vending machine in Hong Kong.
A color film photograph of a workers home at Batsto Village in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Starting in the 1760s, and for about 100 years thereafter, Batsto was home to a sizable bog iron furnace. They made all sorts of home and industrial goods, ship's fittings, even cannon and shot for the continental army during the American Revolution and War of 1812. 800 tons of iron per year in its peak production. These houses were for the skilled workers needed to run the iron business. It was a tidy, prosperous, and mostly self-contained little community with a general store (that took company scrip) and a post office. About one half the village burned in a fire in 1874, but these remaining houses were occupied by families until the 1950s. The mansion and surrounding industrial village are one of the central attractions of the 124,000 acre Wharton State Forrest.
A color film photograph of the historic Main Street Iron Bridge in Clinton, NJ. The children are advocating for humans to be nice to each other again. The kids are all right. Good vibes.
A color film photograph of a really good boy. His name is Duffy. He's 13 now. He loves hot weather but the walks are fewer and shorter. He loves to chase squirrels and rabbits out of the yard but he never hurts them. Boundaries.
"Let me kindly introduce myself. They call me MC Prince Brighton." (partial) Created by artist Nick Cave. Princeton University Art Museum entryway.
A color film photograph of a (discarded?) millstone at Batsto Village in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Starting in the 1760s, and for about 100 years thereafter, Batsto was home to a sizable bog iron furnace. At its peak, the furnace supported an entire "company" village of factory housing for the workers. A grist mill was built here (1828) for income for the owners and food for the workers who were paid in company scrip.
A color film photograph of a 1955 Austin-Healey 100 Le Mans Owned by Tod Emeigh from Seaford, Delaware. This was taken at the British Car Club of Delaware Lewes Show on May 2, 2026. This car was judged to be "Best in Show" and (even though I am a Triumph owner) I have to agree. The 100 is the best-looking Healey with a remarkable racing heritage.
A color film photograph of the gristmill works at Batsto Village in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Starting in the 1760s, and for about 100 years thereafter, Batsto was home to a sizable bog iron furnace. At its peak, the furnace supported an entire "company" village of factory housing for the workers. A grist mill was built here (1828) for income for the owners and food for the workers who were paid in company scrip. This belt and gear system transferred power from the waterwheel (later a turbine) to the mill.
A color film photograph of the "Ironmasters Mansion" at Batsto Village in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Starting in the 1760s, and for about 100 years thereafter, Batsto was home to a sizable bog iron furnace. They made all sorts of home and industrial goods, ship's fittings, even cannon and shot for the continental army during the American Revolution and War of 1812. A modest colonial home stood here shortly after the furnace was built, and was gradually expanded. Philadelphia Quaker businessman Joseph Wharton added a lot of what you see here in 1870 - well after the furnace was torn down. The tower structure was not merely decorative - a 1200 gallon water tank with fire suppression gear is found in here and the top of the tower was used as a fire lookout well into the 20th century. The tallest buildings in both Atlantic City and Philadelphia can be seen on a clear day. The mansion and surrounding industrial village are one of the central attractions of the 124,000 acre Wharton State Forrest.
A iPhone photo of 6 rolls of film, fresh from B&H. Getting into the new packaging - just happy to have film options!
A color film photograph of the ironstone mule barn at Batsto Village in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Mules were valuable and useful in an 18th century industrial village and were used to haul wagons and canal boats at various times. Starting in the 1760s, and for about 100 years thereafter, Batsto was home to a sizable bog iron furnace starting in the 1760s. They made all sorts of home and industrial goods, even cannon and shot for the continental army during the American Revolution and War of 1812.
A color film photograph of the Civil War memorial in downtown New Brunswick, NJ. United Methodist Church at New Brunswick behind it.
A color film photograph of Relief Fire Engine Co. #1 in Mt. Holly, NJ. A stone-facade firehouse with a delightful victorian cupola. The words "1752 RELIEF 1892" are emblazoned proudly across the parapet. Love what one finds when one just wanders around.
A digital DSLR film "scanning" set up made from a vintage Bowens Illumitrans and a Nikon D5300. The 105 Micro-Nikkor shown is just visiting, usually a little 40/2.8 micro does the work. It a compact and fast method to convert film to digital. I had to open it up to tame the MONSTER flash inside the Bowens - I was shooting at F11 - big time diffraction territory. With a few layers of diffusion glass and a polarizer on the lens, we are down to F5.6. Ahhh. That's better.
A photo of a person (me) in the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Near an area called Speedwell - I assure you I rigorously observed local speed limits and pulled over to allow the very few locals I encountered to pass me. "Forest fires play an important role in regulating the growth of plants in the Pine Barrens. Frequent light fires tend to reduce the amount of undergrowth and promote the growth of mature trees. Forest fires have contributed to the dominance of pitch pine in the Pine Barrens. They can resist and recover quickly from fire by resprouting directly through their bark, an unusual trait among pines. Their serotinous pine cones open only after having been heated by a fire. Pitch pines also grow serotinous cones that open after being exposed to fire. As such, frequent killing fires keep an area covered with small sprouts."
A black and white film photograph of the former Camden and Amboy bridge forming part of the Bordentown wye. Starting in late 1832, passengers would take a steam boat up from Philadelphia or Camden, disembark here in Bordentown, ride the train 30ish miles to South Amboy, where one could take another boat to Manhattan and other points north/east. In 1834 the line was extended to south/west Camden, and in 1838 a line to Trenton was completed.
These are black and white film photographs of tunnels and chambers in an old garden. The rock is intensely layered with mica or some other minerals. Someone designed and built this complex for enjoyment.
These are black and white film photographs of tunnels and chambers in an old garden. The rock is intensely layered with mica or some other minerals. Someone designed and built this complex for enjoyment.
These are black and white film photographs of tunnels and chambers in an old garden. The rock is intensely layered with mica or some other minerals. Someone designed and built this complex for enjoyment.
A color film photograph of a layered stone - maybe artificially placed here, maybe not. The guardian of Point Breeze.
A color film photograph of a photography-oriented walking group walking through Bordentown, NJ.
A black and white film photograph of a goofball looking for a marker he focused on in the grass so as to make a selfie with his ancient manual-focus mechanical camera.
A color film photograph of three people enjoying the Bordentown, NJ waterfront on a lovely Saturday morning. While the major highway Route 295 can be seen in the background, the area has long been a hub of transportation including native trails, roads, canal, and rail.
A color film photograph of a typical New Jersey back yard in winter. Brrrr. First roll with the M4.
A screen capture of a design in QCAD, an open-source 2D CAD program. The design is a plate to mount components of a tube-based amplifier.
A black and white photograph of a Methodist church in Marydel, MD. The cross on the steeple is popping against the winter sky. 1/1000 sec. works great on my M3.
A black and white photograph of Marydel Ag Supply of Marydel, DE. Standing in Maryland, the building itself is in Delaware. "No sales tax!" sez my dad.
A black and white film photograph of the Community Hall in Marydel, MD. This charming, quiet, mostly agricultural town is split right down the middle between MD and DE. CineStill BWXX hand developed with Rodinal 50:1 for 9min at 20deg C or 68deg F.
A color film photograph of Hibiscus moscheutos (Swamp or Eastern Rose-mallow). When in bloom in high summer, these spectacular flowers went on for miles on the salt-marsh coastlines of rural Delaware. Just found them doing one of my favorite activities "Taking the long way home."
A color film photograph of the new Princeton University Art Museum. This is the east entrance that faces Prospect House. I've been looking at the architect's renderings for years, but they never show how the reflections in the glass curtain wall play out with the surrounding buildings.
A color film photograph of the Salvation Army building on East State Street in Trenton. A large mural illustrates their mission statement and brightens the neighborhood.
A group of colorful flamenco dancers at a latin cultural festival in Princeton, NJ. This art form has an absolutely fascinating history.
A color film photograph of some details on a building on the 600 block of East State Street in Trenton, NJ. Trenton was a huge tile manufacturing center and this sort of detail on buildings was pretty commonplace.
A color film photograph of the new Princeton University Art Museum. The concrete-clad Princeton University Art Museum is the first major project designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye to open since he was accused of sexual misconduct.
A color film photograph of a colonial-era home near the Princeton Battlefield. A faded folk-art flag adorns a worn, wooden fence and reminds us that while the Spirit of '76 is a bit faded, it's not dead, not quite yet.
A color photograph of a multi-arch stone bridge near Princeton Battlefield and the Quaker Settlement at Princeton. Although it looks quite old, this bridge near my home has been rebuilt multiple times in the last few decades. There has been a stone bridge here since 1809. It is narrow and at an odd angle - it takes some hits! I used to commute over it on the daily - I managed to avoid damaging it.
A mural in Dover Delaware welcomes newcomers to the town. It has a vintage postcard vibe.
A black and white photograph of a rusty swing bridge on a beautiful brown stone base next to a canal. It has been mildly tagged. This bridge crosses the Delaware and Raritan Canal near Princeton, NJ. This tiny branch line has operated here since 1865. The original alignment ran on the east side of the canal from Trenton to Kingston from 1838-65 and thus (for short time) ran under whatever bridge was here (probably not this one).
A mobile sculpture adorns the entrance to my building at Station Plaza in Trenton, NJ. I never see anyone move it, but it's in a different position every time I see it.
A view of Delaware bay from the community boat ramp in Augustine Beach, DE. A cooling tower for a nuclear power plant can be seen in the distance. Together with the Salem Nuclear Power Plant, the Salem–Hope Creek complex produces 3,572 megawatts, making it the largest nuclear power facility in the Eastern United States and the fourth largest in the country. Hope Creek, along with the Salem Nuclear Power Plant, produces approximately 40% of New Jersey’s electricity and 85% of its carbon-free electricity, making it an important part of the state’s energy infrastructure.
A small-ish, mostly black dog on patrol in the yard. She is shaped like a whole salami with four short little legs. She teaches me about perseverance. She will not be denied.
A “Unicolor” Rapid E6 kit sold by The Film Photography Project. This images shows the chemicals before they are mixed with water for use.
A feed elevator and storage facility outside of Dover, DE. Probably stores chicken feed - in this case A LOT OF IT. The tall, spindly structure lifts the feed and distributes it into the huge cylindrical tanks that surround it.