Deep Forrest Exploration
part of Pines: a cinematic exploration of the New Jersey Pine Barrens
by David S. Kessler
featuring Allen Crawford
score by John Pettit, Gretchen Lohse and Ben Warfield
shot by David S. Kessler
and Stephen Gardner
at Estell Manor Nature Center
edited by David S. Kessler
music by Mike Dur
On Saturday Mayor Gary invited us to his place to spend the day. Gary is an incredible character; professional decoy carver, antique car collector, sheep farmer, an in fact Mayor of Port Republic, NJ. Gary lives in the house he was born in on land that his family, ship builders and sawyers, settled in 1637.
One of the great things about the Pine Barrens is the way that the experience of being in the woods is heightened by the stories and folklore that play in ones minds while traversing this powerful and often mystical landscape. I’d like to find some people who would be into the idea of telling their own stories or stories that were told to them on camera. I’m interested in all kinds of stories; your own memories, your childhood, what happened yesterday, what happened to a parant or friend, what happened in history, it’s all important to me and you are welcome to exaggerate and embellish as much as you like. Tall-tales are welcome. Sing me a story if you feel inclined.
I’m also interested in creating video portraits of people of the Pines. If you live around the Pine Barrens and you feel like it might be fun for a small camera crew to follow you around for a day, I’d love to hear from you. Or maybe right now you are thinking of the perfect character, a storyteller whom I would be remiss not to talk to.
Historians, naturalists and survivalists are also invited.
and in case you are wondering, I’m not specifically interested in Jersey Devil stories but I’d love to hear a good one if you’ve got it.
We walked a shorts ways to get up to Apple Pie Hill fire tower. This was the flooded trail on the way back starting to freeze.
at the Lacey Historical Society
got my Vivitar 90mm Macro back today. This was the only lens I decided should get repaired after the kayaking incident. The aperture seized up. With diligence, the lens could probably be found for the same as the cost of repairing it but it had become my favorite macro and a good portrait lens so I decided to go ahead and get it fixed.
This lizard is about an inch and half long. He sat patiently in a cup until I had the camera set up.
Sony FS100 video still
Karen Riley and her business partner, Andrew Gioulis are helping us make vital connections within the Pine Barren community. I read Karen’s book, Voices in the Pines and I feel like I have much greater insight into daily life in the Pines.
From the author of Whispers in the Pines: The Secrets of Colliers Mills, comes an exciting new non-fiction book that’s sure to please! In the spirit of John McPhee’s The Pine Barrens, author Karen F. Riley roamed the woods, rural communities, and farms of the Pinelands in search of compelling stories. From true life tales of murder and mayhem to inspiring accounts of triumph over adversity and “Pineys” fighting to protect their way of life, Voices in the Pines brings the storytelling legacy of the Pine Barrens into the 21st century.
buy here