Rudolf van de Goot Rose Garden, Colonial Park, Franklin Township (Somerset County): Over 400 varieties of roses make this a must stop for anyone interested in flower photography. Go in late May/early June for the best blossoms; the light is better in the morning (and the crowds are lighter).

Hacklebarney State Park, Chester (Morris County): Located along Trout Brook and the Black River, this park offers a wealth of opportunities for photos of photos of flowing water. In particular, check out the three-tiered waterfall on Trout Brook. The fall colors are also magnificent here. Don't go too early in the morning, or late in the day, however, since most of the park is located in a fairly steep gorge, and the good light comes late and fades early.

Island Beach State Park, Seaside Heights (Ocean County): One of the few stretches of relatively unspoiled beach left in NJ, Island Beach offers scenic dunes, waving sea grasses, and great sunsets over the bay. During the summer, go midweek to avoid the crowds.

Princeton University (Mercer County): This beautiful campus features Gothic-style buildings, contemporary architecture, and many outdoor sculptures. There are also numerous important historic sites in the vicinity. Parking in town can be diffiult during the week September through May.

The Grounds For Sculpture (Hamilton Township, Mercer County): The Grounds For Sculpture exhibits works by well-known and emerging contemporary sculptors in the museum buildings and landscaped sculpture park. This is a great place to photograph large sculptures in a natural setting. Their annual photography competition is popular event and a number of our members have had their works exhibited in this very competitive show. Our own Paul Eggermann won an Honorable Mention in the 2003 competition.

See the newsletter article in which member Neil Larsen lists some of his personal favorite spots.