Home of the Jersey Devil

by Jim Cook

Title

Home of the Jersey Devil

Artist

Jim Cook

Medium

Photograph - Camera Art, Photography

Description

Home of the Jersey Devil was photographed in a different light in the New Jersey Pinelands. I used a camera converted to view a scene using infrared light then I worked on it a bit to present this final version. This could be described by some as beautiful and others might find it to be a bit frightening. One might easily imagine the Jersey Devil nearby. The Jersey Devil is said to be a creature that fly's with bat like wings and body of a kangaroo with short arms and claws.

Since Colonial times the myth or legend has intensified and endured partly born out of political rivalries, superstition. A rivalry between "Titan Leeds" who inherited and published his fathers "Almanac" was eventually challenged by "Ben Franklin" and his "Poor Richards Almanac. At one point in history the week of January 16th through the 23rd 1909 newspapers reported hundreds of sightings and attacks prompting farmers to organize search parties to seek it out and destroy it. The Philadelphia Zoo offered $10,000 reward for it's capture.

Still today there are organized groups (Devil Hunters) that go out in the evenings in search of evidence that it still exists or that it once did. Some have speculated that the sand hill crane may have been mistaken for the devil and one outdoorsman who had covered himself in mud to escape mosquitos was unintentionally frightening other hikers.

The Pinelands are an amazing place that when seen at sunrise or sunset will not fail to impress. Best locations are well off the beaten path and a four wheel drive is necessary. Even then you can find your path obstructed that will need a couple of sturdy backs to remove fallen trees or other obstacles. Our jeep got stuck in sand and we had to lower tire pressure then using brush and dead branches for traction we were able to push it free but it was strenuous. When you can no longer drive, walking will require high muck boots and tools to hack your way through.

The Pinelands of New Jersey are known as a National Treasure and rightly so. It encompasses over a million acres. It is the largest open area between Richland and Boston on the East Coast. Within this space is the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system, which contains an estimated 17 trillion gallons of water supporting animals and many rare plants.

Beautiful at any time of year but especially so during the fall season when colors are abundant. More of my work from this beautiful area can be viewed in my collection titled "New Jersey".

Uploaded

October 31st, 2017

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Viewed 576 Times  -  Last Visitor from Wilmington, DE on 04/18/2024 at 7:28 PM

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