Rock Brook at Zion Crossing Park

For almost three days the nor’easter had rained on New Jersey. Coastal towns are flooded, thus scuppering my plans to visit Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area. I had hoped to photograph warblers migrating through the area. I would have to rethink my plans.

On Friday, while enjoying a late lunch pint at Rocky Hill Inn with my brother-in-law Uday, he ordered beer from the local nano-sized craft brewery in Hopewell. They had just announced a new release on Instagram. He didn’t understand the reality that us locals deal with when it comes to Troon. You pay and pick up the same day; usually between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM.

When I explained this to him, he was disappointed. I knew he wanted to bring something for him and his cousins to enjoy after moving his aunt from her home. Her husband had died earlier this year, and the house was too much for her. I offered to pick up the growlers and hold them.

Rock Brook, Zion Crossing Park, Montgomery Township · Sunday 27 September 2026
FujiFilm X-T5 · ISO 200 · 8.0 sec
XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 25.7 mm · f/8.0

On Sunday, he called. Could I meet him at the Pennington Market? Sure. My brain said, “Put the X-T5 and XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR in the car with the tripod.” I put it all on the floor of the car, then remembered I would need an L-bracket and Hoya PROND 1000 filter. I ran back inside. Then off to meet Uday.

I arrived at the intersection of Cherry Valley Road and Carter Road just as a safety crew was taping it off. A tree had fallen on Pennington-Rocky Hill Road. I re-routed through Titus Mill Road. I crossed over the Stony Brook, noticing how wide the brook was and how rapidly the water was moving.

After chitchatting with Uday for a few minutes, rain still coming down, I made my way back to Cherry Valley Road. I was heading to Rock Brook at Zion Crossing Park off Hollow Road near the Zion-Wertsville area, to photograph one of the few small “waterfalls” in my town. The brook’s water runs as a gentle, clear trickle during dry spells but transforms into a rapid, full-bodied stream after rainfall.

Rock Brook, Zion Crossing Park, Montgomery Township · Sunday 27 September 2026
FujiFilm X-T5 · ISO 200 · 6.5 sec
XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 55 mm · f/8.0

The waterfall ran over the leftovers of a mill dam structure. Built with rugged stone masonry and featuring historical drainage pipes, this man-made spillway dropped water into a small, calm plunge pool below. The brook widened into a quiet, pond-like basin surrounded by shallow entry points. I have seen area residents use this as a kiddie pool.

The rocks, algae-covered stone spillway, and damp soil around the plunge pool can be slippery, but I safely set up the camera and tripod. I was careful. I didn’t slip. But while taking my last exposure, I messed up. I didn’t tighten the tripod mount. The camera slipped and fell. No major damage. Not a scratch on the lens or camera body. But I do need a new neutral density filter.