Fencing post

In the mountains of Floyd Co. Virginia, cow pastures stretch out across the horizons. Often you will see a fence line with trees. The trees served as both a fencing post and shade for the cows.

Show and sell at North Ridge Country Club in October

Cow pasture

I am happy to announce that my images will be on display for show and sell for the month of October at North Ridge country club. Drop by and ask for the art wall gallery. I am also adding two images to my gallery from a recent trip to the Virginia mountains. The cow pasture was a short walk up the hill from where we were staying...........The peacefulness was intoxicating.

Big Reed Island Creek

On a road trip, Liz and I found this beautiful river side setting. The water was refreshingly cold.

Mr. Reese view

In the early 90's, I took a photo trip to the mountains looking for burly tobacco. I met a farmer, Mr. Reese, and after talking for an hour in the field, I made a new friend and contact. He directed me to this field. Tobacco is no longer done this way in the mountains as Mexico has taken over the market. I have kept our friendship alive with several visits and it has paid off as Mr. Reese's generational farm has a great private view. I always give Mr. Reese a photo of my experience whenever he allows me to walk to the top of his mountain. I made a canvas of this image for Mr. Reese.

Clothesline in fog

Photographers talk about lighting, composition, rule of thirds, focus of attention, on and on and on.........................but sometimes the photograph works because it causes an attachment......to a feeling. This is an image I took on a foggy morning.......hand held snap shot................because it reminded me of my childhood. This image also was a juror pick at the State Fair and was chosen at a jury show as well.

Hatteras Lighthouse

November of 1998, the local news announced that by January 1, the Hatteras lighthouse would be closed to the public to start preparation to have it moved further inland due to fear of losing the historic lighthouse to beach erosion. Realizing I had never taken a photograph of this landmark at it's present location, I planned a trip. On December 13, I arrived at the Hatteras motel. I walked to the beach to find a location to capture the lighthouse in the predawn light the next morning  ........then retired to my room. The next morning, I was at my location an hour before sunrise waiting for the perfect light. As the predawn light was nearing perfection, a fisherman positioned himself below the lighthouse and gave a great reference to the size of the lighthouse as well as an added element to the image.

Winter sunrise

It was a very cold winter morning and I had just crawled out of a warm bed when I saw this sunrise exploding. I only had time to put my pentax 67 on a tripod(back then, my camera stayed loaded with velvia 50), open a window, and compose. Four frames later, the colors were gone.

Sometimes it is just luck

Last October while on vacation, Liz and I were car hiking around Roan Mountain looking for photo opps. It had been raining and we were driving in and out of clouds. I was looking for a vista where the mountain tops were showing above the clouds in the valleys. We stopped at a vista only to find the clouds had dissipated. Just before moving on, the sun came out and a rainbow formed right in front of us............Sometimes it is just luck.

 

Tomatoes

Liz and I have been very fortunate to live in the country for almost 30 years. I grew up with vegetable gardens and have always had one myself. This image is our kitchen window with a  garden's bounty of tomatoes.  This has been my number one image sell.

 

Burkes Garden

Burkes garden is a large fertile valley surrounded by mountains on all sides in Virginia. Before settling on Asheville,  the Vanderbilts attempted to purchase the property, but all the residents felt their generational farms were far more valuable than money. Because of it's appearance from the air, Burkes garden has been called God's thumbprint.

A photo trip to the coastal wetlands

My most recent photo trip was to eastern N.C. around Lake Mattamuskeet. With nothing but water, saw grass, wet land forest, and flat,flat,and more flat land, a big sky offers sunrises, sunsets, clouds, and spooky woods.

My first show

After over 20 years as a professional photographer,I shot my share of weddings, people,and pets. But my first love has always been art images of the great outdoors. A self assignment demanding an overnight trip somewhere off the beaten trail, finding the right location with the best light, filling my memory card, back home and hours in front of photoshop...................all for one or maybe two final images..............Heaven!
Recently, I participated in my first show and sell event and was pleasantly surprised with the results. All that fun I had, is paying off. I now have a web site showcasing my images for sell. I will showcase individual images on this blog along with a story, at least for me,the image is only the tip of the iceberg.