Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Farewell HMS Bounty

HMS Bounty in Savannah, GA May 2012

HMS Bounty off the coast of Charleston, SC May 2012
I am so sad about the sinking of the Bounty.  What a tragic end to such a grand lady.  My heart goes out to the family of the crew member who didn't make it, and my prayer is that by some miracle they will find Captain Robin Walbridge.  What else is there to say ..

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Paul, Laura & Donovan



Paul and Laura are expecting their second child within a couple of weeks, so we quickly took the opportunity to photograph them as a threesome before their daughter arrives.  We bribed Donovan shamelessly with jelly beans to encourage his participation!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

And so the conclusion of the matter ...






My time spent poking around the roads less traveled in western North Carolina has unhappily come to an end.  Fall in these parts is as good as it gets.  Some locals I spoke to talked about the colors not being as brilliant this year, maybe because the area had a lot of rain through the summer.  Yes, the foliage was a little muted, less fiery reds and more jewel tones - amber, rust, topaz, etc., but it never ceases to create a sense of awe.  Just drop dead gorgeous.  I left Asheville before dawn this morning and headed for the Brevard area, remembering a particular valley that I visited a few years ago.  It was foggy in the low-lying areas until the sun finally blasted through at about 9am, and within half an hour all the fog was gone.  By 10:45 I had used up the best light and it was time to set my course for home.  There is so much that I love about Brevard; the farms, the rural valleys, the waterfalls ...  Next year I won't bother to go anywhere else.  A great day but now it's time to do laundry, pay bills, get ready for work tomorrow, etc.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

More North Carolina Adventures

Valle Crucis area


The Mast Farm Inn, Valle Crucis

Equestrian Center in Valle Crucis

Twin Tunnels, Lookout Point, Old Fort
So this morning I was back on the road before sunrise looking for some soft early light in the Valle Crucis area.  Clouds completely nixxed that idea so after awhile I decided to head back towards Asheville, my last port of call for this Fall trip.  On the way I thought I would revisit twin tunnels that I had photographed a few years ago in the Black Mountain area.  I had made a mental note at the time to revisit during the Fall.  Long story short, I got lost and walked 8 miles (in inappropriate thin-soled fashion sneakers) with my camera, two lenses and a tripod.  Yes, I found the twin tunnels, but my mind was pre-occupied with trying to remember where I had put the Ibuprofen.  Later, after soaking in a tub of hot water, I figured I would try and find a good sunset spot on the Parkway, but it was very crowded and the light was boring and blah.  So, some days are diamonds and some are rust, and in terms of effort for output, I have certainly had better.

Friday, October 19, 2012

More Fall images from North Carolina

Linn Cove Viaduct from "the rock"

View from the top of Rough Ridge

Under the Viaduct


The road up Grandfather Mountain

Mile High Swinging Bridge, Grandfather Mountain

Old Steam Loco at Tweetsie Railroad crossing the trestle

Narrow gauge railway tracks at Tweetsie Railroad
It's been a long day of hiking and driving.  If I got as much exercise every day as I've had in the last two days I would never have to worry about what I eat.  The fall colors are gorgeous, but for the higher elevations like Grandfather Mountain and Blowing Rock, I missed peak by about two weeks.  It's hard to get it right - nature does as she pleases.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Fall 2012 in the NC Mountains

Downstream from Pearson Falls
Blue Ridge Parkway

Looking Glass Falls

Trail to Craggy Pinnacle

Rough Ridge

Linville Falls

Macrae Meadows
In about mid October, I love to spend a few days in the North Carolina mountains.  I drove as far as Hendersonville after work on Wednesday and have been wandering through Saluda, Linville, and Boone today.  I woke very early with a plan to photograph the sunrise from Craggy Pinnacle on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but instead crawled through thick pre-dawn fog for miles.   It has been gray and misty all day and so these images reflect that.  Tomorrow should be clear ...

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Trip down the Kiawah River




Friends of the Kiawah River held an event today to raise awareness of plans by Kiawah Resort Associates to develop Sam's Spit by building 50 houses on this ecologically vulnerable sliver of sand which is so important to the well-being of wildlife in the area. Approximately 100 people made the trip from Mingo Point down to the ocean in kayaks or on a pontoon boat provided.  I was one of the pontoon passengers, preferring not to risk my camera equipment getting wet or sinking to the bottom of the river.  Here are a few of the images.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

I'm getting the Fall Feeling ..





.. and not one moment too soon.  I am so ready for a change of season.  Seems like it's been summer forever.  I found this wonderful selection of pumpkins, gourds and squash at the Old Thyme Farmers Market on Main Road, John's Island, near Highway 17 South.  The pink pumpkin makes its debut this season, a special variety with some of the proceeds from each pumpkin sale going to the Susan G. Komen cure for cancer fund.  I'm also leaving next week for my annual pilgrimage to the mountains of North Carolina, hoping to catch some great fall color.  Stay tuned - I will post the best of whatever I find.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Art, Wine & Ghost Walk






Friday evening in downtown Charleston is just such fun.  The weather was perfect, the Art Walk was awesome - lots of inspiration and ideas to be had from everyone's creativity.  Some wine to help chill out and wind down at the end of the week, and then a ghost walk though Charleston's infamous alleys starring the talented Leesha.  Dinner at Tabbuli's wrapped up the evening.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Family photos




This is the time of year when people start thinking about getting family portraits done as a 2012 mile marker, especially those families with young kids.  They grow and change so fast.  Anyway, that's what we did yesterday afternoon in the James Island County Park.  The kids were great, so well-behaved, and I think they even enjoyed themselves ...