Palmer Chapel

Palmer Chapel, Cataloochee Valley, NC - 2006
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Cocked

(Click on image to enlarge.)

______________________________________
"Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA - ordinary citizens don't need guns, as their having guns doesn't serve the State."

- Heinrich Himmler

Midnight Hole 2

Another view of Midnight Hole, this time in B&W. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
_________________________
"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

River of Joy

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Big Creek Boulders

At this section of Big Creek, boulders tumbled into the creek from the slopes above after heavy logging in the area in the 1800s. As part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, logging is no longer permitted here, and nature has reclaimed a disaster and turned it into a beautiful section of the creek. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Pretty Views Everywhere

It was like magic. We had been having a very sub-par Fall leaf season: too much yellow; not enough orange and red. Still too much green for late October. Then about last Thursday, as if a switch had been flicked, color everywhere!

Rain was forecast for Saturday, but it turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day. I had some errands to run, and of course I brought my camera along. This is a view of the Balsam Mountains in mid-morning light from the Waynesville Wal-Mart parking lot. Not having my tripod with me, I crouched in the back of my truck bed, using the roof of the cab to brace my camera. Views like this can make even a Saturday visit to Wal-Mart bearable! (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Fall Collage

Leaves and Needles in Mill Pond, Clyde, NC - 2009
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Another World

Fall reflected in a still area of Big Creek, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Scripture B&W Series

I made this photo on my trip to Mouse Creek Falls last Monday, and the upper right corner seemed to be a good spot for a quote of some sort. I like to use encouraging verses from Scripture, but finding one that works with the photo is key. You can't just slap any verse on any photo and expect it to work. Yesterday, I came across this verse while preparing for my Sunday School class, and it just seemed to be what I was looking for to go with my photo. I'd like to do more of these, but it seems to be something that can't be forced. I just have to wait until the right photo matches up with an appropriate verse. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

My First Maternity Shoot

A couple of weeks back I got to do my first maternity portraits. A friend from church asked me to do her portraits, and thankfully, wanted no bare belly shots. She came with some other posing ideas from the websites of photographers she had seen, and I did some research for ideas myself.

This pose was one I suggested since her husband was there with her. I don't know if he had planned to be included, but he was a good sport about it, and we ended up with my favorite photo from the session. I found out later it was his too. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Midnight Hole

As you hike along the Big Creek trail, about half a mile before reaching Mouse Creek Falls you will see Midnight Hole. Here, Big Creek is squeezed between two boulders that fell off the surrounding mountains many moons ago. A pool that appears to be about four feet deep has formed on the downstream side of the boulders. It looked like an inviting place to take a swim on a hot, summer day, but since the temperatures were in the upper 30s on the day I went, I passed on the swim. Instead, after making this photo, I just sat down and enjoyed the soothing sound of the rushing waters. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
___________________________

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."

- John Muir

Mouse Creek Falls

I was able to take Monday off from work to enjoy a beautiful Fall day in the Smoky Mountains. I decided to visit Mouse Creek Falls, a fall I had not yet been to. My family and I visited the area of Big Creek where the fall is located several years ago, but my youngest daughter was not up to the two mile hike back then. Since this was to be a solo photography trip, I decided it was a good day to visit Mouse Creek.

The trail from the parking area to the fall follows an old logging road to the point where Mouse Creek adds its waters into Big Creek. It's uphill all the way, but the elevation gain is only 580' over the two mile hike. Because I wanted to arrive at the falls as early as possible to be able to have the best light, I left my house early and arrived at the parking area for the trail at about sunrise. There were a few cars already in the parking area, and I was afraid I might have some company even this early on a Monday morning. However, I didn't see another soul all the way to the falls, and I only passed two groups of two hikers on the way back. I had the place all to myself! I was able to make photos at my leisure without anyone else getting in my way. There was no sound but that of the rushing water. I was able to praise God undisturbed for the beauty of His creation. It was a wonderful morning. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Soaked

It's hard to believe this region was under drought conditions at this time last year. I think we've had maybe one day without rain in the last two weeks. I think webs are starting to form between my toes. Opportunities to get out and do some Fall photography have been limited to a few hours last Sunday afternoon. So I borrowed a photograph from last year for today's post, and hope I'll be able to go out and get some "fresh ones" soon. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Another Little Fall

Cold Creek, Harmon Den, NC - 2009

Trantham's Store

We found this abandoned store on Max Patch Road just north of Betsy's gap. Lots of interesting old signs that, fortunately, haven't been removed by vandals. (Click on photo to enlarge.) I used the "Nostalgia" filter from Xero Graphics to get this look, but I've found it's useless to record the settings. Each photo is different and requires its own experimentation to get a look you'll like.

Max Patch Road

This is the road to the top of Max Patch mountain. I wish I could give you an interesting story about how that name came about, but I don't have a clue. This route is a narrow, gravel road with little traffic that encourages one to drive slow and enjoy the scenery. We chose to go leaf looking on this road because it isn't filled with speeding touristas like the Blue Ridge Parkway is at this time of year. As I wrote before, this season's color isn't matching the past two years, but you can still find some pretty trees along the way like these. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Fall Barn

We passed this barn on the way up to Max Patch Mountain Sunday afternoon. This was before we climbed into the low hanging clouds that covered the summit. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
_________________________
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

- Albert Camus

Solitary Leaf

We're not experiencing the kind of Fall color this year that we experienced the previous two years. There's more yellow and gold, and less orange and red this year. You'll hear many theories as to why the intensity and variety of color varies from year to year, but I don't know how true any of them are. Each Fall we just have to wait and see what kind of color emerges.

My wife and I took a drive up to Max Patch mountain yesterday afternoon. We saw some prettier colors at the higher altitudes, but the summit of the mountain was shrouded in clouds. I did find some nice color on the way back down through Harmon Den. I stopped to make some photos along a creek, which is where I spied this solitary red leaf on a moss covered boulder. Among the mostly yellow leaves on the ground in the area, this red one really stood out. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
___________________
"Being prime minister is a lonely job... you cannot lead from the crowd."

- Margaret Thatcher

A Splash Of Color

Fall is coming slowly to the Smoky Mountains this year, but we're starting to see some color here and there. I plan to go up to the Blue Ridge Parkway this afternoon where I hear there's more color at the higher elevations. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Sign Police Case #1458

In past posts I have displayed photos of signs with mis-spelled words, bad grammar, and mis-used punctuation because I thought some of them were funny. However, I now believe I should do more than just laugh at the problem, but instead, do my part to help the American sign maker improve his craft. So, as part of a new campaign to clean up American signage, I present Sign Police case # 1458. Cold Mountain Hardware is hereby charged with displaying a sign that uses a noun as a verb. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

It should be noted that in southern pronunciation, the verb "sell" often comes out sounding like the noun "sale". We southerners automatically make the pronunciation conversion in our heads, so when someone says, "I need some money, so I think I'm going to sale my four-wheeler", we understand what's being said. Nonetheless, one cannot sale antiques, and in print the proper word needs to be used. We need a verb here, so the sign should read, "We Buy and Sell Antiques".

Buyer beware! Not all print and sign shop employees were awake when English grammar was covered in school. Make sure your banner or sign is made by a shop that has at least one person on staff who has a grasp of English grammar and punctuation. You don't want to have potential customers laughing at your signs!

A Natural Abstract

Grass in a mountain stream near Andrews, NC. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Contemporary Urban

Biltmore Park, Asheville, NC - 2009
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Fun With Photoshop Elements

Digital photography is something I do for fun. I'm serious about trying to make good photographs, but the seriousness is a pleasure for me. I also like to have fun by doing things a little on the silly side, like this composite photo project.

I took a photo of my church's youth pastor (see 9/24/09 post), and combined it with a photo of a painting of one of his favorite preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It's not perfect, but I still like the way it came out. (Click on image to enlarge.) The important thing is that I had fun doing it while I listened to my Saints put a whuppin' on the New York Jets. It was an enjoyable way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Photo of Pastor Timmy

Painting of C. H. Spurgeon

Composite Image

Real Clocks

This clock is mounted in the glove box door of a 1940s era car. (Click on photo to enlarge.) I should have noted what year, make, and model car it was, but you know how I am about making notes. It caught my eye because it looks so much more elegant than the digital clocks in cars today.

I learned how to tell time before the age of digital clocks. I learned about how to read the big hand and the little hand, and even today, when I look at a digital time display, my mind sees an analog clock. I prefer analog watches too. The big hand on 8, and the little hand on 4 seems to give my mind more information than a "3:40" digital display. I think I'll always prefer real clocks.