5 Years Already!

Snowy Branches 2, Canton, NC - 2010
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Five years ago today I posted my first photograph to My Viewfinder. It doesn't seem that long ago that I didn't even know what a blog was. After I found out, I thought it might be something fun to try, but I never envisioned what it would turn out to be. I've learned, made some friends, and gotten some helpful feedback. I think it's helped me to stretch my creativity to come up with new photos to post. Most of all, it's been a lot of fun, and that's the main reason I make photographs.

Thanks to all who have commented over the years. I really wish I had more time to visit other blogs and comment as much as I'd like to, but it just never seems to work out. I do appreciate those who visit, and those who share their encouragement.

Have a good, safe, and blessed year in 2011. And remember to take your camera with you!

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland, Canton, NC - 2010
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

The big snow of Christmas 2010 turned a field across the street from our house into something you might expect to see in rural Wisconsin, not in a southern state like North Carolina. The large "bush" in the center of the photo is actually a pile of pruned branches waiting to be burned. I think the neighbor who put them there may have to wait until Spring to do his burning!

Snowy Abstract

Branches In Snow, Canton, NC - 2010
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

I caught the abstract pattern formed by snow on the branches of a yellow poplar in our side yard before the wind blew the snow away. Since it was basically a monochrome image anyway, I converted it to B&W in PSE.

Why Spies Don't Use Flash

My brother is one of those guys who's not crazy about having his picture taken, so it's best to catch him when he's not expecting it. When he's asleep in the recliner after a big Christmas Day meal is even better.

Before Flash

I was using my Vivitar DF-383 flash in ceiling bounce position. The first pop woke him up, but he wasn't awake enough to turn away before I squeezed off a second shot. I almost got a bit of a smile on the second one. Still, I don't recommend using flash for surreptitious portraits.

After Flash

Merry Christmas To All!

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Little Barn

Little Barn, Avery County, NC - 2010
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Does this even qualify as a barn? Perhaps it's just a large shed. Whatever, it caught my eye surrounded by snow covered fields, so I stopped for a quick photo.

'Twas the night before Christmas . . .

Emma and Macy, Waynesville, NC - 2010
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

From a Christmas portrait session I did for some friends yesterday. Once again, digital allowed me to look like I know what I'm doing. Like most children her age, this active one-year-old didn't hold still for long. Using digital instead of film, I was able to keep shooting and shooting until I got that one special photo. Of course, no one will ever see all the misses, just the good stuff. Merry Christmas!

Up On Blocks

Jackson County Courthouse/Library, Sylva, NC - 2010
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

The old Jackson County Courthouse is undergoing a major renovation and will eventually be the main branch of the library. A large wing has been added to the back of the building that you can't see in this view.

The cupola was completely removed and lowered to the ground for its renovation, and now has been returned to its place on top of the building. It was sitting on blocks on this day in early December, waiting for a base to be built around it to securely attach it to the roof of the building. I made this shot looking down West Main Street as I leaned backwards out of the window of my truck while parked in front of the Sylva Herald. I was about 5-6 blocks from the courthouse, and you can see how the 200mm lens of my little camera has compressed the perspective. It's a scene that I doubt I'll see again in my lifetime, so I'm glad I had a camera with me!

Antique Santa

Antique Santa, Avery County, NC - 2010
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A Santa Claus decoration at a shop somewhere along Hwy 221 in Avery County, NC. I applied an aged photo look in PSE.

A Chance Of Snow

Barn, Bethel, NC - 2010
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That's been our weather forecast for a lot of days this month: cold, chance of snow. I photographed this barn in Bethel last Sunday morning while I was checking the roads to see if it was safe to venture to church. The roads were fine and the scenery pretty after a light snow earlier that morning.

Christmas in New Orleans

I made this photograph on a trip home for Christmas in 2004. Many of the old style street lamps in the French Quarter were decorated for the season, and many were bent like this one. I'm not sure how so many lamps got bent since this was pre-Katrina. (That's how many in New Orleans measure time now: events are either pre- or post- Katrina.) I think the bent lamps look natural in the quirky French Quarter. I added a texture overlay in PSE to give the photo a more aged look. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Smoky Mountain Skies

Smoky Mountain Skies, Swain County, NC - 2010
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

While driving to Robbinsville, I saw these clouds being blown into interesting shapes by the high altitude winds. And believe it or not, there was actually a place to safely pull off the road right where I needed it! I was able to grab 5 or 6 shots before the clouds dispersed in the windy skies.

BTW, this photo was made with my little Canon point-and-shoot and converted to B&W in PSE. Maybe it's not worthy of Ansel Adams, but I thought it was respectable for a camera that fits in my pocket!

The Original Idea

For those of us who are really "into" photography, we sometimes forget why we bought a camera in the first place. Few of us bought our first camera with the intention of creating "art". We bought it because we thought it would be fun to take pictures of the events and happenings in our life. Vacations, family get-togethers, our children, and the sometimes funny events of everyday life were the original intended subjects.

Somewhere along the time line we caught the photo bug, and we began to get "serious" about our photography. Our skills improved, our eye for composition and lighting developed, and our lust for more and better equipment grew. We began to learn to look down our noses at common snapshots, and determined to point our lenses at only worthy subjects. And somewhere in the process we forgot how to just have fun with our cameras.

I think a small digital point-and-shoot camera that you can carry with you all the time can be a cure for being a "serious photographer" all the time, and help you to get back to why you originally bought a camera. Today's point-and-shoots are capable of surprisingly good quality, so you can still "get serious" if that opportunity arises while you're out having fun.

Defending His Turf

I carry a small Canon A2000IS to work with me everyday to catch those come-what-may photo opportunities that usually pop up when you don't have a camera with you. Such an opportunity occurred last Thursday. I was walking back to my truck after taking a break, and found a mockingbird furiously attacking his reflection in one of my mirrors. I thought he would fly away as I got closer, but he ignored me and kept up his attack on his imaginary foe. Even after I got into the truck he refused to cease his battle with my mirror. I had time to grab my camera and catch a few photos of this feathered tough guy defending his turf against a supposed invader. Only after I started my engine did he decide that he had made his point, and flew off to a nearby bush to relish his victory.

The Victor

These two photos will never hang in a prestigious gallery, but in the future, they will serve to remind me of a humorous event that happened one day while I was at work back in 2010. That's why I bought a camera.

Persevering

Persevering, Canton, NC - 2020
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I photographed this small bush last January. It survived the harsh winter and burst out in lush foliage and colorful flowers the following Spring.

Memories Of Snow

Snowscape, Canton, NC - 2009
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

I checked the thermometer on the back porch when I let the dogs out this morning, and it read 17 degrees. For my friend Phil who lives in Alaska, that's considered a warm spell in December. For this boy who grew up in Louisiana, however, that's mighty cold! It got me to thinking about the big snow we had December 18 of last year - 15 inches at my house. I made this photo the next morning while taking a walk around my neighborhood. For a week or so we had a little bit of Alaska right here in the North Carolina mountains!

Psalm 16:11

This verse from the Psalms that has brought me much encouragement in recent days. I decided to add it to a photo I made in the Fall of 2009 on the road up to Max Patch Mountain. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The Street Photography Experiment

Where are we?, Waynesville, NC - 2010
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A couple of weekends ago I had some fun trying out some street photography in downtown Waynesville with my little A2000. It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and the touristas were out in force doing some early Christmas shopping. Trying to be inconspicuous, I attempted photos without lifting the LCD to face level. I estimated aim from chest level or with the camera down at my side. This technique produced some interesting angles and a lot of complete misses! This is camera fun that I can only do with a digital camera. With the number of shots that were a complete waste, it would have been a very expensive experiment with film.

Reflecting On Fall

Courthouse Window, Waynesville, NC - 2010
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The colorful leaves have been gone for a few weeks now, but via my photos, I can still enjoy the memories.

Reflecting Justice

Reflecting Justice, Waynesville, NC - 2010
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An American flag reflected in a window of the Haywood County Justice Center in Waynesville, NC.

I think that about covers it.

Dog Bakery, Waynesville, NC - 2010
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One knock I sometimes hear against small towns is that they don't have the shopping options of larger cities. I disagree. Now that Waynesville even has a bakery just for dogs, why would anyone need to trek to Asheville to shop? Haywood County has it all now!

Why?

O'Malley's With Hula Hoops, Waynesville, NC - 2010
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Why does this Waynesville establishment keep a supply of hula hoops outside its front door? I don't know, I was afraid to ask.