Goodbye 2011; Hello 2012!

Hole In Da Wall

Hole In Da Wall, Canton, NC  -  2011

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This phrase, "Hole In Da Wall" has been in the news in this area lately. It's the name of a bar in Asheville that has been the scene of two shootings in as many weeks. Keep in mind we're talking about Asheville, not Charlotte or Atlanta, so two shootings in such a short period of time is big news. The owner of the building cancelled the bar's lease after the second shooting, and now the bar is no more.

This is my "Hole In Da Wall". It's a drain that runs through the brick wall near my wood pile, and I guess one of the neighborhood kids put a rock in it. To my knowledge, there have been no shootings associated with this location.

It's Christmas time in the city . . .

A couple of shots of Main Street in down town Waynesville all dressed up for Christmas.

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Boone Drug

Boone Drug, Boone, NC  -  2011

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Boone Drug, in business since 1919, is the home of a locally famous fried bologna sandwich. Never had one? You don't know what you're missing! Simply fry a nice, thick slice of bologna, slap it on some white bread with some mayonnaise (preferably Duke's) and a little hot sauce. Texas Pete's hot sauce is popular locally, but being from Louisiana, I prefer Crystal. This unpretentious sandwich is one of life's simple pleasures!

Looking For Lights

Four Lights, Waynesville, NC  -  2011

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I spent some time in downtown Waynesville Friday night photographing some Christmas decorations at night. My favorite photo from the trip? This photo of four lights in an alley.

Christmas Future

Antique Store, Watagua County, NC  -  2011

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Some of the nice, shiny, new presents we received this Christmas may one day end up right here - at the antique store. Maybe 80 years from now your latest gadget will be bought as an antique, given as a Christmas gift, and displayed in someone's home as a quaint reminder of how things used to be.

Merry Christmas!

Stage Lights

Hey Jude, don't make it bad,

Take a sad song and make it better. (Hey Jude, - Lennon and McCartney)

Shooting at ISO 3200 with no flash, and weak overhead lighting, the photos I made at the children's Christmas play at my church were a sad song indeed! The digital noise, especially the luminance noise, was really bad. NoiseWare cleaned up the noise but smeared some detail. So I decided to use the degraded quality as a plus, build on that aspect, and made a sad song a little better. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Merry Christmas!

She Probably Won't like It

Heather At Macado's, Boone, NC  -  2011

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I'm pretty sure my daughter Heather won't approve of this photo I made of her while we were waiting for our sandwiches at Macado's last Saturday. But then both of my daughters seldom approve of any photo I make of them. And since I don't believe she looks at My Viewfinder very often, I've only got a slight chance of getting caught posting a photo that she probably wouldn't approve of. So I'm posting it anyway. I guess it's the gambler in me.

Antique Store

Antique Store Front, Watagua County, NC  -  2011

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Untitled

Untitled Sculpture, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC  -  2011

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White Squirrel

Ever since we moved to the mountains of western North Carolina I have heard of the famous white squirrels that live around Brevard, but I've only seen them in pictures. Last Friday while walking around the side of a customer's building in Arden I saw my first live one. He seemed used to people as he let me get within about 10 feet of him. I went back to my truck to get my camera, hoping he would still be there when I got back. He was, and I got off a couple of shots before he tired of my intrusion and scampered up a pine tree. Once again, carrying a camera to work paid off - I would have been sick if I had missed this opportunity! (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Barnes' Turn

Barnes, Canton, NC - 2011

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A couple of weeks back, our dog Noble requested an updated portrait and a little "face time" on My Viewfinder (see 11/21/11 post). Of course, the next time Barnes got online and saw that Noble had gottten a post, he demanded one too. So here's Barnes' updated portrait and his "equal time" posting for all his fans.

People often ask what breed of dog Barnes is, and he is sometimes mistaken for a Border Collie. No, he's just a mutt, although he doesn't like us to call him that. He prefers to refer to himself as a "hybrid".

You Never Know What You'll Find

Stroud Family Cemetery, McDowell County, NC

Just a few miles north of Marion on Hwy. 221 we found the Stroud Family Cemetery with its unique black robed Jesus statue. I've never seen a statue depicting Jesus with a black robe on before, but maybe it's because He's at a cemetery. This is the kind of stuff I love to find when I'm on the road.

Black Robed Jesus

Christmas Colors

Christmas Color Chevy, Sylva, NC - 2008

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Now that we're a week into December I'm starting to get into the Christmas spirit. I'm ready to start listening to Christmas music, and we'll put up the decorations and tree this weekend. When you get into the spirit of the season, you'll start seeing Christmas in unconventional places like this old Chevy pick-up hood!

So Busy

I know, I haven't been posting much lately. I took a week off last month to get my Mother moved from New Orleans to Knoxville so she could be close to my sister because of health reasons. Two days after we moved her she had to go to the hospital where she's been for the past two weeks. She got to go home yesterday, but obviously my mind has been occupied with many other things besides photography and this blog.

Because I haven't had much time for any new photos lately, I went into the archives for something new to post. This young woman was a singer with a group from Trinidad and Tabago at Folkmoot last summer. I added a more pleasing background in PSE. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Back in September . . .

Window To The Past, Asheville, NC - 2011

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It's starting to feel like winter here in the Smoky Mountains. The days aren't bitter cold yet, but with nighttime temps dipping into the 20s, I know roaming around outdoors with my camera will be a seldom activity soon. I made the photo above on Labor Day weekend this past September when it was still nice and warm.

I've made several of this kind of photo over the past several years: an older building reflected in the window of a more modern structure. Yeah, it's kind of a cliche' shot, but since I shoot mainly for my own amusement, I'm allowed to do that. It's one of the perks of being an amateur photographer!