In the town of Exmore (oops, not Exxon -thanks DM) I spied this neat garage in the back yard of a house on the main street. Fortunately the owner, Dot, was outside and I asked if I could photograph the building. She was enthusiastic with her consent and also shared a lot of the history about the property. The red garage was built c1900 and the grey one 25 years ago to house an MG project car. Joe, her husband, came out later and added a lot of colorful background to the house which they are selling to move to a smaller one.
And on the First Afternoon! /
Hoping to find some fun birds to see and to photograph at the Chincoteague National Wildlife refuge on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is a bit hit or miss. This afternoon about 2 hours after arrival it was a hit. This is a Harrier Hawk, or at least it used to be (Bird names are changing, Story for another time). Anyway I don’t see them often and not sure I ever got a good photo. Almost did not get this one either. Shooting a sitting duck, I know, I know - I had a relatively slow shutter speed, then the hawk appeared some distance away. I just aimed and shot, most were a bit blurry but three or four as the bird hovered a bit were OK. I hope you enjoy the Harrier “Hawking” over the marsh at CNWR.
Leaving for more Birds, maybe... /
At Chincoteague NWR today and tomorrow with two other photographers. We hope for some birds to photograph but you never know this time of year what you might find. So it may be all old buildings and maybe a wild horse or two. We’ll see.
It will not include a oriole like this one eyeing some fruit and some bees.
And Just Like That...360! /
So the National Park Service has added three new parks under their oversight. So we now have 428 NPS units. The three new ones are: Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the Northwoods NST both in the upper Midwest and the New England Trail which goes from Long Island Sound north to the New Hampshire southern border. There are plans to extend it. Anyway, I have been to all of these trails and walked small portions, so they count as visited. Therefore I have moved from 357 to 360 overnight, magic, just like the Grimm Fairy tale of the poor shoemaker. Best seen in the Muppet Classic theater version where a shoemaker (played by Kermit the Frog) faces ruin until his livelihood is saved by a group of philanthropic entertainers (played by The Elvises) who, naturally, make only blue suede shoes.
However, I am not sure of the photography, so they may still need a visit. I know the New England NST does not have any photos for certain but I believe I may have the other two with some shots from previous trips. I will need to check that out. By the way, the trail marker in today’s photo is unrelated to these trails but is one I captured in Acadia.
Piano Man Plus /
I was privileged to photograph a Christmas Party on Saturday night at Marc and Myra’s impeccably decorated mid-century home in Raleigh. A highlight of the night (there were many) was the singing and playing of Casey Cotton. He can play nearly anything you ask, across genres, and is a fun entertainer for the entire evening. A tireless, energetic and talented man who is also quick with a quip! What a fun night. If you want to add a bit of pizzaz to your next shindig message Casey at (910) 670-2866.
Second Sunday of Advent: Photo is from Acadia National Park /
Amistad National Recreation Area /
Not all parks with lakes have tree shaded paths and hillsides covered in forests. This is Amistad on the Texas Mexico border. I did like the unusual bridge in the distance over a large portion of the lake system. That is Highway 90. In what was then the third year of drought the lake was very low.
New Web Photos /
I was able to take some photos for the church I attend for use on their new web site. It is not active yet but I will post a note when it goes live. This is a several week project but a lot of fun to tackle dark rooms, multiple light sources, fast moving folks in low light and huge, bright windows in the foyer. But it is so rewarding to catch smiles, joys, hugs and praises lifted.
Change /
Leaving the Académie des Beaux-Arts for the Salon des Refusés.
In 1863 the powers in charge of the most prestigious art show refused to allow impressionist painters into the show. Realism only. So a second show, for those “refused” was held and it was wildly popular. The path in the photo leads from the realistic foreground to the more mystic and ethereal forest.
Great Horned Owl on Nest /
This owl is special. First, I never saw one with the feathers all fluffed out over the nest and that was very neat. It was also inside the Great House at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona just south of Phoenix. The Great House, over three stories tall rising out of the flat desert landscape, was built about the year 1200. I find the owl a symbol of wisdom ensconced in this ancient structure that gave the natives here a view of the extensive irrigation system so they could monitor their corn crops to be a neat intertwining of meanings and culture.
Eye /
On the back country tour of Monument Valley our guide took us to this sacred spot where the “eye” watches all.
Emerald Pool /
We are back in Zion National Park. This is a short and popular hike and last spring the waterfall was full to overflowing. By shooting with a fast shutter speed, some of the green of the nearby trees reflects off the water droplets adding a green tinge to the Emerald Pool. It would be much stronger with the trees fully leafed out but you can still catch the idea behind fhe name of the falls and pool.
First Sunday of Advent: Photo is from Arches National Park. /
I was photographing sunset on two arches near the campground and as the sun was nearly down turned around to get a bit of sunset across the landscape when the wind picked up and this massive storm cloud raced over my head, So I had a black sky, a black landscape and a strip of the glowing sun. Cool moment.
A Superior Lake /
Never could quite get the lines of this lighthouse to be in the correct orientation but it is still a pretty shot of a much prettier place on the north shore of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We were able to climb the stairs in the light house and explore the keeper’s home. It was a windy afternoon.
Turret Arch /
Not as spectacular as Window or Double but in the same area. I find this one is very neat. There is a small arch you can only see on the other side and up a short climb, just about 10 feet across. All of these formations are worth the effort and will reward those who pause and simply relish the beauty all around.
Breathtaking /
These are the La Sal Mountains just a bit south of Arches National Park and the Colorado River. There are a few peaks over 12,000 feet. We drove a road around portions of the range sometimes over 9,000 feet with lots of snow about. It was an awesome experience.
Exit /
This is the Virgin River as it leaves the confines of the Narrows at the head of the valley in Zion National Park. There was significant snow last winter so the river was full and it made the hike in the narrows off limits in the early spring.
Would You Eat Here? /
Here, is the Starlight Theater in the “ghost” town of Terlingua, Texas. It is named the Starlight because for years the handful of residents met here, cooked on grills and often ate together in the old theater that had no roof, hence, the name Starlight. Some years later as tourists discovered the town, a roof was added and it is now a very nice restaurant. We ate here along with Rusty and Janet and all agreed it was excellent. So the correct answer is Yes, you should eat here and enjoy the unique town that surrounds the theater.
Plus look at the dessert.
Ready for the Close Up (2 photos) /
This is a photo of the Double Arch in Utah’s Arches National Park, an absolute wonderland of shapes, arches, turrets and trails. And I think Arches is my favorite of the Utah parks but that could change in five minutes. Just magical places. The second photo is to add scale to the formation. It is huge and you don’t get that unless you are close and suddenly you realize how immense these structures are that from a distance seem like small bumps on the vast landscape.
