Portrait Project # 28, 29 /  by Dave Hileman

Meet two very nice bird watchers. Jill and I were walking at the Seven Islands Birding Park along the French Broad River near Knoxville and were on our way back to our car when we came across Danielle and Mark. I helped them Identify a Northern Flicker that was a long way off using my telephoto lens. They were glad because, I believe. it was a new bird for the couple. They later saw 30 species including an Orange-crowned Warbler. I wish I had been with them then as I have only seen one of those in all the years of watching. Danielle and Mark were delightful and we were glad we encountered them and they posed nicely for my portrait project. Good Birding to you both.

1910 (three photos) /  by Dave Hileman

This is another set of photos from Montpellier Station in Orange County, Virginia. Montpellier was the home of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. In later years, before it was donated to the National Trust, it was the home of Marion du Pont Scott. The “Scott” is her her famous husband’s name, Randolph Scott, of early western movie fame. Mrs du Pont held steeple chase races here that were free and I was able to attend of the last ones that she held. The du Pont family owned the property since 1900ish and had the station built. It is now a property that you can tour both the house and the extensive grounds. The station was added around the turn of the 20th century and served the area for many years. It is now restored to the Jim Crow era of about 1910 and you see the separate (and most definitely not equal) entrances to the waiting rooms.

And across the street

Portrait Project # 27 (two photos) /  by Dave Hileman

At the North Carolina Museum of Art many people gathered to enjoy the stunning day and small “eclipse parties” were scattered all around the extensive grounds. I had fun talking photos of the people gathered and talking to some of them. This is Steven, he “organized” one small cluster of folks and I found him to be generous with his time and with the extra glasses he had with him at the event. He insisted I take a pair to see the spectacle. And I did. After I asked to take his portrait and he agreed.

For Sale? /  by Dave Hileman

This old fruit stand is found on the highway at the bottom of the mountain from Luray, Virginia, just outside the village of Sperryville. It appears to have been here a long time and certainly was once a good stop for fresh fruit, eggs and information. Not sure what the painted strip was to represent, looks like a sort of flag?

Portrait Project #26 /  by Dave Hileman

Meet Mike, the Balloon Man. He was at the North Carolina Museum of Art on the day of the eclipse. I asked him if I could take a portrait and he readily agreed. His balloons delighted folks and it was fun watching children chasing the balloons until the inevitable pop.

One More, I promise... /  by Dave Hileman

but fair warning, I am heading out for a trip to two or three famous gardens in a few days so…

Anyway, this is my first effort to photograph a flower inside where I controlled the light and the arrangment. These tulips were given by a friend of Jill’s following KnoxCAM’s annual concert at Cedar Springs Church on April 21st. They were such a striking color and I took a couple to shoot this photo. I enjoyed “staging” the angles and placement of the two flowers. I thought the gentle bends and the foliage behind each blossom worked well. I would liked to have a bit more of the bottom leaf but the vase intruded into the photo and if I raised the flower it lost the bend I was trying to keep. So a compromise. It was a fun experiment but I think I could do a lot more with this type of shot, better backgrounds, more arrangements, different lighting et al. So, perhaps some more of these later this year. Suggestions? Ideas welcome.

Trestle /  by Dave Hileman

Underside of the high railroad trestle along Rt 340 in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. This was the site of several Civil War skirmishing.

Looking for lunch /  by Dave Hileman

This is a Tri-color Heron searching for a bit of lunch at the Silver Springs State Park in Florida. The bird was undisturbed by the kayakers drifting past. Or indeed from me 20 feet away in my kayak. Food was the dominate need at this point.

Painterly??? /  by Dave Hileman

Trying to adjust a photo to “appear” a bit more like it was a painting. I know you can get a program to do that but I am trying to do so via my ON 1 editor. Here are two attempts each one with a different process. Suggestions, thoughts, offers over 1k per photo are all welcome.

Red /  by Dave Hileman

The red clay of the path leads to three red barns. The barns are located in central Virginia against the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is well off the beaten path but if you try to hike Old Rag Mountain from the western slope you might see these as you get to trail.

Unfolding Story /  by Dave Hileman

This is a fiddlehead on a fern found in the Shenandoah State Park near Front Royal, Virginia. There were beautiful flowers and ferns emerging in the understory of the forest along the river.

Whistle Stop /  by Dave Hileman

This is the train station that was built primarily for the Montipelier estate near Orange, Virginia. It was restored to it 1910 appearance and presents an exhibit about the Jim Crow era of segregation. You will find it along historic and scenic Route 20 that winds its way from South of Charlottesville near Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe’s homes, past where George Rodgers Clark was born and then beyond Orange, Virginia and the church where Lee worshipped and toward Fredericksburg and the battles of Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and Fredericksburg. While the station is no longer in use, trains still speed along the rails. Just as we were leaving - with the cameras put away, an Amtrak raced past.

Hammer /  by Dave Hileman

This is the Pileated Woodpecker that is often heard hammering loudly on trees in the forest or in area with a large wooded margin. They are crow sized and appear even larger with the brilliant red crest and massive wingspan with bright white patches. You can always tell a Pileated Woodpeckers work on a tree because it will be more rectangular in shape and often pretty deep. The give a singular cry when flying but often you hear their “laughing” call when in the woods or watching an old Tarzan movie:) This particular bird was in the swamp near the Fort Clinch State Park in Florida.