Thursday, January 29, 2015

I'm In A Color Phase

Rooster And Flag, Flat Rock, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

People sometimes ask me if I prefer color or black and white photography. The answer depends on when you ask me. Periodically I get in a black and white mood, and everything I see I imagine as a possible black and white image. Other times, like right now, my eye is drawn to color. I guess the above scene especially stood out because of the greys and browns that dominate in the winter time around here. There are even some green trees in the background here! In January, I'll take some color wherever and however I can get it.


Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

For My Friends Who Are Cat People

Pink Cat, Asheville, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Some more urban art from the Riverside warehouse area of Asheville.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Call It What You Want

Asheville, NC  -  2015
(click on photo to enlarge.)

I had no idea what to title this one. I don't even know why I feel compelled to give each photo a title. It caught my eye while I was walking around the River Arts District in Asheville, and I clicked. End of story.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

The Never Ending Quest For Old Pick-ups

1952(?) Chevrolet Thriftmaster, Flat Rock, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

If I see an old pick-up, and I have a camera with me (and I usually do), it's going to get it's portrait made. Even if it's a Chevy.

By the way, I think this is a 1952 model. The 1947-54 models had only slight visual differences to tell them apart. This one had vent windows and push button door handles which I think distinguishes it as a '52. If any of you Chevy experts can confirm or correct my ID of this truck, feel free.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Teenage Wasteland

Teenage Wasteland, Asheville, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Wall Art

Pin-up, Asheville, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

This mural on the side wall of The Old Wood Company on Riverside Drive in Asheville is reminiscent of pin-up art of the 1940s.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

I have a thing for barns.

I never lived on a farm. I've never baled hay, harvested tobacco, or milked a cow. I've never had any real use for a barn, yet barns always grab my attention whenever I happen to see one. And if I have my camera with me (which is usually), I'm probably going to photograph it. This is one I saw while driving through the Valle Crucis community last Friday.

Barn In Hay Field, Valle Crucis, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Monday, January 12, 2015

On The Way Home

Welcome Friends, Linville, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

This is the main entrance to the Old Hampton Store in Linville, NC. I've stopped here for pictures 2-3 times as I've traveled back and forth to Boone over the years, but they never seem to be open when I visit. Maybe one day I'll get to see the inside.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Sunshine On A Cold Day

A Place To Sit, Valle Crucis, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

After I got Courtney settled back into her dorm, I spent some time perusing the photography section at the Appalachian State library. Looking at all those books full of great photography inspired me to go out and do some shooting of my own, even though the mid-afternoon temperatures were only in the upper 20s. It was a beautiful, sunny day, but cold.

I found this rocking chair under the eave of an old barn. In three or four months it will be a nice place to sit and watch the world go by on the nearby highway. Yesterday, however, even with that bright afternoon sun, it was just too cold!

Friday, January 9, 2015

Overplanned

Rows of Pines, Transylvania County, NC  -  2014
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Can decent B&W work sometimes be done with a "point & shoot" camera? I'll let the viewer decide.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Folded

Haywood County Courthouse, Waynesville, NC  -  2014
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Sunday, January 4, 2015

One More From Friday's Hike

Mini Falls, Middle Prong Wilderness Area, NC  -  2015
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Last Hike (for a while, anyway)

Courtney's month-long Christmas break ends next Friday. This was our last weekend to do some hiking, so we were praying that the mercurial mountain weather would give us one more decent opportunity. We awoke to cloudy skies, but the Friday forecast said the rain would hold off until early afternoon. Putting faith in the local forecast is often foolhardy, but off we went to the Middle Prong Wilderness Area.

We were in search of two waterfalls, the Upper and Lower Falls of Bubbling Spring Branch. The hike was relatively short, but included several stream crossings. Fortunately, the water levels were at normal levels, allowing us to rock-hop each crossing instead of having to wade. There were also some boggy areas that were too big to go around, so slightly wet feet were hard to avoid.

Lower Fall, Bubbling Spring Branch, Middle Prong Wilderness, NC  -  2015

The Lower Fall is the first one we encountered. Even though water levels weren't very high, there was enough water volume for a decent photo. A short, but steep trail led from there up to the Upper Fall.

Upper Fall, Bubbling Spring Branch, Middle Prong Wilderness, NC  -  2015

As usual, Courtney refused to cooperate for any picture with her in it, so you'll have to take my word for it that she made the hike. I did get her to take a couple of me, one which I used for a new Facebook profile picture. Below is one more of me. 

The photographer in front of the camera

The rain held out, and we made it back to the truck with only slightly damp feet. Just a few hours out in the beauty of God's creation did us both some good. I look forward to doing some hiking with both of my daughters sometime next Spring. (Click on photos to enlarge.)