Learning

While I didn't mind studying history in school and college, it never really grabbed my attention either.  Now, living in "The South," I have found such constant reminders of the history of this area that it is impossible not to become fascinated.  Two weeks ago it was a visit to Mt. Carmel, SC which is near the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina.  Yesterday it was The Old Shiloh Schoolhouse near the shore of Lake Hartwell but built and used long before there was a Lake Hartwell.

Wherever I go off the mail highways, there is history here.  It's not just in  Charleston or the coast, but way up here in the Piedmont/Upstate, and the lesson I see over and over is....Nothing is a certain as Change!

Mt. Carmel still has a  post office, but no real town any longer.  Lake Hartwell swallowed up a lot of history and now is shrinking and exposing some of what was under water for years.

I'm glad I can still find some of these places and preserve the images for awhile longer.

Pondering Photography

On a longish drive coming back from shooting today I was thinking about why I love photography so much.  I think it is a number of things, but the first that came to mind is that I am learning what I like (to shoot) and then gaining some understanding of myself from that.   I love reflections like water and windows but also love shadows, and I think they go together.  They both show something beyond what we notice in passing, the things we have to look deeper to find.  Often quite beautiful or surprising, and right there waiting to be found.

Everyone loves flowers, so I don't need to examine that one too closely.  Rust?  Here I'm not sure except that it really can be interesting and beautiful.

From this process I think I understand that taking photos helps me appreciate the subtle and amazing beauty all around us and to try my best to capture it to share.  Gosh, this sounds like I may have arrived at my philosophy!

So, to share one image from today.  Several years ago I found an old barn I love.   It's a long haul from here but I've visited it 3 times now - and each time am so happy to find it yet standing.  Today I thought that some of the structure of the 2nd floor looked like a pagoda.  I worked with this image to try to bring that out.

Another view of Winter

Along with a much too warm winter, we've had a huge amount of rain here in the upstate of SC.  Last Saturday after the almost 4" of rain had ceased (only for awhile as it turned out) I hustled downtown to the falls to see how they looked.  Great fun shooting the falls from different points on different settings.  
This was shot at night and there is a strong spotlight off to the right.  The green hue comes from the lighting around the park which only looks green on photos.

More photos available on Backroads &Aliways Studios on Facebook and at  www.backroadsnandaliways.com

Hiya!

It's "winter" here in South Carolina, and instead of driving all over taking photos, I decided to combine several avocations/professions and use my photography to create a place where my massage clients, stressed friends and family, and anyone else can go to relax.

Stress is a major factor in illness, general unhappiness, fatigue etc., so though we cannot always be stress-less, I hope this site will provide a few minutes were you can set aside your burdens and your stress and regroup.

A change of perspective goes a long way to  helping us think more clearly and be less reactionary.

While this is still a work in progress, please bookmark this link and enjoy it.   The images will change over time.  Or, just close your eyes and listen to the music.  
  

 http://www.backroadsandaliways.com/index-slides.html?gallery=Tranquility&folio=Galleries

More Main St.

As I stood talking to Roy Gullick in front of his building yesterday, I noticed two blue pipes sticking out of the sidewalk.  They looked so cute and totally out of place.  I have NO idea what they are for, but I think the buildings have basements along the river, so perhaps it was for ventilation????  Again, one of those things I've passed for years and not noticed.   I'm working with the best presentation for them, so here are two views....many others in the works.  

First is just a simple black and white conversion of the background to pop the blue.

Second has had quite a bit of processing including solarizing the background.

Feedback very welcome.

Another story

While enjoying the Artisphere art fair last weekend I noticed this sign on a building on Main St. that I have passed many, many times over the years.  Maybe the light was just right, but I saw something that made me want to go back and take some photos.  Today was the first clear morning we've had, so I slipped down there on my way to work.   As I set up my tripod, the business/building owner came out and we chatted about photography - he is another semi-professional - and the evolution of downtown Greenville.  This little building sits on one of the most prime pieces of real estate downtown, and he's proud to own it and not going anywhere in a hurry.
He had the sign painted 40 years ago, and it's the age and patina that make it so unique.  The sign painter did a wonderful job and time and the elements have done the rest.
This view has been played with...but that's why we have photoshop, right?

I'll be sharing a few more I took within 6' of this spot soon.

Long time gone

It's not that I'm not out taking pictures, just that I don't get around to posting them here or talking about them.  
We are having a spell of January warmth, and I felt inspired to drive into the mountains (well, maybe really big hills) to check out some waterfalls I'd read about.  One of them is on private land, and though the word was that the owners are fine with people coming to look, it was very, very difficult to find anyone who gave directions for finding it.   I thought I had some general directions, only to find more specific (and different) ones last night.

Scraps of directions in hand, the dog in the backseat and my camera ready we set out on our quest.

Some very luck family owns this waterfall in North Carolina. 

 My directions were good enough to get me there, and it was worth all the time and trouble.  Though the temperature in Greenville got close to 70 today, up at this waterfall there is still a lot of snow and ice.   I didn't explore as much as I would have if there had been less chance of slipping on icy rock.  I managed to break my tripod on a rock, and that was enough damage for one trip.

I will not publish this location, but if you want it, write to me and I'll pass it on.