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.