July 27, 2009

Linville Gorge




I hadn't been back to Linville Gorge since a backpacking trip earlier this year until today. I've backpacked most of the trails in the gorge and somehow have never stopped to see the more touristy Wiseman's View (panorama). This reveals one of the best views of the gorge. Also pictured is Linville Falls (arguably NC's most popular waterfall) as seen from Erwin's View overlook.

July 23, 2009

Blackberry Season


I went fishing earlier this week with my friend Whitt and we came across some blackberry bushes. We picked a few handfuls before we headed to our next fishing spot (you don't expect I'll actually say where do you?). They were really ripe and therefore, sweet. Really good blended with Vanilla ice-cream. The rhododendron blooms are gone and the blackberries are ripe meaning only one thing... summer is almost over.

July 22, 2009

Boots



An outtake from a house fire yesterday for the free lance firefighting story I'm working on...

A quick change from the cowboy boots to the Fire bunker pants and boots and the fight was on

July 20, 2009

Knee Deep



When I got off of work this morning I stopped on Highway 105 because I spotted a patch of Bee Balm (one of my favorite wildflowers) that looked easy to get to. It wasn't bad, just down a short slope and I was right at it. I took several shots and then...



stepped to the left to take one more. The grass was apparently growing in mud soup, as my left foot sank down to almost my ankle. After I retrieved my shoe from the sinkhole I I walked back to my car as everyone on 105 questioned why some barefoot vagabond had a camera.

July 19, 2009

The Big Toss


Yesterday Adam and I headed to the Benton Convention Center in Winston Salem for the annual International Jugglers Association festival. The festival is a week long and offers a variety of activities, workshops and shows. Adam and I were challenged with the task of shooting the annual Big Toss photo. We were up on a scissor lift shooting down towards the huge crowd of jugglers. If you have any interest in learning more about juggling check out the IJA.

July 16, 2009

Serene Scene


This past week or two I've been working on a story for High Country Magazine all about the vast amount of dedication it requires to be a firefighter. Monday I was given the task of listening in to a scanner for fire calls to chase down and capture these men and women at work on scene. No fires so far, but Tuesday I did follow them to two car accidents. The image above was taken at the second accident, while there was complete controlled chaos of firefighters and trucks, ambulances and paramedics, police and tow trucks all trying to frantically help clear the wreckage and victims of a head on collision. It was a deeply calming feeling to turn around and see the warm late afternoon sun glowing in the meadow.

Outtakes of the story to come after its published...

July 13, 2009

Bombadil CD Release Party


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.


Bombadil has released their third album "Tarpits and Canyonlands". The release party took place at my previous residence: the Golden Belt Lofts in Durham NC. The atmosphere of the lofts really complements Bombadil's style. Altho they did not perform, there was live music by:

The Tender Fruit
The Scene of the Crime Rovers
Luego

If you have not checked out the album, I highly recommend you do so. More information on Bombadil on their myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/bombadil

July 06, 2009

Independence Day



I hope everyone had a glorious July 4th, filled with parades, grilling out, fireworks and lots of red, white and blue. I was reading about July 4th on wikipedia and they have this quote from a letter John Adams wrote to his wife on July 3rd:
"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."
Glad to be in America...