The Wandering Photographer

Cathedral Caverns

2011-09-24T18:35:00.000-05:00

After a long hiatus, I'm back to Wandering. I recently took a trip to Cathedral Caverns in the town of Woodville, AL. The Caverns hold 6 world records. It is home to "Goliath"--the largest stalagmite in the world at 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference. I never got a satisfactory picture of him...maybe next time.

In the Caverns I used the flash very rarely, prefering a the ambiance from the existing lights in the cave and using a slow shutter speed with the ISO cranked up.

The entrance to the cavern

Looking from the inside, out. The widest natural entrance of any cave in the world at 25 feet tall and 128 feet wide.

A galaxy? Doorway to another world?

Nope, it's the ceiling of the cave when using a flash. The crystals in the rock (mica, quartz?) reflected back the brilliance of the light. Cathedral caverns was once under and ocean and that dark object in the center is a fossil shark's tooth.

Going deeper

As we travel farther back into the cave, I leave the shutter open for several seconds, creating ghostly images of the people walking around me.

Flash piggy-backing

I've discovered over the years of taking shots of performances, that I can get some really beautiful lighting effects by piggy-backing on other camera's flashes. Someone to the far right and a little in front of me, was getting ready to take a picture and I used to opportunity to time my shot (without a flash) and use their lighting from a different angle with a different hue.

One of the "gazing pools"

Cathedral Caverns uses manmade gazing pools in a few places to showcase the beauty of the caverns. Can you tell where the cave ends and the water begins? This was a very difficult shot to get at the right angle, with the right amount of light.

These two photographs are of the "frozen waterfall." While frozen waterfalls exist in other caves, this is the largest in the world. When the natural river system faltered, the park put in a recirculating pump system to keep the waterfall healthy and beautiful.

The path brings you quite close to the falls. You can just see the railing in the edge of both of these pictures.

Artificial life

A close up of the algae growing in the cave. This intrusive plant growth is made possible only by the heat and light made by the artificial lights in the cave. Currently it is kept in check by regular cleanings, but the park systems is expecting to update their lights to LED, saving electricity and elemenating the algae problem. I hope it will have the same lovely reddish hue that incandescent bulbs offer.

Part of the world's largest flow stone wall, this cave giant holds his club aloft. Don't anger him! Also, check out the gorilla face just below him to the right.

The whole flow stone wall section is 32' tall and 135' long.

My brother silhouetted against the caverns.

We are now entering the largest stalagmite forest in the world.

Beautiful formations and patterns are made in the cave. It's just like seeing pictures in clouds.

The cleverly placed artificial lights throughout this part, make the cave a wonderland of shadow and rock. They also make photographing an easy task.

My favorite photograph of the trip.
I will be offering prints of it soon at Kingdom of Possibilities

A closer look at the same area of the cave. It looks like a carving of a rainforest to me.

Grief

This formation is the most interesting to me. The tour guide didn't mention it, but it looks to me exactly like a head with a hand raised to cover half his face in an expression of deep sorrow. This isn't a face on Mars either, the formation looks just the same from other angles too.

Beautiful stalagtites

A good look at the vastness of the room

Snow Day 2011

2011-01-10T16:07:00.000-06:00

The early snow of January 2011. The most snow I've seen in many years.

I enjoy the many different firs and pines and how differently they collect snow.

The central pinecone stands out brown amidst all the green and white.

My dog Zakuro, who loves snow.

I love the shadowy tunnel created by the snowy pines. Taken at 18mm, the pines fisheye slightly and bring back the feeling of smallness that I got actually being there.

Zakuro eating snow and sharing a moment with my brother

A solitary piece of bark with lichen that fell onto a perfect white blanket of snow.

Please ask before using

White Christmas

2011-01-10T15:50:00.000-06:00

December 25th, 2010

In all my memories of North Alabama Christmases, there was not a one Christmas when it was snowing...until now.

Mistletoe, a quintessential symbol of Christmas good will. Topped with a downy layer of snow, the greenery stands out from the landscrape.

You can see the loads of snow falling down with a back drop of fir.

The Christmas lights powdered with snow.

The red berries of Christmas time with a sugar-frosted coating.

This is one of my favorites from the day because of the many different textures and the falling snow.

A cluster of maples.

A dusted lilac bush in the forground in focus while Zakuro revels in the snow in the background, making for great contrast.

Please ask before using.

Seaside

2010-11-04T15:56:00.000-05:00

September 2010
In the little village of Seaside.

In the middle of Seaside overlooking a tasty gelato shop.

Seaside has an appreciation for art and culture.

Just around every corner are little nooks of prettiness.

The classic white church.

The simple but effective architecture of the square.

Suspended lamps create a criss-cross effect that makes even everyday wiring attractive.

Some of the private rental houses of Seaside.

White geometric lattice work against bright colors make this house eye catching.

A itty-bitty circular window overlooks a balcony.

One of my favorite houses in the town.

Grayton State Park

2010-11-04T15:38:00.000-05:00

September 2010
Sunset over Grayton Beach and some of the trails

The sun starts his journey below the horizon.

I managed to capture the rays of the sun filtering through the clouds, making fingers.

A solitary seagull soars through the picture.

Bringing out the true color of the sun fades the darkening sky to black. It makes the wispy clouds stand out all the more over the ball of light.

Last bits of light scatter though the atmosphere. The fading light makes the sea look restless and stormy.

Some very tiny mushrooms growing up along the trails in between footprints in the sandy soil.

Swarms of beautiful dragonflies greeting us every evening on the dunes. They were amazing droning over, almost silhouetted against the pastel clouds. I manages to capture a few good pictures as they darted to and fro over our heads.

Some sea oats along the board walk with some lovely beach houses just out of focus in the background.

Amazing sparkling water in the bright sun, just at the perfect time of day for ocean photography.

Destin, Florida

2010-07-26T12:56:00.000-05:00

July 2010

Photos of Destin's public beaches this July. Also, don't forget to check out the previous post of Grayton Beach.

A sign proclaiming no swimming beyond the booms, one of the few reminders of oil I saw on the trip.

A stately seagull in his summer hood.

The waves crash against the boulders in the bay.

A great blue heron comes in for a landing.

He comes quite close and I'm able to take several pictures of him and he strides along.

A great blue looks on at a lady on the shore.

Why they call it the emerald coast.

A small dune with a dusting of sea oats.

A wonderful piece of driftwood embedded in the sand.

Sea oats bending in the breeze.

Grayton Beach State Park in Florida

2010-07-25T17:00:00.000-05:00

July 2010

I have been to Grayton Beach State Park, FL so many times I feared I would have trouble finding things that I hadn't photographed before. However, the truth is every day is vastly different from the next - this is true of any given place. This was my first time on the beach in the summer.

-- Sunset --

I love the lighting that occurs at sunset: soft shadows, rosy glow, reflections in the damp sand, and a sense of peace.

Sunset is the perfect time for portraits. In this photo I had to deal with backlighting from setting sun but I think the end product was worth the hassle.

Water, feet, and sand - three things meant to be together.

I love the piles of sand she has created while burying her feet in the tide.

Almost silhouetted and softly blurred, she looks out at the vast ocean. The ocean can always be counted on to make you feel both small and all-encompassing at the same time.

The girl in these photos pointed out her footprints and said I should take a picture of them. I'm glad I followed her advice as it turned out very nice, with the waves just overtaking them.

The coffee cup adds an element of surprise to this photo of man and ocean.

The moon peeks out over the ocean, making the water come alive with shimmering reflections.

The ocean at night with the waves feathering the sea. And the day as ended.

-- Sunrise --

The blur suggests to me the blending of man with nature and the waves, witnessing the dawn.

Wandering along the edge of the sea, watching the sun rise.

In the fall and winter on the Emerald Coast, the sun rises and sets over the ocean, which is magnificent. However, the sunrise over the dunes carries its own majesty.

The dunes in the soft glow of the morning, looking pure white as ever.

The clouds are a rosy pink in the glow from the freshly arisen sun.

A sky fish in the clouds. And the next day has begun.

Please treat me like an artist

2010-07-11T17:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

I am a professional photographer. This means that any photos I take, even if it's of you or your stuff, are my property. I am always obvious when I take photos (I will never sneak photos of you), and lately, considering the photos may be placed on my blog, I have been asking permission of everyone I photograph. I am an artist. You would not expect a painting someone did to be yours simply because you were in it, would you?

I have had several artist friends of mine lately use my work in professional settings without permission. This is disrespectful to me and also illegal. My dream is to someday make a living with my work, and this will not be possible if I do not get the recognition I deserve as an artist.

Thank you.

R. Bacon

Natural Nature

2010-07-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

A few images I've taken over this summer.

Reed

Eye of the Spider

This is a fairly small web stretched between the two trunks of a forked tree. I saw the sun seredipitously sinking just above the web and setting it a glow with a slight rainbow hue. I managed to get the pefect angle after a few shots.

A disturbingly large beetle I found in a drawer at my workplace. She was alive and well, but ready to be back outside. Here she is posing beside a penny before departing.

Independence Day

2010-07-05T17:03:00.001-05:00

Photos of my family's Independence Day celebration.

Fireworks light up the night, looking like an image from the Hubble.

Two photos of my brother with a large sparkler in hand, lit only by its light.

As the fireworks fade, they blend with the stars in the night's sky and become one.

The perfect starburst to the left, the smoke, and the lone spark on the right make this photo my personal favorite of the night.

I like the large spark in the corner that looks like a fire-faerie enjoying the show.

A gorgeous red.

The walnut trees are silhouetted by the mass of red sparks and lit up smoke.

16 Main - Grand Opening

2010-06-22T13:07:00.001-05:00

6/18/10

I previously posted my trip to see the Clay House during it's renovation into 16 Main, a community for artists in downtown Madison. A few weeks ago, I saw their grand opening. I much very impressed with their artwork in the gallery and the friendly artists that have their workspace here.

SA Hale

SA and Terry Hale I know because his son was with the homeschool group that I work at. Terry has moved her glass bead shop here and organizes the art and artists at 16 Main now. Here SA is all dressed up and ready to tell every the history of Madison.

A new chandelier in the gallery. This is one of the beautiful pieces they've added to the place during remodeling.

Gallery at 16 Main

Another view of the gallery, nicely arranged. This was taken in the natural light without the flash, which would ruin the great lighting effects from the paper latern.

The Madison Belles

Two of the Madison Belles sitting in a beautifully decorated chamber. I can't get enough of the design scheme here.

Classroom of 16 Main

A classroom, set up for glass beadmaking instruction. 16 Main will be offering instruction in many arts and crafts.

Clay Worker

A clay artist of 16 Main, Greg Lee, at his potter's wheel demonstrating his craft. Compare with my earlier photos of the unfinished garage during remodeling.

Potter's Hands

A close-up of a skilled artist creating.

Down the Well

Looking down the stairwell at a lovely koi painting created by one of the local artists.

Artistic Finishes

An artsy display at the entrance to a studio, Artistic Finishes, so the sign says. A nice little touch of gypsy.

Artist of 16 Main

Michele Lee shows her work in her studio.

The Empty Room

In a still empty room across the hall, waiting for an artist to claim a workspace.

Artist of 16 Main

Dianne Hart, telling about her work.

Art of 16 Main

A display of her artwork in her studio.

Art of 16 Main

Gourd work by Jules Weber in progess. The finished pieces for sale in the gallery are lovely fine-art pieces.

Art of 16 Main

Detail of a gourd in progess. Starting to carve out delicate, little holes.

Conversation

SA Hale speaking with one of the girls of the Madison Belles.

Cameo

One of the Madison Belles looking prim and proper.

Another Madison Belle looking demure.

Artist of 16 Main

Mike Birdsong in her studio (my favorite room in the house) with some of her pencil sketches in the background.

Hale's Belles

SA Hale and the Madison Belle's giving a presentation on Madison history. The Belles sometimes join SA on his Spirit Stroll, a walk around downtown with stories of the past and the many spirits that haunt Madison. A Spirit Stroll was planned for the grand opening but the stroll part was rained out. Instead we got to hear the spirit tales from the comfort of the dry porch.

The Clay House

2010-06-09T19:25:00.001-05:00

4/12/10

The Clay House in downtown Madison, AL has been carefully remodeled to house an artist's community called "16 Main." These are photos I took while the artists were moving in and work was still being done on the building.

16 Main

The view from the street.

Terry at Work

Terry Hale, who oversees the artists' group, tiles the floor in what will soon be her glass bead-making studio.

Banister I

Some beautiful woodwork from the past.

Spiral

A wonderful staircase leading up to the second floor.

Banister II

Reaching the second floor.

Stories of the Past

If this room could talk, what would it tell us about the past? A beautiful front room on the first floor, perfectly lit by the window. I used a flash to avoid backlighting.

Future Gallery

Front space on the first floor that is soon to be a gallery.

Door Handle

A grand old wooden door in the old style: study and with character.

Locker

A locker from a more modern time, but still a bygone era, highlighted by the sun coming through a window.

Doorway

To the garage area, currently undergoing a lot of work.

The Corner Room

A delightful sunlit room off in a corner of the house.

The Closet

A very eerie closet on the second floor with a door at the opposite end that leads to unfinished attic space. There's many ghost stories about this room and many of the artists are a little creeped out by this room.

Window

The view down upon a former garage space from another second storie room.

Drainpipe

An odd corner created by the garage add-on.

The Orb

A grand view of the large house. Note the orb. Ghosts? Or simply a lens flare?

Old Boarding

Replacing the old wooden siding of the house. The texture difference between the old and new boards makes for a cute picture.

The Outside

An imposing view of the house. It's interesting to note that the upper window leads to the room with the closet.

Side Door

One of the many entrances to the building.

The Porch

The comfy looking porch with the decorative brickwork. It invites you to come and sit a spell at 16 Main.

The Tea Party 2010

2010-06-09T18:44:00.001-05:00

Belated photos of this year's Tea Party in Huntsville, Alabama.

I love two aspects of this picture. The defeated posture of the sign holder, and the city sign proclaiming the location of the event.

A doctor speaks out.

A broad sweep of the crowd.

Signs proclaiming the good points of capitolism held above the crowd.

"Dont' Tread On Me" flag with the sun shining through it.

A witty sign seen through layers of people.

A sign referencing Lord of the Rings surrounded by American flags.

There's always more than one viewpoint.

Passions run deep.

The sign stands out in focus among the crowd.

A resolute man stands with the sun behind him.

A pleasant conversation.

Applauding the speaker.

A man waves a flag to traffic with the old church belltower in the background.

A picture of the ol' South.

A young woman expresses her opinion.

A patriot in a tricorn with a flag slung over his shoulder smiles during a conversation.

A dog sporting a red bandana hangs out in the sunset.

A young patriot in an old fashioned tricorn hat.

A speaker stands on the podium with the flag just behind him.

Many doctors are distrubed by the healthcare bill including this doctor with Docs 4 Patient Care.

A woman with a Ron Paul sign on her pregnant belly films the good doctor.

Two gentlemen in full Tea Party regalia.

Spring into Spring 2010 - part 2

2010-04-03T17:29:00.001-05:00

A few photos of spring at Big Springs Park in Huntsville. If you are viewing this directly from my blog, you can click to enlarge them and see all the beauty of the shot.

Big Springs in Spring

Looking through the flowering trees down into the spring. Layers of beauty here. Petals fell from these trees so often it looks like it is snowing every spring.

Petal Blockage

So many petals this year, they gathered in an area of the spring and made a surface that looked so solid many children had to be told they couldn't walk on it.

Blanket of Petals

A close-up of the layers of beautiful, soft petals.

Just Hangin'

A squirrel watches me, trying to camouflage himself on the trunk. I guess he didn't realize how well he showed up on a spring green background.

Spring into Spring 2010 - part 1

2010-03-30T14:54:00.002-05:00

Spring has sprung - all around Huntsville! All of a sudden it was here. Most of these photos were taken in the gorgerous afternoon sun, highlighting the colors of the season.

Blue Skies Over Earth

Blue skies with a white fluffy cloud just visible over the first few spring flowers. In the background more flowers and grasses rise up just out of focus. This photo was taken in some of the open spaces in Research Park.

Spring Green

Moss stands out on a maple trunk after a spring shower outside my house.

Spring Pine Cones

A few pine cones remain on the trees in Research Park, a reminder of the winter that is passing. The sunlight is wonderful in this area and is a great place to watch sunsets.

A Buzzing

The first insects venture out to spring flowers, like this sweat bee on a quince.

Quince

The flowers of the quince is the first I see in Northern Alabama. They peek out before the last frost has disappeared. Often associated with Easter, this particular quince bush grows in the rock garden in my front yard.

Greeting the Sky

These tulip trees open their blossoms before their leaves and follow the quince. The graceful blooms always seem to reach for the sky, so I choose to shoot from beneath the tree and make the sky the background for these delicate flowers.

Spring Wildflowers

Some of the most beautiful flowers of spring plant themselves all over your yard with no work on your part. A feast for the eyes available to everyone. In this photo, violets take center stage among other, smaller wildflowers.

Maple Rebirth

Spring is the time when maples seed, joining many animals in producing their young during this season.

Come back soon for more spring photos...

Jack Frost

2010-02-16T14:30:00.001-06:00

Jack Frost made pretty patterns on my car windshield one night. To reflect the ice sparkles at night I used both a street light through the window and the camera flash from inside the car.

Prayer for Haiti

2010-01-20T21:04:00.000-06:00

Prayer for Haiti

Note: Most of Haiti professes to practice Catholicism. A large number of Haitians also practice Vodou (a largely misunderstood religion) alongside their Christian faith. Damballa is one of the most important of the spirits in Vodou. When prayers are said to him symbolic offerings are often made of an egg upon a small mound of flour.

2010-01-07T16:14:00.001-06:00

A snowy day in Huntsville! A few photos of the delicate snow and a few of the pets playing in it.

Snowy Ivy

A close up look at the ivy on the apple tree.

Snowy Ivy II

Another visiting of the ivy.

Hute in the Snow

The black fur shows the flakes in the air very clearly. Taken just out of focus to emphasize the colors rather than the texture.

Winter Elements

This photo, however, is all about texture. The sharp leaves and the red berries against the soft snow and the chain link fence, cold and barren like winter.

Sky Dropping

The over-exposed sky brings out the white streaks of snow on the dark cedar branches.

Southern Snow

In contrast to most sharp branched evergreens, magnolias have large rounded leaves. Snow always looks perfect on magnolias, a symbol of the south.

Snow Day

Zakuro gets to play in the snow like every kid today.

The Hute and the Ivy

Two of the kittens, Hute and Takoda, play in the pond bed amonst the ivy. The title is a homage to the Christmas carol.

Out Back

Have a good snow day, Huntsvile, AL!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-29T16:00:00.001-06:00

A few photos from the holidays. Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

The white lights of this mini tree light the picture. The shape of the snowflakes is entirely silouetted but the edge of the globe ornaments become a glowing halo.

Jack Frost

A view through a window sprayed with "ice" crystals. The lighting and the house with the evergreens in front makes a cozy looking picture.

Part of our ever growing Christmas village. I didn't use a flash, but instead let the village houses light the photo, giving it a warm holiday glow.

Another photograph minus flash. The twinkling lights of the deer give the wood a beautiful glow.

A red bulb in a desk lamp gives a festive light to some holiday decor in a darkened room.

Chicago: The Windy City

2009-11-20T13:59:00.027-06:00

July 2009

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to take a trip up north to the Windy City.

Naperville Commute

The approaching train into downtown Chicago.

Two tickets

Fascination with the ticket holder and the tickets themselves. Memoirs of a bygone era of train travel.

Grand Central Station

It's like Grand Central Station around here...which apparently is not that busy. A beautiful place with lots of opportunities for interesting perspectives.

Big Willie

Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower, is a neck-breaking sight.

Towering Overhead

Walking the streets of downtown Chicago is like walking at the bottom of a great canyon. The buildings block out the sun from almost all angles. I've tried to convey the sense I had of being at the bottom of a well and looking up. Even from here the Tower is dominating the landscape.

Cronus

The Chicago Board of Trustees building, with their symbols that hold a lot of history. Time is ticking away here.

Piratical Illusion

A inventive ad for a museum's pirate exibit. With the papers, pirates, and people in front it's hard to tell which the faux from the real in this photo.

Guarding the Gate

The classic lions at the entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago.

Ages

The architecture itself is full of niches of art.

Thief in the Courtyard

A view through the pillars towards the luncheon area of the museum.

Rookery

A street name that echos the previous picture and the many blackbirds at the Art Institute.

A Fluffly October

2009-11-17T11:17:00.012-06:00

October 2009

Some of the little ones taken this October in the bright sunlight filtering through the door.

Satinka

The direct sun makes a beautiful halo of fur when taken from the proper direction.

Hute with Skull Ball

Portrait of Zakuro

The light makes brilliant highlights on her black fur, drowning out everything but the silver.

Hute

The green of the floor reflects onto Hute's dark fur giving him a greenish tinge. A zombie cat for Halloween?

Hute Swatting

Sanuye

Her fur comes alive in a blaze of color in the glowing sunlight.

Why do we photograph?

2009-07-13T13:01:00.008-05:00

A question has been on my mind: why do we photograph?

On the surface the answer is simple, we are recording the events in our lives so they will not be forgotten. This is the dutiful answer from the parent snapping photos of the children, the vacationer who faithfully packs a camera to show his friends when he gets home, but is this the answer for those who pursue photography? Those people who spend hours looking at other photographers' work online, those who spend even more hours discovering every detail and function their camera(s) provide - does that answer still fit for them?

All the photographers I know, including myself, can hardly look at anyone or anything without sizing up what it would look like through the lens. In fact, we get anxious or even exasperated if we accidentally miss an event that could have been photographed.
"Did you have a good time at the show?"
"I got some great pictures!"
This dialogue is probably all too familiar to 'serious' photographers. If you are not the second speaker, you'll still feel excited to hear the words from someone else and then ask to see the photos.
What is it that drives our fascination? The same question could be asked, I suppose of any art form. And yet photography does not carry the same prestige of other types of artists. The oil painter, even if he isn't expected to be able to make a living, is at least respected as a 'true artist,' while the photographer is simply someone who captures pretty images of things that already exist (and if its not a portrait or a postcard, forget it!).
Even in my own mind, I can't help but think of the strangeness of hanging on my wall what any eye could see if they looked. Perhaps that's just it, though. People don't look. All image-art, especially photography, shows people a different perspective of life. Or it reminds them of the beauty they closed their eyes to.
So maybe that's an answer about why people are interested in looking at photos, but why do we spend our lives taking them? What's your answer?

This particular blog was also published on Art Neighbor, an internet art community for collectors and artists alike. I also have a profile on this new and growing site.

Portrait of a Mask

2009-07-05T16:58:00.006-05:00

A gothic revival of sorts

A good portrait, to me, should tell a story. One looks into the person's face and tries to figure out their life story merely by a glimpse of one moment. I love to work with people to tell this story, whether it is truly a portrait of their life story or a story of my own invention that I am endeavoring to tell.

This was my first time working with this particular model, who was very cooperative. I had been wanting to do a goth scene and I thought she would be perfect, and she was. I hope to work with her again. A million thanks to her!

Also of interest is the mask used, which the rest of the studio set was built around. It is one of my favorite masks of my own design.

Portrait of a Mask

My title-photo of the shoot. I love the model's expression and the framing of the branches turned out well. The title has many meanings here.

Poised

This photo gives to me a feel that the person in it is waiting, in control and completely prepared for what comes next -- whether love or war.

Dark and Dangerous

While this photo is essentially the same pose as the photo above it, the angle I switched to gives it a very different feel. Taken from above, looking down the photo now has darker shadows lining one side of the woman's face, giving her expression a more sinister look.

Masked Meeting

Again, changes in the camera's position make for a completely different telling of the story than before.

Glamour

In this photo I was experimenting with different color shades. The warmer tones of this portrait give a more glamorous feel to the photo than a goth one. However, what also should be remember when considering the title is the older meaning of the word "glamour." It is an old English term used to describe the magic of the fay, and their ability to make people see whatever they wanted them to see. Maybe things are not so benign here.

See

I chose to use this photo because of the many small details I like in it: how the hair and the feathers blend together, the slight fuzzyness of the tips of the feathers, how her hair falls over her shoulders, and most of all the single eye that can be seen through the mask. In fact, it is almost the only feature of the face you can make out. It is a tantalising glimpse, and what connects the viewer with the picture.

The next several photos are studies of the model without the mask covering her face. Some were taken before posing with the mask and some after.

The 4th from the Other Side of the Mountain

2009-07-05T15:37:00.005-05:00

While I never made it to Five Points for the 4th (where the view is reputed to be the best), I still took some pictures of Thunder on the Mountain, Birmingham's classic fireworks display.
These are taken from the view from the other side of the mountain in Homewood, off of Greensprings. The fireworks are not pointed this direction, so the view is not the best.

It was a little eerie to watch as I was so far away. While I saw the explosions and the smoke, I could not hear a thing -- a silent film of fireworks.

These clusters inside clusters are my favorites.

One of the unique "smiley face" design fireworks that seem to defy the laws of physics. I wonder how they did these?

Homewood Parade

2009-06-07T12:21:00.015-05:00

5-01-09

A few photos from the local Homewood parade. Altogether, it was a typical southern parade -- not much to see -- but the clowns were cute.

The Dog

Typical parade goer. Drinks out of water bottles well, too.

Homewood Firetruck

A classic firetruck. They don't use this one anymore...I hope.

Ms. Senior Homewood

One of my favorite cars.

Clown Trolley

Send in the clowns! A trolley arrives with the Magic Town Clowns.

Hug from a Clown

One of the friendly clowns. Will good luck rub off?

Giggles

Zooming in for a close-up of the clowns in the trolley.

untitled

A friendly cowboy clown waves "hi" to the kids gathered by the side of the road.

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A man with real showmanship, throwing out t-shirts and yelling to the crowd.

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Almost a real float! Pretty streamers, torches, and a bubble machine top this birthday cake.

Cheer

Just slightly blurred, this photo shows the motion and the joy of this cheerleader in the parade.

Spirit

These girls stole the show with their outfits and well timed moves. This photo captures a moment of excitement. With the girls facing away from the camera, it brings your attention to the team as a whole, not any one particular girl.

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Shiny and full of Patriot spirit.

untitled

Parade's end.

Spring Comes to Oakdale

2009-04-13T14:49:00.007-05:00

Spring celebrations take place at my house, Oakdale, while wildflowers and bulbs set forth blooms.

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First anemone in my garden to flower! The brilliance of the red dominates the picture.

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My cat, Caramia, becomes interested in my efforts and becomes part of the composition.

Fairy Bells

A grape hyacinth begins to bloom with all it's might.

Hunter

You know it's spring when the cats start to bud on the trees... I tried to capture Caramia's edginess as she peers around the side of a branch, enjoying her climb.

Weeds

A weed is only a weed if it is not wanted. This wildflower was taken from directly above letting the other flowers below it blur slightly to make a pretty canvas.

Nathrach in the Grass

My other cat, Nathrach, whose name means serpent. Despite the connotations of his name, I think he was just pretending to be an Easter egg. His black sleek fur stands out in contrast to the fluffy green plants.

Easter Metaphor I
This one in a series of photos I took of a particular wildflower.

Easter Metaphor II

Here you see three brown speckled eggs at the base of the wildflower.

Easter Metaphor III

The eggs have become obscured to the sharply in focus wildflower. The entire picture is now in black and white - it has lost the impermanence of color.

Hunter

This photo bares the same title as the above photo of Caramia, but the meaning is much different here. You can just see the basket behind the subject.

Mushroom

A decorated egg upon a decorated cloth. This egg bares the face of a familiar video game mushroom. Shot with a telephoto lens, the depth of focus brings your eye is straight to the egg without losing the marvelous texture of the cloth up close.

Snow in Birmingham

2009-04-08T13:20:00.005-05:00

February 28, 2009

Snow is a rare thing in Birmingham, Alabama. This small snowfall made the news. It barely lasted out the day before melting, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

Over the Garden Gate

The view from my backyard looking out. The snowy yard is framed by the lines of the gate and the nearby bushes.

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A chickadee checks out the feeder and is grateful for the carbs.

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Meanwhile, a yellow-rumped warbler looks on. Concealing behind him the yellow spot that gives him his name.

Frost

His yellow is echoed in these early blooming forsythia bushes. They weren't at all put off by the chill.

Where the Road Ends

The end of the road leading into our driveway. Birmingham's traffic ways were seriously hampered when the interstate was added on top of the city. In this picture the strangeness of the road adds interest to an otherwise plain snowy woods.

Patiently Waiting

This was my dog, Zakuro's first snowfall and at first she was terrified. In this picture she is waiting for me to let her back inside. Her black coat makes an excellent contrast to the snow-covered deck and you can see the tenseness in her face. Don't worry, I opened the door a second after snapping this shot.

Snowball

She has a love of balls, though, and as soon as she found out balls could be made out of the white stuff, she was sold. I tried to capture her great reserves of energy and excitement in this photo.

Fetch

You can see her body straining and she bursts into action, ears flying forward, going after the snowball just thrown by her partner in the picture.

Snowday

Zakuro, loving a minute of her play. The focus is more on the dog in this photo as she readies herself for another run, although we get a glimpse of the action of the human from his raised leg.

Glimpse

Valentine's Cards

2009-04-08T12:55:00.009-05:00

For Valentine's Day I did a photo-shoot with some of my assistants. These were to make small 2x3 cards the perfect size to hand out to a lot of kids. Here are a few of my favorites.

Spring at Maple Hill CemeteryMay 2008

2009-04-08T11:39:00.010-05:00

May 2008

On a gorgeous spring day I head to Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville to photograph the many blooms and angels you can find there.

Springtime

One of the many dogwoods that grace the cemetery.

Sorrow Laden

Maple Hill is known for its many beautifully carved angels. This one appears to have a great burden upon her.

List

An angel appearing to be announcing something very imperative.

Our Lady

A Mother Mary figure.

Dogwoods and Irises

A few flowers along California Street.

Emma and Iris

Some beautiful irises in bloom. I wonder how old they are?

Dogwood Guardian

More dogwoods along California, towards the Jewish area of the cemetery.

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Wildflowers in the Jewish section of the cemetery.

Old

Old magnolia at a corner of the Jewish section with old machinery used by the men tending the cemetery.

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Up into the branches of the marvelous magnolia.

Love Tree

Unsure of what type of tree this is, but it is very romantic. Notice the heart shape of the old wound where a limb was trimmed.