My brother Bob has a pretty sweet location, right across the road from the Lake Erie shore in Avon Lake, OH. Whenever we visit, we make a point to trek across the street for sunset. His across-the-street neighbor has made a nice little safe harbor for his boats, and has graciously allowed Bob and his guests access to the breakwall. During the traditional 4th of July events, the gang makes a point of heading to the breakwall to watch the sunset. While it is nice to get a few photos of the silhouetted people watching the ball drop, I often stick around until well after “official” sunset because I know that is when the best color will occur. It also means that all of the non-photographers will head back across the street to resume their respective shenanigans.
Most photographers know that the best photographs often happen after the “tourists” have left. And this is just one example. We went over there on three separate nights, and I got nice after-sunset photos each night. Every one just a little different. It definitely pays to stick around!
And a bonus: I finally got to field test my new tripod! 🙂
Kathy pointed this scene out to me the other day at my brother’s house. I was too lazy to get my camera out of the car but used my phone to make a few photos. The attraction was the one cushion that was up, the other one down and the shadows they made.
Fishing bobber stuck in a tree. North Park Lake near Pittsburgh, PA
We’re on our annual ‘Friends & Family” road trip, currently in Avon, OH visiting my brother and his family. A few days ago we met some friends for lunch at North Park near Pittsburgh (sorry Howard, we were only there for a few hours! 🙂 ). I “snagged” this photo while waiting for our friends and sitting on a bench alongside the lake. I hadn’t gotten my camera out of the car, but this little scene convinced me to go back and get it.
Champion trotter ‘Mr. Muscleman’ in the Hall of Champions at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky
We capped off our visit to Kentucky with a day at the Kentucky Horse Park, near Lexington.
Funny Cide (foaled April 20, 2000) is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He is the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He was an immensely popular horse and remains a fan favorite in retirement at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyFunny Cide (foaled April 20, 2000) is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He is the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He was an immensely popular horse and remains a fan favorite in retirement at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky
I don’t know much about horses, but I still found it to be an interesting place. One of the things that quickly becomes apparent is that horses need lots of care. Especially horses that are shown or raced at a high level. And even just casual ownership is not something for a part timer. You either need lots of time, lots of money to pay someone else, or most likely both.
Display of trophies from Calumet Farms in the International Museum of the Horse at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyInternational Museum of the Horse at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyInternational Museum of the Horse at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyInternational Museum of the Horse at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyInternational Museum of the Horse at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky
The park puts on a number of shows during the day. We attended two “Parade of Breeds” shows, where they showcase specific breeds of horses, tell about their heritage and how they were utilized over the years. There is a barn with draft horses – they are huge! – and a Hall of Champions where they house former race winners, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide. And don’t forget about the International Museum of the Horse!
The Knabstrupper or Knabstrup is a Danish breed of warmblood horse. It is principally a riding horse, but is also used as a harness horse and as a circus animal. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky‘Mackenzie,’ a Clydesdale/Dales Pony cross, part of the police horse force at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Haflinger, also known as the Avelignese, is a breed of horse developed in Austria and northern Italy (namely Hafling in South Tyrol region) during the late 19th century. Haflinger horses are relatively small, are always chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, have distinctive gaits described as energetic but smooth, and are well-muscled yet elegant. The breed traces its ancestry to the Middle Ages; several theories for its origin exist. Haflingers, developed for use in mountainous terrain, are known for their hardiness. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Akhal-Teke is a Turkmen horse breed. They have a reputation for speed and endurance, intelligence, and a distinctive metallic sheen. The shiny coat of the breed led to their nickname, “Golden Horses.” Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe American Brabant is a draft horse with 25 to 99% European Belgian bloodlines. It presents with a variety of appearances but is typically shorter in stature, short coupled and thick boned, with a good head and kind eye. Their calm, willing disposition makes them suitable for a wide range of work and they are most commonly found performing farm work, logging and pulling wagons. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe American Saddlebred is a horse breed from the United States. This breed is referred to as the “Horse America Made”. Descended from riding-type horses bred at the time of the American Revolution, the American Saddlebred includes the Narragansett Pacer, Canadian Pacer, Morgan and Thoroughbred among its ancestors. Developed into its modern type in Kentucky, it was once known as the “Kentucky Saddler” and used extensively as an officer’s mount in the American Civil War. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Fjord Horse or Norwegian Fjord Horse is a relatively small but very strong horse breed from the mountainous regions of western Norway. It is an agile breed of light draught horse build. One of the world’s oldest breeds, it has been used for hundreds of years as a farm horse in Norway, and in modern times is popular for its generally good temperament. It is used both as a harness horse and under saddle. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Shire is a British breed of draught horse. It is usually black, bay, or grey. It is a tall breed, and Shires have at various times held world records both for the largest horse and for the tallest horse. The Shire has a great capacity for weight-pulling; it was used for farm work, to tow barges at a time when the canal system was the principal means of goods transport, and as a cart-horse for road transport. One traditional use was for pulling brewer’s drays for delivery of beer, and some are still used in this way; others are used for forestry, for riding and for commercial promotion. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyFinale of the Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Friesian (also Frizian) is a horse breed originating in Friesland, in the Netherlands. Although the conformation of the breed resembles that of a light draught horse, Friesians are graceful and nimble for their size. It is believed that during the Middle Ages, ancestors of Friesian horses were in great demand as war horses throughout continental Europe. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe American Paint Horse is a breed of horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern of white and dark coat colors. Developed from a base of spotted horses with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred bloodlines, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) breed registry is now one of the largest in North America. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Thoroughbred is a horse breed developed for horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered “hot-blooded” horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Carolina Marsh Tacky or Marsh Tacky is a rare breed of horse, native to South Carolina. It is a member of the Colonial Spanish group of horse breeds, which also include the Florida Cracker Horse and the Banker horse of North Carolina. It is a small horse, well adapted for use in the lowland swamps of its native South Carolina. The Marsh Tacky developed from Spanish horses brought to the South Carolina coast by Spanish explorers, settlers and traders as early as the 16th century. The horses were used by the colonists during the American Revolution, and by South Carolinians for farm work, herding cattle and hunting throughout the breed’s history. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Sugarbush Draft is a relatively new breed of healthy and colorful draft horses that developed in the United States in the early latter half of the 19th century. Known for their strikingly spectacular coat and gentle disposition, these horses are still very popular in show events. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyThe Andalusian, also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE (pura raza española) is a horse breed from the Iberian Peninsula, where its ancestors have lived for thousands of years. Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KentuckyFinale of the Parade of Breeds at the Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky
Like I said, there is a lot to know about horses. And the more you know about horses the more you would probably enjoy a place like the Kentucky Horse Park.
Due to leaving the park during rush hour traffic, we ended up taking the “scenic route” back through the countryside, passing some of the huge horse farms you don’t see from the highway. THAT’S where the real money keeps their horses! 😉
It was a nice day – plenty of sunshine, reasonable temperatures and more time with friends. Oh, and lots of horses too! 🙂
Again, in case you missed it, more photos from our Kentucky trip are here.
‘Italian Renaissance Alive’ exhibit at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina
I was going back through my photos from Biltmore on this rainy afternoon, and realized that I had not written about and shared photos of our visit to the Italian Renaissance Alive exhibit at Biltmore.
Several years ago, Biltmore contracted with a company called Grande Experiences for a series of “immersive, multi-sensory experiences” in one of Biltmore’s conference centers. The company has been doing these shows nationwide. Charlotte recently had a Van Gogh Alive exhibit, and Biltmore had previously hosted (if memory serves) Monet & Friends and Leonardo Da Vinci Collection – which we attended in October – and this one titled Italian Renaissance Alive.
‘Italian Renaissance Alive’ exhibit at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina‘Italian Renaissance Alive’ exhibit at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina
The exhibitions are nicely done, with an introductory series of rooms showing physical reproductions of many of the works featured in the show. The Da Vinci exhibit included scale models of several of Da Vinci’s inventions as well as prints of many of his famous works. This introduction leads the viewer to a large room, where there are lots of screens, playing a continuous loop of images, accompanied by appropriately dramatic music.
‘Italian Renaissance Alive’ exhibit at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina‘Italian Renaissance Alive’ exhibit at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina
My biggest issue with the show was that there was a lot of animation, from the relatively tame “Ken Burns Effect” of panning on a portion of an image, to actual animation of some of the artworks themselves. Imagine “The Creation of Adam” from the Sistine Chapel, with the figures of Adam and God floating toward each other in space, or moving limbs or the eyes of one or more of the subjects blinking. That was a bit unsettling, coupled with the fact that very few of the paintings were shown in their entirety, or if they were, for only a few seconds. For me that made it more about the entertainment factor than the art, but I guess that is today’s world.
‘Italian Renaissance Alive’ exhibit at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina‘Italian Renaissance Alive’ exhibit at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina‘Italian Renaissance Alive’ exhibit at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina
Both of the shows were interesting, and for many people probably the closest they will ever get to famous art so close to home. Not to boast, but for me it was a bit of a letdown compared to having seen many of the original works in person. Still, something interesting to do for a couple of hours!
Dogwood in the gardens of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina
The Conservatory. In the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.
The Conservatory. In the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.
Flowers in the Walled Garden of the Biltmore Estate
Flowers in the Walled Garden of the Biltmore Estate
Flowers in the Walled Garden of the Biltmore Estate
Flowers in the Walled Garden of the Biltmore Estate
Flowers in the Walled Garden of the Biltmore Estate
Flowers in the Walled Garden of the Biltmore Estate
A gardeners work is never done. The Walled Garden of the Biltmore Estate
Gardening tools. The Walled Garden of the Biltmore Estate
View of the Biltmore House from a path in the gardens
Trellis along the South Terrace of the Biltmore House
The Italian Garden at the Biltmore Estate
The Italian Garden at the Biltmore Estate
The Italian Garden at the Biltmore Estate
The Italian Garden at the Biltmore Estate
The Italian Garden at the Biltmore Estate
The Conservatory. In the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.
Hammered Dulcimer player at the Conservatory in the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.
Hammered Dulcimer player at the Conservatory in the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.
The Conservatory. In the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.
The Conservatory. In the gardens of the Biltmore Estate.
Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina
Last week, Kathy & I ventured to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville to take in the spring flowers in the gardens, check out the Renaissance Alive art presentation, and of course to eat and to buy wine. 😉
Biltmore is an easy 2 hour drive from Charlotte, suitable for a day trip but also a nice way for an easy overnight. We had reward points that allowed us to stay for free at a motel in nearby Biltmore Village, so we had the better part of two days. As Annual Passholders we didn’t have to pay extra for the visits, which can otherwise be a little pricey.
Even without visiting Biltmore House itself, the grounds and gardens are such a nice place to spend a day or part of the day. The gardens are extensive, and the Conservatory itself is larger than most homes. We concentrated mostly on the outside gardens, although as we were getting ready to leave, the sounds of a hammered dulcimer drew us inside for a listen.
Passenger waiting area. Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Melbourne, Florida
On our most recent trip to Florida, Kathy & I decided to fly, rather than make the 9-ish hour drive down unpredictable I-95. As a result, we had the very pleasant experience of using the Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB). What a nice airport and a refreshing change!
Passenger waiting area. Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Melbourne, FloridaPassenger terminal hallway. Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Melbourne, FloridaThink we can get on the Glasgow flight? Departure board. Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Melbourne, Florida
The Melbourne airport is modern and clean with everything you would expect in an airport – except crowds! With the exception of the occasional charter flight from the UK or elsewhere and a few non-daily flights, the airport appears to be largely a private and corporate plane base. There are a number of Northrup Grumman plants nearby as well as a number of space-related companies. Other than that, the commercial activity appears to be Delta flights to and from Atlanta, and American flights to and from Charlotte. It was quite a contrast to the madness of the Charlotte airport!
We arrived to a nearly empty terminal, found our checked bag in “Baggage Claim” (there is only one!) and found a pleasant covered spot to sit while we waited for the free airport shuttle to our hotel. On our return trip, the shuttle drivers at the hotel assured us that there was no need to arrive 2 hours ahead. Skeptical, I took him at his word, and sure enough when we arrived just over an hour before, we walked right up to a check-in counter, staffed by a real person, and turned in our bag. We then proceeded to the TSA checkpoint, where there were more TSA employees than passengers. We breezed through TSA Pre-check and waited in a mostly quiet waiting area. No clueless wandering passengers, no repeated announcements about maintaining possession of your carry-on, none of the drama of Charlotte. And no crush of impatient passengers trying to board. Nice!
Tarmac. Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Melbourne, FloridaView of Melbourne Orlando International Airport on our flight to Charlotte from Melbourne
Kathy & I decided that we could return to Melbourne any time. We found the hotel to be very nice, staffed with friendly people and in an excellent location on the beach. We’ll also take a look at other small airports we could fly to for a few days’ getaway!
Selfie (or Photo) spot. Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Melbourne, FloridaSelfie (or Photo) spot. Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Melbourne, Florida
We’re packing up and getting ready to head home, but it’s been a very nice visit to a new (for us) place. We spent time with friends, had some beach time, ate some good seafood and even got to see a rocket launch! I didn’t take any photos of the launch because it happened at 3 am and would have only showed an orange ball against a black background! But it was great to see, since it was the closest we’ve been to one (we’re about 30 miles from Kennedy Space Center).
I’ll have some more photos and stories once I get home and get the files into my computer. Processing photos on my tablet is a bit cumbersome. And takes away from my beach time! 😉
Causeway over the Indian River in Melbourne, Florida
We had dinner at a restaurant with perhaps one of the best restaurant names ever: Squid Lips! It overlooks the Indian River in Melbourne. I loved the way the late afternoon light hit the causeway, and interrupted cocktail time long enough to grab a few photos.
Triangular. Abandoned train trestle supports in Staunton, Virginia
A few weekends ago, Kathy & I visited Staunton, VA to meet up with our friends Jim & Lisa, who drove down from Pennsylvania. We like to find interesting towns to visit for a few days when we have a chance to meet up. Last summer we met in Lewisburg, WV, and we’re planning a trip to Kentucky for later this year.
Staunton (pronounced STON-ton) is a pleasant and vibrant town located along I-81 just north of Roanoke and is about halfway between Jim & Lisa’s home in Pennsylvania and our home in Charlotte. In addition to a nice downtown with good restaurants and interesting shops, Staunton is home to the American Shakespeare Center, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Mary Baldwin University. Oh, and the Camera Heritage Museum.
We spent a few days walking around the town, saw a play at American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse, had some good meals and visited some interesting shops. We were there on St. Patrick’s Day and enjoyed a dinner at a restaurant with a live Celtic band.
Triangular. Abandoned train trestle supports in Staunton, Virginia
One afternoon we were walking around town, and at some point came across these old railroad trestle supports. I don’t remember the words, but Jim asked me if I thought they would make a good photograph. I had seen them but hadn’t responded to them yet, so Jim’s question woke me up. Yes, they were quite interesting, and as it turned out I was able to make a few photographs that prove the point.
Just like with the photos of Bill’s tree in my last post, sometimes it is someone else’s eyes that discover the photo, and my job is to do something with it. Looks like I may have to make another print! 😉
Triangular. Abandoned train trestle supports in Staunton, Virginia
