Kathy & I like to get out of town on weekends, especially taking advantage of some long holiday weekends to stretch our meager PTO (Paid Time Off) allotment. We did just that over July 4th, visiting (most of) our friends in Belhaven and Washington, NC. The towns were dressed up in their patriotic best, and we even managed to take in a parade. I’m saving the parade photos for another post and possibly even my SoFoBoMo project, but here are a few random photos from the weekend.
Fourth of July in Belhaven, North Carolina
With temperatures in the mid to upper 90s here in Charlotte we’ll be taking off again this weekend. The mountains are calling, as they say…. 🙂
Fourth of July in Belhaven, North CarolinaFourth of July in Belhaven, North CarolinaFourth of July in Belhaven, North CarolinaAlong Water Street in Belhaven North CarolinaRiver Forest Manor in Belhaven, North CarolinaFourth of July in Belhaven, North CarolinaFourth of July in Belhaven, North CarolinaFourth of July in Belhaven, North CarolinaRiver Forest Manor in Belhaven, North CarolinaFourth of July in Bath, North Carolina
Hudson’s Seafood, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
I was getting tired of my desktop wallpaper and decided it was time for something new. But then I had two photos I really liked and couldn’t decide. So guess what? Two for the price of one! 🙂
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!
Hudson’s Seafood, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Ela’s Blue Water Grill, Shelter Cove, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Kathy & I recently spent a week at the beach in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Since we got back I’ve had so much going on that I haven’t had a chance to process and post any photos. I didn’t take many photos on the beach proper, but did take my camera with me to dinner and other outings. Here are a few picks from my first pass through the folder.
Shelter Cove, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaShelter Cove, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaShelter Cove, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaShelter Cove, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaPalmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaPalmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaPalmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaHudson’s Seafood, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaHudson’s Seafood, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaHudson’s Seafood, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Sunset on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
It’s been a little while since I posted, and I am working on getting caught up from a week at the beach. This is a photo from our visit to Hilton Head in February, and I’ll have some current photos from our most recent adventure real soon!
Late afternoon colors and reflections at the Little Glade Mill Pond Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway MP 230
Kathy & I made a late afternoon stop this past Saturday at the Little Glade Mill Pond along the Blue Ridge Parkway, not too far from the intersection with US21. The light was right, the colors were great and I mixed up the fuzzy and the sharp. I don’t get to pull out the 55-200 often, but it was just the ticket for this group of photos.
I’ve got a few more, so there may be a follow up post. Stay tuned!
Late afternoon colors and reflections at the Little Glade Mill Pond Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway MP 230Late afternoon colors and reflections at the Little Glade Mill Pond Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway MP 230Late afternoon colors and reflections at the Little Glade Mill Pond Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway MP 230Late afternoon colors and reflections at the Little Glade Mill Pond Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway MP 230Late afternoon colors and reflections at the Little Glade Mill Pond Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway MP 230
Sunset on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
We’re getting ready for a return to Hilton Head in a few weeks, so for some inspiration I decided to work on some of the files from our last visit in February. These are a few more of the “blurry” photos that always seem so popular.
Sunrise on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaSunrise on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Unless I get really motivated, it’s unlikely that I’ll do much of this type of shooting in late May, especially in the mornings. Sunrise is a relatively inhospitable 6:19am, which means I would need to be up and on the beach by 5:15am. And that is made unlikely by a sunset time of 8:20pm that tends to interfere with cocktail time and usually makes for a late dinner. I am on vacation, after all! 😉
Sunset on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Trying to get better at just posting pictures when I don’t have a lot of words. Whew….!
Some random photos from around Western NC a few weekends ago.
Locked Up Frog Level North Carolina63 Asheville, North CarolinaCraft Creates…Shadows? Grove Arcade, Asheville, North CarolinaWall Street but not That Wall Street Asheville, North Carolina
One of the things I love to do when we travel is seek out old railroad stations. They are especially prevalent in rural areas of North and South Carolina, and I have found them in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, as well.
Train station in Branchville, South CarolinaTrain station in Branchville, South Carolina
One of the stations we pass by on a regular basis is the station in Branchville, SC. It’s on one of the “slow-cuts” we like to take when we are headed to Hilton Head and want to get off the freeway. I’ve taken pictures there before, and have been particularly interested in the old freight depot that sits across the tracks. It is in pretty sad shape, but a few years ago was given a new roof, and while I don’t know for sure I am hopeful that some funding will find its way there to complete the restoration. Both buildings are beautiful and reflect the good old days of American railroading.
Train station in Branchville, South CarolinaTrain station in Branchville, South Carolina
According to one of the signs there, Branchville was on the first commercial railway, from Charleston to Hamburg, SC. Construction began in Charleston in 1829 and was completed to Hamburg in 1833. The distance was 136 miles and at the time was the longest railroad in the world and twice as long as any in the United States.
Train station in Branchville, South Carolina
The railroad branched out from Branchville to Orangeburg in 1840, and Branchville became the first railroad junction in the world.
Train station in Branchville, South Carolina
The Branchville Depot was built in 1877 and featured a dining room there trains would stop for breakfast and dinner. It claims the distinction of having had three former US Presidents dine there: President William McKinley, President Theodore Roosevelt and President Howard Taft.
Train station in Branchville, South Carolina
The depot today is a symbol of Branchville’s rich railroad history and contains Branchville’s Railroad Shrine and Museum and a restaurant. It seems that we have never been there when either was open, but at some point I will be sure to get inside and look around.
Train station in Branchville, South CarolinaTrain station in Branchville, South Carolina
Sunrise on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
We’ve been home a week now, but Kathy & I recently spent a week on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. It’s one of our favorite getaway destinations any time of year. It was a little early in the season and we knew we ran the risk of cold weather, but we needed to get away. So we went, it was nice and now we’re counting down to the next adventure. In the meantime, there are photos!
Sunrise on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
The beach is one of the few places that calls my name so irresistibly that I have no problem hauling myself out of bed before sunrise. Because I don’t have to get in the car and drive anywhere, I can stumble out of the bed, dress, grab my gear and be out to the beach in about 15 minutes.
Sunrise on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
One of my favorite things is taking advantage of the low light and great color to make motion blur photos. They have become a bit of a “signature” for me, and interestingly the motion blur abstracts are the photos that have sold best recently.
Sunset on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
This is a mix of a few blurry and sharp photos from our week at the beach. I’ve got a lot more work to do but was overdue for a post, so here it is!
Sunrise on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaSunset on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaSunrise on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaPictures of people taking pictures of the sunrise on the beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
