This has been a strange winter so far. And not just here in North Carolina, but people I talk to all over the country are wondering what’s going on. Well, it’s February, so we’re not out of the woods yet, winter-wise. But at least here in the South we can look forward to spring being right around the corner.
It was 65 degrees here in North Carolina today, and I washed my car! Changes are in store over night tonight but I’ll brag while I can!
The coast is a special place any time of the year, but it takes on an amazing quality in the winter. Crisp, clear skies and often some great color both at sunrise and sunset. Our favorite beach within a reasonable drive is Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Amazingly this photo is from a visit there nearly 5 years ago, in January 2007. It’s really hard to believe how quickly time flies.
I had a special request this month for a “snowy mountain scene” and I just happen to have a few. Taken a couple of years ago, I had the privilege of shooting an assignment at Sugar Mountain in Banner Elk, NC. As luck would have it a very nice snowstorm blew through a couple of days before my scheduled visit, and the folks at the ski resort were kind enough to let me ride the chairlifts without skis. You wouldn’t want to see me on skis!
This is a view from the 5300’ summit of Sugar Mountain at Sugar Mountain Resort near Banner Elk, North Carolina.
November is a time of transition. Here in the Southeast fall hangs on for another few weeks, sometimes until Thanksgiving. We’ve already seen our first snowfall in the mountains, and I know a lot of my friends Up North have had a lot more. Like October, November can be a month of color, but as the color recedes from the landscape it is often found in the sky. Clear days and nights lead to an often monochrome but very colorful sky. Enjoy it while it lasts, because soon Winter will be here, in whatever form it takes where you are.
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On a somewhat related note, a plea for feedback. Kirk Tuck recently posted a great article on The Online Photographer about “What I learned when I stopped writing a photo blog.” In it he discusses, among other things, the value of comments from the “silent majority.” I get a number of comments from a few regular visitors, but I know from my stats that a lot more people follow my work. A few of you may even like my work! So feel free to comment, to tell me you like something, ask me a question or suggest I keep my Day Job. I don’t write for comments or for money, I do it because I enjoy it. But it’s nice to hear from people now and again. So don’t be shy! And I promise to do my part as well, to keep writing what I write. If something moves you, feel free to let me know in the comments. Thanks!