Slow and Steady

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
--Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher.

rise by descending

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.
--Saint Augustine (354-430) Theologian and Bishop

Jon checking out the Holston Mountain Fire Tower. For directions and discussion, click here.

may sunshine light your day

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.
--Irish Blessing

Rain, rain...all day long. Couldn't get out and do much, so I searched through my photos for a sunny and colorful one to help chase away this sleepy, dreary day.

enjoy where you are

We're so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take time to enjoy where we are.
–Bill Watterson (b.1958) American cartoonist, creator of Calvin & Hobbes

Can you tell I've been busy lately? Sorry I haven't posted quite as frequently -- and that my trips seems to be fewer and closer to home. School is in full swing for me right now. I'm teaching a new course in Digital Photography at Milligan College which is demanding a lot of my time -- but I'm absolutely loving it. My students have a very broad range of experience: Some are new to photography this semester, Others are senior photography majors. One of the things I'm having them do is post three photos each week (except for test weeks) on our course blog according an the assigned theme. This week the theme is "movement." Next week they have their first test, but then the following week their theme is "blue." Using a class blog has been a fun way for them to share the images they create. So check it out and please feel free to leave an encouraging comment or two! I think they're producing some very creative and interesting work that you'll enjoy.

Above is a small waterfall located above the main Red Fork Falls that I posted on Tuesday.

powerful

Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination.
--William Longgood (b.1917) author

Red Fork Falls is roaring after our recent rains.

love and time

I learned from looking at his [Ansel Adams] work the places he loved the most, and where he spent the most time, was where he did his best work. I learned from him that you have to love what you photograph, and you have to give it time.
--Ion Zupce (b.1960) Romanian Photographer

With Milligan students Abby, Bryan and Michael at the Blue Hole.

inner peace

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.
--St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Roman Catholic saint

I was actually expecting to see a lot more water when I took a couple of my photography students to the Blue Hole yesterday. I guess that specific area of Carter County missed our recent soakings. I know I've posted a lot of photos from there, but it's such an easy place to visit -- and a good place to take students to practice. With all our cloud cover yesterday, it was a good day for capturing the waterfalls -- if only there was more water! Here's my advice on photographing waterfalls. And here's my post describing the Blue Hole, complete with directions.

For this particular shot, I used a neutral density cokin filter (ND4) along with my circular polarizing warming filter -- this allowed me to leave the shutter open for 30 seconds, which really calmed the waters.

18mm, f/16, 30 sec., ISO 200

Rock Creek Swimmin' Hole

Fed by water from nearby Rock Creek, the water in the 'cement pond' at Rock Creek Park outside of Erwin, TN, is pretty chilly. But on hot summer days, it's a very popular place to be. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) first created a day-use area here in the 1930s, which was expanded in the 1960s to include campsites. The CCC employed boys to build bridges, roads, trails, fire towers and many other projects throughout the country. The young men whose work created the recreational area at Rock Creek stayed in military-style barracks outside the town of Unicoi on Highway 107. They would work eight hour days and were required to send $25 of their $30/month back pay home to their parents.

the nature of things

I am interested in the nature of things. The nature of something is quite different from the way it looks.
--Duane Michals (b.1932) American photographer.

let it shine

Begin today! No matter how feeble the light, let it shine as best it may. The world may need just that quality of light which you have.
--Henry C. Blinn

capturing motion

A still photograph is called a still photograph because the picture doesn’t move, not because the objects in the picture are not in motion. The photographer's mission, should he decide to accept it, is to capture motion with stillness.
--Vincent Versace, photographer

Howard's Knob

Ventured into the High Country of North Carolina last weekend -- and did the tourist thing. Took in the sights on the Blue Ridge Parkway, did some shopping at the Outlet Mall outside of Blowing Rock, then enjoyed the view from Howard's Knob and finally had a delicious dinner at Black Cat Burrito in Boone.

Howard's Knob (elevation 4,406 feet) offers "unparalleled views" of Boone and Appalachian State University. It was hazy the day we were there, so I had to push the contrast, blacks and recovery within Lightroom to pull out some of the detail of these photos of the Appy State campus and Kidd Brewer Stadium. Howard's Knob was named for an early settler to the area, Benjamin Howard, a British loyalist and contemporary of Daniel Boone. In 1979, the world's largest windmill was constructed there, but this experiment was short lived -- it seemed it was also the world's noisiest windmill. The turbine was dismantled in 1983 and the area turned into a park.

Directions: From 421 (E. King St.) turn north onto Grand Blvd and travel 0.2 miles, turn left on Bear Trail (one way) and drive another 0.2 miles, then turn left on Eastview Dr./E. Junaluska Rd. (listed as both on Google Maps) continue following this insanely steep road up the mountain for 0.85 miles, you'll then turn right onto Howard's Knob Road and drive 1/2 mile to the park located at the end of this road. The one-way road goes through the park goes counter-clockwise. The parking area for the overlook is located next to an open meadow -- a short walk will lead to the overlook.

make the best of it

I have written my life in small sketches, a little today, a little yesterday, as I have thought of it, as I remember all the things from childhood on through the years, good ones, and unpleasant ones, that is how they come out and that is how we have to take them. I look back on my life like a good day's work, it was done and I am satisfied with it. I was happy and contented, I knew nothing better and made the best out of what life offered. And life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.
--Grandma Moses (1860-1961) American folk artist

The Doe River in late summer (near Roan Mountain, TN)

bridges

The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn.
--David Russell (b.1942) Scottish musician

Foot bridge over the Doe River within the Roan Mountain State Park.

quietly...and forever

So let us go forward, quietly, each on his own path, forever making for the light.
--Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) Dutch artist

Path at Sycamore Shoals State Park in Elizabethton, TN

hope of the future

I had a great time taking family photos of Charlie and his family a couple weeks ago. He was in town visiting his Aunt Lee and his Grandparents, Bill and Charliece. You can tell immediately upon meeting him that he's a very creative and intelligent boy. Nine years old and yet he was so cooperative, easy going, enthusiastic and fun to work with. Hope you have lots of wonderful memories of your visit to Tennessee, Charlie!

A boy is Truth with dirt on its face,
Beauty with a cut on its finger,
Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair,
and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.
--Author Unknown

...but now I see

When I started my adventure in photography, I was suddenly introduced to the world around me. I can’t believe I have been so blind for so many years.
--Laura Tate Sutton

I'm teaching a class on digital photography this semester at Milligan College in our beautiful new Mac computer lab (which, by the way, makes me want to get a new Mac of my own). As you can imagine, this course is completely different from my usual business and law offerings! But thankfully my students are patient with me and eager to explore photography. They are all at different levels of experience: Some are senior photography majors, others freshmen -- new to college life as well as photography. The fun and rewarding thing for me is that I not only get to share my excitement for photography, but hopefully, I will help them see our world in new ways. That's my goal.