Blue Ridge blog

As scene from Camp Yonahnoka in Linville, NC

I worked an event Sunday held in the pavilion at Camp Yonahnoka in Linville, NC. The weather was foggy, then sunny, then rainy, then foggy some more which is fairly normal for these parts. I had never been to Camp Yonahnoka before but had heard tale of it, most usually whenever somebody biographically mentioned Hugh Morton, as it was where he was first introduced to photography as a camper in his youth. I instantly saw the attraction. The setting is magical with a mountain lake, views of the peaks of Grandfather Mountain (when the lack of fog allows) and a lush lawn green lawn begging to be jumped in a burlap sack for shooting bows and arrows over. If spaces and places hold karma of those who have visited, then Camp Yonahnoka must have been a happy haven for many, many children.

 

Mr. Donkey

 

So here we have landed in the year twenty ten.

I could whine about how cold it is here in the Blue Ridge Mountains but a quick look at The Weather Channel's map shows others farther north are suffering far worse. Yesterday I bundled up, packed my Nikon and Annie into the Jeep, and went for a ride around Valle Crucis. The wind was fierce, though the sun was reflected through the glistening veil of blowing snow. I visited the Taylor Farm where I gave the outdoor residents, Mr.Horse and Mr. Donkey a bit of camera love. Poor Mr. Donkey quickly became my favorite as Mr. Horse repeatedly nipped and head butted his rival out of the way. That, and when I was on my knees taking Mr. Donkey's photo, the horse bit my hat off and I'm a sucker for taking the side of the under dog. 

The blissful goats of Bethel

I was fortunate to be out and about in the Bethel community yesterday. Bethel is one of those tucked away gems that every time I have a reason to visit, I am grateful for the opportunity. I saw all sorts of photogenic eye candy, but it was these goats that retained my attention. I parked my Jeep, engaged the emergency brake for the steep incline and jumped over the electric fence so I could point my Nikon at the nubians. I used the 50mm lens wide open at f1.8 because I was in a bokeh sort of mood. These goats were pleasant posers.

Here's another:

 

And one more:

 

A few photos from Grandfather Mountain the other morning...

 

I was fortunate enough to be invited up to Grandfather Mountain the other morning with the hopes of capturing the previous evening's snowfall clinging to trees. However, high winds knocked the snow off the trees so my preconceived notions were left unfulfilled. Still, I was on top of Grandfather Mountain and hello, how awesome it that? The road was ice covered but my Jeep's wheels didn't slip as it chugged up the steep winding road. Just before Forrest Gump curve I thought it wise to park in the picnic area and test the condition of the road with my feet before climbing any higher in elevation. As I got out of the car, my feet slipped and just about that time I looked up to see a pick-up truck filled with construction workers sliding backward. I've never seen folks bail out of a vehicle faster. The truck stopped on its own. Both the vehicle and the dudes were fine. They were so relieved to see me.

"Hey, you must have 4-wheel drive," said one of the fellows.

Just then, I noticed a tiny sliver of sun rising on the horizon.

I waved them over. "Come check this out," I said.

We perched on a boulder, bundled up in our coats to shield from the wind, and looked eastward for a few minutes of bliss.

So that is how me and 3 guys from South Carolina welcomed in our Tuesday.

Passing along a few Watauga County kudos....

So far November has been the month we are being paid back for all the crappy weather we endured last spring, except for today of course, because it rains. In my copious amounts of free time (sarcasm, y'all), I've taken advantage of the mild weather to plant even more rows of garlic, haul rocks from recently cleared land and walk and play with Annie. I have taken few area photographs which causes me much angst when I have time to think about it so I just won't think about it. Above is a sun dog I saw several days ago.

A couple of points of interest:

First, the Watauga County Historical Society has completed its largest undertaking thus far, a book entitled The Architectural History of Watauga County, North Carolina :

"The book is derived from several architectural surveys conducted in the past, one of which originated with the Watauga County Historical Society in the early 1980s.  Around 600 photographs and architectural descriptions along with a history essay comprise the volume, which is nearly 400 pages long."

Look to buy the book at the Jones House and the University Bookstore on campus and there is a link on the website with more purchasing information.

Next, and I hope this embedding stuff works, is a fabulous video made by Matt Powell for the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority. My interest is mostly that it was shot almost exclusively on the Canon 5D Mark2. I'm such a photo geek. In any case, it is a 3 minute film which showcases our area's outdoor recreation possibilities. Great job, Matt!

                   Watauga County Tourism Development Authority: Outdoor Recreation Video from Matt Powell on Vimeo.

The autumn colors are ablaze upon Rough Ridge

I have several more photos just like this, but pointed in different directions. I'm not sure I've ever seen so much Halloween orange on the trees before. If'n you get a chance to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway in the next week, you will be in for a treat. That is unless Mother Nature throws in a few tricks.

Yeah she does, Mother Earth has curves...

The view from the saddle of Howard's Knob looking northward...I love the Watauga Amphibolites!

A few snow photos...

The snow covered mountains of North Carolina as seen from the Danner cemetery.

A wider view from the cemetery.

This is taken from my driveway after I made my way down Killer Hill.

Three geese and a horse as seen from Baird's Creek Rd.

The Watauga River as seen from the bridge near River Rd.

A mid-January wish...

I've been listening to a bit of The Wailers lately wishing their hot reggae beat might warm my January thickened blood or at least transport me to warmer Caribbean climes via audible osmosis. This need for warm sun on my face got my attention as I was shooting a church on 421 W of Boone yesterday morning. According to The Weather Channel the temperature was nine degrees but it felt like zero. Indeed.

But others have it snowier and colder than me. Amy in New Hampshire posted on the trouble with humans and winter. Apparently Jimmy Buffet's concept of changes in lattitude and changes in attitude isn't far off the mark. I think both Amy and I wish we could visit Beth at her Longleaf Preserve in Florida.  And by the way, congratulations to Beth for her recently published work, "Tenderness," in Brevity Magazine. And look, there is another High Country photoblog called Appalachian Encounters. That is all the bits and pieces I have for you right now. Gonna go light up those gas logs...

Them Apples...

I saw this loaded apple tree on the side of Hwy. 421 a couple of days ago while heading down the mountain. Truly, the scene was gray and wet, as in the frog soaker variety, making the apples even that much more contrasting. An industrial size 'keep Marie from trespassing' fence blocked me from getting closer. Naturally, I hoped on top of my Jeep's roof to get the only other possible angle. Soaked, yet feeling fruitful, I uploaded the image only to find a garish digital file. The photo was nothing like what I saw and had hoped to capture in pixels. Enter Gnumoon, the empress of Photoshop. After describing the scene to her, she stole the image from my Desktop and within minutes, effortlessly transformed it into the above image.

"How do you like them apples?" she asked.

very much

And yes indeed I am going to the Appalachian State vs Elon game. Forecast? Looks like snow.