...and just two more for now

Two more country gems as I work through the many images of my trip from Atlanta to Charleston along country roads. No rusty tin in these - well, ok there's a rusty tin barn roof in one ..

More country images

As I work through the images that I collected during my drive through the backroads of Georgia and South Carolina, I will post a couple throughout the week until I have finished them and put my favorites on my www.vanessak.com website. Here's an image I found in a town called Williston, SC. It seems I have a penchant for rusty old tin. I wonder what a shrink would make of that! Tomorrow I will post something entirely different ...

The roads less traveled

Drove back from Atlanta to Charleston today using secondary roads all the way until Summerville. I will be writing more on this later, but for right now I can only say that if you haven't explored beyond the interstates and ubiquitous fast food ez exits, you really have no idea what you are missing. There are treasures lurking just feet away from these boring tree and kudzu-lined corridors that criss-cross the US. I was captivated by the charm of the rural landscapes and small towns.

Wedding in Atlanta

I left home this morning early, dropping Logan off with family before heading to Atlanta for Kyle and Pam's wedding at 2pm this afternoon. Only just made it in time due to some major congestion on the I-20. I wasn't working, but couldn't resist taking a couple of pics, so here they are. Planning to get an early start tomorrow morning and explore some of the roads less traveled on the way home.

Alternative to the Charleston heat

I spent more time yesterday in the airconditioned comfort of my new studio, playing with lighting effects and setting up some technical stuff. We are definitely making progress and I'm excited about the creative possibilities this is opening up.More to come when it's ready to open, but in the meantime here's a bear that was a most cooperative model, and I am starting to play with some silhouette effects too, although I was restricted to self-portraits yesterday.

Blue Ridge Parkway Blues

We got to sleep in a little this morning, 5.30am alarm is way better than 3.30am alarm. It wasn't too productive however. The large group didn't get going in time to get on the parkway to catch the best morning light, and then it got overcast and really hazy. I decided to go home a day early because of the weather and because my car was giving trouble (another story all of its own), so I took it easy and cruised back down the I-26 to Charleston after lunch. I've had more successful trips, but the very average ones make you appreciate the great ones even more when they come along.

Cataloochee Valley, NC

I had never heard of this place, but it's tucked away about 20 miles off the I-40 and you have to drive some very small, windy dirt roads to access it. It's like a mini Cades Cove, but not as big and not as many historic settler-type buildings. We got there before sunrise and watched herds of elk grazing in the meadows. I didn't get very good shots of them because I don't have super zoom lenses and they were quite far away. This is an old barn that I liked a lot and photographed from many angles, inside and out. Going home tomorrow, one day early - my car is giving trouble and so I'll give myself some extra time on the road.

The drive to Asheville, NC

Since I had most of the day to get to Asheville for the CNPA photo weekend, I decided to take the 176 through Holly Hill, etc. and pick up the I-26 again just before Columbia. There are some sections that are pretty, but for the most part it is a depressing stretch of road. So many abandoned stores, abandoned farm buildings, silos, etc. I guess the interstates have had this effect on many parts of America - previously thriving towns now sidelined and forgotten. I also made a detour near Tryon, NC to capture Pearson Falls, pictured here. Early start tomorrow. We leave for Cataloochee Valley at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway at 4am. Time to hit the sack.

A new learning curve

For awhile I've been working on creating a home studio. I have probably spent more time than necessary re-inventing this wheel, and have often been frustated in between moving steadily forward. So this weekend I've been working with different lighting set-ups and using a vase of flowers because the endless takes require more patience than I would ask of my family and friends. I'm putting you on notice though - I will be calling you soon ...

Fun Day at Work

Our CEO turned 60 over the weekend, so to celebrate another BIG birthday, we ordered cake for everyone and had a surprise mid-morning ambush with candle blowing, happy birthday singing and silly string shooting activities.