Homecoming

After a year in South Korea, Leigh & Josh returned home to Charleston last night with Gideon. It is so awesome to have them all home safe. It was late, but everyone was so excited, especially over Gideon.The waiting
The arrival
Ellie and Matt meeting their nephew for the first time
Joanne & Ernie re-connecting
Leigh & Matt

Roadtrip to Ridge Spring, SC

This weekend I took a roadtrip with friends to visit a most interesting couple who farm gourds, mainly to house Purple Martins through the breeding season when they arrive from South America, but also for crafters who decorate and sell them. It was the first out of what will be a series of visits through the year because I will be documenting the story of gourds and Purple Martins through four seasons in a photo essay. Here are a few images from my first visit.
Nothing much going on at the farm right now. The gourds are stored in barns through the winter and a roadside farm stall is located at the end of their driveway where the "honor system" rules.These are gourds that have been intricately decorated for Christmas gifts by a talented artist.

And now for something completely different ..

It was a beautiful day, for a change, and I had plans to find something new to photograph, but somehow the time just slipped away. There was church this morning, and then a bunch of us went out for lunch. I ate way more than I should have, so took the dog for some exercise in the park and then started playing on the computer. So I never did bring home any new images, but heck, I can work on the ones I have and create new ones. Here's one that got a makeover.

The Angel Oak

This is not an easy subject to photograph. Firstly, there are often many people wandering through your frame and understandably, they are in no hurry to move. Just when one bunch drifts off, another will arrive. Secondly, the best weather conditions would be even, overcast light - nothing too bright or dark. Also, the colors should be nicely saturated after it's been raining. With all this in mind, I took a drive there during a break in the weather this afternoon. I was surprised to find that there were quite a few people there, despite the miserable weather. It's amazing what an attraction this old tree is. Of course everyone has to be photographed standing underneath it too. The light was ok, but not ideal, and for some reason my wide angle lens was giving me a lot of flare. Anyway, you learn something from everything you do - if you know what's good for you - and I learned from the trip. Not quite sure what, but I know I did. Tomorrow I might head for a swamp - depending on the weather. I do love my weekends!

More shrimp boats

Yes, I know I have a shrimp boat fetish. Maybe I need to tag along for a day's shrimping to cure me of some of the romanticism of this subject. Anyway, until then, here's a couple more ..