More Cameos of Western North Carolina

This area definitely remains at the top of my list of favorite places to explore.  I will go back in the fall, as I do every year, but here are some more from last weekend's Springtime trip.

Cullasaja Falls

Old flag inside the smallest Post Office in the US - Grimshawes, Whiteside Cove

Spring (barely) in North Carolina

I had signed up for a "Wildflowers and Waterfalls" photography workshop led by Kevin Adams, a recognized authority on the subject, and a great photographer.  For the past few days we have been based in Highlands which sits at approximately 4,000 feet above sea level.  The waterfalls are beautiful but there are very few wildflowers to be seen.  Spring has been delayed this year by a tenacious winter.  Only a couple of weeks ago there was snow on the ground here.  Anyway, we've been getting a lot of exercise since some of these falls are a good hike away from the trail head.  Here are a couple of the images.

Detail from Dry Falls

Detail from Whitewater Falls

Whitewater Falls

Dry Falls

The Blood Moon of April 15th, 2014

I had been looking forward to this total lunar eclipse with great anticipation, planning in detail what would make an appropriate foreground for the backdrop of a red moon suspended in a starry sky. Dream on!  I had even rented a powerful telephoto lens to capture as much detail as possible, wanting to document the event to the best of my ability within the constraints of available funds.  Well, again the best laid plans are sometimes thwarted by circumstances beyond one's control (see previous post).  A cold front was marching in from the west, bringing with it gusty winds and significant cloud cover.  The eclipse was due to start at around 2am so I set my alarm for 1.45am.  Peering bleery-eyed out of my window I could see nothing but clouds.  Unwilling to admit defeat, I re-set the alarm for 2.45am and tried to go back to sleep.  Awakened on schedule, I was rewarded by a fuzzy, but visible moon which was slipping further and further into the earth's shadow.  This composite of the various stages of the lunar eclipse was the best I could capture in a hazy sky, between swiftly moving clouds, before it finally succumbed to the inexorable progression of the advancing storm.

Short Breakaway down Highway 17 South

For awhile now I have been meaning to visit an old family friend who lives in Savannah, and on Friday I had a 24 hour window of opportunity, so after work I headed south.  My early evening plan was to photograph the downtown squares and parks, adorned with azaleas aplenty in riotous Spring color.  Another planned stop was Forsythe Park's historic fountain, one of my favorite photo subjects.  Well, the best laid plans sometimes unravel and mine did.  The lighting was flat, not golden as I had anticipated, there was hardly an azalea bloom in sight, and to add insult to injury there was no water in the Forsythe Park fountain. Apparently a recent heavy downpour had done away with the azaleas and the fountain was dry due to planned maintenance.  Fortunately my disappointments ended there and the rest of the weekend was delightful.  An additional bonus was the completion of the two lane highway all the way to the I-95, finally.  It is wonderful - great job and many thanks to those responsible; I am happy to have donated my tax dollars.

Forsythe Park Animal Hospital

Christ Church, Adams Run

Colonial Cemetery, Savannah

17th Annual Edgewater Bridge Run

A far more relaxed version of the Cooper River Bridge Run, held in Edgewater Park in the afternoon of the same day, sandwiched between before and after parties aplenty.  The winner of this year's race was Emma Weeks in a time of +- 8 seconds :)  Here are some snapshots from this year's festivities. 

The start

The stragglers

The observers

The after party

The Band - E2

The revelers

The entertainers

The crowd