A Novel Experience

Last Thursday I posted a photo and said to check back this weekend to see where it was taken -- well here is where....A Novel Experience in Zebulon, Georgia. Actually -- this photo (above) shows exactly where the other photo was taken.

A Novel Experience is a delightful shop in the delightful town of Zebulon. The store offers new and used books. It is also a gallery. They have a book club. And, you can even find a cup of coffee there. Check out their website to see what is on their calendar.

The gallery part is my focus this post. During the month of July I have twenty-two photos hanging in the store. The photos hanging are:

‘It’s a Daisy’ black and white Lensbaby image printed on canvas gallery wrap (daisy)

‘Purity’ black and white floral macro (rose)

‘The New Dog’ color macro

‘Charleston Weekend’ black, white, and orange floral macro (daisy)

‘Emilie’ black and white image

‘Pop’ digital art from a floral macro (daisy)

‘Line Creek Path’ color Lensbaby image (Peachtree City, GA)

‘The ARC’ black and white image, digitally enhanced (St. Simons Island, GA)

‘Carl’s is Closed’ black, white, and blue image (Fredericksburg, VA)

‘Followed by a Spoon Shadow’ black and white macro (from the Kitchen Series)

‘Self-Portrait’ digitally enhanced portrait triptych

‘The Old Kitchen’ black, white, and red image (from the Kitchen Series)

‘Opening Dance’ black and white botanical macro (sunflower)

‘Is the Devil in the Details?’ black and white Lensbaby image (Methodist Church, Senoia, GA)

‘Jelly’ black and white digitally enhanced image (Georgia Aquarium)

‘Opening Night’ black and white long exposure (Fayetteville, GA)

‘Prince’ black and white image printed on watercolor paper and hand tinted with watercolors

‘Peachtree’ black and white image (Pike County, GA)

‘Pleated’ black and white macro

‘Bonsai’ black and white Lensbaby image (Panola Mountain State Park)

‘Top of the Tower’ black and white Lensbaby image (Methodist Church, Senoia, GA)

‘Rosebud’ black and white

Stop in, browse the books, browse the photos, and say hello to Chris, Brenda, Susan F., Karen, and Susan C. For directions to the store, check out the link to their website above. I hear that Zebulon is having a nice 4th of July celebration!

Photo Wednesday

Last spring (and fall) I would head out on Wednesday mornings to take photos.  Most of the time my Wednesday is a free day.  A friend of mine and I went out a lot last year.  Over the past weekend we were talking about how we need to do that again.  Yesterday was the first "Photo Wednesday" of 2009.

When we would do this before, we usually had a specific location in mind.  Some of the places we visited last year -- when it was much warmer -- we decided it would be best to come back during cooler weather.  Another spot was so overgrown -- we decided winter and less weeds would be better.  During our conversation last weekend -- we concluded that we had not been back to any of those places.  The weather is warming and weeds are starting to grow.

Our main goal destination yesterday was the place that was overgrown last year.  It was OK -- and I took a bunch of photos.  But, I think my photos do not live up to my expectations.  This happens a lot when I remember a place from months ago and build up this excitement that I am going there -- and the photos are going to be wonderful.  I need to remember to build low expectations and then sit back and allow the place to wow me when I get there.

While we were near the main destination we found a couple other spots of promise.  I am sort of happy with some of the images.  One grand find was a nice stand of bamboo that had a great greenish yellow color.  I have not processed any of those photos yet -- but I plan to spend some time with them.

Another spot was an old church.  I am thinking of going back at a different time of day to take more photos of this place.  It is very interesting -- a lot of angles, windows, adornaments.

Then I had an idea -- I thought I remembered something.  As we were approaching what I thought I remembered -- well -- it was not what I remembered.  It must have been some other two-lane country road.  Who knows.  But, by the time we drove that far -- we were close to another spot I knew and had planned to return to in the spring.  We decided to go a bit further to check it out and perhaps make a plan to return soon.  

Why had I wanted to return?  For one thing the place was very interesting to me.  I posted a photo of this little roadside cemetery back in September, 2008: Zebulon.  The cemetery is interesting and I remembered seeing through the trees behind it was a peach orchard.  You can see the peach tree when you are standing in the cemetery.  I had thought a great photo would be the blooming trees in the distance with the tombstones as the main subject.  So yeah, I took that photo -- it is fine -- it is wonderful.  But the peach orchard all alone was prime photo opportunity!

Yes the peaches were blooming already!  I had not expected that.  In fact, I told my friend -- "I want to see how close the trees are to blooming so I can come back in a week or so."  As we neared the spot you could see the pink peach blooms and we thought wow!  We also thought -- lunch will be late today!

The sky yesterday was gloomy -- fog and overcastness (is that a word?) did not burn off untl I had already taken quite a few photos of the trees.  I have some from the overcast time that I like -- but when the sun began to break through -- it was wonderful.  Those huge white puffy clouds, blue sky, hot pink blooms, and the green grass made a beautiful 'Welcome Spring' photo!

Since I wanted to take full advantage of the opportunity, I used the Lensbaby 3G, my Tamron 18-250 zoom, and the Tamron 14mm in the field.  I was so glad I had the 14mm with me.  Not only did I take the opportunity to play with a variety of lenses, I played with a bunch of different aperture settings.  The photo on the blog today was taken with the 14mm.  My shutter speed was 1/320 and the aperture was f/9.  The photo was taken right at about noon.  I would love to get back to take more -- at a better time of day for lighting.  But really, with these, the sky was excellent.

All in all I uploaded 348 photos yesterday -- I have not even started looking over most of them.  I was most excited about many in the orchard -- they get priority.  I took more than 348 photos.  Some of them were deleted in camera before I ever uploaded any.  I love digital.

Nature, Undisturbed

A juried photography exhibition is born!

A couple months ago, I was approached by the Southern Conservation Trust asking if I would like to have a photo show to benefit the trust. Of course I would. Then I thought for a moment and asked what if we had a photo show involving the whole photo club? Then I thought another moment and asked -- what if we went bigger? I always think big.

My thoughts were of Slow Exposures in Pike Country -- the feeling and atmosphere of the show -- and the fact that it benefits the local historic society. We could do something like that in Fayette County to benefit the land trust. Many local photographers visit the Line Creek Nature Area for great photos all year round. Why not use our photography to raise awareness of the properties and help raise some funds as well?

There were a lot of questions to answer to get the ball rolling. First we needed a location and dates for the show. Abby Jordan, Executive Director with the trust, and I have been working hard to get the show going. One day I was in Dogwood Gallery, talking to Greg Blair about the show. I did not think that he would be interested -- since it was a benefit -- but he was! We had a place. And it is a very nice place to hang a show! Did I say I was thrilled to have the show at Dogwood? I am thrilled!

During the last couple months I have been networking with the photography community in the Atlanta area. I visited the director of the Slow Exposures show in Zebulon for advice. The ladies with Slow Exposures are so very nice. Chris was wonderful to sit with me for a while giving great advice. Andrea stopped by out of the blue and even offered to come help hang the show if we needed her. One of the Fayette Photo Club members knew someone with the Atlanta Photography Group. I talked with her and emailed her with information and questions. She was a great resource and she offered to forward the call for entries to many Atlanta area photo clubs. And she has -- thanks Virginia!

That is where we are right now -- getting the call for entries out there. Since this show will take place at the end of April -- time is short. Next time (2010) -- we will have a year to get the word out about the show. The deadline is to have your entry in the mail no later than January 31, 2009. The call for entries can be found on the trust website www.sctlandtrust.org. Check the upper left corner of the homepage. Click the link, read the fine print, and print the entry form.

The show is open to any photographer interested. There are two categories, the first -- Nature, Undisturbed -- is showcasing nature photography at any location. The other category is site-specific to photography at trust properties only. These properties are all in Fayette County, Georgia and are: Line Creek Nature Area, Flat Creek Nature Area (both in Peachtree City) and Sam's Lake Bird Sanctuary (in Fayette County, south of Fayetteville). Color, black & white, sepia, and manipulated images are all included in these two categories.

So get busy looking through your images and enter!

Genealogy Fair & Pie Contest

The National Archives, Southeast Region is having a Fall Genealogy Fair and Pie Contest October 18 from 9 am to 4 pm. The facility is located at 5780 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA.

A few weeks ago I received an email from my friend at the National Archives asking me if I would come give a short presentation on restoring and preserving old family photos. Of course I would love to! So I am! I will be presenting from 2 to 3 pm. There are many very interesting presentations throughout the day.

In addition to my talk about preserving your old photos – Christine Wiseman from the Georgia Archives will tell you how to care for your family archives. Just what are family archives? Well, old family bibles, letters, deeds, certificates, etc. Just about anything paper you want to keep and preserve for future generations. Christine will discuss storage materials and techniques.

Kevin Kuharic from historic Oakland Cemetery will be on hand to discuss cemetery preservation. He will also talk about the damage (and repairs) from the tornado that went through Atlanta and Oakland last spring.

In addition to these interesting programs – you will learn all you need to know about searching for information at the archives and using many new online features. If you are thinking about getting started searching for your roots or have been doing it for a while, this is a great place to spend a Saturday to ask as many questions as you can think of and get some great tips.

Registration for this event is $20 and includes lunch provided by Honeybaked Ham! Oh and I forgot the best part – you can bring a pie (dig out a good old family recipe) to share and enter in the contest. At 3 pm ribbons and prizes will be awarded.

For more information and to get the registration form – click on this link http://www.archives.gov/southeast/public/2008-genealogy-fair.pdf.

About year ago I wrote a blog about the National Archives and what an interesting place it is to visit. http://thebarefootphotographer.blogspot.com/2007/10/trip-to-national-archives.html. If you haven’t read it – here is a handy link to find it.

Slow Exposures

I made it in to the Slow Exposures photo exhibition! I am very excited. This was the first time I had submitted images to the jury for this show. The letter I received told of an overwhelming response to the call for entries. Photographers from across the nation submitted 601 images to the jury and 71 were chosen to hang in the show. Two of my eight entries will be hanging.

The show opens Friday, September 19 at noon. The opening reception is Saturday, September 20 at 1:30pm. The Slow Exposures Ball is Saturday, September 20 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $50 per person and available by calling 770-567-3600. In addition to the framed pieces priced to sell, this year the show is offering print sales. You can order the print and it will be shipped to you by the artist. Also available, for the second year, is a book of the photos in the show.

In addition to these events – there are many other happenings associated with Slow Exposures. For full details and the story behind the show you can check out their website www.slowexposures.org.

Protect Your Camera

Yesterday was a great day to get outside with your camera and document an uncommon occurrence in Georgia – snow! Not to mention the second time that we have seen snow during the same week.

Cold weather and moisture can cause a little apprehension with photographic equipment. At least it does for me. My first little point and shoot digital camera was sent to an early grave due to spilling (or slightly splashing) a Coke onto the camera body. Anytime I see a spec of rain or any moisture on my digital SLR I think about that old, little Canon Powershot and kind of freak out for a minute.

Cold weather can zap the life of a battery. When you are out and about shooting in cold weather try to keep the batteries warm to extend their use. When in the camera, you can keep the camera close to your body or under a coat except for when you are taking a shot to help keep it and the batteries warm. Any extra batteries that you have on you – keep them “on you” and not in a bag sitting in the cold. Placing them in a pocket (especially if it is an interior pocket) of your coat is a great way to keep them warm.

Even if it is not snowing or raining, moisture can be an issue. If you are out in the cold and then come in to a warm house or car – if the warm place is humid (or moister than the cold place) moisture can condense on the camera and the workings.

I admit that I have not thought much about this and never really taken the precaution that is advised. What you are told to do is to place the very cold camera into a plastic bag prior to entering the warm place. Leave the camera sealed in the plastic until it has warmed to the room (or car) temperature. Any condensation from moisture in the heated space will collect onto the bag, rather than the camera.

Frankly, if I was out in the car – I would just keep it wrapped (and a zip bag is a great idea for this) in the bag until I got home and brought it in to warm in the house.

This whole scenario reminds me of being at the coast and in Florida in the summer time. How many times have you stepped from that wonderfully air-conditioned car or condo only to have your camera fog up for a few minutes – until it is acclimated to the surroundings? Should I “bag” the camera in the summer for opposite temperatures as in winter?

Here is the answer – think about your investment in that camera – are you a gambler? I am not. A zip bag is going into my camera bag today!

For a long time I have kept all of the little silica gel packs that come in shoe boxes (yes I buy a lot of shoes). I place these in various locations where I think moisture could be an issue – like in my camera bag – and keep them there.

Last summer when I was out shooting (in the humid air) and placed my camera into the bag to go into the air-conditioned car – I felt that it was sufficiently protected. Near to home I have not had the camera fog up so as it had in Florida or the Georgia islands in summer.

When I do go out I usually keep a plastic, kitchen-size garbage bag in the camera bag to quickly cover anything exposed in case of a quick shower. Think about it, if your camera is on the tripod and there is a sudden shower, it is easy to slip the bag over everything and carry it to the car. This way I don’t even have to open the camera bag in the rain – I can get to my car, lift the back and have it shield me and the equipment from the rain while I pack everything away and head home.

After yesterday and the amount of moisture I saw collecting on my camera, I am thinking of investing in a rain cape for the camera. I have been looking at them on the B&H Photo website today – they are available at a variety of prices. It makes me wonder is this one of those things that you ‘get what you pay for.’

Right now the top of my list is the Ewa-Marine C-AF100 Hurricane Hood Photo Rain Cape. Something in the product description really got me – the protection against sand – sand is the biggest enemy any camera will face because everyone loves to take their camera to the beach! If you ever see me out – get me to twist one of my circular polarizers for you – that little grinding sound is sand! I think I will order this from B&H to see if it is what I think I need for good, all-round camera protection.