Sweetwater Creek State Park

For a long time I had a desire to go to Sweetwater Creek State Park.  Many others, mostly photographers, have been telling me about the park.  Last Thursday I went to see for myself.

Sweetwater Creek opened in 1976 and is the most visited day-use park in the Georgia State Park system.  The day I was there -- the parking area was filling before noon.  There were many families and people walking dogs.  Also, lots of hikers and joggers using the park.  Sweetwater is located near the city of Lithia Springs, 15 miles west of Atlanta.  This area has so many native dogwoods blooming in the woods -- it looked like a snow flurry as I drove to the park entrance.  The park is open from 7am to dusk.  There are three color-coded trails.  The interpretive center is fairly new and rated as one of the most environmentally responsible buildings anywhere.  wow!  In the facility you will find an interesting display and many pamphlets about the park and the plants and animals found there.  There are trail-specific materials with descriptions and pictures of the plants for easy identification.  

If you take the red or the blue trail you will pass the ruins of the textile mill for the town of New Manchester.  The mill opened in 1849 as the Sweetwater Manufacturing Company.  It was sold in 1857 and renamed the New Manchester Manufacturing Company.  The mill produced yarn, thread, and fabric.  It stood five stories tall.  In 1864 it was burned by Sherman during the Civil War.  The ruins are popular with photographers.

The park is a nice place for a moderate hike.  If you take the white, blue, or red trail you will also end up at the falls -- not high falls -- but pretty none the less.  There are a lot of rocks and fast water from near the ruins toward the falls area.  This will give you the opportunity to try those blurry water photos -- you know -- milky water and sharp rocks.  I love those.  The day I was there was very bright.  I stacked my neutral density filter with my circular polarizer and played a little.  I did not haul the tripod down the trail -- I wish I had.  There are some railings on overlook decks that can help out as sort of a tripod.  This was OK until a small group of kids came along running down the steps and shaking the whole structure.

I really like Sweetwater Creek State Park -- and I can see how it is the most visited.  When I was there I had to get a new park pass for 2009 and I asked about setting up a hike with the ranger.  He is supposed to call me -- I hope he does so soon!

Also, check out the Friends of Sweetwater Creek website -- lots of great information there!

You are invited to a special photography event

Nature, Undisturbed

Preserve the Moment, Preserve the Land

a juried photography exhibit to benefit  Southern Conservation Trust

Line Creek in Drought by Donna Rosser

April 24 through May 3 at Dogwood Gallery and Framer

1175 Senoia Rd., Tyrone

770.774.3524    www.dogwoodgallery.net

April 24, 6pm	Opening Reception, Juror’s Talk, Awards
April 25, 2pm	Lensbaby and the Nature Photographer
April 26, 2pm	Family Day, Birds of Prey Show
May 1, 6pm	Meet Local Photographers, Wine Tasting
May 2, 6pm	Susan Todd-Raque on Collecting Photography
May 3, 2pm	A Photographic Safari – slideshow and talk

Visit www.sctlandtrust.org for a list of sponsors and more information

Online Class is Here!

The following is taken from my website -- for anyone interested -- here you go.  If you have questions, feel free to email me.

For those of you who do not live close enough to attend one of my workshops -- you can sign up for a class that will come to you each week.  I will email the information and weekly assignment to you.  You will email to me the photos I request.  You will then receive critique and the next assignment.

You can email me for payment options or pay through the Paypal button on this page.  When paying for a class, be sure to add in the comment section which class (beginner or advanced).  Then, if you pay via Paypal, email me right away to let me know so we can get started.  If there is a problem with the link -- please email me to let me know.

Beginner Digital Photography

Six weeks of instruction on using your digital camera.  Take the camera off of the auto setting and get creative.  Learn my tips on macro, lighting, and more.  Learn about gear you need to get the photos you want.

week 1 -- aperture, shutter speed, white balance, ISO
week 2 -- kinds of lenses, choosing a lens, types of cameras, filters
week 3 -- lighting, capturing natural light
week 4 -- taking great macro shots
week 5 -- great people photos
week 6 -- composition and critique


Advanced Digital Photography
For those who know basically how to use their camera -- but are ready to get creative.  

week 1 -- black and white photography
week 2 -- depth of field, selective focus study
week 3 -- self portraits, still life
week 4 -- hone your skills with photography projects
week 5 -- high dynamic range imaging
week 6 -- turn your hobby into a business, building a portfolio

Choose your level of class.  I recommend anyone who needs work on settings and the basics; start with the beginner class.  For just $20 each week you receive a lesson and an assignment.  Complete the lesson, email me your photo assignment for critique. 

The Pond and Point & Shoot Fun

There are gizmos that you can buy to hook up your camera to your microscope or telescope.  They are great (I guess -- I don't have either).  But I have put my point and shoot pocket camera's lens up against the eye piece of the microscope and the telescope.  The results are pretty darn good.   If you try this -- hold the camera steady and let the auto focus do the work.  Be careful not to scrub the lens against the glass of the scope.  Also be sure you have plenty of light.  The microscope is great because it has the built in light from underneath. 

The photos today are of a goldfish egg and a newborn gold fish from my backyard pond.  These photos were taken in the spring a few years ago.  My "big momma" goldfish -- the one I believed laid the eggs was eaten by a heron about 18 months ago.  Just recently I noticed the two remaining koi are missing -- and my daughter told me the other day she saw a heron on our roof.  Pricey lunch, buddy!

The frogs eat the fish also.  When we first put the pond in -- one morning I stepped out onto the deck to peek over the edge and see what was going on early in the day.  I spied a big bullfrog with a pretty golden tail hanging from its mouth.  The war was on.  For weeks I would catch the bullfrogs and the kids would haul them across the road to the "cow pond" and let them go there.  I kept having a frog issue -- I finally gave up.  The day I saw the frog grab the bird and pull it under...well...ick.

Then I saw the snake.  There is some kind of snake in the pond.  Or it was -- I did not see it much after last year in the late spring.  Since it is so early now -- I don't know if I have one or not.  They eat fish too -- and those pesky frogs.  I call them pesky -- but I really like them.  Just in the past couple evenings I have heard the signing sounds of frogs and toads from the backyard.  Another 'when the pond was new' story -- all of us went out on the deck one night -- when we heard the frogs -- with flashlights to see what they were doing.  The night we shined the light on the bull frog with the toad's legs sticking out of its mouth...well, again...ick.  And my daughter summed it all up: "I wish I had not seen that!"

I think I have a pretty good number of goldfish -- comets and shubunkins.  No koi left.

But I have these cool photos.  Oh and in the egg photo -- it looks like there is some kind of pond water creature -- long and skinny -- you see the spine in the upper left.