Here are a couple more images from my trip to southern West Virginia last month:
Adam Stephen House
•July 1, 2011 • Comments Off on Adam Stephen HouseOne of the best kept secrets in Martinsburg is the Adam Stephen House. I finally discovered it a couple of weeks ago and took advantage of the opportunity to photograph inside the house.
The centerpiece of the parlor is the beautiful mid-18th century pianoforte.
While the outside of the house looks nicely restored, I was not prepared for what I found when I stepped through the front door. The interior of the house was not only beautifully restored to its 18th century splendor, the house has been fully furnished with superb period antiques.
Aside from being a General in the American Army during the American Revolution, Sephen was a physician. This room is set up to reproduce his physician's office.
These images are just the beginning. I will be posting more images from time to time and I expect to be photographing more as I have the opportunity.
The Adam Stephen House is open Saturday and Sunday from 2-5pm during the summer. If there is any way for you to have the opportunity, I encourage you to drop in and see this place for yourself.
Exploring the Coal Heritage Area
•July 1, 2011 • Comments Off on Exploring the Coal Heritage AreaBack in June I decided to take a quick road trip down to the coal mining region in Southern West Virginia. Reports of the economic devastation of the area brought about by changes in the coal industry and the resulting loss of employment are not exaggerated.
Welch, WV was one of the centers of coal prosperity in the state. The city of Welch and McDowell County once boasted a population of approaching 100,000 in the 1950’s. Now, 60 years later the 2010 census reports a little over 22,000 in the county, down almost 20% from 2000.
Above are two of the many abandoned business along Route 52 that runs between Bluefield, WV and Welch. The narrow winding mountain road runs some 33 tortuous miles though steep valleys to get to Welch and is part of the larger Coal Heritage Highway.
Washington Street Gallery Reception
•June 3, 2011 • Comments Off on Washington Street Gallery Reception
Thursday June 16, 5-9pm
I will be giving a gallery talk on my project “Forgotten Places: North Dakota” at the Washington Street Gallery and Gift on Thursday, June 16. The reception will be from 5-9pm in conjunction with the Charles Town “Third Thursday” promotion. I will give the gallery talk at 7pm about my travels to photograph in North Dakota last year.
In addition, I will offer a special selection of prints, including special print folios, available as well as copies of my new book of the images from the project.
Save the Date: August 13, 2011
I am very excited to announce that I will have my first solo exhibit of prints from my “Forgotten Places: North Dakota” project, which will be displayed at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center in Frederick Maryland. The opening reception will be on Saturday, August 13 – details to follow.
Delaplaine Juried Exhibit
•May 23, 2011 • Comments Off on Delaplaine Juried Exhibit
"Bare Pantry"
I just found out that I have two images selected for the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center 2011 Annual Juried Exhibit.
Both images are from my Olson House portfolio captured during the Extraordinary Images in Ordinary Places workshop at the Maine Media Workshops and led by Tillman Crane.
The first image (above) has been shown in a number of venues but this is the first time it has been selected for the first time in a juried event.
"A Place to Think"
The second image has been juried twice before and was awarded First Prize, Black and White at the Tri-State Photography Exhibit earlier this year.
The juror for this exhibit was Laura Amussen, Director of Exhibitions for the Silber Art Gallery at Goucher College.
The exhibit runs from June 4 – July 24 in the Kline and F&M Galleries. The opening reception is Saturday June 4 with an awards presentation around 4pm. The Center is located at 40 South Carroll Street, Frederick Maryland. More information is available at at the Center’s web site.
Infrared at Williamsport
•May 21, 2011 • Comments Off on Infrared at Williamsport
High water under the aqueduct at Williamsport almost filled the space under the arches. (Nikon D200 IR)
Yesterday I went out to see if the high water along the Potomac might offer some interesting photographs. The water levels were actually down from the peak, although still much higher than usual.
The light was lousy – cloudy dull – so I decided to try some IR shots with my modified Nikon D200. Although the subdued light did not yield the brilliant white foliage, I like the somewhat more subtle way the foliage was rendered in this light.
I thought it was interesting how these little ferns grew right out of cracks between the stone blocks. (Nikon D200 IR)
C&O Canal Dam 5
•May 15, 2011 • Comments Off on C&O Canal Dam 5
Dam #5 is one of two surviving dams on the Potomac River that were originally built to create pools of water that could feed the canal during periods when the river flow was low. The other surviving dam is Dam #4.
Dam #5 is located about 7 miles upstream from Williamsport, Maryland at mile 106.6. The two surviving dams now provide water for small electric generating plants.
More Canal Wandering
•May 13, 2011 • Comments Off on More Canal WanderingThe C&O Canal has fascinated me for many years. At one time I thought I might try to walk the full length of the canal (in small segments) and photograph all of the interesting structures. That is probably well beyond my capability at this point but I am enjoying picking out spots and covering a mile or two at a time.
Another outing to the Hancock area was just downstream from Hancock, where I found the Tonoloway Creek aqueduct (mile 123.) It’s pretty well deteriorated and is reinforced with a lot of wood structure. In the background can be seed the Visitors’ Center.
Then less than a half mile downstream from the aqueduct are lock 51 (Mile 122.7) and the ruins of a stone lockhouse.
Canal Wanderings
•May 11, 2011 • Comments Off on Canal WanderingsFor the last few weeks I have been walking parts of the C&O Canal with my camera, partially to photograph and partly to just get a little exercise.
Walking upstream from Hancock on a cloudy day, the river side of the Canal was lush with green from all of the rain we have had this spring. In fact, it had the definite feel of a rain forest.
Peters Valley Photography Retreat
•April 19, 2011 • Comments Off on Peters Valley Photography Retreat
The Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area is criss-crossed with many small streams and waterfalls.
Last weekend I had a great opportunity to attend a photography retreat at the Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton, New Jersey. The Center is located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and is surrounded by a wonderful natural environment.
The retreat was organized by photographer Tillman Crane and hosted by Andy Schmitt, the Head of Photography for the Center. It was a weekend of great conversation, photo opportunities in a beautiful (in spite of the weather) environment, and the sharing of some amazing photographic work.
On Saturday afternoon about 20 photographers showed work at a photo sharing session that included platinum and silver prints, Polaroid image transfers, books, and a range of digital prints. I showed a number of prints from my trips North Dakota last year and a draft of the book I am putting together abut the trip.
For me, it was also a kind of reunion as three of the other photographers from last year’s North Dakota workshop were there and I had the opportunity to see some of their work as well as being able to share some of my images from North Dakota with them.
Light, Shadow, Form, and Texture 