Uploads from snapdragginphoto

Uploads from snapdragginphoto http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/ Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:31:39 -0700 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:31:39 -0700 http://www.flickr.com/ http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1085/buddyicons/9468291@N03.jpg?1184380927#9468291@N03 Uploads from snapdragginphoto http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/ For Nissie http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/9078651228/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/9078651228/" title="For Nissie"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3827/9078651228_a900fc0f63_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="For Nissie" /></a></p> <p>Often, the scenery of North Carolina's highlands can rival that of any in the world, though sometimes it's the rough and rocky road that takes you to a beautiful place... to get there, you really have to want to be there. The trail up Hawksbill Mountain isn't that long, but it's steep, rocky, and slippery in places when hiking in the dark and wet. It's even a rough start to the day to make this shot, as you're up at 0'dark-thirty to be at the trailhead at 4:30 am, with no guarantee that nature's going to work out for you... the only way to know is to be there, day after day if that's what it takes. On this particular morning the clouds lifted in time to see this, a hopeful scene of Carolina rhododendron from the mountain's peak as the dreary morning yielded to streaming sunlight.<br /> <br /> Many of my clients have become good friends over the years... trust has value beyond dollars. Annissianna "Nissie" Sneed is one such friend. She's one of the beautiful people of this world, doing her best to make it a better place. Nissie, recently diagnosed with brain cancer, is currently in chemo-therapy prior to surgery. She's facing her own "rough and rocky road", but she's doing it with grace and courage... and also with prayer. Matthew 18:20 states, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” I know that many of you know, as I do, that there is power in prayer... take a couple of minutes to be encouraged and blessed by this song from Steven Curtis Chapman and remember Nissie in your prayers today that her rough and rocky road takes her to a beautiful place: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lK36zIciBg4" rel="nofollow">www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lK36z...</a></p> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:31:39 -0700 2013-05-20T07:19:31-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/9078651228 For Nissie <p>Often, the scenery of North Carolina's highlands can rival that of any in the world, though sometimes it's the rough and rocky road that takes you to a beautiful place... to get there, you really have to want to be there. The trail up Hawksbill Mountain isn't that long, but it's steep, rocky, and slippery in places when hiking in the dark and wet. It's even a rough start to the day to make this shot, as you're up at 0'dark-thirty to be at the trailhead at 4:30 am, with no guarantee that nature's going to work out for you... the only way to know is to be there, day after day if that's what it takes. On this particular morning the clouds lifted in time to see this, a hopeful scene of Carolina rhododendron from the mountain's peak as the dreary morning yielded to streaming sunlight.<br /> <br /> Many of my clients have become good friends over the years... trust has value beyond dollars. Annissianna "Nissie" Sneed is one such friend. She's one of the beautiful people of this world, doing her best to make it a better place. Nissie, recently diagnosed with brain cancer, is currently in chemo-therapy prior to surgery. She's facing her own "rough and rocky road", but she's doing it with grace and courage... and also with prayer. Matthew 18:20 states, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” I know that many of you know, as I do, that there is power in prayer... take a couple of minutes to be encouraged and blessed by this song from Steven Curtis Chapman and remember Nissie in your prayers today that her rough and rocky road takes her to a beautiful place: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lK36zIciBg4" rel="nofollow">www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lK36z...</a></p> snapdragginphoto morning fog clouds highlands friend day place prayer rocky northcarolina dreary rough slippery steep beautifulplace braincancer betterplace streamingsunlight hawksbillmountain matthew1820 carolinarhododendron nissie hikinginthedark roughandrockyroad graceandcourage forwheretwoorthreegatherinmynamethereamiwiththem”beautiful View from the Top http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8939340802/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8939340802/" title="View from the Top"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/8939340802_5f26d268b7_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="View from the Top" /></a></p> <p>A friend who recently bought some land on a mountain top near Blowing Rock, North Carolina, asked me to take some pictures from there... this would be the scene from a back deck or a great room with a cathedral ceiling and a wall of windows. That house has not been built yet, but there's no doubt the view would be spectacular. What you don't see here is a sweeping view of Grandfather Mountain, Grandmother Mountain, Hawksbill Mountain, and Table Rock... they're covered over by the approaching thunderstorm. I believe the dynamic interaction of light between earth and sky make this shot... this storm, at this point, is beautiful. Ironically, as I ate dinner later that evening, I saw the devastation of a not-so-beautiful storm that had descended on Oklahoma City that same day from a television in the restaurant. It's doubtful that the survivors will ever forget the more than 90 people, many of them friends and family, who lost their lives as a two-mile wide tornado tore through the suburb of Moore. Check out this link to see how Samaritan's Purse is making a difference in the lives of that community, and consider following through to the "Support" tab: <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/oklahoma-tornado-response/" rel="nofollow">www.samaritanspurse.org/article/oklahoma-tornado-response/</a> ... there's still much to be done. Thanks! Mike</p> Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:18:47 -0700 2013-05-20T17:49:26-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8939340802 View from the Top <p>A friend who recently bought some land on a mountain top near Blowing Rock, North Carolina, asked me to take some pictures from there... this would be the scene from a back deck or a great room with a cathedral ceiling and a wall of windows. That house has not been built yet, but there's no doubt the view would be spectacular. What you don't see here is a sweeping view of Grandfather Mountain, Grandmother Mountain, Hawksbill Mountain, and Table Rock... they're covered over by the approaching thunderstorm. I believe the dynamic interaction of light between earth and sky make this shot... this storm, at this point, is beautiful. Ironically, as I ate dinner later that evening, I saw the devastation of a not-so-beautiful storm that had descended on Oklahoma City that same day from a television in the restaurant. It's doubtful that the survivors will ever forget the more than 90 people, many of them friends and family, who lost their lives as a two-mile wide tornado tore through the suburb of Moore. Check out this link to see how Samaritan's Purse is making a difference in the lives of that community, and consider following through to the "Support" tab: <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/oklahoma-tornado-response/" rel="nofollow">www.samaritanspurse.org/article/oklahoma-tornado-response/</a> ... there's still much to be done. Thanks! Mike</p> snapdragginphoto light storm support northcarolina thunderstorm tornado oklahomacity blowingrock tablerock mountaintop grandfathermountain samaritanspurse makingadifference hawksbillmountain grandmothermountain betweenearthandsky Whaaat?!!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8868907771/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8868907771/" title="Whaaat?!!!"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/8868907771_9af10ca0f7_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Whaaat?!!!" /></a></p> <p>What, indeed... I'd blush too! The town Gaffney is the decided peach capitol of South Carolina, and they want to make sure everyone knows it. Anyone who travels I-85 between Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia is quite familiar with this sight... the one million gallon water tower that was constructed in 1981 to resemble a peach. It is called the Peachoid, though it also goes by other names such as "Mister Peach, and most notably, due to this somewhat obscene angle, "The Moon over Gaffney." For those of you who are unaware, the "Moon" in that particular name isn't descriptive of Earth's moon, but rather an irreverent salute by baring one's rear end to the public, such as Mister Peach is doing here.<br /> <br /> Though I've stopped many times in Gaffney for some of the sweetest peaches I've ever laid lips to, I've never taken the time for a decent shot of the Peachoid, though I had wanted to since the first time I had seen it... I can now check it off my "to do" list. There's more reason to stop here than just peaches, however... the northernmost entrance to the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway that leads to some of the most beautiful places throughout the Palmetto State is also located here.</p> Tue, 28 May 2013 10:40:25 -0700 2013-05-24T12:33:34-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8868907771 Whaaat?!!! <p>What, indeed... I'd blush too! The town Gaffney is the decided peach capitol of South Carolina, and they want to make sure everyone knows it. Anyone who travels I-85 between Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia is quite familiar with this sight... the one million gallon water tower that was constructed in 1981 to resemble a peach. It is called the Peachoid, though it also goes by other names such as "Mister Peach, and most notably, due to this somewhat obscene angle, "The Moon over Gaffney." For those of you who are unaware, the "Moon" in that particular name isn't descriptive of Earth's moon, but rather an irreverent salute by baring one's rear end to the public, such as Mister Peach is doing here.<br /> <br /> Though I've stopped many times in Gaffney for some of the sweetest peaches I've ever laid lips to, I've never taken the time for a decent shot of the Peachoid, though I had wanted to since the first time I had seen it... I can now check it off my "to do" list. There's more reason to stop here than just peaches, however... the northernmost entrance to the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway that leads to some of the most beautiful places throughout the Palmetto State is also located here.</p> snapdragginphoto watertower southcarolina peaches i85 gaffney peachoid palmettostate cherokeefoothillsnationalscenichighway misterpeach peachcapitolofsouthcarolina themoonovergaffney The Peachoid http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8869509884/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8869509884/" title="The Peachoid"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/8869509884_d2783d515c_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="The Peachoid" /></a></p> <p>The town Gaffney is the decided peach capitol of South Carolina, and they want to make sure everyone knows it. Anyone who travels I-85 between Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia is quite familiar with this sight... the one million gallon water tower that was constructed in 1981 to resemble a peach. It is called the Peachoid, though it also goes by other names such as "Mister Peach, and most notably, due to this somewhat obscene angle, "The Moon over Gaffney" (as seen in the image below). For those of you who are unaware, the "Moon" in that particular name isn't descriptive of Earth's moon, but rather an irreverent salute by baring one's rear end to the public, such as Mister Peach is doing here.<br /> <br /> Though I've stopped many times in Gaffney for some of the sweetest peaches I've ever laid lips to, I've never taken the time for a decent shot of the Peachoid, though I had wanted to since the first time I had seen it... I can now check it off my "to do" list. There's more reason to stop here than just peaches, however... the northernmost entrance to the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway that leads to some of the most beautiful places throughout the Palmetto State is also located here.</p> Tue, 28 May 2013 10:39:14 -0700 2013-05-24T12:32:07-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8869509884 The Peachoid <p>The town Gaffney is the decided peach capitol of South Carolina, and they want to make sure everyone knows it. Anyone who travels I-85 between Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia is quite familiar with this sight... the one million gallon water tower that was constructed in 1981 to resemble a peach. It is called the Peachoid, though it also goes by other names such as "Mister Peach, and most notably, due to this somewhat obscene angle, "The Moon over Gaffney" (as seen in the image below). For those of you who are unaware, the "Moon" in that particular name isn't descriptive of Earth's moon, but rather an irreverent salute by baring one's rear end to the public, such as Mister Peach is doing here.<br /> <br /> Though I've stopped many times in Gaffney for some of the sweetest peaches I've ever laid lips to, I've never taken the time for a decent shot of the Peachoid, though I had wanted to since the first time I had seen it... I can now check it off my "to do" list. There's more reason to stop here than just peaches, however... the northernmost entrance to the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway that leads to some of the most beautiful places throughout the Palmetto State is also located here.</p> snapdragginphoto watertower southcarolina peaches i85 gaffney peachoid palmettostate cherokeefoothillsnationalscenichighway misterpeach peachcapitolofsouthcarolina themoonovergaffney Linville Skyline http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8789081204/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8789081204/" title="Linville Skyline"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2806/8789081204_e8be9c6d84_m.jpg" width="240" height="96" alt="Linville Skyline" /></a></p> <p>The destination this weekend was to the crest of Hawksbill Mountain and the ephemerally beautiful Carolina rhododendron that adorn it. I had the pleasure to connect with Flickr friend Rob Travis to share the experience with. We liked the hike up so much, we did it twice within 12 hours, once with lightning so close you could smell the char from a strike and once with just light rain. Trust me, without lightning makes for a better experience. It was still dark as we reached the top early Monday morning, but it was evident the mountain was wrapped in fog, or rather cloud, as the case may be. Energy from the rising sun burned it away, however, leaving fog in the low valleys and a dramatic sky overhead. <br /> <br /> That morning progressed from gloom to what led to this image... a good impression of what earth rises above Linville Gorge, from Wiseman's View on the right to Table Rock on the left. You can also see the Black Mountain Range obscured by cloud in the distance on the right, where Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain east of the Mississippi, lays along its spine. That was a great morning for me, and it was fun to be in the company of Rob to see how he goes about his craft... and he takes it seriously, as you can see here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob_travis/">www.flickr.com/photos/rob_travis/</a> It was clear he was quite professional, as only a professional photographer would tackle a trail like that in those conditions at around 4 am... well, that and crazy people. I wondered about that as I marched up that trail carrying gear... perhaps I should take a more serious look at myself!<br /> <br /> This panorama consists of 6 vertical images stitched in CS6, with a final output of 30"x75".</p> Wed, 22 May 2013 11:04:29 -0700 2013-05-20T07:11:43-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8789081204 Linville Skyline <p>The destination this weekend was to the crest of Hawksbill Mountain and the ephemerally beautiful Carolina rhododendron that adorn it. I had the pleasure to connect with Flickr friend Rob Travis to share the experience with. We liked the hike up so much, we did it twice within 12 hours, once with lightning so close you could smell the char from a strike and once with just light rain. Trust me, without lightning makes for a better experience. It was still dark as we reached the top early Monday morning, but it was evident the mountain was wrapped in fog, or rather cloud, as the case may be. Energy from the rising sun burned it away, however, leaving fog in the low valleys and a dramatic sky overhead. <br /> <br /> That morning progressed from gloom to what led to this image... a good impression of what earth rises above Linville Gorge, from Wiseman's View on the right to Table Rock on the left. You can also see the Black Mountain Range obscured by cloud in the distance on the right, where Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain east of the Mississippi, lays along its spine. That was a great morning for me, and it was fun to be in the company of Rob to see how he goes about his craft... and he takes it seriously, as you can see here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob_travis/">www.flickr.com/photos/rob_travis/</a> It was clear he was quite professional, as only a professional photographer would tackle a trail like that in those conditions at around 4 am... well, that and crazy people. I wondered about that as I marched up that trail carrying gear... perhaps I should take a more serious look at myself!<br /> <br /> This panorama consists of 6 vertical images stitched in CS6, with a final output of 30"x75".</p> snapdragginphoto sky fog northcarolina linville linvillegorge tablerock hawksbillmountain blackmountainrange wisemansview carolinarhododendron Parkview Lodge Beauty http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8723374339/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8723374339/" title="Parkview Lodge Beauty"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/8723374339_f7be92fe36_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Parkview Lodge Beauty" /></a></p> <p>A jaunt into the mountains for business, as well as a survey of conditions last weekend, yielded a little more than I expected... a beautiful plant species that I was unfamiliar with. The weather conditions were awful, with cold, flooding rain, and plenty of wind... not the best for lengthy trails. That being said, neither was it the best for short ones, though I did venture out along the rim of Linville Gorge to see how the Carolina rhododendron were coming along for the season... they make an excellent foreground for the big landscapes available there. For those of you who are interested, as of May 4, a large percentage of the Carolina rhodos of the area appear to be a week or longer before they bloom, the one caveat being the weather... it snowed there Tuesday of this week, and those conditions may slow that overall bloom into the next two weeks.<br /> <br /> While there, I stayed at the Parkview Lodge <a href="http://parkviewlodge.com/rates.htm" rel="nofollow">parkviewlodge.com/rates.htm</a> , owned by friends David and Cindy Peters, in the community of Linville Falls. Cindy told me that I needed to have a look around lodge... we're not talking "city" here. The structures are landscaped with the very things that can be found in this region of the Blue Ridge. Cindy's particularly proud of her garden behind the office, with rhododendron, trillium, lady slippers, jack-in-the-pulpit, and bellwort. The backside of the property descends from the ridge likely 200 feet to the next rise, and is just as wild as it ever was... that's where I found this plant, the only one of its kind I could see there. As always in these situations where I can't identify some bit of flora I've run into, I had consigned myself to research. Before I got started, however, I happened to stumble on an image here on Flickr that explained it all: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fritzflohrreynolds/8695213154/in/photostream">www.flickr.com/photos/fritzflohrreynolds/8695213154/in/ph...</a> It's a showy orchis (a type of orchid), and, yes, it's native to these mountains. Thanks, Fritz.... would that all my research were this easy! I would have liked a bit more depth in the image, but conditions would allow for no more slower a speed.</p> Thu, 09 May 2013 13:35:11 -0700 2013-05-04T18:30:53-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8723374339 Parkview Lodge Beauty <p>A jaunt into the mountains for business, as well as a survey of conditions last weekend, yielded a little more than I expected... a beautiful plant species that I was unfamiliar with. The weather conditions were awful, with cold, flooding rain, and plenty of wind... not the best for lengthy trails. That being said, neither was it the best for short ones, though I did venture out along the rim of Linville Gorge to see how the Carolina rhododendron were coming along for the season... they make an excellent foreground for the big landscapes available there. For those of you who are interested, as of May 4, a large percentage of the Carolina rhodos of the area appear to be a week or longer before they bloom, the one caveat being the weather... it snowed there Tuesday of this week, and those conditions may slow that overall bloom into the next two weeks.<br /> <br /> While there, I stayed at the Parkview Lodge <a href="http://parkviewlodge.com/rates.htm" rel="nofollow">parkviewlodge.com/rates.htm</a> , owned by friends David and Cindy Peters, in the community of Linville Falls. Cindy told me that I needed to have a look around lodge... we're not talking "city" here. The structures are landscaped with the very things that can be found in this region of the Blue Ridge. Cindy's particularly proud of her garden behind the office, with rhododendron, trillium, lady slippers, jack-in-the-pulpit, and bellwort. The backside of the property descends from the ridge likely 200 feet to the next rise, and is just as wild as it ever was... that's where I found this plant, the only one of its kind I could see there. As always in these situations where I can't identify some bit of flora I've run into, I had consigned myself to research. Before I got started, however, I happened to stumble on an image here on Flickr that explained it all: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fritzflohrreynolds/8695213154/in/photostream">www.flickr.com/photos/fritzflohrreynolds/8695213154/in/ph...</a> It's a showy orchis (a type of orchid), and, yes, it's native to these mountains. Thanks, Fritz.... would that all my research were this easy! I would have liked a bit more depth in the image, but conditions would allow for no more slower a speed.</p> snapdragginphoto northcarolina blueridge linvillefalls showyorchis parkviewlodge Frenetic Flight http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8704931584/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8704931584/" title="Frenetic Flight"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8538/8704931584_b49a8cc47b_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Frenetic Flight" /></a></p> <p>A new camera and new 100-400mm stabilized L-series lens invited a new way to approach photography. Much of what I shoot is for detail, which calls for the camera to be mounted solidly to a tripod, especially with a long lens. Here, for a more "artsy" approach, I opted to handhold the extended lens as I "stalked" geese along North Carolina's coast. I liked the feel of movement in this particular one... there's depth and recognition of subject, even without the detail. No, this is not texturized, as has become popular here on Flickr... it's the effect of slow speed while moving the lens in the direction of the bird's flight (stabilizer set to mode 2). You can see the camera settings under "Additional info" there on the right... and, yes, at 400mm, 1/40th second is quite slow.</p> Fri, 03 May 2013 06:36:11 -0700 2013-01-30T15:22:00-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8704931584 Frenetic Flight <p>A new camera and new 100-400mm stabilized L-series lens invited a new way to approach photography. Much of what I shoot is for detail, which calls for the camera to be mounted solidly to a tripod, especially with a long lens. Here, for a more "artsy" approach, I opted to handhold the extended lens as I "stalked" geese along North Carolina's coast. I liked the feel of movement in this particular one... there's depth and recognition of subject, even without the detail. No, this is not texturized, as has become popular here on Flickr... it's the effect of slow speed while moving the lens in the direction of the bird's flight (stabilizer set to mode 2). You can see the camera settings under "Additional info" there on the right... and, yes, at 400mm, 1/40th second is quite slow.</p> snapdragginphoto Last Light on Price Lake (hit the "L" key) http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8696795490/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8696795490/" title="Last Light on Price Lake (hit the "L" key)"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8538/8696795490_7067e31a6c_m.jpg" width="240" height="96" alt="Last Light on Price Lake (hit the "L" key)" /></a></p> <p>This is always a favorite destination for sunrise and sunset along this area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, though often it isn't given to the best of conditions. The clouds and the mist here are remnants of an energetic thunderstorm that caught me flatfooted along a trail at Julian Price Park... fortunately, I had a raincoat folded away in my camera backpack and quickly found a spot to hunker down in relative safety until it passed.<br /> <br /> Off in the distance, Grandfather Mountain often remains enshrouded in fog after conditions that were present here. This storm, however, left only retreating clouds exposing the clean, brilliant blues above. Oh, and it also helps that the storm took the wind with it for some calm water. What I liked here was how the clouds framed the land and offered a crowning focal point. Hopefully, I'll have ample time over the next few months for more of what this region offers for the lens. This is a stitch of 7 level vertical shots in CS6, yielding a 60"x24" final image.</p> Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:15:31 -0700 2012-07-17T20:29:36-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8696795490 Last Light on Price Lake (hit the "L" key) <p>This is always a favorite destination for sunrise and sunset along this area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, though often it isn't given to the best of conditions. The clouds and the mist here are remnants of an energetic thunderstorm that caught me flatfooted along a trail at Julian Price Park... fortunately, I had a raincoat folded away in my camera backpack and quickly found a spot to hunker down in relative safety until it passed.<br /> <br /> Off in the distance, Grandfather Mountain often remains enshrouded in fog after conditions that were present here. This storm, however, left only retreating clouds exposing the clean, brilliant blues above. Oh, and it also helps that the storm took the wind with it for some calm water. What I liked here was how the clouds framed the land and offered a crowning focal point. Hopefully, I'll have ample time over the next few months for more of what this region offers for the lens. This is a stitch of 7 level vertical shots in CS6, yielding a 60"x24" final image.</p> snapdragginphoto blue lake mountains northcarolina blueridgeparkway pricelake northcarolinamountains cs6 julianpricepark Evening at the Walled Garden http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8682756351/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8682756351/" title="Evening at the Walled Garden"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8682756351_9204006ee8_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Evening at the Walled Garden" /></a></p> <p>For those of you unfamiliar with Biltmore Estate, I thought you might like to see from where I got the last two images. The low sun of early evening accentuates the brilliance of the tulips in just a portion of the main section of the Walled Garden. Biltmore's website boasts of over 72,000 tulips here... I only counted 71,999. I should feel shortchanged... what do you think?</p> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:10:20 -0700 2013-04-20T17:22:38-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8682756351 Evening at the Walled Garden <p>For those of you unfamiliar with Biltmore Estate, I thought you might like to see from where I got the last two images. The low sun of early evening accentuates the brilliance of the tulips in just a portion of the main section of the Walled Garden. Biltmore's website boasts of over 72,000 tulips here... I only counted 71,999. I should feel shortchanged... what do you think?</p> snapdragginphoto Sunshine and Joy http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8678673286/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8678673286/" title="Sunshine and Joy"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8678673286_a7dd926ec7_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Sunshine and Joy" /></a></p> <p>This and the image below were taken mere minutes apart. I find it somewhat fascinating that they evoke such different emotions... what do you think?<br /> <br /> Taken at the Walled Garden at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.</p> Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:15:46 -0700 2013-04-20T11:27:12-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8678673286 Sunshine and Joy <p>This and the image below were taken mere minutes apart. I find it somewhat fascinating that they evoke such different emotions... what do you think?<br /> <br /> Taken at the Walled Garden at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.</p> snapdragginphoto sunshine tulips asheville joy northcarolina walledgarden biltmoreestate biltmorehouse Pensive Heart http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8678662374/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8678662374/" title="Pensive Heart"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8678662374_db81dc00c2_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Pensive Heart" /></a></p> <p>This and the image below were taken mere minutes apart. I find it somewhat fascinating that they evoke such different emotions... what do you think?<br /> <br /> Taken at the Walled Garden at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.</p> Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:10:48 -0700 2013-04-20T12:20:46-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8678662374 Pensive Heart <p>This and the image below were taken mere minutes apart. I find it somewhat fascinating that they evoke such different emotions... what do you think?<br /> <br /> Taken at the Walled Garden at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.</p> snapdragginphoto tulips asheville northcarolina pensive walledgarden biltmoreestate biltmorehouse Evening stroll (hit the "L" key for this one) http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8675334620/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8675334620/" title="Evening stroll (hit the "L" key for this one)"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8125/8675334620_686d116e39_m.jpg" width="240" height="120" alt="Evening stroll (hit the "L" key for this one)" /></a></p> <p>It's the Canada goose family, plus one, out for an early evening stroll across a Monet painting, also known as the Biltmore Estate lagoon. I believe "plus one" is the crazy brother-in-law, Earl, though they just call him uncle Earl, for the sake of the kids. As you can see, he has a comparatively short neck... as soon as he learns to stick out his neck, he may have a wife and kids of his own. They had come from right to left a few minutes earlier to a steep bank. All the "kids" managed to struggle up the bank after their parents, save for just one little fella... so everyone piled back into the water to paddle across to the shallow bank. It just so happens a human family, also with a little one in tow, was waiting there with dinner in hand... bonus! All the little ones were quite delighted.</p> Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:35:55 -0700 2013-04-20T18:25:11-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8675334620 Evening stroll (hit the "L" key for this one) <p>It's the Canada goose family, plus one, out for an early evening stroll across a Monet painting, also known as the Biltmore Estate lagoon. I believe "plus one" is the crazy brother-in-law, Earl, though they just call him uncle Earl, for the sake of the kids. As you can see, he has a comparatively short neck... as soon as he learns to stick out his neck, he may have a wife and kids of his own. They had come from right to left a few minutes earlier to a steep bank. All the "kids" managed to struggle up the bank after their parents, save for just one little fella... so everyone piled back into the water to paddle across to the shallow bank. It just so happens a human family, also with a little one in tow, was waiting there with dinner in hand... bonus! All the little ones were quite delighted.</p> snapdragginphoto Rapids on the Eno http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8661842122/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8661842122/" title="Rapids on the Eno"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8661842122_b12406f7a5_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Rapids on the Eno" /></a></p> <p>This is just a pretty section of the river to me. This shows not only a drop-off in the water, but also diversity in the woods that surround it. In the large version of this image, you can readily see the bluets and violets on the far bank, as well as dogwood and river azalea.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project!<br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:40:20 -0700 2013-04-17T16:18:37-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8661842122 Rapids on the Eno <p>This is just a pretty section of the river to me. This shows not only a drop-off in the water, but also diversity in the woods that surround it. In the large version of this image, you can readily see the bluets and violets on the far bank, as well as dogwood and river azalea.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project!<br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> snapdragginphoto Spring green on the Eno http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8660739591/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8660739591/" title="Spring green on the Eno"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8660739591_d9985aa02d_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Spring green on the Eno" /></a></p> <p>This was taken about 20-feet from the next post... I liked the brilliant green of the grasses shooting up from the river in this one.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project!<br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:39:39 -0700 2013-04-17T16:36:29-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8660739591 Spring green on the Eno <p>This was taken about 20-feet from the next post... I liked the brilliant green of the grasses shooting up from the river in this one.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project!<br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> snapdragginphoto Eno River http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8660737425/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8660737425/" title="Eno River"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8660737425_b4800f51d4_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Eno River" /></a></p> <p>This was taken late in the day to get some of the warmth of the low sun into the woods. I used a neutral density filter to lengthen the exposure to level out the moving water for that large area of reflected sky... and, yes, the wind was kind to me.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project!</p> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:38:40 -0700 2013-04-13T17:28:26-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8660737425 Eno River <p>This was taken late in the day to get some of the warmth of the low sun into the woods. I used a neutral density filter to lengthen the exposure to level out the moving water for that large area of reflected sky... and, yes, the wind was kind to me.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project!</p> snapdragginphoto Bloodroot http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8661833758/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8661833758/" title="Bloodroot"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8661833758_24096b9c6f_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Bloodroot" /></a></p> <p>A seemingly crazy name for so beautiful a flower. Indians used the sap from these to color pottery... therefore the reason for the name. Found along the Pump Station Trail along the Eno River.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project!</p> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:36:33 -0700 2013-03-26T15:03:02-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8661833758 Bloodroot <p>A seemingly crazy name for so beautiful a flower. Indians used the sap from these to color pottery... therefore the reason for the name. Found along the Pump Station Trail along the Eno River.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project!</p> snapdragginphoto Spring Beauty Bouquet http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8661422174/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8661422174/" title="Spring Beauty Bouquet"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8661422174_8f8b2c14a5_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Spring Beauty Bouquet" /></a></p> <p>I've written about these on previous images. These just struck me as being exceptionally pink. This was taken off the Eagle Trail along the Eno River.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project! <br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:27:50 -0700 2013-04-03T11:36:10-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8661422174 Spring Beauty Bouquet <p>I've written about these on previous images. These just struck me as being exceptionally pink. This was taken off the Eagle Trail along the Eno River.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project! <br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> snapdragginphoto River Azalea at the Eno http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8660299165/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8660299165/" title="River Azalea at the Eno"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/8660299165_f129842c05_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="River Azalea at the Eno" /></a></p> <p>I've heard folks call these "pinksters", though that's a misnomer... this is river azalea, found throughout the rises along the Eno River.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project! <br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:17:34 -0700 2013-04-16T18:02:59-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8660299165 River Azalea at the Eno <p>I've heard folks call these "pinksters", though that's a misnomer... this is river azalea, found throughout the rises along the Eno River.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project! <br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> snapdragginphoto Atamasco lily along the Eno http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8661343088/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8661343088/" title="Atamasco lily along the Eno"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8661343088_9c7b6aef80_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Atamasco lily along the Eno" /></a></p> <p>This is one of those pleasant surprises you run into on the Eno, the occasional Atamasco lily blooming just off the trail... I think you'd have to work real hard to get a bad picture of them. They're short-lived, so you'd better get out there.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project! <br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:50:45 -0700 2013-04-17T15:51:05-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8661343088 Atamasco lily along the Eno <p>This is one of those pleasant surprises you run into on the Eno, the occasional Atamasco lily blooming just off the trail... I think you'd have to work real hard to get a bad picture of them. They're short-lived, so you'd better get out there.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project! <br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> snapdragginphoto Dogwoods at West Point on the Eno http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8660241043/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/snapdraggin/">snapdragginphoto</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapdraggin/8660241043/" title="Dogwoods at West Point on the Eno"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8117/8660241043_794807c816_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Dogwoods at West Point on the Eno" /></a></p> <p>West Point on the Eno is quite a nice park here in Durham, North Carolina, with a few restored historical structures, including the old mill that you see through the dogwoods here. Many events and educational programs are held here each year. During the warmer months, free weekend tours are highlighted by the operation of the mill, where you can buy stone ground meal and flour.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project! <br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:49:56 -0700 2013-04-16T16:54:35-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (snapdragginphoto) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8660241043 Dogwoods at West Point on the Eno <p>West Point on the Eno is quite a nice park here in Durham, North Carolina, with a few restored historical structures, including the old mill that you see through the dogwoods here. Many events and educational programs are held here each year. During the warmer months, free weekend tours are highlighted by the operation of the mill, where you can buy stone ground meal and flour.<br /> <br /> I decided to get a good jump on creating a set images of the Eno River and the wildflowers found there... there are reasons. Hence the upload of the most images I've ever done at once. Spring here was likely the same here as it was for you... a long time in coming. However, it did, and it literally exploded... I swear you can hear it as the leaves adorn branches, grasses sprout, and flowers bloom. It's been a hard, though fun time trying to stay ahead of it in terms of photography. Some things are easy to find, while others require skills needed for Easter egg hunts. Some images necessitate being at the far end of a trail toward sunset and then rush back to the car before the park closes. Then there's the wildlife to contend with... on the first 80° (26.67 °C) day, I walked straight into a pack of wild redbugs (chiggers). "Redbugs" are actually tiny arachnids, somewhat like ticks, that burrow into the skin and cause a deep and abiding itch that no scratch can reach. About a dozen of them have encamped around my right ankle and are threatening to chew my foot off, which would be regrettable... I need that foot to complete this project! <br /> <br /> If you have the time, take a look at the set... use the "slideshow" function.</p> snapdragginphoto