November 18, 2012

I HAVE RUN OUT OF STORAGE SPACE AND GOOGLE WANTS TO CHARGE FOR MORE SPACE.  I WILL BE LOOKING INTO WHETHER OR NOT I WILL DO THIS OR LOOK TO SOME OTHER VENUE.

UNITIL THEN, THEN YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT.

RAY

November 17, 2012

This is the United Methodist Church in Tate, GA on Route 53 between Dawsonville and Jasper.  We we on our way to Blue Ridge when we saw this quaint church.

November 16, 2012

Here is a picture of a wounded bird that I took about a year ago.  I have been looking through pictures to post due to not having the time to take pictures lately.

November 15, 2012

It is November 15 and we still have some flowers blooming.  Knock Out Roses and Shasta Daisies are sparse, but it is nice to see them.  It beats leaves...

November 14, 2012

I cannot remember where this building with the mural is located.  It was with pictures that I took in New Hampshire and Maine. 

Composing a photograph is an art form, but is pales to the artist that creates a work by taking something they see visually or in their mind and is able capture its essence.

November 13, 2012

We all have been through a 'Drive-Thru'  for a quick meal, BUT have you ever been through a 'Fly-Thru?"  These pictures were taken last November, while we were in Key West. FL.

November 12, 2012

Can one be a 'Snowbird' from Georgia.  When I moved here. almost nine years ago, I thought that the winters in Georgia were heavenly, as compared to New Hampshire.  Now, I find myself wishing that the mornings were warmer.

I also find myself thinking of the trips to Destin, FL and thinking about the weather there.  This picture is of the Post Office in Seaside. FL, which is about an half hour trip from Destin; a definite 'tourist-trap.'  The Post Office building is about 24' x 24,' enchanting, but one does not have to wonder much as to why the Post Office is all but bankrupt.

November 11, 2012

Today is Veteran's Day, Which is a day of remembrance of those that have served in the Armed Forces. and this picture is of the Veteran"s Memorial in Cumming, GA.

November 10, 2012

Spell Check can be very helpful but what happens if the word is an homonym?  It does not get flagged.

My first thought when I saw this sign was that the Christmas Trees had FUR on them to protect them from the elements, but not the chainsaw...

My second thought was, "Someone PAID for this."  But then again, maybe they do not know this is a mistake and to asked for a new sign.

There are picture books dedicated to sign errors and are quote humorous.

November 9, 2012

This picture of lake fog was taken in New Hampshire.  Fog gives me one of two feelings.  The first is an eery feeling imagining something dastardly is going to happen,  The second is loneliness or solitude.

Picture a horse in a field on a bright, sunny day and then picture the same horse in the field early on a foggy morning.  Better yet, picture in your mind this scene on a bright, sunny day.

November 8, 2012

This was taken at Gibbs Gardens, with the permission of the girl's mother.

November 7, 2012

Photo op for Ray... gift shop for Linda.  How good is that.

November 6, 2012

I posted the original picture, bottom photo, on October 25 and this is from the same patch of flowers only with a vignette. 

The darkened area around the edge of the photo gives is different look and it allowed me to cover up the area at the bottom of the photo where there are few blossoms. 

November 5, 2012

These are cropped photos of the same shot at Minihaha Falls in Ruburn County, Georgia.  They show different results due to different shutter speeds.  The top photo was shot at a shutter speed of 1/1250 of a second and the bottom at a shutter speed of .5 (half) of a second.

The slower shutter speed give the look of moving water, while the faster speed stops the water.  Click once on the photo to enlarge for more detail

November 4, 2012

The camera was on a tripod for the first photo and someone asked if we wanted them to take the photo, to which we said yes. 

The second photo is of the falls and the path under the falls. Note the people in the picture.

The third photo is a merge of photos 1 and 2, with the help of Photoshop elements.  I selected us, merged the two photos, and then, with the second photo on top of the first, I erased the unselected part of the photo leaving the selection of us.

I re-sized and moved the selection to fit the other photo.  Note Linda's elbow in the first and third pictures.  By doing the process of re-sizing and moving, I was able to have her elbow rest on the rail.  And, Where did the people go?

Thank you, Photoshop Elements...

November 3, 2012

More pictures of Dry Falls In Highlands, NC.  The first is a close up taken at a shutter speed of 1/32, which the exposure time is longer and thus, the water appears to be moving.  If taken at a faster shutter speed, the water would appear to be stopped.

The other two pictures are from under the falls

November 2, 2012

Here are two pictures of the Dry Falls.  The first picture is from the observation deck, which is off the parking lot and the second is from the other side of the falls looking up toward the observation deck.

November 1, 2012

These were taken at Dry Falls in Highlands, NC, which is one of the easiest falls to see.  Plenty of parking, stairs to the falls, and even a "comfort station."

As you see, one can walk under the falls.  Nearby, there is Bridle Falls, which is not as spectacular, but one can walk under it as well.

Last year at this time, Linda was preparing to have her left knee replaced and could not do anything as this.

October 31, 2012

This is a view from a scenic overlook on the road (Route GA236/NC106) from Dillard, GA to Highlands, NC.  I did alter the sky some because in was very grey that day.

October 30, 2012

We tried to get to the Falls on Crow Creek but the trail was impassible due to the fallen trees caused by the tornado that hit the area about a year ago.  We were told about Bad Branch Falls, which was not far away.  Both trails to these falls are unmarked and finding a place to park is difficult.

These pictures are of Bad Branch Falls and the water confluence is not as great as it would be in the Spring, based on a photo that I viewed on the Internet.  The trek to the falls is easy.

October 29, 2012

I took a picture of this Model T a couple of years ago (top photo) and stopped to take it again yesterday.  Linda went into the shop and was told that it was for sale.  No, I did not buy it!  But, it may not be available in the future for pictures.

It is on NC106.GA236 which is the road from Highlands to Clayton. 

October 28, 2012

 We tried to get to three waterfalls yesterday.  We made two of them, but the trail of the third was impassible due to fallen trees from the tornado that hit this area a year ago.

We are spending the night at the York House Bed and Breakfast in Mountain City, which is between Clayton and Dillard, GA.

http://www.yorkhouseinn.com

It is a very old inn and, as I understand, it was built around 1840 and has been used as an inn since around the turn of the century; as in 1900.

I was told by a repeat customer that the breakfast is great. It is pet friendly and the owners are very nice.  I would recommend it.

This is Minihaha Falls near Lake Rabun in Clayton, which has an easy trail to hike to the falls.

October 27, 2012

This fence is at the Dillard house and taken last weekend.  The second picture, with a poem added, is the same fence taken in the Spring of 2010.

Click once on a photo to enlarge.

October 26, 2012

This barn is near the intersection of old Atlanta Road and Bannon Road in Cumming.  The sign says that the barn was built in 1859. 

October 25, 2012

On the trip up to Hemlock Falls, there were a number of areas in the median that the GDOT had planted wild flowers, which I have enjoyed in other years and on at various locations.

October 24, 2012

These are more pictures of the trail leading to Hemlock Falls.  There are a number of 'mini' falls along the way; one of which Linda is viewing, in the second picture, from the bridge over a bubbling brook.

The last two pictures are the same shot only the camera was held normally in one and rotated 90 degrees in the other.  A computer printer setting refers the to 'landscape' and 'portrait.'  Each gives its own perspective.