Category Archives: Photography

Unknown's avatar

Sunday Afternoon Ride

by

Fall is here and while the morning temperature was under 40 degrees F, by early afternoon, it was over 50 and it was time to ride! Make no mistake, I ride in the winter when the roads are clear, but the first cool ride of the fall is such a change that it requires a bit more thought in terms of gear and clothing.

IMG_8767-2

We set off for Floyd, a small county in Southwest Virginia known for it’s music, artisan products, and local restaurants / businesses.   The Friday Night Jamboree, held at the Floyd Country Store, features traditional, old time, and bluegrass music.

IMG_8763-2 IMG_8762-2

Floyd Fest showcases roots and progressive world music, and each year draws thousands of music lovers from all over the world (these photos from 2012).

027    106

We stopped at Dogtown Roadhouse, and while waiting for our pizza and craft beer, I wandered around town to capture the scene.

IMG_8750-2 IMG_8757-2 IMG_8758-2 IMG_8760-2 IMG_8761-2 IMG_8765-2

Once back on the road, the others headed for home, but I kept on riding.  I just wasn’t ready to get off the bike.  First, I rode to the old Radford Water Tower,

_MG_8804-2

and then down to the river.

_MG_8795-3 _MG_8778-2 _MG_8775-2

I could have ridden even longer, but evening was coming on and I still had chores to do.

Some rides are short on miles, this one only 85, but it was long on curvy roads, beautiful scenery, and fun times with friends.

Unknown's avatar

Brilliant!

by

This image, but in black and white, is my contribution to Monochromia today.

 _MG_8601 - Copy-2

And you can see the B&W image here, too …

_MG_8601-2

Hope you all have something fun planned for the weekend!  I’ll be catching up on chores, checking out your blog posts, watching the Hokies play Carolina, and of course spending a little time on the bike!

Unknown's avatar

Katydid

by

This may just be the first time that I’ve done a portrait of a Tettigoniidae, more commonly called a Katydid or a Bush Cricket 🙂

What can I say? It was all about the bokeh (at least I’m pretty sure that’s what it’s called. Your thoughts, Joe?)

_MG_8686-3

They are also known as long-horned grasshoppers, although they are more closely related to crickets.

Unknown's avatar

Seeds for Wishes …

by

… or as I originally entitled this post: “Beautiful Weeds”.  I think my friend Laura provided a much better title, don’t you?

_MG_8689-3

Unknown's avatar

Early in the Season

by

Here in Southwest Virginia, we are just starting to see some color in the trees and underbrush. Heck, the flowers on my patio are still going strong – lucky me!  This past weekend I was able to spend some time on the bike, and on foot, and captured just a bit of our early color.

_MG_8606-2

_MG_8589-2-2 _MG_8588-2

_MG_8590-2

_MG_8596-2

Don’t you think that my freshly washed and waxed bike fits beautifully in with the fall colors?

IMG_8657-2

After 2 months of riding in rain and on dirty roads, my sweet bike was long overdue for a clean up.

How is the seasonal change looking in your part of the world?

Unknown's avatar

Gaslight

by

My contribution to Monochromia this week.  I’m telling ya’ll, participation in this blog (what an honor) challenges me, my creativity and my ability.  Phew!

_MG_8417-3

BUT! Challenges make us stretch and grow, so I’m keeping with it!

(can you see the unplanned surprise in this image?)

Unknown's avatar

Colorful Moments in Charlottesville

by

Weekend travel for other than pleasure?  Make the most of it!

_MG_8394-2

Whether walking the grounds of The Boars Head Inn,

_MG_8397-2 _MG_8398-2

Or exploring the downtown walking mall,

IMG_8448-2 IMG_8453-2

Be on the lookout for the bright and the beautiful

IMG_8451 - Copy-2

and enjoy those free moments.

Unknown's avatar

Wine and Roses

by

Our local wine and beer shop, Barrel Caves Wines, devotes one evening every month to women. The Divas gather for wine and tapas and friendship, and my camera is alway ready to capture the fun.

Kathy makes sure that the flowers are fresh,

_MG_8478-2

the food delicious,

IMG_8482-2

and the wine chosen just for us.

_MG_8479-2

IMG_8483-2

This particular night offered an extra treat. As we walked out the door, feeling relaxed after another great evening, we were treated to this gorgeous sunset.

IMG_8493-2

Not a bad way to support local business!

IMG_8490-2

Unknown's avatar

Fenceline in Monochrome

by

For this week’s post on Monochromia, I wanted to show sunlight … it seems as if we haven’t seen alot of that this summer.

_MG_8296-2

_MG_8289

It truly was a beautiful evening.

Have you visited Monochromia yet?  Please do so soon and check out the work of photographers from around the world!

Unknown's avatar

Poker Run

by

The 8th Annual Layne Creed Memorial Ride was held this past Saturday in Mt. Airy, North Carolina.

10488078_745666072143957_773975367115316034_n

10534269_765239673519930_6008200382712688703_n

(photo credits Layne Creed Memorial Ride)

You may remember that I wrote about this ride in 2012.  Check out this link to learn about Layne Creed, his family, and the reason behind the ride.  Over the years, the Memorial Ride has raised well over $55,000 for local EMS, the Surry Community College, and the Children’s Center of Surry, which is where all of this year’s proceeds will go.  In honor and memory of Layne Creed, this memorial ride has become a favorite of North Carolina and Virginia bikers, and has done incredible things for the community that Layne called home.

Each year a group of friends rides down from Virginia, and this year we were geared up for rain.

IMG_8182

As always, the Poker Run starts at 13 Bones in Mt Airy, NC, a local restaurant known as much for their charitable donations as they are their good food. A  poker run is an organized event where motorcycles (or boats, cars, bicycles) and their riders visit five checkpoints, drawing a card at each one. The one with the best poker hand at the end is the winner … although really, it is the children that are the winners.

IMG_8207-2

IMG_8188-2

A new checkpoint in the ride this year was Round Peak Vineyards.

_MG_8221-2 _MG_8220-2 _MG_8218-2 _MG_8217-2

As is obvious from the photos, the clouds threatened rain all day long.

_MG_8229-2

_MG_8227-2

Luck was with us though and we rode on dry roads.

The donations are still coming in, but the last I heard, around $7000 was raised.  An incredible amount of time and energy is put into the ride each year, but the Creed family gladly does it to benefit the children of Surry and Yadkin Counties …

10616587_774871749223389_9060659445763159484_n

(photo credit Velvet Creed Leonard)

… and in honor of their loved one, Layne Creed.

IMG_8238-2

You can visit the Layne Creed Memorial Ride on Facebook and see lots of photos of bikes, riders, and fun!