…represent so much of me.
Please checkout our new blog Monochromia. If you love B&W images, this is the blog for you!
… were made for fighting wildland fires, and I wore them while battling the flames in Idaho over 30 years ago. Now, they serve to protect me while riding the bike. They’re just boots. Worn, scarred, dusty, and bearing remnants of fire retardant still … but they are precious to me.
You were expecting Fireworks? The Stars and Stripes? Burgers and Potato Salad? While I did enjoy all of the traditions of the 4th of July, for some reason, I wasn’t moved to photograph them.
Instead, it was the simple things, on a clear, almost cloudless day, that drew my attention.
It was a day of friendship, laughter, sunshine, and celebration.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the 4th of July.
Happy Summer Everyone!
I hope you’ll visit Monochromia and see the B&W images for several wonderful photographers … and then there’s mine, too! 🙂
Those of us who ride, love doing so on days when the sun is shining and the skies are clear, no matter the temperature. Sometimes though, the day turns stormy, and we’re forced to pull over and wait out the rain. Once the clouds part, we’re on the road again, knowing that, in time, the wind will have us dry once again.
If you’ve visited Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things, you know that I love to seek new adventures while riding my motorcycle. In fact, the whole reason I started blogging was to be able to share my travels with family and friends who worried about me heading out on my own. I’ve long been the one who uses photography to document the events in the lives of my friends and family, and it’s a natural fit to take the camera along with me on the…
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You’ve heard me praise the New River in previous posts, and I’ve commented about how lucky I am to live just minutes from it. Whether floating in a kayak or tube, or riding or sitting alongside, there’s nothing like a river to sooth the spirit.
Lately, I’ve been trying to imitate the work of some of the photographers that I follow. If you’ve visited Ron Scubadiver‘s blog, you’ve seen his beautiful reflections. Now, rest assured, I’m not comparing myself to him, but I thought of his work when I took these.
Colorful reflections on the river are lovely, but the image might have more depth in Black & White. If you are a lover of B&W, I welcome you to visit our new blog Monochromia. The blog will feature images in B&W, and is the brainchild of Joe at The Visual Chronicle, who says “We are a collaborative group of photographers, fanatics, artists and photo nuts”.
Somehow I got to be a part of this talented group of individuals. They are the pros; I’m, as you might guess, just along for the ride!!
Elina – Capturing Little Moments – http://capturinglittlemoments.wordpress.com
Robyn – Robyn Graham Photography – http://robyngrahamphotography.com
Patti – Nylon Daze – http://nylondaze.wordpress.com
Emilio – Photos By Emilio – http://emiliopasquale.wordpress.com
Joerg – The Things They Are In Pictures – http://joergthamer.wordpress.com
Joe – The Visual Chronicle – http://joeinfocus.wordpress.com
Meho – Le Mehograph – http://lemehograph.com (occasional posts)
Check out the blog and in the meantime for those of you in North America, Happy 4th and Canada Day (just a bit late).
Sometimes all I need is a short ride to clear the brain and lift the spirits. That’s surely no mystery. The mystery comes at the end of this post. Keep on scrolling down, my friends!
I walk in the door, drop the purse, lunch bag, and lap top. Grab the helmet, wallet, and camera, and hit the road.
I typically choose back roads for the scenery, the farms and barns, and the old houses. Yesterday I also added a 20 minute run along a highway. Ahhhh …. the famed wind in the face therapy.
So where’s the mystery?
I stopped to photograph this decrepit home at the intersection of two country roads.
As I wandered around the house, I specifically thought of Mike from Mike’s Look at Life. How would he portray this house?
Mike has a skill with B&W that I do not have and he might have presented the image differently. But I share it this way for a reason. Look what is revealed when I put the image back into color.
A bright shiny door knob and a new propane tank. Hmmm … what do you think goes on in this old place?
(Be sure to check out Mike’s blog … for the photography AND for the comment section!)
Have you visited Liana’s blog? Her work inspires mine.
No, I am not the poet / writer that she is but if I can gain even a measure of her skill with the camera, I’ll be satisfied.
http://thehourofsoftlight.wordpress.com/
Many of the photographers that I follow inspire me, and I plan to highlight some of them over the next months. When one of my images aspires to the style of someone I admire, I’m going to post mine, referencing the photographer at the same time.
One of the challenges for any weekend is to somehow get all the chores on the “to do” list done, yet still find time to play. By 3pm this past Sunday, I’d accomplished enough to be able to head out for a little local ride. Luckily for me, local riding often means country roads, fields, lakes, and historic communities.
Dry Valley
Claytor Lake is a reservoir of The New River, created when a hydroelectric dam was built in 1939. I stopped for a water break and the chance to watch the geese and ducks. It was a perfect afternoon to ride, but the bright sun made for challenging photography.
Yes! That is a lighthouse! On the lake 🙂
Soon it was time to ride on down to the end of the road.
I’ve photographed this slowly decaying barn from many angles … it’s a beauty.
From there, I rode through the community of Newbern, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I’ve ridden through the Newbern Historic District many, many times but somehow had missed these two structures.
The Old County Jail and site of the First Courthouse of Pulaski County
The original reservoir for the Newbern Waterworks
A little beauty, a little history, a little photography … all seen from the bike. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.
Those of you who are new to my blog may wonder where the bike of Life on the Bike is. Rest assurred that the original reason for the blog is back and after being sidelined for 8 months, so are my days riding! I’ve had the bike just 3 weeks and I’ve ridden as many miles as I can squeeze into my schedule. My first ride was with my friend Juli who took me to the dealership to pick up my beautiful new bike.
My second ride was with my friends Dave and Michael, the two guys who taught me most of what I know about riding. I wrote about them here almost 2 years ago.
The other night, seeing that a storm was brewing, and thinking that the evening light might make for great photos, I headed out on the bike. It felt great to feel the wind in my face (even with my new full face helmet).
I took off down a dirt road, near the train tracks, and proceeded to happily shoot the surrounding farmland.
I couldn’t decide which of these I preferred. What do you think?
It was a lovely evening and the storm held off long enough for me to play a little longer.
Even the structure of the new bridge appealed to me that evening.
More riding photos soon!!!
Just take a minute on your way to work … stop, breathe, and embrace the peace
This past February, I posted photos of glass vintage airport runway lights found atop the posts of a garden fence. The cobalt blue lights offered a stunning contrast against the bright white snow. During a recent visit, I found another of these lights, this time in teal, gracing the railing of the front porch. In the post linked above, I labeled them Insulators, but was corrected and told they were runway lights. My Facebook friends are confident that this one is indeed an insulator.
Liz and Wilson have the most beautiful spaces within their garden. In addition to a variety of flowers, vegetables, and fruits, the garden is decorated with intriguing pieces of art and vintage items.
This last piece adornes the deer fencing that surrounds the blueberry bushes.
Liz and Wilson raise the concept of “yard art” to a whole new level.
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 