Hiking Turkey Creek Nature Preserve

Earlier today Jeremy and myself went hiking at the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve to see what presented itself worthy enough to be photographed. We have already gone a few months back and traveled the same trail, so today we focused on broadening our view and enhancing the quality of photos we take with shadows, textures, reflections and such. While it would have been handy to have had a plethora of filters and lenses, i made do with what little gear i have. Comments and criticism are encouraged.

 I enjoy the coloration of the bark and moss on this root

 These are just some underwater rock formations with interesting coloration

You can find Jeremys work on his photo blog . Check it out, He has some good stuff.

7-25-2011

Monday afternoon i saw that a storm was blowing in on my way home from work, so i decided to snatch up my gear and head out back of the house and try to capture some lightning. It was a slow moving front so it gave me plenty of time to take some photos, however this particular storm decided to bring a host of heat lightning and only a few cloud to ground bolts. I did manage to capture one of them although it turned out mediocre at best i was still pleased that i captured one. There are supposed to be more storms later this week, so i might have another opportunity to better photograph some lightning. 

My Little Water Bug

After a few times of letting Callie swim at the lake and the pool, I had just about decided that she was just not cut out to be a swimmer. Until this weekend... I decided to load up the kayak and the fishing tackle, and take ole Callie with me. We went down to Warrior Kimberly bridge and paddled up stream a bit. I pulled off the embankment, let her out and proceeded to watch what could only be described as a crazed gremlin running rampant in and out of the water. She surprised me. My little girl is a water bug! 

These next few were taken in the creek behind the house.

Sloss Furnace: Birmingham, Alabama

Friday morning the crew and myself set out for a two day kayak/camping expedition. We pulled into Centreville, Alabama around noon and quickly set out on our journey. We paddled an eight mile stretch of the cahaba, then proceeded to find a remote area of nearby woods to set up camp. Soon thereafter local hillbillies put the fear of Jesus in us all so we decided to pack up camp and head for home. 

Since we returned early Jeremy Richter, Blake Rasbury, and myself headed out to Sloss to take a few photo's and salvage the remainder of our weekend. Sloss Furnace was a pig iron factory built in 1881. Almost one hundred years later the factory was shut down due to stricter air polution standards, and the introduction of plastic pipe and ductile iron.  It is now a historic museum reminding us of when Birmingham was the "Pittsburgh of the South."

LIKE PIECES OF A PUZZLE

While driving through the Birmingham i realized that in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our hectic lives we often overlook an array of beautiful sights. While small and quaint when thrown in the midst of a fast paced metropolitan area, they are still a piece of the puzzle. When set apart from their surroundings they have a chance to be seen in a different light.

A run down building off of 20th Street S. Downtown

1st Ave. Across from Railroad Park

In Mt. Olive, Alabama, in a neighboring yard

Taking the plunge

\Ever since i was a young boy i had much rather be outside than in. Me and a few buddies regularly set out on what we call our "excursions". Whether it be climbing through the mountain trails , kayaking our local rivers, or finding old run down factory and plants; we set out with our camera's on foot in effort to capture life from our point of view. I'm just touching the surface of  getting into photography, here are a few of my beginnings...

The newfound addition to the family, Callie

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A few sunsets captured outback of the house

Turkey Creek 

Full Moon on I-65 back in March