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Night Photo Shoot

Last week our photography group did a night time photo shoot at the South Charleston Fire Department. We used external hand held flash units to "paint" the building and firetruck with light. We set our cameras on a 20 second exposure at F8.

Several members took positions around the truck and building and when the word was given, they began to fire the flashes until the 20 seconds was up.

A fireman was inside the truck and turned on the lights for a few seconds at the beginning of the exposure.

Here are a few of my images and a shot of the group.

Art from Photos

As I mentioned in my first post, my Mom paints my photographs. Here are a few of her newest works.

Blackwater River at Blackwater Falls State Park

Sail Boat at Pass-A-Grille Beach; St. Pete Beach, FL

Walkersville Covered Bridge, Lewis County, WV

Not a Food Blog

I am not going to start a Food Blog, there are too many excellent food blogs published. Dave and I do like to cook though, so I thought why not start taking photos of our creations.


Last summer we tried Alton Brown's fried chicken recipe. As with all of Alton's dishes, it's quite a process. We went out and bought all the required ingredients, cookware and utensils; like oil thermometer, holding racks, cast iron skillet, buttermilk and the herbs and spices for Alton's special seasoning shake (including a shaker to store it in!) We laid things out all over the kitchen counters but before we began the process... We went to the video tape. Yes, we taped the episode and studied it!! Losers, yes, but it was fun.

We managed all the dips and drops in and out of the buttermilk and seasonings. When the oil was at the required temperature we laid the chicken in just as instructed on the video.

Dave insisted the chicken stay in the hot oil for every second that Alton recommended and when we turned it, here was the result!

I took over at that point and took the chicken out after only a few more minutes on the other side. The final presentation wasn't too bad and the chicken was delicious!!

Long Time Gone

Well it's been several months since I've posted. I spent 3 months in Florida, but I've been back in WV since July. July through Christmas is a very busy time in South Charleston where I live and do photography for the City.


As soon as I returned, we hosted the Cincinnati Belle Riverboat for two days. I spent a lot of time out on the Kanawha River just enjoying the Mountains, since I'd been at sea level for 3 months.




Soon after that, Summerfest rolled around. That's our 5 day festival with music, food and a Car Show. My favorite night is always Rick K and the All Nighters.

September was totally different for me this year, usually I do the South Charleston Arts and crafts Fair around the Indian Mound, Shoney's Car Show and Octoberfest... however this year I took time for me. I attended two photo workshops and took a trip to the Mountains for some Fall Foliage photography.

The first workshop was at Cass Railroad. On Sunday morning they brought out the engine and ran it down the tracks a few times for us. This was one of my favorite captures.

Canaan Valley was perfect. I went a week later then usual this year and hit it just right. This image was taken behind the lodge at Blackwater Falls State Park.

Wildlife Day

Thursday was Wildlife Day at the West Virginia Legislature. Biologists from the Department of Natural Resources and representatives from other ecologically friendly groups brought information and animals native to West Virginia to Charleston to further educate the public on animal life in the Mountain State.


This is Thunder, a bald Eagle from the West Virginia Raptor Rehabilitation Center. She was injured in Jackson County, WV and is now a permanent resident of the Raptor Center.


Children were able to get up close and personal with the animals, handled by trained DNR people. This is an Eastern Corn Snake which can grow up to six feet in length and is native to the Eastern Panhandle, where they are often found in farmlands and feed on small rodents.




Ron and Wendy from Three Rivers Avian Center were there too with Spirit the Eagle and three other Birds of Prey who call the Center near Brooks, WV home. Ron and Wendy host events at the Avian Center year round. Check their website for dates and times.

The Sunrise Carriage Trail

Today we took a winter walk on the Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston.

Here you can see 4 levels of the trail. It's .65 miles one way and runs from Sunrise Mansion in South Hills to the Amtrak station on MacCorkle Ave. The Mansion was built in 1905 by former West Virginia governor William A MacCorkle. The Trail was used to haul massive building stones up the hill. It's a gently-sloping trail, downhill one way and slightly uphill on the return trip.

For over 40 years beginning in 1961 The non-profit Sunrise Museum called the mansion home. When the Clay Center for the Arts was opened, the museum moved across the river and a private law firm bought the building and renovated the mansion.

The trail is now owned by the City of Charleston and is maintained as a Natural Haven. Today the public can enjoy a little bit of nature in the midst of downtown Charleston.

I'll definitely go back often... soon the birds will return and the leaves will come out on the trees. Then, the City skyline and South Hills traffic sounds will disappear and the sounds of the birds and wind in the trees will be all we'll hear.