More from "Bridge Day" 2007

From top to bottom: Bridge Day at the New River Gorge!

*note: LAST SHOT-Not all BASE jumpers make it to the landing area on shore....

Bridge Day

Yep- it's me

Every year, we have a base jumping extravaganza second to none- Bridge Day!

876 feet above the New River Gorge parachuting BASE jumpers jump off a perfectly good bridge and have 8 seconds to open their chutes and survive. I've only covered this once when someone didn't make it- but there are rocks on the shore, so even if you make it that far and miss the landing area- you can still end up in a world of hurt!

Jet boats cover the water landings and emergency crews are everywhere- so if you do get hurt; help is right there waiting on you- personally, I'm content to already be at the bottom of the gorge- even if it takes me a little longer to get here!

Sruce Knob at last light

Spruce Knob at sunset

This was more amazing than the photo can convey.

I was there standing on the talas field looking down into the valley. People were laying and sitting on large boulders about 50 feet below me. We all watched the sun start to slip down over the horizon; and as the rays of light curved over the event edge- you could here people suck in their breath and hold it- It was a shared experience that I wouldn't trade for anything! Think of your favorite movie with a crowd of people waiting for it to start and the reaction when the images start to apear on screen. It was like that; only better.....

Of course; not one to take the standard view- I turned my camera to the side and caught the sidelight of the sunset!

Star Trails

Here is my first attempt at "Star Trails" using a digital camera- Room for improvement of course; but a lot of fun to try!

Need'n some help on the Mainland

Ok, gang! I want to throw this out there and see if anybody can help....

I'm a big fan of Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo`ole , a traditional Hawaiian singer who's since passed away. His music is more popular today than ever- but no NEW music by him.....

So....if anybody has any connections to or IN Hawaii; check and see who the new group or artist is that carries on his tradition. No slack key guitar music please! I'm much more interested in basic traditional authentic hawaiian songs, chants, and the like.

BTW: It's been a busy week and I'm almost done with my Fall Photo Safari photos I took- I'll try and post a few more "keepers" by next week...

Aloha everybody!

*UPDATE*

I had someone from Maui contact me personally with this list of artists to check out! Mahalo goes out to Fred!

Here they are is case you're interested too:

Keali`i Reichel

Ho`okena
Na Palapalai
Maunalua
Makaha Sons
Weldon Kekauoha
Napua Grieg

Thanks to everyone who took the time to contact me at my personal email!

Dolly Sods

Dolly Sods, WV

Things are progressing right along at image central- here's a shot of pine trees on Dolly Sods at "Bare Rocks".

Notice that the trees are only growing limbs one way? That's because the weather is so severe and the winds so strong there that the limbs are all going in one direction!

The elevation is a litle over 4000 feet and the vegitation is similar to what you would find in Canada.

A very unique place to visit!

Back home....finally!

Bare Rocks, Dolly Sods WV © 2007

This weekend was certainly an adventure! From clear star filled nights, to sunsets at the highest point in WV! This was probably the best "Fall photography safari" I've ever went on. LOTS of images....
Met a few friends along the way and made a few new ones. I'll be scattering a few images here and there as I get them edited- this is the first one I took from Dolly Sods at an overlook called "Bare Rocks" ( you'll get the understanding of the name as I post more images of it in daylight...)
That's all for now; have a great day!

On the road...

Well gang, It's that time of year again! Fall is here; Time to find that perfect light and match it up to some Awsome locations. I'll be traveling to west Virginia's Potomac Highlands for a few days- Some of the states most photogenic landscapes!

I'm not going to be able to "post from the road" in realtime; But I'll try to keep a few notes and images from the days to go with them for a "Post" post.

See you next week!

Green Photography

Green is... well, Green- and good for everybody! But as photographers we sometimes don't think we have much impact on the environment by what we choose to shoot, or how we have to photograph. But we do!
We can make a HUGE difference by shooting closer to home, photographing places and things we care about, taking better care of our equipment. Jason Moore at Jason Moore Photography's Blog turned me onto the Nikon supported "Assignment Earth" and has tips on ways we can come together as photographers and make a difference.
Help spread the word- go to the Pop Photo website: http://www.popphoto.com/microsite/4481/assignment-earth.html
and make a difference with your photography!
~30~

Camera Club Project

Thanks to the Charleston Camera Club for having me speak at thier meeting Monday night!
For all of you that were there; here's the photo we were working on when my Laptop gave it up to the Mocrosft "Blue screen of death"!- LOL
( My next computer is gonna be a MAC! )