Southern Winter
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Christmas In A Stable real 2
for carriage horses in
the Market area of downtown
Charleston, SC. 12/6/2006
for Friday.
Hours, just hours to work on this, and I am still not sure about it. I made a dark copy, a light copy, blended them and worked from there.
At least the histogram looks OK now. I like the yellow cast as this is inside, I was looking in. I like warm colors (casts) inside.
I took some of the cast out, a lot, I took out.
See the outside of the stables
here:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2162557/1/115500555/Large
The Budweiser Horses HERE in
Charleston. I was so excited
that I forced myself to go see
them in freezing temps. They
"got dressed" and did a parade
in Charleston. I guess it was
contrasty when they were getting
dressed. I am too tired to keep
trying to make this look better.
It is actually the best composition
that I have. Any suggestions tomorrow would be fine. (It is colorful) The horse is in front
of the horse trailer. I thought
that was cool. It is very crowded
at these events. I have difficulty with the busy look of crowds, so I isolated parts, left the big picture til the end. Every photo I have tried to work up tonight has been
very contrasty.
I hope you can enjoy it.
Sunday night they will be in the Mt Pleasant lighted parade, any
suggestions would be welcome.
ginger
The Clydesdales all lined up and ready to move out with the "beer".
Ok, Ok, so the other one was better, but I really needed this shot, etc. It was bitterly cold. I took lots of shots of the woman on the thing, with the dog, she did not look happy. Then the men took over, and they looked miserable, too. Smile.
See more photos of the horses moving out, and of the Dalmation who was used to protect the beer, as I understand it.
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2162557
The Birds and Stella Maris
12/10/2006
duotone
This is the statue on top of my church on Sullivan's Island. It can be seen out to sea and has welcomed many ships to the Harbor of Charleston, SC since the 1800s. I was photographing the "angel tree" presents that had been brought to the church side bldg. I looked up and saw birds on this statue on top of the church. I photographed it immediately, then walked around to the front and photographed it some more. It speaks to me. a message of peace, refuge and hope.........and it also makes me smile: birding at church.
My daughter Sara says that this is nice, but that she keeps thinking of Mary trapped in stone thinking, "I wish that bird would get off of my head". Yup, that is what I would be saying. At least he is front and fwd. Much of the time he was a butt shot, smile.
This is as I first saw the statue:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2162557/1/116024048/Large
Rainbow: Pitt Street Bridge
12/12/2006.
After coming back to my car to find the passenger window smashed out, I saw this beautiful rainbow. Since I had nothing to do but wait for the police, I took this photo.......and a few others exactly like it.
I couldn't figure out what a rainbow was trying to say to me
at that moment. Still can't. Can't even seem to work it up too well, but it would be a shame to waste this unusual sight.
Nothing was stolen, the person/people must have been scared off. But I have learned that I am not safe at Pitt Street Bridge. If anywhere.
ginger
These are the ducks I have been waiting for:
Hooded Mergansers
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2162557/1/116583923/Large
Sculture On Exhibit: Preening Egret..
12/13/2006
(looks real doesn't he!)
ps, he is!
Suspended In Fog: Cormorant
12/13/2006
for Friday
See other photo of Cormorant, close up.
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/2241292/1/116893622/Large
Winter Sky (Pitt St Bridge marsh area)
12/13/2006
for Saturday
Imagine, if you will,
It is raining all around
not a drop of water
falls from the winter sky
it is raining all around.
(After I took this, and a couple other photos, I looked like Sherstone's dog! And my hair dried like that, too. Just like the dog!!!!)
Shem Creek Cormorants
I finished working them up
from the other day. Now at
some point I will get one flying.
I already have more Cormorants
than I ever expected....or wanted,
but I think they are pretty cool
now!
"Cute Couple"
After this one of them dove
under water, the other swam
off, and the Cormorant show
was over.
for sunday
have a good one,
ginger
Christmas 2006
Charleston South Carolina
the market area
Below: Copied from a google article. The symbols at the top
of the building mean that meat was
stored here.
The main building was built in 1841 and is an apparent modification of the Grecian-Doric temple of "The Wingless Victory" at Athens. The cornice is ornamented with ram's and bull's heads, a survival of the Greek custom of hanging in the temple skulls of animals sacrificed to the gods, later symbolized in conventional architecture.
The rifled cannon on the upper portico of the market is said to be the first manufactured in America. Archibald Cameron made it for the Confederate Government in 1861. Market Hall is used by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for the preservation of articles of historic interest connected with the War Between the States.
Below Market Hall was a spacious portico which was used as a meat and fish market. For sanitation purposes the three buildings behind Market Hall, which sold fruits and vegetables with other produce brought direct from island plantations were set apart.
Christmas Photo Charleston, please see:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2251054/1/117460317/Large
The Coburg Cow Does Christmas
12/18/2006
Googling:
here in Charleston, we have constant barometers of how life is going. It's not officially the holiday season until the Coburg Cow is decorated. For a long time, there was a Coburg dairy near my house, but they sold to a larger corporation about 15 years ago. However, in keeping with our "tradition is everything" attitude, the Coburg Cow remains a fixture in our lives. For those of you older than about 45, you remember when places advertised with some sort of mechanized sign. For almost 50 years, Bessie (the Coburg Cow) has gone round and round and is still considered a landmark.
_______________
Ginger again:
She is sometimes "stolen" by students as a prank. Other than when she is removed as a hurricane precaution, or "stolen", she has been a tradition longer than I have lived here. She is on the other side of Charleston from me. I was over there today, saw her with Egg Nog (usually milk), and I had to have a photo to share with you all. Bill grumbled, foretold terrible traffic accidents, but he did turn around, and here she is!
ginger
Golden Sun At Magnolia
12/19/2006
(Magical trip through
the Milky Way!)
Saying re "Milky Way" and "Magical words" were inspired by comments of viewers. Thanks bunches!!!!
I moved this from dGrin Community. Thusie told me to. I hope your wonderful comments came with it. I am kind of scared to look. I Have one almost like it that I will put on dGrin community.
Last night I worked up the one right after this. I will put it on there as the sister shot to this. It was taken right after this one. And, yes, they are different. Please look:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1353648/1/117929113/Large
Blue Trash
12/18/2006
for Thursday
Duck: Magnolia
Tues, and I felt fine that
day. Have been sick since.
am on my way to dr. Thusie said
post, so I just worked this up.
Wrapped up with a Gold Bow: clip art free on internet, I googled it.
ginger.
Isle Of Palms, SC
12/22/2006
on a rainy day
just before Christmas
I lived on this sleepy island for 5 yrs in the 80s. It always was the same. Didn't visit it one year until the end and imagine my surprise at the transformation into tackiness. I am sure they think it is "better". Yikes.
Carriage Rides Go Suburban
Civilization As We Know It
is trying to adapt.
Horse drawn carriages come
to the mall.
12/23/2006
Oh, 3200 ISO,
It was still touch
and go. The 2.8
lens came in handy!
12/23/2006
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Whatever Holiday you celebrate,
make it a meaningful one!
ginger
Little Blue Heron
for Tues Dec 26
Note the oysters (shells) under the surface of the shallow water.
I am out of town, with family, in Charlotte, NC.
This is not "old", not as I figure it, took it Saturday,
the last time I was out. It is my favorite so far! And
I gave it to you all, smile. I can access things here, and move
from smugmug to dgrin, here, etc, but I can't work anything up. I
don't have a laptop, and I want whatever I do to be on my hard drive.
otherwise.....i took a very cute dog shot last night, smile!!
Have a good day!
After The Fire
bowen Island restaurant
visited about a week ago.
It is an integral part of
the Charleston area. Very
primitive. Known especially for
its oysters and extremely casual
atmosphere.
Being rebuilt now, but that shell
here is what was left after a recent fire. A very local place.
I tend to go there to walk on the dock, take photos and listen to
local music events.
For Wednesday. Am still in
Charlotte, NC.
Have a good day,
ginger
Oyster Catchers Fly
we are driving home tomorrow!
see ya then!
ginger
Barn Owl
12/27/2006
OK, so the bird was not exactly
in a barn. In fact, he/she was in a large enclosure outdoors at the Carolina Raptor Center (Charlotte, NC).
I think photographing birds in a barn would be easier. I have so many shots of "wire". And wire shadows, etc. My eagles are pitiful. The owls were best, and I like this one particularly.
A hint when shooting through wire and stuff, the 70-200 in full zoom gets "rid" of the mesh better than the 400.
See a shot from my Christmas:
(Bill took it)
http://upacreekPHOTOGRAPHY.smugmug.com/photos/119545889-L.jpg
Birds and animals are saved through dedicated rescue work.
You Save What You Love Best
Carolina Raptor Center, north carolina.
12/27/2006
"Carolina Raptor Center is dedicated to environmental education and the conservation of birds of prey through public education, the rehabilitation of injured, and orphaned raptors and research." googled
OH: Bald Eagle
The background was brownish, i always use the eyedropper to pick the backgrd color fr the backgrnd. There was nothing I wanted to hide, I just wanted to make a design out of the fence, show that it is confining, but also show that there can be a way out.
ginger
The original eagle photo........OK, so you all like it better. I don't.
But it is full frame, nothing changed.
Living In An Old Barn In NC: a family of them!
for Monday
Ministries (not specified for anonymity)
Charleston, SC
1/01/2007
I asked permission here, it is the type of place where it is only right. ginger
Please see alternate Photo and a bit more of the story:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2304856/1/120366760/Large
Snowy Egret Family Group
Cold Winter Day: gotta eat!
for Wednesday
Please see alternate, totallly different shot:
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/1353648/1/118665455/Large
Screech Owl
Carolina Raptor Center
Charlotte, NC
for Thursday
Please see alternate. I think it may be a falcon, an American Kestrel?? Come see.....
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2291494/1/120871619/Large
Reflecting On Impressions
for Saturday
My Baby Squirrel: Cutie Pie Pie!!
such a cute family. I know he sees me, and like all creatures who don't know me, the best defense is "don't move"...not even a toenail.
Interesting how much more relaxed looking Thusie's squirrels are.
This one is definitely "alert".
ginger
(for Sunday)
Issues!
(only the gulls know, but betting is allowed...)
Taken today, Sunday 1/7/2007
for Monday
I worked that up in my sleep, kind of, earlier. I hate to post so early for
tomorrow, but I am going to go read, I hope.
Isn't that water pretty? That is the harbor side of Pitt Street Bridge. Basically
a cloudy day, the sun did make appearances, but I could keep the EC higher than usual
for the white birds. The birds that were out were just having a ball. Kind of looked
like those pictures of people in sandals and shorts in Central Park, but these birds
live here and are creatures of the wet lands. ginger
Tidal Pool
Low Tide, lowest
I have ever seen it.
Or the beach has grown
as others shrink (possible).
1/8/2006
Alternate Photo of the photographer who scattered the birds, :~ ))
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/416776/1/122046958/Large
And a sunset, no real reason to be, actually. But that is what I went for, and I thought you all might like to see a Carolina Sunset.
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/416776/1/122039021/Large
Over The Harbor
a bird flew.
Oh what the heck,
I tried to get a lock
on the oncoming Hawk
To my amazement.......
never, ever, not oncoming,
continuing over my head.
A gift from god,
I claim the credit, smile.
Taken Sunday, 1/7/2007
Individual photos worked
up today, as was the
composite poster like
"thing" that you see here.
Please See Individual Photos:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2333927/1
This photo may be my favorite from that afternoon/evening on the beach the other day. It makes me feel peaceful, yet teary.
That is the same tidal pool as below. Somewhere in the distance is maybe Spain?
This is true Carolina Winter light. It has a clarity that is obscured by moisture in the summer.
ginger
Have a good day.
Common Grackle
last Sunday
for Friday
(From itch to bath to beauty)
The Common Grackle is like a woman who appears plain: photograph the bird and the beauty shines.
have a nice day, ginger
The Individual photos are each good and would stand alone. Thanks to Kim, I knew how to size
this, so the work up was less
work today, and I think the
result was better.
Please see:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/2342174/5/122584395
Across The Ocean
on monday 1/8/2007.
for Friday
(just before or after sunset) The light was gorgeous, the sky was clear from moisture, where you can see forever. That is a Carolina winter.
Sorry, you all, my daughter is coming to see me for the first time in years, she is coming tomorrow. I have been getting ready.
Made her 10 CDs (that is how one gets ready for company, isn't it, smile.) I always have photos. This is the Morris Island Lighthouse off of Folly Beach. I am standing on Sullivan's Island beach on the other side of the harbor and Charleston.
ginger
Marbled Godwit
for Saturday
Winter Resident of the coast
according to my book.
have a good day, ginger
Sara Pierce McCarthy
Pitt Street Bridge
1/13/2007
My daughter is all
grown up. We had a
very good time
ginger
alternate:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1782323/4/122940860/Large
Camillia
1/14/2007
Magnolia Gardens, where I took this photo, features a big Camillia "do" at the end of January every year. There are many different kinds, as I am sure everyone but me knows. I am not a "flower" person, and I do not know my camillias.
I just enjoy them. I like this one in particular as it looks so soft and feminine to me. I don't go to the Camillia thing, it is expensive, so I searched out Camillias on my own today, with Bill, Sherpa, of course, smile.
And I will continue to look for Camillas this month. There are so many different ones, it makes me wonder how they have room for the Azalias in the spring.
ginger
Turkey Hawk
1/15/2007
Sitting at Magnolia (yesterday, Monday), waiting for the ducks to be interesting, I watched a couple of turkey hawks circle. I thought of Thusie and took some photos. This is my favorite strictly because of the light on the wing.
I couldn't post last night, couldn't even upload. Weather change is expected today. My Sherpa goes to work for someone else besides me, smile.
Have a good one, ginger
Magnolia Gardens Plantation
1/15/2007 as the sun set.
Framed by a huge live Oak tree,
this house replaced the original
plantation house which was burned
down in the civil war. This house
was a summer house, or hunting
lodge that belonged to the Drayton
family. They moved it to Magnolia
as their home.
This is obviously a winter scene.
In other seasons there would be
flowers just ahead and to the left
of where I stood to take this
photo.
As I was taking the photo, one of
the descendents of the Drayton
family, a very nice young man,
rode by on his bike with his
German Shepherd Dog. Gorgeous
dog. Lots of history here. I
like the lighting.
ginger
Yellow Elegance
or Daffodils in January
for Thursday
ginger
Great Blue Heron
Magnolia Gardens
For Friday
I took this Monday, was disappointed, in general, with what I got that day. This alone
was worth the walk. I had seen
an otter around here before, was
hoping to see another one, didn't.
This is full frame, he was that
close with my 400mm lens, I am
not used to that and was being
very careful. Bill was with me,
we left him there to continue his
fishing.
ginger
Bald Eagle
1/19/2007
He is a little soft in the face. It is probably a lack of pixels. I begged him to come closer, this is as close as he got.
He is my personal best. Last year I almost killed myself trying to get one, gave up about January. Anyone else can get a better one.
I was driving to the beach from Pitt Street Bridge area, and I saw a hawk (I couldn't believe it when I saw that white head!). I pulled over right onto the bike path. I shot him out my car window. I turned the car off to get rid of that shake.
I saw a bald eagle in that area last year, too. Wonder if he lives around there. Problem is that is a route I follow often, and I saw ONE eagle there last year. So, this may be my lifetime achievement right here.
I did what I could with him, now I am sharing........
ginger
Winter Carolina Sky
The locals know that the winter is the time to photograph sunsets..or just look at them. The air is clearer. Take a few clouds, mix them with the setting sun, glorious magical ends to cold days.
and it was cold today, for us, anyway.
I like this cloud formation more than most. I stood there taking photos up and down until it softened up and was no more.
enjoy your day,
ginger
Snowy Egret
Pitt St Bridge
1/20/2007
for monday
Alternate for Monday:
http://upacreekphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1049253/1/124743849/Large
Rainy Day
for birds and me,
Does anyone have a favorite bird?
I can't decide, and I have about
twenty of these pictures, smile.
I wish I could show them all, but
I would hate to work them all up.
1/22/2007
Mt Pleasant side
of the Sullivan's
Island Causeway.
Marsh is on both sides.
Enjoy your day!
ginger
Pinkney House,
Mt Pleasant, SC
(signer of the
Declaration of
Independence)
Camillias In The Rain
It rained on the birds,
It rained on me,
and it rained on the flowers
growing on the trees.
The Spanish Moss did not
escape but dripped with
water from the sky.
ginger
Single Camillia Bloom
w bud, love them buds!
still raining.
ginger
2nd photo for Wed, you
ask, I have!
