Linville Gorge

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely,  or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”

 -Anne Frank

This is from a camping/hiking trip Michael and I took this summer to Linville Gorge. This is the view from the top of Babel Tower on the Babel Tower Trail going down into the gorge. It was a good couple of hundred feet down from where we were standing to the river. Linville Gorge is such a beautiful, magical place.

Sparklers

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” -Anais Nin

About a month after the 4th of July, my friend Leah (above) realized she still had sparklers and pop-its left over. So we went outside and made a lot of late night noise with the pop-its, and then did some light painting with the sparklers. 

So we made the universe. Josh, as the sun, and Leah twirled around in her skirt and painted all the "planets." Not exactly spot on, but sparklers are now my new favorite choice for light painting devices.

Southport, NC After A Thunderstorm

“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”- Marc Riboud

This is an old gem I found from my archives while I was searching for something the other day. It was taken on one of my trips to see my mother in Southport, NC. It's amazing how you can look at something with fresh eyes, and it can take on a new life. 

I have taken an almost year hiatus from my blog. I believe it is time to bring it back to life. So, I will start by posting some of what I've been shooting in the past year. So, keep a look out for upcoming posts!

*Don't forget to click on the image to see a larger view!

Downtown Winston-Salem

"A city is a place where there is no need to wait for next week to get the answer to a question, to taste the food of any country, to find new voices to listen to and familiar ones to listen to again." -Margaret Mead

Downtown Winston-Salem

The Nissan Building

Here is a little homage to my hometown. I felt like I needed a little switch-up from all of the outdoor/scenic type of shots, and decided to try out some cityscapes instead.

The Sail Inn Show

"The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought." - Sir Thomas Beecham

Matt Noakes

James Lanman and the Good Hurt

James Lanman and the Good Hurt

Little Hurricane

I attended a show in March at the The Sail Inn, in Tempe, during my stay in Arizona. I was also fortunate enough to be able to finally meet James, who also happens to be my best friend's cousin. It is a small world, and it was comforting to be able to hang out with someone with a common connection to someone I missed so much while I was away. Not to mention, all of the bands that played are incredibly talented.

Grand Canyon

"It's like trying to describe what you feel when you're standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon or remembering your first love or the birth of your child. You have to be there to really know what it's like. " - Jack Schmitt

This is from my drive back across the US. Instead of cutting straight east, I went north first to go visit the Grand Canyon for the first time. It was much bigger and grander than I ever would have thought was possible before I saw it. Unfortunately, I wasn't there at the prettiest time of day, but I still managed to get a few photos.

*Once again, please click on the image and view the big version!

South Mountain, Phoenix, AZ

"Am I willing to give up what I have in order to be what I am not yet? Am I able to follow the spirit of love into the desert? It is a frightening and sacred moment. There is no return. One's life is charged forever. It is the fire that gives us our shape." - Mary Richards

Here are two more panoramics from Arizona. They were both taken at South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. The above image was taken from the top of the ridge line shown below. This was one of my favorite hikes while I was in Arizona, and there were hardly any other people there.

This image was taken from the trail head.

Please click on the image to see a bigger version. It is hard to see the detail otherwise.