South Carolina Lights

On our way from Maryland to Key West in October, 2001 for Anniversary Number One, we took a one-day excursion to coastal South Carolina, to shoot four lighthouses. (Three lighthouses and a tourist beacon, really) Above, after a long, hot trudge through the sand, we find Morris Island Light.

Within sight of Morris Island Light, on the north shore of the entrance to Charleston Harbor, is the black and white Sullivan's Island Light - just visible toward the right of this frame.

Morris Island was the original lighthouse marking the entrance to Charleston Harbor, and erosion is taking its toll. Hence, the newer tower across the way.

Sullivan's Island Light is one of the last lighthouses to be constructed by the Federal Government, and its 1969 design is more practical than aesthetically pleasing. I mean, really - what self-respecting lighthouse has an ELEVATOR in it?

This is more like it. Hunting Island Lighthouse. The setting is so picturesque, people have weddings there. We know. [Maris] and I waited an hour for a few dozen wedding guests to mill about and in and atop this one. It was worth the wait.

[Maris] grabbed this shot, keeping the wedding just off the right of the frame.

The fake and wholly disappointing Harbour Town "Lighthouse" in Hilton Head. Designed to attract boaters to their marina, restaurants and shopping. Meh.

Just so that Hilton Head thing above isn't the last image in this post, here's a black and white shot of Sullivan's Island Light. Why not?

Thanks for seeing our pictures. Later!

Why I Was There In October, 2001

This is one of those posts where the quality of the photographs is admittedly sub-par, but it's okay. It is only partly about the pics, this time. These should have been pictures from a mid-September, insignificant Baltimore Orioles game. This game became significant when it was rescheduled in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It became the final game for Orioles legend Cal Ripken, Jr..

It was hard to feel too good about the reason I was able to attend this event, but it was gratifying to be there with the fans to say goodbye to this special athlete, one who is also a really, really good person. His retirement, as well as that of the Washington Redskins' Darrell Green in 2002 (another great guy), were two more nails in the coffin of "my" connection to the 1980s (everyone has a Best Decade, right?), but alas, all things must end. Except the universe and Dick Clark, of course.

I know it made Cal uncomfortable to have the cameras on him 100% of the night, but what can you do?

The last of thousands of trips to the plate.

Man - some people are lucky to get a watch when they retire.

(Sniffle)

Darrell Green's last day at work for the Redskins was December 29, 2002. His name was added to the stadium's Ring of Fame before the game. Look - balloons!

Tears! Darrell's an emotional guy. But he WILL take that ball away from you and run the other way. He did it over 50 times in his two-decade career.

One last pregame chat with the other defensive backs.

Mr. Green spent a good half-hour after the game doing this.

And this. See ya, Darrell. Thanks for the memories.

Hay - We've Got Barns!

While we didn't exactly have "barn years," we did manage to grab the occasional shot of some of those we happened upon as we crisscrossed the region getting lost and looking for covered bridges and trains. Here are some of the better results. Above, [Maris] did actually bring us back to this freshly-painted beauty near Sandy Hook, MD several times in 1999, so she could shoot it in just the right light. Totally worth it.

Near Hyndman, PA in 1999.

Another [Maris] photo - "Mama Barn and Baby Barn" - near Dickerson, MD in 1999. Storm clouds behind tin roofs = perfection.

Somewhere in Virginia - 1999.

Bird's Eye View - Somerset County, PA - 1999.

U.S. Route 15 - near Marshall, VA (I think) - 1999.

Eastern PA - Curse you, wires! - 2001 [Maris]'s shot.

Again, somewhere in northwestern Virginia in 1999.

Okay - I've posted these final two frames before, but they have barns in them! Also, I have re-scanned using the negatives, so they're a little cleaner. This is "Another Planet's Barn - West Virginia" - 1997.

And this joint effort between [Maris] and myself is "Barn and Tree" near Snowshoe, WV - 1997.

Thanks again for looking. More to come!

Things Spooky, Broken, Haunted

Broken RVICE Station - near Lively, VA - 2001

One of the spookiest and most unmistakably haunted places I have ever been. [Maris] and I were wandering through the mountains of Kentucky late at night when we happened on this scene in Lynch. There were ghosts. I know there were. Men died in that mine. It's a museum, now, but I have no doubt the ghosts are still digging. 1999 photo.

Just across the road from the mine portal, we found a rotting old locomotive, which I attempted to shoot, and this caboose, shot by [Maris]. It was nearly pitch-black, so focus and exposure suffered greatly, but by this time we were so spooked, it was time to go.

Maybe it was the chilly, damp weather. Maybe the fact that it was Sunday. Maybe everyone was at the McDonald's out on the highway (the worst McD's in the universe). Whatever the reason, Grafton, WV was a creepy, sad little ghost railroad town when we visited in 1997.

This one is more sad than haunted. This 1688 grave stone is in Salem, MA. The lower inscription reads "An aged person that had been but nineteen winters in the world." 1998 photo.

Broken Happy Place. The north end of the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, DE after the 1992 Nor'Easter.

Overgrown Farmhouse - Northern Neck of Virginia - 2001. I'll bet there's a ghost in there.

Big creepy, spooky, haunted house in Garrett, PA in 2001. TELL me there isn't a whole mess of ghosts in there!

Wind turbines looming creepily above Garrett, PA in 2001. They don't scare me the way they do some people, but I have to admit, seeing them up close when you're not accustomed to them does sort of make the little hairs on your arms stand up.

Finally, "Bart's End." I know - I've posted this one before, but I just love it so. It speaks to me, and every time I look, it says something different.

Thanks for dropping by. I'm thinking it might be time for some barns, next.

Bridges With Roofs - Part Three

One more batch of covered bridge fun - mostly from 2000-2002. Mostly. Above is Sauk's Bridge near Gettysburg, PA - admiring its reflection.

I can't find this one in my notes - because I can't be bothered. I mean, have you seen the closet where the notebooks are? It's daunting. I can at least tell you that this is one of [Maris]'s shots.

Another [Maris] composition - I think this one is in Lancaster County, PA.

Trostletown Bridge - over Stony Creek in Somerset County, PA. Also shot by [Maris].

Don't remember where this is, but it's a really nice spot.

Barronvale Bridge - Somerset County, PA. There are two support spans in this one - a short one on the right and a longer one on the left. Beautiful bridge.

Pack Saddle Bridge - Somerset County, PA - from a 1999 trip.

Two views of the Humpback Bridge in Covington, VA. There are railroad tracks just behind the bridge. How cool would that have been?

Finally, I don't know this bridge's identity, but I like that it has those windows at one end. For fishin'? (shrug)

Thanks for visiting. Ta!

Dead Trees, Live Cows

Cows. Near Dickerson, MD - 1999.

Watchcows. Near Cass, WV - 1997.

Dead Tree - Point of Rocks, MD - January, 1996.

Naked Trees in Northern Maine - 2004.

Cows In Pond - Virginia - 2000.

Dead Tree and Deader Boat - Eastern Branch, Corrotoman River, VA - 2001.

Trees and Ripples - Way up the Eastern Branch, Corrotoman River, Lancaster, VA - 2007.

Cows in the Woods - Shenandoah Junction, WV - 2000.

Horns! Moo! What? Somewhere in MD - 1999.

More later, less weird. Maybe.