My hills, my grassy grassy hills

This photo was taken last week South of Hamilton in a picturesque pasture (Bovine post below taken during same shoot). The small stream pictured meanders aimlessly though acres of similar landscapes in the area. The background contains several layers of grassy hills that eventually lead to a overgrown field on top. I could have sat here for hours just looking and listening (heh, I guess I did that).

Town crier

This pole, located in the center of town, gives new meaning to utility. I'm pretty sure that the original Round Hill settlers nailed their notices to this pole as have the generations that followed. A quick inventory of the historic evidence shows nails of every flavor, philips & flat head screws, staples, cable tacks and likey a toothpick or two. I personally have been notified of yard sales, lost dogs, birthday parties and hay for sale. I must know though, why is no staple vertical?

Sky Meadows

A sunny but not so warm day led me to Sky Meadows State Park. This Fauquier County park offers mountain side hiking and camping. The scenery is breathtaking and filled with classic rolling Virginia hills, undulating tree lines and serene ponds. Dave gives it four hiking sticks.

Digital leaf recycling

Imagery of plain objects can be appealing as a components, but sometimes cannot stand alone. These leaves from the recent fall season begged for attention. Repeating them as a background while turning trail ice into alien balls reveals something new altogether. Squinting at the picture shows the alien himself.

Bovine paradise

Virginia pastures can be rugged and colorful. An overcast Friday provided great lighting for such shots. Once you drive past the housing boom south of Hamilton, life is pretty much they way its been for generations. The only thing in a hurry were the Cardinals and field mice.

Cute birds only

I love to eat beef, pork and fowl as much as the next guy. However, if a town is to proclaim themselves as a bird sanctuary perhaps they should ensure that bird parts don't float around their streets. Just down the road from the Harrisonburg town sign is a Cargill turkey processing plant (see inset). Feathers from the plant can be seen in folks yards for miles (red circles). Maybe the sign should read "Cute Bird Sanctuary".

Doe stuck in gaze

While I keep striving for the perfect deer photo, this one will have to do. I probably have a few hundred bad deer shots including blurry white tails streaking across the frame, glowing green eyes from flashes and tons of deer butt (running away). Why do they pose when I'm driving and flee like the wind when I'm hiking?

Frozen stare....on twigs

Sometimes photographs seem to stare back at you. Sometimes they need help. This chilly guy is one such character who could not stand on his own. From the Eyes In Eyce series, this photo was taken in a chilly Loudoun stream just off the AT trail. He was taken home and embellished as seen here, frozen in time.

Gap from Seven

One of my favorite Round Hill landmarks is the mountain pasture at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountain along Route 7. On this morning (2005), the ridge turned white with frost along the trees that define it. There is something special about this plot of land with its rolling hills, gentle lines of tree walls and expected farm effects. As I drove by this spot tonight I could see a line of about 25 deer grazing without a care.

Bears in orange overalls

Of all of the small town carnivals I attended as a kid, I never saw bears in orange overalls. Maybe there is some significance of this in West Virginia that I'm unaware of.

Hygiene not required

Nothing like three days of camping to shrug off normal duties. Neighbor Dave and I traveled to the Shenandoah National Forest this weekend for some trailing, hiking and the squashing of personal hygiene, yeah! While getting lost on what the locals referred to as "roads", we discovered a breathtaking spot called Reddish Knob. The Knob offered 360 degree views into the Virgina and West Virgina mountains.

Blues and Tan

Photographing familiar views from different perspectives can produce unexpected and pleasing imagery. The many hills and pastures along Route 81 in Virginia provide a rich palette of options with this goal in mind. In these days of hustle and bustle, its nice to know that the simple life still exists. Taken this weekend north of Harrisonburg, more to follow.

Newt and Stream

Appalachian Trail newt and stream, taken last year.

Vision, glory and power

Don't let the fancy pants title fool you. This is a photograph of a small barn with a flag nailed to the outside of it. A window does not promise vision, a flag does not ensure glory and power cannot be metered enough.

Up silo

Grain silos can define a rural landscape. They are often the tallest man made objects within view out in the country. Once plentiful in western Loudoun, they are quickly become monoliths from another time.

Bedless truck with bale

I love my tiny rural town. While Round Hill struggles to keep it's identity in the midst ravenous growth, it is my hope that the charm will remain. There is nothing unusual at all in seeing a bedless sky blue truck with a hay bale leaning against it in the middle of town.

Tree bones

I meet the coolest people while hiking. One such person I recently met referred to the bare growth as "Tree Bones". That description stuck with me. This photo, taken in 2004 on yet another Loudoun dirt road, is full of tree bones. I find the bones appealing because they tell their own stories; size, species, location, scars, lines and age. The story may not always be fluffy and cute, in this case, kind of creepy.