Blue Ridges at Reddish Knob

This photo is another from the camping series in March. Reddish Knob provides spectacular views in all directions looking into Virgina and West Virginia. I steadied the camera using an umbrella on this trip, I look forward to returning with my tripod.

Directions to Reddish Knob, click here.

Mooncrazy, thanks for recent comment. I agree with you and will begin posting technical details of the shots I post. Details: Canon EOS 20D, Canon 24-70mm lens , F22 at 1/30 sec., umbrella, shorts and grubby t-shirt.

Pie eating contest gone wrong

Our Mayor wearing a pie tin hat and our festivities organizer looking all to happy to do it.













An unscathed scalp about to receive the pie treatment.












Round Hill held it's Hometown Festival yesterday where fun was had by all. The highly anticipated pie eating contest was kicked off with some of the town VIP's going head to head. After the countdown, however, pies were thrown into the air covering the contestants in French Silk. Nothing can compare to small town events where the community comes together for a rip roaring good time.

Creepy tree

This creepy tree is located south of Purcellville. I think it resents being surrounded by new mammoth houses. It looks like it nearly died years ago, perhaps due to lightning.

Update Jan 2011 - A neighborhood now sits on this very spot. 

At the mill over the ridge

Saturday was an unbelievably beautiful day in northern Virginia filled with bright blue skies, gentle winds and the smell of spring. A trip across the ridge into Clarke county produced this photo complete with a roller coaster like fence trailing off in the distance. There is also a Tastee Freez just south on 340, yum.













The trip included a jaunt over the to Burwell-Morgan Mill. This is an incredible machine that runs as it did in the 18th century. It is amazing how little water is required to keep the main wheel turning. The kids and I watched it grind corn, it even ran the sifter.

Balls Bluff tree and Virginia Creeper

A trip to Balls Bluff civil war park on Friday provided a terrific photographic opportunity for lush green foliage. This park runs adjacent to the Potomac River in Leesburg and features a small national cemetery, filled mostly with unmarked graves. A great battle occurred here 1861 with the Union army attempting to take Leesburg.

Blue Ridge panorama

The original size for this stitched-together photograph is 18,000 pixels wide, shrunken down here to fit. It is composed of six, 8.5 megapixel photos (click image to see it larger). This series was taken on the same morning as my previous post. I am considering printing this at full size on canvas but not sure where I could hang it. The National Gallery of Art would do :)

Wet Monday hike

At 9 AM this morning, the Blue Ridge was sopping wet. As I hiked up the ridge, the mist became thicker until finally turning to rain. Ten minutes to the bottom later, I headed back up with umbrella in hand. Nearing the top I was treated to a spectacular view of western Loudoun filled with a sun spotted ground between columns of rain. This photo features a northern view as the sun broke above me. More to come....

Time for a winter photo

Now that spring is here and today was rather warm, I thought it appropriate to break out a winter photo. Pictured here is trail ice from a January jaunt down the AT Trail. These winter river shots usually involve getting wet in freezing temps. On this trip I recall my lens freezing up from the splashing water. Not a pretty sight when wearing gloves, kneeling in snow while precariously hovering over a chilly river.

Stoney Point revisit

One day I will capture this location in all it's deserved glory. Yesterday evening was not it. It seems that sunrise may play better in this location. No regrets however, it was a peaceful evening filled with gentle winds, goose calls and something strange in the woods behind me.

Green moss and granite

This unique combination of nature was discovered just off the Appalachian Trail about three miles south of Bears Den cabin. My eyes were drawn to emerald green moss set against a large, cracked chunk of white granite. The moss is growing between the one inch cracks within the granite. Ultra fluffy and mega hard just hanging out together in the woods.

Magic mushroom

During fall of last year I drove to Blackburn cabin to capture the changing leaves in fog. The road to the cabin produced wonderful photos reminiscient of images from fairy tales. This photo features a pure white cap mushroom with a backdrop of lush green fogginess. At any moment you would expect to see wood fairies pop out of hiding and begin giggling at you.

Joys for trots

Moments before this photo was taken, the nearest horse chased a goose off the pasture. It reminded me of my Jack Russell chasing birds from the yard. It's amazing to see such a large animal acting like a frisky little dog.

Edge of western Loudoun

This photo was taken last year during winter on Route 601 which runs along the Blue Ridge bordering western Loudoun. Just out of view is the West Virginia border and a place called Raven Rocks. Research tells me this ridge was covered by hundred foot pines before a great fire took them down. All of the trees shown here are less than sixty years old, which coincides with the fire. The Appalachian Trail runs parallel to Route 601 and is roughly a half mile to the west.