Rembert, South Carolina ::

The American flag alongside the South Carolina state flag:

Big Cove Presbyterian Church ::

A nice little church tucked just out of view of the highway. Another Holga photograph.



I especially like the crooked cross atop the steeple!

What A Revival ::

so to speak, of a closed movie theater in Columbia, S.C.



Taken in September, 2008.

Toilets At A Closed Service Station ::

A Moment In Time ::

Journalists are often at their worst when trying to predict the future. But it seems safe to say that many hundreds — if not thousands — of shutters will be released simultaneously on Sunday, May 2, as photographers around the world help Lens create “A Moment in Time”; one single moment in the life of the planet.

That moment will be 15:00 hours in Coordinated Universal Time or U.T.C., the contemporary equivalent of Greenwich Mean Time. In the United States, under daylight time, this would be 11 a.m. on the East Coast, 10 a.m. in the Midwest, 9 a.m. in the West and 8 a.m. on the West Coast. For local times around the world, you can consult this converter from timeanddate.com.

Lisa Gottlieb Berkowitz said she may be in labor at that moment and promised that she’d “be very careful” about any picture she takes. Brenda Sinclair Dutton expects to be flying to Indianapolis and plans to take a photo in the plane. In Alaska, Sarah Kennedy noted, it will be 7 o’clock. “I’ll sure to try to take a photo of the pretty sunrise,” she said. “If I’m awake.”

Rob Kunkle was less optimistic about the scene in San Francisco. “Sunday at 8 a.m.?” he asked. “I don’t think anyone is awake then in S.F.” But Dick Halstead, of Palymyra, N.Y., is confident that his day will be well under way. “I hope to include the United Church Choir,” he said. “We will just be concluding our Sunday Service.”

These were among the responses to our initial invitation, “A Timely Global Mosaic, Created by All of Us,” in which we asked everyone, everywhere, to join in making this worldwide photographic mosaic, with each photographer submitting their one best picture. As guidance, we suggested a few broad topics like arts and entertainment, community, family, money and the economy, nature and the environment, play, religion, social issues and work. And we also suggested that you might find the experience even more rewarding if you do some planning in advance, taking into account how best to represent yourself, and your community, with a single image.

You asked how long you’d have to submit your picture. | The answer: up to five days from the time you took it. The submission form will be live and usable from 15:00 (U.T.C.) on Sunday, May 2, until 15:00 (U.T.C.) on Friday, May 7.

You asked how large your file ought to be. | Because the pictures will be published up to 1000 pixels wide on the Web (that’s big), the larger your file, the better — up to a point. But please don’t send anything larger than 5 MB. If you’re using an adjustable camera phone, be sure to set it for the largest file size possible.

You asked whether we were aware that “A Moment in Time” was scarcely an original concept. | Yes, we certainly knew we weren’t the first. We’d love to be able to say we remembered that May 2 was also the date chosen in 1986 by David Elliot Cohen and Rick Smolan for “A Day in the Life of America.” But our memories aren’t that good. It’s merely a happy coincidence.

Steve's ::

If you're looking for a serious pool shooter in Huntsville, Alabama, then this is the place!

Dramatic Skies ::

After a springtime rain:

Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day ::

Is today. I'll put up some links to some of today's pinhole photographs in a day or so.

Flea Market ::

I've been driving by this scene for years and I had a photograph in mind with dramatic skies, but I never quite saw what I wanted. A couple of weeks ago I stopped and snapped a couple of frames with the Holga. I kinda like this one.

Words Of Wisdom ::

I was led to this great web site today called Dear Photographer. I put a link over on the right, but here is a sample:

I hate to say I told you so, but ... I told you so. Sure you still have to own a camera, and know how to take off a lens cap, and point it in the general direction of something, and upload it to some site where you lie about how it was all "in camera"; but the market for "real" (and by "real" I mean studied, experienced, full-time, paid, creative, technically able) photographers is shrinking like a dog's anus on a winter evening walk.

A Flag Photograph ::

Taken in Columbia, S.C. in 2008:

A New Orleans Cemetery ::

Just a few months before the levees were breached:

An Old Gas Pump ::

From the mid 80's, this is a scanned image from an 8x10 black and white negative.



I shot with an 8x10 camera for a long time in the 1980's. After a while I realized that this was all I was using and I sold all of my 35mm cameras. This was a decision I never regretted just as I don't regret the move to digital, which I love. Having said that, I'm now looking backward and thinking of moving back to a medium format film camera for certain applications.

I've also come to like playing around with the plastic cameras. I have a Holga 120 film camera and a Lomo 35mm fisheye camera which I use sparingly, but effectively. I'll be posting more from them in the future!

The Abandoned Steps ::

A Holga photograph:



I've just come across a wide field Holga that shoots either 6x9 or 6x12 on 120 film. I think I'm gonna order one in a few days since it looks pretty interesting. Now all I need are some new subjects!

A Flag ::

Minor Sign Vandalism ::

I came across this scene in 2004 in Morgan City, Alabama and shot it with my little Kodak point and shoot 5 megapixel camera. Someone felt the need to get creative with the letters on the sign.



Click on the photograph for the larger view.

Columbia, South Carolina

From a trip in March, 2007:

Services In The Cemetery ;:

At a church atop Grant mountain.

A Roadside Memorial ::

This is a relatively old photograph, but I pass this memorial every day. This wreck happened on New Years Eve, 2008 where I turn off to go home and a young man, 17 or 18 as I recall, was killed.



We all pass these memorials all the time, but we seldom know the story of what led to the tragedy. I am always surprised about how many of these we find inside the city!

Another Tattered Flag ::

Actually this flag is far beyond tattered!

Toilet Doors ::

Shot this a couple of weeks ago in Grant, Alabama.



I picked up another roll of black & white film that I dropped off for development yesterday but unfortunately it was severely overexposed. I checked the camera and sure enough the shutter setting was B. I'll make sure to check this from now on since there are only 2 settings, normal and bulb.

I have just about decided that I like shooting film once again and I'm thinking of looking for either a Hasselblad or a Mamiya RB67. A big sea change in my thinking!

1st Roll Of Film From The Holga ::

I finally got a roll of film processed from the Holga yesterday and this is one result. I'm looking forward to shooting a roll of color and seeing the results from that. I can also see that I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on the minimal focus adjustment, but this is interesting.

Mom! ::

A Roadside Memorial ::

Beside a creek near where I grew up in Camden, South Carolina.

Found Near The Lake Guntersville Dam ::

I still haven't had a chance to try out the new Hahnemuhle paper. Been caught up in the nice weather, but I hope to have some results very soon.

A Patriotic Tent ::

Along with a smiley face flag on top!

New Printing Paper To Try Out ::

I've been wanting to try some Hahnemuhle paper for quite some time so I ordered a box of the 460gsm Photo Rag last Friday. It came in today and I've just spent the last half hour or so building a custom profile. I'm not going to have a chance to print anything tonight, but I hope to give the paper a good tryout tomorrow evening.

Oh yeah, I also ordered a sample pack with 18 sheets of paper-2 sheets each of:
Natural Art Duo-256 gsm
Bamboo-290 gsm
Sugar Cane-300 gsm
Photo Rag Ultra Smooth-305 gsm
Photo Rag-308 gsm
Photo Rag Bright White-310 gsm
German Etching-310 gsm
William Turner-310 gsm
Museum Etching-350 gsm

I'm especially looking forward to trying out the William Turner, but just from what I've seen of the profiling target I'm sure that I'm going to like the 13"x19" Photo Rag that I got today. I especially like the weight-460 gsm.

Update to follow this weekend, at the latest.

Church Doors In North Georgia ::

Taken all those years ago when my only camera was the 8x10 view.




I ordered a Holga last week and started looking around for a local supplier of 120 color film. The local camera shop stocks it, but the price is around $38 for a propack of 5 rolls which I can order out of NY for about half the price. I'm glad I'm not relegated to only shooting film any more!

Fourth Of July ::

Calves And Car For Sale ::

A Church ::

In the Hebron community of Marshall County, Alabama.

The Tennessee River ::

below the Lake Guntersville Dam:



The river has been running high and fast for the past few weeks due to the inordinate amount of rain we've had.

New Camera ::

I got my Holga in the mail yesterday and I look forward to trying it out tomorrow, and hope to have some photographs from it in a few days. The hard part is finding someone or some place that will process 120 film. I would really prefer to shoot color, but this is a vast wasteland of photo labs!

Yellow Oil Repository ::

Seen at a marine mechanic's shop:

Seen Through A Window ::

New Horizons! ::

I ordered a Holga today wondering where that might take me.

A Backlit Flag ::

Over on the right I added a link to Alec Soth's web site. Go visit and wander around for a while 'cuz he has some really nice photographs there!

A Flag ::

The Upside Down Sign ::

A Show In Houston ::

I wish I could attend the show featuring Warren's photographs, but I'm afraid that's not to be. Hopefully there will be a web site with the show images and I'll post it if it's available.

I Let The Time Get Away From Me! ::

I didn't mean to be away for so long so here's an oldie, but a goodie from about 3 years ago:



This was found in Columbia, South Carolina during a trip in March, 2006. I was back in Columbia this past November and the little meditation center is no longer there. That's why I now try to make it a point to never pass up taking a photograph when I find something interesting.

Best Photographer In The Tennessee Valley? ::

David Higginbotham is in the running for best photographer in WHNT's Best Of The Valley competition. I'm not sure just where David is in the standing, but I went to WHNT's site and voted for him and I urge you to look at the photographs on David's web site and consider doing the same. I've looked at some of his competition and made David Higginbotham Photography my choice.

You can go here and cast your vote--it does require a registration, but it is more painless than most.

Extracting Exif Data From Your Image File ::

Everyone probably knows that Photoshop displays some pretty basic Exif data in the file info section, but have you ever wanted more information about your image file or, for that matter, have you ever wondered just how many shutter activations your camera has? There is a great little program called exiftool which will give you more information than you'll ever care for utilizing all of the exif data from both the camera as well as that added by your image editing program of choice. The little program runs on Windows or Mac OS and is free of charge.

An Old Image From An Old Camera ::

This photograph was taken January 2, 2003 with my first digital camera, a little 5 megapixel Kodak, which I still have but seldom use. When we used film cameras we thought nothing of using the same equipment for years and years, but the advent of digital encourages having the newest camera with all of the bells and whistles, now including video.



The latest edition of Rangefinder has an article on the work of Paul Roark which touches on some issues of film versus digital and how Roark approaches his fine art work.

Rangefinder offers free subscriptions for the asking.

Not Much Of A Church ::

I guess they didn't have much of a congregation either since the building is now a thrift store!

Grain Silos ::

Downtown Owens Crossroads ::

Here's a panorama of Owens Crossroads taken back during the summer. Be sure and click on this image in order to open the larger version.



This one was produced back in June and I've had my eyes open for new pano opportunities, but I haven't really run across anything lately which excites my eye.

Happy New Year ::

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Flag And Door From Earlier Today ::

We have a local drop-off point for recycled materials and every couple of weeks I drop off my plastic and newspapers. This scene is just across the street from the containers and the high winds that we have had the past few days were not good to the flag!

Flag And Door ::

A Decade In News Photographs ::

From The Boston Globe.

An Unusual Grave ::

A Photograph That Hits Close To Home! ::

I found an interesting link to a photograph on the page of a photographer in Michigan named Don Kennedy. I'm not going to download one of his photos, but go to this link and check the photograph at the bottom left.

Rail Car Wheels ::

The track is seldom used!

Pot, Stump And Artificial Flowers ::

Mt. Zion Cemetery in New Hope, Alabama.

Curious Cows ::

I came across this scene a couple of years ago and I've yet to discover just what sort of facility it is. I have a feeling that it's some sort of pumping station from the Flint River, but I wasn't about to tamper with it!



I guess that the easy thing to do would be to ask someone. At least the calves were friendly!

Snack Bar Art ::

Flag ::

Some Of My Favorite Elements ::

This is a rural church just a couple of miles down the road from me. I started this project a couple of years ago photographing churches just to see if I could find some that were interesting. I've discovered that some churches which should be at least moderately photogenic really aren't, but this church on the hill surrounded by the cemetery has long been a favorite of mine.



One thing I have found photographing churches is that there are often small details which are more visually interesting than an overall photograph.