The Fourth Day

The Fourth Day

 

And God made two great lights; the greater to rule the day,

 

 

 

and the lesser to rule the night.

The Third Day

"And the evening and the morning were the third day!"

 

 

"And God said, Let there be light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness."

 

Darkness to light at the Old Cape Henry lighthouse in Virginia.

 

Capes Henry and Charles in Virginia at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay were named after the two sons of King James of England.  The first lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay was erected on Cape Henry in 1792 at a cost of $15,200, most likely an outrageous sum for that time.  The sandstone tower is 90 feet tall and a local man, Laban Gossigan, became the first keeper. 

 

The Virginia Governor offered President Washington assistance in erecting a tower at the current site.  It seems that a certain amount of materials were placed at that location by the state and they would be available for the construction by the Federal government.  Blowing and shifting sands had buried the building materials and they had to be replaced.  The contract to build the tower was signed by Alexander Hamilton and awarded to an New York brick layer, John McComb, Jr.During the Civil War the Confederates destroyed the lantern, only to be replaced in 1863.  A military guard was placed at the light until the end of the war.

 

 By 1872 cracks appeared in the walls and the Lighthouse Board recommended it be replaced. By 1879 construction on the new tower had begun.The Lighthouse Board ordered the replacement of the tower and the new one was completed in 1881 at a cost of $125,000.  Like the Cape Charles light, this southern beacon was fitted with a huge first order Fresnel lens.  Not just a bay light, but an offshore sentinel for all shipping entering the bay and as such required the largest of lights.  In 1929, this beacon became the first radio-distance-finding station.  The light flashes the dot-dot-dash pattern of the letter “U” at 80,000 candlepower.

 

This was an early morning after a much earlier ride from Chestertown, Maryland south to the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay at Virginia Beach, Virginia.  The three hour ride was totally worth it, for the ensuing sunrise was spectacular.  Such trips are planned, but when one arrives at the shot site....the result is in God's hands and one takes what one is given.  In this case I got lucky!

 

 

 

 

The second of the first

GOOD MORNING

 

The Pikes Place is simmering in the cup, dogs fed and asleep, and the garbage men are outside picking up the hangovers from Christmas and New Years.  Feet hit the floor this morning and that's a good thing. 

 

And so another (thankfully) new year starts.  Business wise I hope it will be a better year, but have no clue what our hapless govt. will do to us regarding business growth.  I can only control what I do.  And therefore feel like the tail of the dog.

 

At the moment, I have no grand photo plans this year.  But I do intend to expand the number of websites as well as the marketing side.  It all amounts to a great deal of computer work, scanning of slides and tweaking photos to sales quality and other stuff that is not anywhere as intersting as going "Click,click".

 

I want to see the kids more often and of course the grands as well, but I think a lot of that will depend upon the markets and how well we all do with regard to incomes.  Unlike the half of the country that depends upon govt. largess, I have to earn the extra money needed for all trips including photo adventures.

 

I want to take the opportunity to thank all of my customers in 12 and hope that your interested in some of the new stuff in 13.   My following has grown and I am eternally grateful for that interest.  And with that I will leave you today with the best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year for you and yours.

 

  But true to my true colors, I leave you with this little nugget I stole from the net.

 

 

12 31 12

 

Yeah, I know it's supposed to be Milk!

 

 

Don't get me wrong.....there is no real new baby...that's just a metaphor of sorts.  Let's see I usher out....a year of

 

Endless politicians lying to us.

A year of better personal health.

A year of 108,000 hits on Fine Art America.

A year of 9,700 hits on this Blog.

A year which saw my oldest grand start college.

A year of good health throughout the family.

A 13.2% increase in my annual income.

Only a 12% increase in my annual expenses.

 

And we usher in a year with....

 

A trillion dollar tax increase in an already weak economy.

Hope that the economy doesnt' implode.

Some new photographic adventures.

Maybe a real vacation.

Continued good health for us all.

 

Finally, a huge thank you for.......

 

 All the readers of the blog.

All the visitors to FAA.

All of my buyers without which I would probably take up knitting.

Sheri and God for putting up with me.

My kids and grand kids who are simply the best.

 

And finally my new year's resolution stolen from someone far smarter than I!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 26 12

BLESSED!

 

This is the traditional morning after the morning before blog.  Or the day after Christmas.  I finished a five day power trip to Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania on the 24th and was home just in time for family Christmas eve events here in SC.  I have to admit that the thousand mile rounder is a little tedious......but worth it.  Maybe next time I'll look into a train ride, which might make an interesting adventure to report here but we'll to see about that.

 

In Pennsylvania!

 

 

One of the advantages of being behind the camera is that you never have to be seen in these obligatory images.  Son [in dark shirt], daughter to the right, son-in-law in red shirt, daughter in law standing.  The rest are the grands....three girls left and son saddled with carrying on the family name.  Great meal and great togetherness, of which I do not get enough.  Love them all beyond reason and don't tell them that enough.

 

 

The family cats could have cared less about what was going on...they literally are fat, dumb and happy.

 

Speaking of dumb and happy....back in South Carolina, McGee just wants to be fed and kept warm.  Presents hold his interest for about thirty seconds.  But mention a cookie and look out!

Missy is our performer and cannot wait to open presents.  It is truly amazing that for two weeks, presents sat under the tree and she didn't touch them.  But on Christmas morning........she knows!  Somehow she KNOWS!

 

She is the opener of all things wrapped and wears herself out doing just that.

 

 

Ready to go for the next one.

 

It's her job..........once a year!

 

Sheri and Chrissy admire a photograph framed in a Victorian antique frame while surveying Missy's handiwork.

 

 

OK, so most of the photos were about toys, pets and family. But we all know the real reason for the season called CHRISTmas and I did get a chance to read the bible last night............so it has been a blessed holiday.

 

Can't wait to see what Missy does for New Years Eve!

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 15 12

OLD AND GREY

 

I borrowed this from an old friend, Carol, with whom I went steady back in the 8th grade for about three days.  She in turn got it from Linked Souls dot com.  I remember carrying her books home from school on one occasion.  I don't know how that counts as going steady, but back then it was that important and that innocent.

 

Does any kid do that any more?  Or adult for that matter.   Maybe it would help our culture if we took the time to quietly relate to one another.  My eternal prayers and thoughts rest today with the parents and friends of those going through a horrendous time in Connecticut.  They're lives will be forever changed by a mentally ill young man who was a step to far from Heaven and one too close to Hell.

 

 

12 14 12

THE ART WITHIN

 

Someone once asked me why I take so many photographs.  I guess it was at a wildlife show in Maryland, but am not sure.  It's sorta like what I do!  And no, I don't throw them up on the wall and see what sticks.  There was once a very famous wildlife photographer, not me certainly, that made a renowned living of taking too many photos.  This was back before digital....you know when the wagons were going across the country exploring the west.  And yes, I do feel that old at times.

 

Back when we bought film [around $8 a roll], had it developed [about $8 a roll], kept only the one image out of 36 if we were lucky [good], and then looked for someone to buy that single image.  It was tough to get a decent business going. 

 

I'll answer that original question in a minute, but when asked what it takes to be a great photographer I had this to say.  "You need money, no family, and the best equipment that money can buy, travel constantly....then to get just the right photo.....You gotta be there" 

 

 And that's how you make a great image.

 

  Selling it is a whole nother herd of cats.

 

Anyway, that famous wildlife photographer [sorry but I can't remember his name, so much for fame] would find, let's say, a moose in the wild.  He would set up his assistants [5 or 6] in a semi-circle around the hapless animal and they would burn hundreds of rolls of film.  This did a couple of things.  First it pretty much insured getting a saleable image.  Second, at that time we had to actually send the slide off to the magazine or book for approval.  Hence, that image would be out of circulation for up to two months.  Nobody else could see it.  But this guy had hundreds and could send almost the same image off to hundreds of buyers.  He got published a lot, made a bunch of money, gained a potload of fame,  but it cost him a boat load of cash.

 

Notice, nowhere up there did I mention "Art" or the artist's "Eye"  Well, it doesn't hurt to have a good eye and to know what does or can put together a decent image.  Like I have said, I shoot some pretty unattractive views.  But in so doing, I get to see just what is "In" the image.

 

 

This is the Congaree River.  The light stinks.  Everything is brown.  Water is reflecting.  Ugh!

 

But!

 

 

Well, that's a whole nuther kettle of fish!