The Golden Gingko

My very favorite
Of all the neighborhood trees
The Golden Ginkgo



Ginkgo Leaves

Ginkgo Leaves

Ginkgo Leaves

Ginkgo Leaves

Ginkgo Leaves

Ginkgo Leaf

Ginkgo Leaf On The Fence

Every Leaf Dropped in 12 Hours

Great Smoky Mountains and the Tremont Institute

The Tremont Institute offers a variety of programs right in the Great Smoly Mountain National Park. Their "mission is to deliver experiential learning for youth, educators, and adults through programs that promote self-discovery, critical thinking, and effective teaching and leadership."

I've been there now three times for the photography workshops. They offer a "Springtime in the Smokies" workshop (generally a weekend around mid-April) and an "Autumn Brilliance" workshop near the end of October - beginning of November. Next year's dates are already set, April 11, 2025 - April 14, 2025 and October 31, 2025 - November 3, 2025, respectively. The workshops are a great chance to get away from it all, learn something about photography and have a good time with other like minded photographers.

This past year they added a Writers Conference which sounds really interesting. A 2025 conference has its dates set too. Check out their page to see if any of their programs are of interest to you.

In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite photos I took during this November's "Autumn Brilliance" workshop.


Spruce Flats Waterfall

Rushing Water and Rock

The Swirl

Ruins

Brilliance in the Fog

Rickett's Glen

Back in September I spent a couple days meeting up with an old friend and hiking around Rickett's Glen State Park in Pennsylvania. One of the hikes we did was a 7+ mile hike taking us past 21 waterfalls. Even though I didn't take as many photos as I would have had it been a photography trip, I still have a lot to go through. It's an amazing and somewhat challenging hike if you ever get a chance.

A Waterfall

A Waterfall

Another Waterfall

And Yet Another Waterfall

Taking the Kids on a "Bug Hunt"

Sometimes it's difficult to get my grandkids interested in getting outside and walking around, just looking at things and exploring. They'd rather play inside, play on the computers, other electronics, or boardgames. A few days ago I made them go on an "adventure" with me, a short walk in a nearby nature preserve. They didn't fall for the "adventure" gimmick so there were complaints... but then I got them looking for bugs and butterflies for me to photograph as we went along. Lots of butterflies were spotted but wouldn't stop to pose. A few dragonflies were the same, but then a couple decided to be perfect models.

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

The Wood Has Eyes

My slightly larger project during my week at the beach required a few days of thinking and observing followed by about an hour of actual photography time. Over the span of two days, I took "portraits" of the eyes and faces I imagined in the lumber of the steps, deck and walkway to the beach. Here are a handful of my favorites.

Giraffe Says Hello

Owl Says Who

Why The Long Face?

Sad Elephant

Watching

Mini Project -Tracks of the Transformer

Lately, as in the past year or so, I've been trying to limit the scope (time and numbers) of my photo "projects." Too many of my "projects" over the years have gotten out of hand. One particular project is still going strong at well over 2000 photos later, photos taken in my garden and home. But to be fair, I did have a book made for my wife at one point during this endeavor. So here is a very mini project from my week at the beach. Similar to last year's "Sand Project" and it's follow-up but much smaller, just one collage. I present "Tracks of the Transformer":

Tracks of the Transformer

Still Looking Up

It seems I've been taking a lot more photos of clouds. Beach week had a few more storms, and a bit more rain than is typical. It made for dramatic skies though!

Storm at Sunset, North Myrtle Beach SC.

Storm at Sunset 2, North Myrtle Beach SC.

Reflected Sunset, North Myrtle Beach SC.

Sunset over the Marsh, North Myrtle Beach SC.

Golden Clouds, North Myrtle Beach SC.

Clouds with a Hint of Color, North Myrtle Beach SC.

Sun Hiding Behind the Clouds, North Myrtle Beach SC.

Morning Rays, North Myrtle Beach SC.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

Still busy, always busy. I need to set better priorities and MAKE time. Here are a few from another recent road trip, this one south to Florida. A photographer I follow on Twitter posts photos of the clouds/light they find interesting. I do look at the clouds a lot but rarely take photos. Those tweets have prompted me to use my camera a bit more when I'm looking up. So here are a few as we were passing through Georgia.


Clouds #1, Earth Day Nature Trail, Brunswick, GA.

Clouds #2, Earth Day Nature Trail, Brunswick, GA.

Clouds #3, Earth Day Nature Trail, Brunswick, GA.

More Flowers

and busy, busy, busy. Falling further behind in processing due to the volume and actually having a deadline for some event photos. Here are a few of my favorite from the past couple weeks.


Riverboat on the Ohio, Cincinnati Ohio

Krohn Conservatory

French Lavender

Mock Orange

Bearded Iris

Bearded Iris

Bearded Iris

Spring and Summer Arrive Earlier and Earlier

I've been taking photos of flowers, bugs etc consistently since I retired and moved here permanently 7 years ago. At least for south western Ohio, the Ohio River valley outside of Cincinnati, spring and summer seem to be arriving earlier and earlier. Here are photos I've taken in the past few days. Hellebores have been blooming since at least Feb 1 and are still going strong. Many daffodils are still blooming whie the grape hyacinth are at their peak. The tulips and woodland poppies are blooming a week earlier than they've ever bloomed before. Today I noticed some iris about to bloom (a good freeze will kill them). I know 7 years is an inadequate sample in the scheme of things, but it's still a sample that gets one thinking.


Grape Hyacinth

Daffodils

Hellebores (aka Lenten Rose)

Tulips

More Tulips

Honeyberry

Woodland Poppy