Always fill up

It's over... Memorial Day Weekend. It was great though, one of the best times I have had in a while. I LOVED having today off, it really made all the diferance.

So Friday night was fun, we went out, got some pizza, a few drinks and turned in before 12 in anticipation for Saturday. Saturday morning came and I was in my boat, on the water at 6:45 a.m. I love it. It's still cool out, no one is around, the whine of the outboard and the cool sea-misted wind in your face. There are few things better. I drove around looking for some shots and decided upon Little St. Simons Island. I parked the boat and, illeagaly because you are not supposed to go ashore here, hopped out with my gear and walked around. I got some good shots (which will be shared on Friday!). I wound up picking the rest of our party up at the boat ramp at around 10 a.m.

We had a great time on Pelican Spit. It's a little island off the coast of Sea Island, St. Simons and Littls St. Simons that is only accessible by boat. We played frisbee, went swimming and all got burned. This was about the time I started to wonder if I was going to have enough gas for the journey home. I had a extra 5 gallons in a can in the back of the boat, but I burned more than I though I would with all the folks in the boat. Luckily we had another boat with us so, if all else fails (I thought), we could have them tow us... We began our departure around 4 and I soon emptied that extra 5 gallons I had and shortly aftern that, was out. I hailed to the other boat, who reluctently confessed that they too were almost empty. We tied my boat to theirs and begain the 3-mile tow back to the ramp. After what seemed like hours (we were going VERY slow) the ramp came in sight and we neared our destination. 200 yards to go, the other baot cuts out... they just ran out of gas as well. Great. Again, luckly we knew another boat load of people that were out and hailed the on the radio. They were back in a jiffy and tied up to the boat towing us and brought us the rest of the way to the ramp. This is where the fun really began.

Because we were both out of gas, towing both of us to the dock was a challenge. The plan was to let me go, I'd set my anchor and wait until the they brought the other boat to the dock. The current was ripping here and the Mackay River ramp is a very tricky one to get to when the current is pushing. Everything would have went smoothly, had my anchor ACTUALLY caught. I couldn't get my anchor to grab as I drifted closer and closer to the oyster-covered bridge pilings knowing I was going to crash dead into them. About one minute to impact, the boat with gas finished towing the other boat and realized my predicament. They rushed over to throw us a rope, and in doing so missed and the rope was caught in their propeller and their boat stalled out. Here we both are, heading towards a concrete column, with the current and momentum from the other boat driving us. A guy from the newly-stalled boat has his arm down in the water attempting to untangle the rope when we collide together with the column. His arm gets crushed (although not broken as we thought), my boat gets scratched up, the other boat's whip-antenna gets broken (we are underneath a bridge at this time)... it was all pretty crazy.

My anchor finally set and they rushed the other guy (with the hurt arm) back to to the ramp while we waited. We eventually got back with no more problems and were back out at a party in about about an hour. All in all, a great way to spend Memorial Day weekend! Sunday was spent taking it easy, lounging on the beach and drinking and dancing my pants off at Gnat Fest!

Friday Foto, thank God

I look forward to the Friday Foto probably as much as y'all do. That means that it is Friday, the end of my work week and the beginning of the weekend. I LIVE for the weekend, a time where I can do what I want to do, a time when I don't have to sit in front of a computer the entire day. I like my job, don't get me wrong, but nothing beats a day off. This weekend is extended too, oh thanks for Memorial Day.

I haven't gotten out and shot since last weekend's Womp Fest, so you will have to bear with me. I am getting up nice and early tomorrow (go ahead, scoff if you like) and shooting. We are going out in the boat tomorrow, going to spend the day out on Pelican Spit (a great little island only accessible by boat)... so, I'm going to get in the boat early and go shoot... reaching some different places, I'm pumped.

Today's Foto comes at you from the last wedding I shot. This is a great example of digital technology. This shot wasn't anything to look out right outta the camera. It was one of the bad ones, taken on a quick shot. But, I really liked the focus on the brides face, the kind of solitude it eluded.... I converted it to black and white and blurred some areas and viola! I really like it. Hope you all have a great weekend.

The Womp Off, 2006

Wow, what a success I must say. The skim board competition, which I assume will become an annual event, was a hit this Sunday. A little shaky organization due to premature starting, but things worked out in the end. To view the photos of the contestants shredding and busting, click here. All in all, it was a blast. I can't wait for this weekend. I'm off on Monday! I don't know what to do with myself.

Friday Foto

The other night, I believe it was Monday, I was feeling rather antsy. I get in these ruts of sorts, where I need to get out and do something. It helps me tremendously to know that I can go out and shoot my camera, and hopefully, come back with something beautiful. It calms me to create.

Monday the front was passing finally and I walked out on the beach in hopes to capture some last bit of it before it traveled out to sea. I believe it was about 7:30 p.m. I'm very pleased with the results from this spontanious shoot, I like the vertical one better. What do you think?

Anybody checked out Glynnfo.com yet? It's great stuff man. I really encourage y'all to go on the posts and start chatting it up... Someone start a really diverse local issue or something. We need to get the stats up.

I'm going to see The Phantom of the Opera (play) tomorrow night in Jacksonville. I'm pumped. Tonight, we're going to see The DaVinci Code movie. I hope it is good, but you never know. I heard someone who called the book "The screenplay for the movie the davinci code, by dan brown", I thought that was pretty fitting.

Don't forget about the Skim Board competition on Sunday at Myrtle Street beach at 4pm... pics will be posted here!

Glynnfo.com

I know I haven't posted in awhile, and there is a good reason for that. Glynnfo.com. Check it out. It's what IslandDrama could have been, but wayyy better. It's not trashy, it's still gossip, it's current events, it's local issues, it's and event calendar that is actually updated, it's a radio.

How can one site be all this you ask? It's easy, we're that good. The company I work for, Hambright and Associates Design, has been uber busy the past two months in construction of this behemoth of a site all down to the internet radio, which you must check out. What other station plays Foo Fighters, Merle Haggard and the Beatles all in one hour?

Check it out; start listening, start gossiping, start arguing... it's all for fun. And be sure to check back tomorrow. I got a GREAT Friday Foto lined up fresh off the image sensor.

Friday Foto

Today's is sort of a cop-out. This week has been nasty, with the weather not allowing for any shooting and work being real busy as usual. I combed through some of my photos and pulled this one. It's a great example of what is known as bokeh. Bokeh is the technique of manipulating the Depth of Field (DOF) to achieve blur. DOF is a technique that photographers use to give the subject of an image more importance. It is done by shooting with a wide aperture. This blurs the background nicely, and if done right (like this one) the foreground as well, leaving just the focal point in focus. Cool huh? Now you are enlightened. Next time you are checking out some photos, you can impress your friends and talk about how you love the bokeh in this image.

My weekend is looking nice and relaxed. Nothing planned for Saturday except a run. Sunday is Mother's Day, don't forget, and we are having our parents over for dinner. The weather will hopefully be nice this weekend, and if so, you will find me at the beach. Tonight one of my favorite jazz groups is playing up at the Palm Coast Coffee shop in the village. The Phil Morrison Trio, although only two are playing tonight. The lead pianist taught me lessons back in the day. It's great stuff. Have a great weekend y'all!

PS... just noticed a comment in regards to Springsteen's new album. Already got it. I highly recommend "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" to anybody that is either a Bob Seeger fan, Bruce Springsteen fan or both.

so busy yo

Well, I finished my processing the shots from y first wedding. It took a while, that's for sure. You can see them here if you want. The wedding I shot this past weekend went well, I was well versed in the program, so it went nice and smoothly. I'll show you all some photos from that one in a little bit here.

So the weather has been real nasty lately. I love cooler weather, but the cloudy and rainy part is getting kind of annoying. Has anybody heard of a band called Hayseed Dixie? Oh man, are y'all in for a treat. Go download some or ask me to play some later on... it's a county/bluegrass band that does nothing but cover AC/DC songs. Their version of "Back In Black" is awesome. It sounds really horrible, the concept, I know... but give it a whirl.

School's almost done for the summer huh? Who is getting home when? It's always more fun in the summer time. So guess what I have decided to do on January 7? I am going to run the Disney Marathon. Yeah, you may say to yourself, "But Bet, do you run?".... well, sort of... HA. I started training yesterday. I'm real excited, although I think it is going to be a lot harder then I am thinking it will be. They say you need to train for 3 months or so, and I'm starting way before that, so I should be OK. Wish me luck.

alright, peace out.

Friday Foto (Limited Edition)

Today I got a real treat for you. I know I have neglected you some this week, so sit back and relax. Today you are going to take a trip down to Taylor's Fish Camp. One of my favorite, untouched sects of land left on St. Simons Island.

Driving down the gated road that was once open to the public, I remembered the last time I was at Taylor's. It was the summer of 2002 and I was taking my three cousins out on a boat ride. We pulled into the camp and started chatting with the owner as he attached the lift chains to our boat and hoisted it up into the air. We were going fishing, and I conveyed to him that I was going to be teaching the boys how to throw a cast net. We geared up and as one of my cousins removed his shirt, the lift came to a screeching halt as the operator/owner stared with disbelief at the pierced nipples donned by my Californian kin. He said nothing for what seemed like a minute, found the lift button again, and with a spit said "Son, you and them rings gonna be trouble near a 20lb cast net."
That was Dan, I met him today, four years later as I photographed the surroundings of Taylor's Fish Camp. Dan has owned and operated the camp ever since he took it over from his Pa, who ran it all his life, bought from the Taylor's, who ran it since God knows when. The lift broke down shortly after we last put in and was never fixed. Dan said he was tired.
As I set up my shots, trying to capture the memories of weekends spent putting in and taking out, cleaning fish and buying bait at Taylor's, a car drove up and out jumped Peggy, Dan's wife. Peggy and Dan are the kind of people you don't really find anymore. They call lunch dinner and dinner supper. They refuse to sell out to the corporate world, stating as long as they are alive this land will be there. Dan fishes daily and his boat is adequately equipped with four poles, two cast nets, a twelve-pack and an oxygen tank and respirator. Peggy paints daily the view from her front door.

She asked me if I wanted to get a picture of a deer. No, not really I thought, I have plenty of those. But, a chance to converse with her as she drove me in her car was what lead me to say yes. I hopped in and we drove 20 yards and got out. She grabbed her pack of cigarettes and said, "Come on, let's go see Danielle." She got out of the car and bent down and started calling for Daneille. I looked around half expecting to see a mutt of some sort come bounding through the bushes when to my surprise a full-grown doe came leaping toward her. They collided like a dog to his master. The cigarettes then came into play. Apparently Danielle has a nicotine addiction. She eats them straight up. Danielle is the offspring of a deer that was hurt and then nursed back to health by Dan and Peggy. Peggy would take a bullet for Danielle, she told me so.
I was invited to come back whenever I wanted. I will. To me, that was the best afternoon I could have asked for.


PS... Does anybody know what today is? No, Sinko De Mayo is not it... they already had their holiday on Monday. (btw, that was stupid)... no, today is NO PANTS DAY! For real, I'm sitting on raw haunches right now, how 'bout you?