Edwards FreeLance Photography

Day One - Road Trip

Road trip - Day 1

Well, day one came to a un-eventful close. Monday started at around 5:30AM, slamming down breakfast then hitting the road for Vicksburg. Decided to take U.S. Highway 80 westward, then hitting the I59/I20 interstate at the Alabama/Mississippi state line to make up some time.

I always try to travel some of the rural routes during a road trip, the people and locations can almost always provide you with some interest subject matter. Like visiting the first site of first state capital of Alabama along the Cahaba River, west of Selma or the Red Church located near Demopolis. Then just west of Demopolis, the rains came, fortunately, the clouds parted and sun began to shine - but that was only for a short while.

While driving across the Magnolia State, off in the distance you can see the storms building, a sudden change of plans is in my not so distant future.

Arriving in Vicksburg, pretty much on schedule, rain on the horizon, I head down to the historic area in hopes of capturing a few images. Well, greater plans of mice and men have been changed by Mother Nature. In her wisdom, there would no photography down this afternoon.

It's Tuesday morning, and you guessed it, rain. Oh well, can't let that get you down, on to my next stop on this road trip.

On day one, we covered 375 miles and didn't get a chance to take a single photograph.

Time to Pack -a Week on the Road

Well, it's time to stop procrastinating and get packed for week. First what's to take in the camera bag. Here's the list of equipment that I normally carry along on most road trips.

2 Nikon D300 camera bodies.
3 lenses a Nikon 60mm F1:2.8, Sigma 28mm F1.8 in the bag and a Nikon VR80-400mm packed in it's carrying case, just on the premise that I'm going to need to get up close and personal with something along the way.
A 1.5 multiplier
8 Memory modules varying in size from 2GB to 8GB.
4 Nikon Batteries.
Various filters for the each lens.
Cleaning kit.
Battery charger.
A wireless shutter release.
And a few other little odds and ends.

There's a Manfrotto lightweight tripod along with a monopod with interchangeable heads packed in the back of my 2 1/2 year old H3 with 112,000 miles. Along with a DC to AC inverter. A small tent in case I want decide to rough it a little, a pair of binoculars along so I can scope out the area and of course cooler full of water and snacks to carry me over from each destination.

Normally, I would be carrying along a laptop for file transfers, but since this a self assignment, there's no urgent need to send the images to a client so that's one less item to lug around. I do carry, what has quickly become one of favorites items, a IPAD.

The IPAD allows me do a quick review of the images and is loaded down with applications that allow me to hook up to my system back at home base, transfer images up into the Cloud for backup and my favorite, a mobile property and model release application. I no longer have the need to carry paper pocket releases and folks seems to think it's cool to sign their names on the IPAD.

It's been rather hot and humid down here in the south, so I'll be packing plenty of comfortable cool clothes, a couple of hats, hiking boots and hiking tennis shoes. Rain gear is always a must, especially since I do, on occasion like to chase a few storms.

So there you have it, we're packed up and ready to head out. This road trip will cover some 1600 miles, with several planned stops along the way, not including any unexpected side trips.

Painted Garden Gate

While walking around in the St. Augustine area last week, I came across this old painted gate that lead into a garden. It had an interesting flair and character, as does much of this historic city. Take a trip down, put on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and take a stroll through history.

 

Savannah's St. Patrick's Day Parade

There’s nothing else like it in the South. Early in the morning the crowds begin to gather to claim their strategic spot. Throughout the area many businesses close for short while as people wearing out outrageous outfits take over. No, it’s not Mardi Gras in New Orleans – It’s St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah Georgia. Where else would a young woman smile from ear to ear wearing a bright green mustache or anyone wearing green wig be considered the height of fashion?

For 187 years people have gathered along the streets and squares to celebrate, partake of green beer and other adult beverages and watch as members of fire departments, police departments, bagpipe playing bands from throughout the country - and of course, the pride of the United States, members of our Arm Forces.  As they pass, women and children run to catch a member to give them a hug or kiss on the cheek or to place a string of beads around their neck.

 
That’s how it goes for hours as the crowds scream, wave and dance to the music. But all good things come to an end, the last float passages by or the last marching band beats a drum - off in the distance you can hear the wail of the bagpipes.

Slowly as the stream of people clear out along Bay Street or line up to catch the ferry back across the river, the city of Savannah starts to get back to normal.  By 10:00 PM the streets are nearly clean, most of the bleachers and tents are down and had you not known that just hours before a mass celebration had just occurred, it’s business as normal – or is it?

You’ll have to plan a trip down to Savannah for the 188^th version of St. Patty’s Day celebration to discover what else occurs. After all I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

2011 St. Patrick's Day Savannah Georgia - Images by Murray Edwards

Southern Waterfalls

The South is best known for SEC football, sweet tea and NASCAR, not for scenic waterfalls. But to the surprise of many, if you know where to go, don't mind taking a little hike and taking the time to get off the beaten path, you might be presently surprised.

Throughout the region; Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and yes, even down in the state of Florida you will find scenic waterfalls. They aren't the tall majestic waterfalls that you will find out the western United States, but can be just as breathe taking and worth then time and effort to locate.

Southern Waterfalls - Images by Murray Edwards

 

 

Kuwait Bans DSLR Cameras

I came across this article where the country of Kuwait has decided to ban DSLR cameras. Is this a sign that other countries will begin to tell their citizens who and where can use cameras. Let's hope not.

From the Kuwait Times:

KUWAIT: After the ban three ministries placed on photography, most Kuwaiti youth are a bit confused about what to do with their cameras if they can't use them in public and why such laws were implemented in the first place. The Ministry of Information, Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Finance recently came to the conclusion that photography should be used for journalism purposes only. This has resulted in the ban of Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLRs) in public, on the streets and in malls
.

What most Kuwaiti photographers have come to wonder is how such a decision could be reached by authorities, especially considering that digital cameras and cell phone cameras have the same abilities. What most people think of photography as a hobby has become a bit misguided due to the fact that the country has so little exposure to art. While using a DSLR, passersby may wonder if the camera is being used for the wrong reasons.

Mohammed Al-Eisa, who picked up photography as a hobby more than 10 years ago, said that he has decided to take photos of animals or still life due to the fact that these subjects don't mind having their picture taken and don't make a scene. "I started facing problems the very first day I bought my camera," Mohammed added.

What often happens is that a big black camera tends to worry people. Taking a picture of a stranger would seem like much less of an issue if you were using a more discreet camera or even a cell phone. Mariam Al-Fodiry said that she has faced similar problems with her hobby and that being a girl doesn't help at all. She said that in some cases it makes the problem even worse. "Switching to abstract and landscape photography was one the options I considered after getting into enough trouble," Mariam said.

Majed Al-Saqer said that sometimes people stop him while he is in his car with his camera, as if he were planning to kill someone with it. He said that he isn't sure what the real problem is, whether it is people taking photos of each other or the size of the camera.

The Furnace

The latest print available from Edwards FreeLance Photography.

Sloss Furnace - Birmingham Alabama

Located just outside the downtown area of Birmingham, stands the National Historic Landmark, Sloss Furnace. Founded by James Sloss in 1880, the furnace produced iron for some ninety-years.  After his retirement the furnace passed through several owners, including U.S. Pipe and Foundry Company and Jim Walter Corporation, before being closed in 1971.

 

Sloss Furnace covers around 50 acres of land and is made up of wonderful maze of pipes, buildings and even has an underground tunnel to explore. Careful though, the facility is known as one of the top haunted locations in the country.

 

A special thanks to the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Foundation for allowing me to roam around and do some photography.

The 2010 Trail of Tears Remembrance Ride

For the last twenty years on the third Saturday in September, Chattanooga Tennessee has hosted the Trail of Tears motorcycle ride.  Thousands of cyclists from across the region gather together to pay their respect to the Indian nation - Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole, whose forced relocation caused numerous deaths and untold hardships as they traveled from the Chattanooga area, over the mountains into Florence, Alabama finally ending in Oklahoma.

As the sun begins to rise, on what would be a wonderful day for a cross county motorcycle ride, the bikers begin to line up.  The VIPs first, then the rest of the estimated 20,000 plus riders line up two by two from the corner of 20^th and Broad Street, along Riverfront Parkway to Martin Luther King Blvd.

 

At 7:55am the call goes out “Five Minutes” pass it down and all along the lineup the riders prepare to head out, Chattanooga’s Mayor Ron Littlefield makes his proclamation, making September 18^th, 2010 as Trail of Tears day and the roar from the motorcycles begin to resonate throughout the area.

At 8:00am the procession begins to pullout, motorcycles of all types, and people of walks of life, wave at the onlookers. It takes over thirty minutes for the last flag waving motorcycle to make the right turn onto Broad Street and to head towards the Tennessee Mountains in route to Florence Alabama some two hundred miles away.

For more images of the Trail of Tears Ride from Chattannooga to the Alabama State Line>

The Blue Ridge Mountains

One of my favorite locations to drive and photograph is along the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Beautful sunsets and waterfalls are there for the viewing.

 

 

 

Stock Images of North Carolina - Images by Murray Edwards