In My Town

“Smell The Roses”

It’s refreshing to have the opportunity to slow down and take notice of the very mundane stuff ‘cuz the mundane stuff can be cool.  This is the stuff you drive past going to work everyday.  It’s the stuff you miss while you’re frantically running your errands for the week.  You may even run right past it on your daily jog.  Slow down, or even stop, and just take it in.  There’s so much fascinating stuff out there.  How can I ever get “blocked” as a photographer when stuff like this exists around every corner.  It may not be interesting to anybody else, but it is to me.  So there.  You see me with my camera pointed at something, anything, and you wonder “what the heck?”  Well, now you know.

I've been walking by these trees for about 3 months now every morning while I walk my dog and have been fascinated with them every time.

I’ve been walking by these trees for about 3 months now every morning while I walk my dog and have been fascinated with them every time.

Looks like the desert camo that the military wears these days, doesn't it?

Looks like the desert camo that the military wears these days, doesn’t it?

Worship

“Worship is one of the odder things the Christian community does…

But, with worship there is the very real potential and possibility that, by God’s Spirit, I will be enlivened, nourished, purified, opened, surrendered and so will you.”

– The Rev. Dr. Dan McCoig

The very elegant communion table in the Boyd Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, Winchester. Order a print of this image.

The very elegant communion table in the Boyd Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, Winchester.
Order a print of this image.

Path

I heard myself vocalize it today.  I’m a photographer.  I had a friend suggest that I collect unemployment while I search for a job.  And I heard myself say that I’m not sure I want to look right now.  I’m a photographer.  At least for now.  Life is certainly going to throw curveballs at you from time to time and this one has been a whopper, but I think I’ve created a path that I’m going to follow and see where this crazy adventure takes me.  As long as I’ve got access to my cameras and a nice day for a bike ride, I’ll be good for now.

Thanks Carla.

Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.

Sanctuary

As I make my way through some new interior church shoots I wanted to apply some of my new-found techniques to an older photo of my church.  I discovered it’s not ALL about techniques and post-processing (actually I knew this going in).  This is in direct response to that pocket of folks who believe that all the post-processing work that’s all the rage now is cheating.  I’m here to say that the post-processing will certainly bring out the best in an image, but if you don’t start with a decent image (tack-sharp, great composition, interesting subject matter, etc.) you’re not going to get very far.  I’m satisfied with the edit of this image, but I wish I had a better image to begin with.

The main sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, Winchester. Order a print of this image.

The main sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, Winchester. Order a print of this image.

Recital

I must have some inner urge to photograph the interior of buildings these days.  And there’s certainly a huge opportunity for that when you live in an historic town like I do.  Granted, Shenandoah University isn’t a really old university, but it does have some great buildings.

Goodson Chapel Recital Hall

Goodson Chapel Recital Hall. Order a print of this image.

Reading Room

I’ve always loved the novelty of this floor and figured I’d shoot some images while I was there last week.

Winchester has gone through many changes, but a lot of the current city has been the way it is ever since I moved here.  For instance, I don’t remember Handley High School before the current renovations (I think I went into the school one time – not enough to remember what it was like).  I also don’t know what the Handley Library looked like before it’s most current round of updates in 2001.  But I do know that this room is the coolest in the library – if I were a kid now, I’d be hanging out in here.

This is the "Teen" section of the Handley regional Library in Winchester. I love all the textures in here.

This is the “Teen” section of the Handley regional Library in Winchester. I love all the textures in here.  Order a print of this image.

Chapel

I’m slowly making my way through the downtown buildings in Winchester and I’m diggin’ all the shoots and fascinating architecture I’m seeing.  I really wish I’d known how to shoot back when we went to England.  Anyway…

I usually don’t engage in altering an image’s content, but this time I did.  Various things in the original image just seemed distracting so I went ahead and removed them (things like thermostat controls, light switches and literature racks).  I’d have to put them back in if I were to submit this image for any major contest, though.

Enjoy.

The Boyd Chapel at First Presbyterian Church in Winchester, VA. Among other gatherings, this space lends itself to the 7:30 am worship service each Sunday. Order a print of this image.

The Boyd Chapel at First Presbyterian Church in Winchester, VA. Among other gatherings, this space lends itself to the 7:30 am worship service each Sunday. Order a print of this image.

Stacks

The word “stacks” just reminds me of a library.  I literally could have spent another couple hours in this building (and will probably go back just to shoot).  I’m having fun going all “Right-Brain” on these images!

Learning…

I now know what people are talking about when they say they get lost in their work.  I’ve just been playing around with more images and it’s all-of-a-sudden 1 in the morning!  Anyway, I’m really digging this Lightroom workflow and am just grabbing any and every image to see what I can do with it.

Here’s one I did a couple years ago…

Handley Library

And here’s the revisit…

After – Before

I know the saying is actually “Before-After,” but here’s my OCD coming through.  People read from left to right and the image portrays an after image morphing into a before shot (and it’s alphabetical).  Anyway…

March marks my 5th year as “Production Manager” (I kinda just gave myself that title, but it’s pretty accurate) at my church as I’ve overseen the A/V booth since we launched the New Stone Gathering service in 2009!  And here’s where having a crap-ton of photos laying around comes in handy.

Before...

Before…

...after...

…after…

...and combined.

…and combined.

“Old” Town

Downtown Winchester is really getting a facelift. I remember one of our first stories at TV3 Winchester was when the roof collapsed at the Taylor Hotel c. 2007.  Read more about the renovation here.

Downtown Winchester is really getting a facelift. I remember one of our first stories at TV3 Winchester was when the roof collapsed at the Taylor Hotel c. 2007.

The front porch of the newly renovated Taylor Hotel in Winchester, VA.  Order a print of this image.

Iconic

Had so much fun yesterday revisiting an old HDR image that I thought I’d give it a go with another one today.

Handley High School

Before…

Glimpse

Most towns have those iconic landmarks that give you just a glimpse into the past.  You know, those buildings that have the old business name built into it, but the business hasn’t been there for years.  It really makes you wonder what life was like back then and what current buildings will create wonder for future generations.

Winchester has these types of landmarks scattered all over.  This is one that most people just breeze right by every day without a second thought.  I couldn’t find much out there on the web about this one, but I’m certainly curious.

Anybody know anything about the old Pine Motor Company?

Glimpse
The old Pine Motor Company building on Cecil and Braddock Streets. It’s been an antique store for as long as I’ve been here.

John Handley

JOHN HANDLEY GRAVE 02What a fascinating story this is.  I’m not from Winchester so didn’t attend Handley High School, but it’s a name that’s out there – a lot.  So I’m interested.

What motivates a man, who never lived in the city, to leave a sizable portion of his estate to the educational betterment of the town?  Fascinating.  And apparently very problematic initially.  I never really got into history, and I probably won’t dive to deeply into this, but it’s fascinating nonetheless.

I’ve decided that I’m going to start “investigating” my town (or at least the town where I currently live because “my town” in Bridgewater, VA) and will be posting my thoughts each weekend (at least for now) and John Handley is a big part of this town.

I also find it humorous that the Wikipedia page for John Handley High School lists, as notable alumni, Brian Partlow (who I know as a really nice guy) ahead of Patsy Cline!  no offense Brian

handley 111713 05a

John Handley High School. An endowed public school in Winchester, VA. Order a print of this image.