Battle of Cross Keys

Cross Keys, Virginia 

This peaceful landscape in the Shenandoah Valley was the scene of a Civil War battle that was fought as Union forces pursued the Confederate Army south  after "Stonewall" Jackson's victory at Winchester, Virginia. Jackson's forces were positioned at nearby Port Republic, and General Richard Ewell, with 5000 men, engaged the Union forces at Cross Keys. Ewell forced the Union army to withdraw, and slipped away to join Jackson on the banks of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.

The Battle of Cross Keys took place 150 years ago, on June 8, 1862.

Farmer's Service Center

Madison, Virginia

Back in 2010, I posted black and white pictures of this old store in the town of Madison. (See here). This is the kind of subject that often works well in black and white, but I found the faded colors of the old signs interesting. Farmer's Service Center is no longer in business and the building now houses an antique shop, operated by the same family that ran the original feed store.

Rockscape #4

Greene County, Virginia

Memorial Day - 2012

Cedar Hill Cemetery - Vicksburg, Mississippi

Sign of the times . . .

Charlottesville, Virginia 

These days, I don't shoot film very often and rather than process the occasional roll myself, I take it to a lab. In Charlottesville, we are fortunate to have a professional photo lab, and it is located near my work so it is convenient for me to drop off and pick up. Last Tuesday, this sign greeted me at the door.

When I picked up that last roll, I chatted a few minutes with Mr. Stubblefield. He said that he no longer has enough film developing business to justify moving the film processor to his new location. I asked what is to happen to his processor, and he said that since there was no longer a market for this type of equipment,  it will end up in the dumpster.

Just another reminder that we live in a world of constant change.

Rockscape #3

Greene County, Virginia 

Here in the US, this coming weekend is Memorial Day weekend which marks the unofficial start of summer even though the solstice is several weeks away. Hope you have a good weekend and thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Along the Alligator River

Tyrrell County, North Carolina 

A few more pictures of our outing on the Alligator River earlier this month. We put the inflatable in the water at Gum Neck Landing and followed a short canal into the river. Didn't see any alligators this time, but did the last time we visited the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

Rockscape #2

Greene County, Virginia

Nesting Ospreys

Alligator River, North Carolina 



Earlier this month we made a short trip on the lower reaches of the Alligator River in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. In the tops of dead cypress trees on the edge of the river, there were several large osprey nests. In one particularly busy nest a couple of ospreys flew in and out of the nest constantly. Occasionally we could see the heads of chicks above the edge of the nest. I would guess that the nests were 40 to 50 feet above the water, and the birds paid no attention to our small inflatable boat floating around the base of their tree.

Rockscape #1

Greene County, Virginia

Third Sunday - May 2012

All Saints Episcopal Church - Fairfield, North Carolina 

Fairfield is a small community in Hyde County with three 19th century wooden churches in remarkable condition. All Saints does not appear to be in use, but the building is well maintained and well preserved, with no modern alterations or additions. The small sign next to the door reads "All Saints Episcopal Church - Ca. 1885 - 1890."

Cropland

Tyrrell County, North Carolina 

Drive south on Route 94 south out of Columbia, North Carolina, and the road will take you straight through the heart of Tyrrell County, which was, as of 2010,  the least populated county in the state. Fields on either side of the road stretch nearly as far as the eye can see, the flat land broken only by irrigation ditches, straight as railroad tracks.

Further south, in Hyde County, Fairfield is a small town with three lovely, 19th century wooden church buildings. We will be looking at one of them on Third Sunday this week. Hope you will stop by and visit on Sunday to see photographs of the All Saints Episcopal Church which dates from the 1880's and is lovely, simple and austere.

Small house in field

Fairfield, North Carolina 

Diversity

Fairfield, North Carolina 

Earlier this month I had another opportunity to spend a couple of days exploring the back roads and waterways of eastern North Carolina and I will be featuring some of the photos from that trip for the next few days. While I was there, I met a man who expressed surprise that I would find anything of interest to photograph in the "swamps" and flat country east of the Outer Banks. I smiled and said "Oh, I just like to look."

Morning sunlight

Greene County, Virginia 

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive -- 

to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

Marcus Aurelius

Spring planting

My wife and I went to the nursery Saturday to buy some more plants. It's that time of year and the nursery was crowded with gardeners picking out flowers and vegetable plants. There were old country people in work clothes and young couples with tattoos. Men carry plants and women stop to read the small labels stuck in the soil. "Full or partial sun - grows to a height of 3 feet." Just right for a large garden plot, or how about some geraniums to brighten a small patio in town.

It was a summer-like day, a day when it is good to be outside and smell the earth and participate in the time honored rituals of spring. It is time to plant.

Wrong Way

Greene County, Virginia

A Place Called Leon

Madison County, Virginia

Shenandoah Valley Barn 2

Rockingham County, Virginia

Shenandoah Valley Barn

Page County, Virginia

Misty morning

Corolla, North Carolina 

Elkton Spring Festival - Funnel Cakes

Elkton, Virginia 

Elkton Spring Festival - Merry-Go-Round

Elkton, Virginia 

Elkton Spring Festival - Cotton Candy

Elkton, Virginia 

Elkton Spring Festival - Ferris Wheel