Christ is in our midst, wherever we shall go...

View from Long Point, in the New River Gorge

I should seriously consider renaming this blog, since “Daily” hardly describes my time here. Sigh. Thanks for checking in, anyway. It does my heart good to know this blog is still finding its way in the search engines and can offer some words to people looking for prayers, scripture, or something about the lives of a saint. That is an answered prayer.

This blog is never far from mind though, even in my busiest times I am weaving words together in my mind to share here at a later date. One such occasion was a few months ago, during May as I was on location photographing members from a blue-grass band. The photo shoot - gleefully - took me out to one of my favorite spots in West Virginia: Long Point.

Long Point is accessed by a 40 min. hike into the New River Gorge, eventually arriving at an awesome outcropping of rock and wind-swept tenacious shrubs and evergreens. The view from Long Point is spectacular, with a full-length, unimpeded view of the New River Gorge Bridge in the distance and the New River winding its way through the narrow gorge over 800 feet below. It's a place of inspiration and natural beauty - and, to be able to go to this place and work, well... I feel blessed indeed!

We arrived at Long Point just as the sun rose over the Appalachian Mountains... a glorious morning, with a gentle fog lifting slowly out of the gorge like soothing wafts of incense stretching upward to heaven. It was sheer bliss and I relished the idea of coming back again and again just to sit and watch the dawning of day. How can anyone witness such a singular moment and not see the Creator’s Hand?!

Rhododendron, West Virginia's State Flower

Add to this euphoria my love of photography and the excellent people I was working with and you have a morning that went way too fast. Upon our hike to and from Long Point, I enjoyed the conversation of my companions and realized I was in the company of those who love and serve God. It dawned on me, not for the first time, that where I go, Christ goes... there is no secular society where believers are.

Christ is in our midst; He is and ever shall be!

Driving a few hundred miles to be still...

Speaking of Cass in my earlier post, here are a few additional images made from this area of West Virginia.

Clayton Spangler, one of my best friends and photography mentor, taught the workshop. One of the unique aspects to Clayton’s seminars is the fact that they aren’t hurried and for this, I am grateful. It may seem a bit dull to tell you how much I savored the breeze and the sounds of the creek rushing by, but keep in mind that my day-to-day life could easily follow the tempo of William Tell Overture.

When Clayton encouraged the group to take time by Leatherbark Creek to look at the rocks and swirling water, some were stationary, quiet observers while others moved from rock to rock looking for a bit of foam...a frog, a dragonfly perhaps. It’s no secret that I was in the latter group. It’s so hard to be still. I’m always thinking I should be doing something else, that there is something more interesting around the bend. But one of the great things I learned about landscape photography over this weekend, is that all you need is patience ...the willingness to be still. Nature is always changing and providing exquisite displays of light and motion... we just have to be agreeable to waiting for the next show.

Eating my words...

...never tasted so good.  On Sunday afternoon of this week my daughter & I were attending an artist reception in Beckley, WV.  We were both delighted to see so much snow on the ground up there!  I even commented to several guests how much we enjoyed the drive, to see the snow on the mountains since we never have much accumulation at our house in the valley.   

On Tuesday morning we awoke to a spectacular sight of fresh snow at our place!  The kids wasted no time in going outdoors to play in it since school was cancelled.  And on Wednesday morning, while driving the kids to school, it felt as if we were journeying through God's treasure box.  My photo doesn't really do the scene justice, as there were such beauties in the trees.  Smooth droplets of ice adorned the tree limbs like diamonds and the brilliant blue sky smiled on our wonder as we made our way through Glen Ferris.

Chasing Blue Herons and Swans

As the leaves fall and the fog swiftly rolls down the Gauley River most mornings, I feel blessed to live in this neck of the woods.  Very often, as I take the kids to school, we are greeted by the morning sun playing peek-a-boo through thick blankets of mist above the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers.  And, every morning for the past two years, I’ve been on the look out for blue herons.  

Autumn typically brings migratory birds through our area on their long journeys south.  One December day in 2004 I spent nearly an hour photographing a large flock of Ring-billed gulls playfully darting through the air and then resting on the quiet river.  Those large white gulls brought a highlight to an otherwise bleak and gray winter day.  

Recently the kids and I have spotted a Whistling Swan on the Kanawha River.  We’ve seen her every day for the last 2 weeks; apparently she’s found a prime feeding spot.  Whistling swans usually make an appearance  this time of year, but it’s unusual to see only one since they migrate in flocks.  Whatever her story is, she seems quite content to swim and feed alone.  In the evenings sometimes we’ll see her with the resident flock of Canada geese.

It was on November 3rd this year that I finally had the opportunity to photograph a blue heron!  I’ve been “chasing” these birds ever since I first noticed them stalking frogs and fish along the New River near Beckwith.  I’ve been out time and again with my camera but usually leave in disappointment as I watch it fly away or move to an area just out of reach.  I’ve had to laugh at myself in all the failed attempts; being out of breath with a heavy backpack strapped on, fumbling to grab the right lens and then to watch the heron gracefully fly away, deciding that the fishin’s better half mile downriver.

I’ve developed a great admiration for wildlife photographers; they are among the most patient people in the world, waiting hours, days or even weeks in secluded areas behind blinds to capture a raw view of God’s creation.

"Grab your coats; let's go!!" I shouted to the kids on that Monday afternoon.  They think I’m nuts to chase after the herons, but I told them it would be time well spent.  It was.   For roughly 40 minutes, my son enjoyed the fishing on the opposite bank from the blue heron while my daughter and I hiked about 80 yards down river in order to sit and photograph this thoughtful bird.   I guess we were still far enough away not to cause a disturbance, probably 50-60 yards, because he didn’t seem to move for the longest time.

I snapped frame after frame, thanking God for the opportunity in between.  The sun felt warm on our faces in spite of the cool fall air and I realized too, how good - how important- it is to be still and behold God’s creation.

These golden moments are epiphanies of the eternal.  Thank you, Lord, for every living thing, for Your light in this world, for moments to be still and know that You are God!

Comic Relief

Now that the kids are back in school and I'm adjusting to a quiet house, some comic relief is in order. My friend, Clayton, introduced me to What the Duck comics and, well...here's a few favorites for my friends in photography. Enjoy!

And, to those of you who do family portraits, my favorite thus far:

The Power of an Encouraging Word

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today”, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13


What sweet nectar is found in a sincere, encouraging word-- in both the giving and the receiving. Time and again I am blessed by the uplifting words of others. I am given a glimpse of Christ and encouraged in knowing that someone else has seen beauty in my life.

In the spring, at my PPWV Convention, I was encouraged by two of my mentors to enter my prints in the PPA International Competition. Much to my surprise, three of my four images merited and two went on to the prestigious Loan Collection, which is the highest honor for this particular competition. To say I was astonished is to put it mildly~ more like jaw dropping, speechless on the phone, dumb-founded. Making that collection was well past my goal….and all because of encouraging words.

Today I had an opportunity to give some words of praise.

On Friday, our basement flooded because of a ruptured hose on the back of our washing machine. While the kids and I were out school shopping, water was gushing from that hose for several hours creating a little pond in our finished laundry and family room. My poor elderly cat was floating in her kitty bed!
After a call to the insurance and then to the folks who came out to extract all the water and rip out the carpet, I was pleasantly surprised at the caring attitudes and quick response. I especially enjoyed talking to Wendy, who made the arrangements for the clean-up crew to come out.

I’ve talked with Wendy several times over the past few days and she never fails to be pleasant, professional and kind. Just before we hung up this a.m., I told her how much I appreciated her friendliness and how she managed her job. I think I sensed a smile over the phone.

I pray that God would remind me each and every time I have that opportunity. It takes such a short moment to give a kind word, and sometimes the effects may last for much, much longer.

I think Mark Twain said it well:
“I can live for two months on a good compliment”

Donkeys, Emus and Chickens, Oh my!

Isn't she adorable?

I was recently welcomed at Treworlas Farm in Beckwith, WV to capture some images of the adorable, the furry ...the exotic and exceedingly happy animals living there. What fun!!

I met many miniature donkeys along with their foals, countless varieties of chickens and their broods, emus, black swans, Percherons, goats and a few cows that I've not seen in any zoo, let alone in West Virginia. It was a wonderful opportunity and I wish I'd had more time to spend that morning.

As I wandered about, making my way through the fields to follow the little donkey herd, I heard a distinct bass-sounding noise: "rummm...rummm....rummm" something akin to Tolkien's Ents, I imagine. I couldn't figure it out, so chalked it up to some distant machinery laboring away. The strange thing was, however, that wherever I went, the noise was sure to follow, or stay just ahead of me. Weird.

The Percherons were the most enormous horses I've ever stood beside. At 18 h., it's a good thing they are truly gentle giants. In order to tend to their feet, Arthur, the farrier, has to put the horse in a stock to secure them. This contraption looks medieval, but is a God-send to those who must diligently trim and shoe these gigantic hooves.

A while later, as I was chatting with Arthur's assistant, he mentioned being intrigued with the attentive emu walking around in the pasture with the mini donkeys. He said, "I love the sound they make, ..it's really cool". I asked, "What do you mean? I haven't heard a peep from him. "Well, they kind of sound like a bass drum ...a very low vibration made in their throat I think." I got a good chuckle from that! So,...it was the emu following me around the whole time.

The chickens, well...chickens in general have never impressed me much, even less as a subject to photograph. But I've been missing out- I may even attempt a fine art print out of the images from Treworlas Farm! ha ....there is such a variety of poultry living there. This little fellow really caught my eye:

Treworlas Farm left a wonderful impression; a most serene and joyful place. I hope to go back again, especially in the spring when the babies will be born.