What has Gene's seen through his Lens..

some boardwalk shadows

2010-03-12T08:27:00.002-05:00

boardwalk shadows
Originally uploaded by Gene Bowker

I liked the contrast between the diagonal shadows and the boards in this photo.

It didn't look good at normal height so I lowered the camera and was much happier with the result.

This was another case too where I preferred the Black & White shot to the color shot. Since I was focusing on angles and contrasts it seemed to work better.

Spring means time to spend outside...

2010-03-12T08:21:00.000-05:00

Spring means pollen here in South Carolina. Everything gets a nice covering of green (Happy St. Patrick's Day) which also drives my allergies crazy.

However, Spring also means the chance to spend sometime outside grilling which I love to do. One thing that Cindy and I have been talking about is getting some new furniture for our screened in porch. With our wi-fi coverage, we'd then be able to work out there on our projects or just surf the web outside before the heat gets here.

The folks at Discount Teak Furniture offer great teak furniture sets which would be perfect for enjoying our deck. Teak offers a lot of benefits over the usual plastic furniture (which we've had for years), besides also looking better and being a better investment.

I hope you'll visit my sponsor Discount Teak Furniture to see what they offer.

Saving money.. Comparison Shopping

2010-03-12T08:14:00.000-05:00

I spend my workdays looking for ways to lower the cost of my company's products. This includes a lot of "comparison shopping" to find the best product value for our money. My motto is "Pretend it is YOUR money".

I keep telling my co-workers that the same idea applies outside of the office. There are many things that you can save money on, just be comparison shopping. One of these things is insurance.

With insurance, you have to weigh low costs versus the benefits from the provider. There are many website where you can go to compare many providers at the same time. A great website is NetQuote.com which shows you how much you will pay.
Take a second and see how much you can save on Pennsylvania insurance by visiting their website.

Heron - Edisto Memorial Gardens #photo

2010-03-11T10:29:00.002-05:00

Heron - Edisto Gardens
Originally uploaded by Gene Bowker

The heron was not impressed by my attempts to photograph it, and finally decided the best course of attaction was just to ignore me.

You can see more of my Edisto Gardens photos and learn more about the history and activities there in my new Examiner.com article "Road Trip 101: Discovering Edisto Gardens" at http://bit.ly/a2g3Ya

Beach Flower, Edisto Beach, South Carolina (2009) #Photo

2010-03-10T13:50:00.001-05:00

A flower on the beach at Edisto Island, South Carolina

Enjoying the ducks.. Edisto Gardens

2010-03-09T08:19:00.002-05:00

Statues and ducks at Edisto Gardens in Orangeburg.

Advance in the direction of your dreams..

2010-03-08T09:32:00.000-05:00

If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams,
and endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined,
they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
--Henry David Thoreau

Bridge and Reflection

2010-03-07T18:45:00.002-05:00

Shot this week at the Edisto Gardens in Orangeburg, SC

Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment.
Ansel Adams

Girl by the Lake

2010-03-06T08:16:00.000-05:00

One of the statues which are located around Edisto Gardens in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Promises of Spring

2010-03-05T08:53:00.002-05:00

promises
Originally uploaded by Gene Bowker

Walking around Edisto Gardens in Orangeburg yesterday, I saw these buds along the riverfront.

Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what they are, but they look like they are ready to bust with the on-coming spring.

I can't wait to visit again soon and see what the flowers look like.

Edisto Gardens Waterwheel

2010-03-04T20:36:00.000-05:00

Spring Time: Fly away

2010-03-04T10:02:00.003-05:00

fly away
Originally uploaded by Gene Bowker

Butterfly leaves the flower- Santee National Wildlife Refuge

"Need You Now" - Album Review - Lady Antebellum

2010-03-04T08:04:00.000-05:00

I'm always scared when I listen to a second album from a new group that I like, afraid that I'm going to be disappointed some how. That they are going to be a one-hit (or at least one-album) wonder.

With Lady Antebellum, I'd already fell in love with Need You Now the title track from their new album which released on Tuesday. Cindy picked it up and after listening to it for the first time, I can defintely say in my opinion that it is as good as the first one if not better.

They have the ability to cover a variety of songs from ballads to more upbeat tunes. I love the harmonization that they have. I'm not the world's biggest country fan, but they also have appeal to crossover audiences. It's nice to have a new "favorite group" to listen to.

Flowers mean Spring is coming.

2010-03-03T09:16:00.000-05:00

Spring is coming... Happy March

2010-03-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

A Rodeo Fan's Dream.. the 2010 NFR in Vegas

2010-02-28T11:32:00.000-05:00

If you enjoy rodeos and bull-riding like Cindy and I do, then the ultimate vacation idea is a trip to the 2010 National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada from December 2 to December 11, 2010.

The National Finals Rodeo brings together the best cowboys and cowgirls from the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association to compete for the coveted championship buckles. You get night-after-night of exciting action in a number of events including:

• Bareback Riding

• Steer Wrestling

• Team Roping

• Saddle Bronc Riding

• Tie-Down Roping

• Steer Roping

• Barrel Racing

• Bull Riding

Held every year in Las Vegas, there are also plenty of opportunities to experience all the other attractions that Vegas offers during the daytime, before heading to the Thomas and Mack Arena for the nights activities. There are plenty of chances to meet your favorite cowboys and cowgirls, as well as shop at all the vendors who are located there.

National Finals Rodeo Tickets are already on sale and with the popularity of the event it is not too soon to start making plans to attend now. Don't be stuck watching the finals on ESPN, instead enjoy it in Las Vegas this year from December 2nd until December 11th.

An Aiken Treasure: Hitchcock Woods

2010-02-26T11:11:00.001-05:00

Originally owned by Thomas and Louise Hitchcock, the woods were transferred to the ownership to the Hitchcock Woods Foundation in 1939 to insure that it would be available for the use of future generations of residents. In 2009, the foundation celebrated 70 years of managing the property, without this management, the land would of most likely of been lost to development like much of the surrounding area.

Bridge Detail- Trains Thursday

2010-02-25T09:01:00.002-05:00

Bridge Detail
Originally uploaded by Gene Bowker

Railroads provide many interesting photographic subjects beyond the engines and cars themselves.

Railroads constructed many elaborate bridges across the United States which still serve today. The Iron and Steel work provides interesting angles and contrasts.

This shot was taken along the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia. The bridge carries the Norfolk Southern Railroad into downtown Augusta where it runs in the middle of the street for several blocks before reaching the yard.

The trains pass the Augusta History Museum which houses a nice railroad display including a retired Steam Locomotive in all it's glory.

The Riverwalk also provides many photographic opprotunities of boats, water, flowers, and birds. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

Blog Link Wordless Wednesday...

2010-02-24T11:31:00.001-05:00

WOW.. great shots of an Owl. Worth a look.

Wordless Wednesday...

Silent Silos - Wordless Wednesday #photo

2010-02-24T09:10:00.002-05:00

From 2009, Augusta, GA

silos
Originally uploaded by Gene Bowker

Visit the Elkhorn Inn & Theatre - Destination

2010-02-24T08:51:00.000-05:00

The Elkhorn Inn and Theatre in Landgraff, West Virginia is a great destination for railfans, romantics, and for anyone looking for a great bed and breakfast in a remote wilderness setting.

The Inn sits right besides the NS Pokey Subdivision with it's high-volume of coal traffic from West Virginia coal mines travelling past day and night. The Inn is equipped with scanners, wi-fi connections, and the ATCS software so you can always be ready to see the next train when it arrives.

For the non-railfan, the Elkhorn Inn also offers great trout fishing, ATV riding, and various other outdoor activities in the surrounding area.

Elise and Dan Clark also provide delicious dinners at the Inn. They have a varied menu for different tastes and are always tweeting about their latest creations on their account at http://twitter.com/elkhorninn and on facebook.

Cindy and I will be visiting the Inn soon for a ROMANTIC weekend and I plan on having lots of photographs from the area to share with you on my blog and websites.

Visit the Inn's great website and find plan your next trip now.

(originally published at http://railfan.biz/)

Review: The Blue Ridge Parkway (Postcard History Series)

2010-02-23T14:00:00.002-05:00

On my last trip in October to the Blue Ridge Parkway, I purchased "The Blue Ridge Parkway" from the Postcard History Series books at one of the visitor centers.

Despite it's name, it is actually a collection of historic postcards all the way from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway in between.

The book written by Karen Hall with the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway has a great variety of postcards. Some of them are of the motels, and other business establishments that the area was famous for. Others are "real-photo" type cards highlighting areas along the BRP and the surrounding area.

If you grew up going to the Blue Ridge or the Smokies then this is a book you will really enjoy as it will bring back memories of childhood. If you didn't grow up in the area, you'll understand a lot more about the "days of old" in the area when you hear about it.

Blue Ridge Overlook

2010-02-23T10:01:00.002-05:00

Blue Ridge Overlook
Originally uploaded by Gene Bowker

Been listening to podcasts this week from the Great Smokies Mountains National Park and also read a book about historic postcards from the Blue Ridge Parkway and GSMNP.

This was my favorite photo from the Blue Ridge Parkway last year. I'm waiting to get back to the mountains soon to make more photos

Tired: Slow Food. Wired: Slow Photography! (Article)

2010-02-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Interesting idea about slowing down photography.. goes along with my idea this year of trying to focus more on the details in life.

The article at photojojo begins:

We’ve seen slow versions of everything lately: slow food, slow travel, slow shopping, slow dentistry. (We might’ve made one of those up.)

But have you tried slow photography? It’s like a yoga class for your camera.

Long conversations with subjects, patient exposures, and delicate macros will lend your photos a new calmness and longevity — so vital in these rush-rush go-go slam-crash rock-and-roll times.

Join the Slow Photo movement, and soon you’ll be measuring exposures not in fractions of a second, but in fractions of an eon.

It definately sounds like something I want to investigate further.

Gethin Thomas on Macro Photography (Guardian)

2010-02-22T08:29:00.000-05:00

Really great set of macro shots using the British version of the monopoly board as the background from the Guardian Camera Club in this great article