VANISHING AMERICA

Vanishing America Coffee Table Book

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:22:00 +0000

I'm test marketing a coffee table book of my favorite images from The Vanishing America Project. It's a large 116 page 11x13 inch hardcover with a glossy dust jacket, and it looks great.

Since this is just a test marketing effort, the book is not being mass produced. It is being produced one at a time (as they are ordered) at http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/768482.

Since they are only printed as they are ordered, they are not cheap. However, they are beautiful.

Take a peek at http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/768482, and vote for it for the Photography.Book.Now People's Choice Award!

Alpharetta's Dixie Diner

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:46:00 +0000

The Dixie Diner had been an Alpharetta icon since 1964. You could walk in on any given morning and find an eclectic mix of locals from farmers to businessmen... all sharing in some coffee and some comfort food to help them jump start their busy day.

I'd been meaning to photograph the diner since I began this project in 2007. But, by the time I made my way back to Alpharetta from California, the diner was gone. One of Alpharetta's last ties to its small-town country past finally gave up the ghost to progress and development.

The empty lot has since been paved, but nothing has moved in to take its place. So, I took advantage of a break in the rainy weather and walked from Wills Park up to the sacred spot where The Dixie Diner once stood. It was a beautiful morning, and I was rewarded with the gentle scent of honeysuckle and the delicate white flowers of wild blackberry growing on the side of the road. Everything was covered in morning dew, and the sun was just beginning to peek above the treeline.

To truly understand why I took a photograph of an empty lot, one would have to know The Dixie Diner... or at least have fond memories of a beloved old diner in their own hometown. Just like the smell of a warm apple pie can bring back childhood memories of your grandmother baking in the kitchen, a photograph of a favorite place can conjure up its own memories of good times and good friends long forgotten.

I wish I could provide you an old photograph of the Dixie Diner from its heyday, but all I could dig up was a shot of the original building, back when it was a Jolly Chef. Yet another reason The Vanishing America Project is so important... Without photos and stories as reminders, the memories of Alpharetta's Dixie Diner will fade away with the passing of each generation.

On the way to Arizona...

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:19:00 +0000

I hit the road today, with Reggie in the co-pilot seat and Missy hiding under the couch.

After a slow start, around 1pm, I left Alpharetta, GA headed for Prescott, Arizona for the first Overland Expo (www.ovexpo.com) where BABS and The Greasy Beast will be on display for a crowd of over 300 attendees. But, more on that when I get there.

Right now it's raining, and I'm sitting in a Flying J parking lot near Olive Branch, in the far Northwest corner of Mississippi, just a few miles outside of Memphis, TN (yes, Memphis is right next to Mississippi.

Having lived the bulk of my life in Georgia, it's natural for me to compare every place I travel to my home state. Not that I think my state is better than any of the other 49, but you have to have some point of reference in order for the world to make sense, and Georgia is my reference.

In that vein, I couldn't help but notice how similar northern Alabama and Mississippi are to North Georgia -- or, rather, how North Georgia used to be. I'm talking about the countryside of North Georgia, just south of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where trees and streams and rolling hills define the terrain. A lot of that terrain has been (or is currently being) developed to accommodate the surge in population and the desire to live outside of the city limits.

Streams are being diverted (or destroyed altogether), lakes and ponds are being filled in, trees are being cut down, and houses and shopping centers are being planted in their place. It all happens so fast that we often don't even see it coming.

My drive through Alabama and Mississippi reminded me of how beautiful Georgia used to be. (Don't get me wrong, Georgia is still beautiful, but it's nothing like it was 20 years ago).

These two Southern neighbors are, as yet, untouched by development (comparitively speaking), and therefore are full of grand vistas of trees, rolling hills, and tiny valleys coming together in narrow streams with overhanging trees and an abundance of green.

In my travels, I've only crossed a few streams in my vehicles -- as most of the bridges I travel upon cross over other roads. But in Alabama and Mississippi, as I headed West over the relatively new Highway 78, there were very few crossroads. Almost every bridge I crossed spanned a beautiful stream or pond that would be completely missed by anyone in a car zipping along at 70mph. (Fortunately, my high vantage point in BABS allowed me to see what everyone else is missing. Unfortunately, because it is a new highway, there wasn't any room to pull the bus over for snapshots.)

It was truly refreshing, and encouraging, to see so much untouched Nature so close to a major highway this far East of the Mississippi River. But, it was also bittersweet... for the current Highway 78 is to be the future I-22.

Yes, another major Interstate Freeway is in the works, and I will tell you right now, that the vistas you see along Highway 78 today will be pockmarked with subdivisions, malls, gas stations, and shopping centers tomorrow.

Catch it while you can folks. It's a Vanishing America.

Newsletter and updates

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:45:00 +0000

This is the first of a series of regular updates (newsletter-style) to keep supporters of The Vanishing America Project informed.

As the support base grows, the newsletter will be improved, and as the bond strengthens between the Project and organizations like The Captain Planet Foundation, The Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeepers, and The Sierra Club, new educational elements will be added.

For now, we'll keep it simple and easy to read.

See you on the road!

Destinations

Colorado and Utah -- The Humane Society has received a donation of two Pre-Owned Land Rovers to help them with their study, The Assateague of the West Wild Horse Project – a program designed to help control the herd population on BLM lands. I am currently in touch with The Humane Society’s public relations department to get permission to join the scientists in the field so I can document their efforts and capture some exceptional images of mustangs in the wild. If the trip is approved, I will begin the task of raising the $3500 it will take to get me out there and keep me there for a month. Sponsors, warm up those checkbooks!

Arizona -- On April 18th, I will hit the road in BABS, with The Greasy Beast in tow, to attend the First Overland Expo in Prescott, Arizona. The vehicles will be featured at the expo, and I will have an opportunity to meet numerous vendors, travelers, and power players in the world of overland travel. It could be an opportunity to bring aboard more sponsors and get national recognition for The Project. I’ll also be taking classes ranging from off-road vehicle recovery to navigation and safety. This trip is sponsored by one of my biggest supporters, Carole Webb.

California -- After the event in Arizona, I will be taking a brief side trip to San Diego to take care of some personal business.

Tennessee -- On May 9th, BABS and I will be donating our services to photograph the Third Annual Pink Bandanna Ball in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is the goal of Emily's Power for a Cure to raise funds and awareness to fight Neuroblastoma, while helping families who are actively fighting this disease. In 2008 Emily's Power for a cure pledged $300,000 to TC Thompson Children's Hospital for the purchase of a pediatric CT scanner. This scanner will greatly benefit the lives of children with cancer and make it easier to diagnose and treat many childhood illnesses. Check them out at http://emilyspowerforacure.sitesvp.com/PinkBandanaBall.html.

Funding

The Vanishing America Project is in a constant search for funding sources, and is currently looking into “Fiscal Agents”. Fiscal Agents are 501(c)3 organizations that help artists, scientists, researchers, etc. by allowing them to channel fund, grants, and donations through the organization’s tax-exempt umbrella. If accepted into one of these organizations, the number of grants and funding opportunities available to The Vanishing America Project would increase by up to 90%. Though never a guarantee that funds will find their way, or that grant applications will be accepted, the odds will be improved.

Print Sales

Several hundred of the best images from The Vanishing America Project are now on sale at:

http://vanishingamerica.smugmug.com/

Limited time only!
Beginning Monday, April 13 and ending Monday, April 20, I will offer supporters a special discount on print purchases at http://vanishingamerica.smugmug.com/. A password is required, so email me if you would like to take advantage of this special offer.

Publicity

This coming June, Land Rover Lifestyle Magazine is planning a two-page spread about The Vanishing America Project. I’ve seen the mock-up, and it looks great! I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, check out the magazine online at www.lrlmag.com

Competitions

Name Your Dream Assignment

Unfortunately, The Vanishing America Project fell out of the top 20 in the Name Your Dream Assignment contest. I begged, coerced, and pleaded with everyone I know to go online and vote, but no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t obtain enough votes to stay in it. I’m disappointed, but that’s the way it goes.

Nature’s Best Photography

The Vanishing America Project is also entered into Nature’s Best Magazine’s 2009 Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition.

More than $15,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. The winning photographs will be published in the Awards 2009 Collector’s Edition of Nature’s Best Photography, and may be selected for our annual exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, and displayed in other locations and photo gallery presentations related to the Awards competition. Entries are judged on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit. Winners should be announced in May/June.

For details, visit: http://www.naturesbestphotography.com

Blurb.com

Blurb.com, an online service where anyone can publish their own book and sell it through their online channels is sponsoring the Photography Book Now competition.

“Photography.Book.Now is a celebration of the most creative, most innovative, and finest photography books – and the people behind them. Now in its second year, this international juried book competition is an opportunity for photographers of all stripes to showcase their work to a world-renowned panel of judges, and take a shot at a $25K grand prize.”

I have been updating The Vanishing America Project portfolio book that was printed by Blurb.com last year, and will be entering it into the Photography Book Now competition. It is currently a “Staff Pick”, so my chances are good.

Presentations

The Vanishing America Project presents at REI

Over the past couple of weeks, The Vanishing America Project has made presentations at three of the Atlanta area REI locations. The turnout was modest, but the experience and the connection with the nation’s largest outdoor gear retailer was well worth the effort.

Vanishing America Photo Contest

Coming soon…

The Vanishing America Project will be launching its own photography contest open to the general public. Prizes will include Professional Digital cameras and cash. The first round of judging will be by popular vote, and finalists will be judged by a panel of professionals, including yours truly!

Next Stop... Prescott, AZ!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:39:00 +0000

Next stop on the Vanishing America Journey is a visit to Prescott, Arizona, where BABS and The Greasy Beast will be Featured Vehicles in the First Annual Overland Expo (www.ovexpo.com).

This is guaranteed to be a great event, with classes and seminars on overland driving, vehicle recovery, navigation, and first aid, just to name a few. There will also be presentations by well-established overland travelers and a large exposition of products and services exclusively for the overlanding community, including the highest quality equipment, vehicles, camping and outdoor gear to see, test, and purchase.

(From the Overland Expo website)

Overland Expo.2009 ~ Adventure, Exploration, & Conservation

Overlanding is a different way of exploring our world - whether 100 miles or 10,000 miles from home - in comfort, safety, and style. It's camping like you've never experienced.

Overland Expo.2009 is an all-new and exclusive event for people who see their 4WD or ADV motorcycle as a means to adventure and exploration, and who see travel as a portal to learning about the world, as well as a means to conserving its beauty and preserving its unique cultures.

No other event for 4WD or motorcycles combines intensive education modules, social opportunities to visit with hundreds of other enthusiasts and to share information and experiences, and a wide array of product

and service vendors just for overlanding-related activities, both mechanized and human-powered. Service and conservation organizations, land agencies, and clubs/associations will also be on-hand April 24 - 26, 2009.

Check them out at www.ovexpo.com!

And, as always, you can find more information about The Vanishing America Project at:

www.VanishingAmerica.net

Vanishing America Photos now on Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 02:51:00 +0000

In this crazy economy, spending several hundred dollars or more on a Gallery-Edition work of art can really put a strain on the family budget. Yet, at the same time, you want to support The Vanishing America Project any way you can, and you love the images so much that you absolutely HAVE to have them on your wall!

Well, now you can.

I have set up several galleries on a special website, making available hundreds of images from my travels around the United States. From Wild Mustangs to pristine landscapes, the images are every bit as stunning and beautiful as the Gallery series. And they are VERY affordable! The only thing they lack is the signature!

Go to http://vanishingamerica.smugmug.com/ to order anything from a little 4x6 postcard to a huge 30x40 poster, and everything in between. (8x10 prints are only $30, and big 16x20 prints are only $75!)

You can even order t-shirts, mugs, keychains, and other merchandise with the image of your choice.

So, go to http://vanishingamerica.smugmug.com/ and fill up your walls with some great photographic art!

Vote for The Vanishing America Project

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:37:00 +0000

The Vanishing America Project NEEDS YOUR VOTE!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:30:00 +0000

This is the chance The Vanishing America Project has been waiting for... a chance to win $50,000 toward the completion of this project.

The top 20 winners of the popular vote move on to professional judging, and the competition only runs for 30 days, so we need 100 VOTES PER DAY to make this happen!

If you haven't voted already, it only takes a minute. Just register here:

http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/VanishingAmerica/the-vanishing-america-project/

activate your account, log in, click the button that says “PIC IT” next to The Vanishing America Project, and you're done!

And, as always, check out the full-blown Vanishing America Project website at www.VanishingAmerica.net for travel updates, galleries, and all sorts of great information!

Collecting Used Vegetable Oil...

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Many of you have asked me how I get the oil that I use to run my vehicles. Well, read on...

Now, keep in mind, you can't just pull up to any restaurant and take what you want. Most restaurants have contracts with renderers (oil collection companies) for exclusive rights to pick up the oil. That's why I avoid the chain restaurants (they are less likely to bend the rules) and focus on the independently-owned eateries (who tend to be friendlier and more interested in helping out the little guy... like me).

But, simply finding the mom and pop shops won't guarantee that you'll get your oil. With used veggie oil being such a commodity these days (what with it being used to make biodiesel, animal feeds, hair products, cosmetics, etc.), simply taking what you need without permission amounts to stealing, as most places have a bin (often provided by the renderer) outside near the trash dumpsters where they dump the oil and the renderer comes to collect it.

But, if you get permission, or make arrangements ahead of time to get the oil before it is dumped into the renderer's container, then you can have whatever the restaurant is willing to give you.

This photo series is from a recent collection visit to a country club in the Southeast (names have been withheld to protect the innocent.) :-)

Getting the oil from the dumpster to the fuel tank:

Obviously the process is easier if I collect the oil in the Land Rover because I can maneuver it closer to the container. But, sometimes I have to collect in BABS (which requires a lot more room).

To get the oil from the dumpster to the tank, I use a pump. Some people use buckets, but many dumpsters now have grates on them, and a bucket just won't fit through those little holes.

I have two types of pumps: one is an electrical pump (from an RV water system!) The other is what's called a "Barrel Pump" and is, essentially, a hand-cranked turbine. Obviously, the electrical pump is easier to use, but requires a power source... in this case, the Land Rover itself. I use the barrel pump when I have to collect oil in the motor home. There is plenty of power to run the electrical pump, but I can't get the motor home close enough to the dumpster, and the hoses simply won't reach.

To use the electrical pump, I connect the pump's electrical wiring to the Defender, connect one hose to the bladder tank in the Defender's bed and another hose to the siphon tube that goes into the oil dumpster. Then I just flick the switch and let it go. I can get up to 85 gallons in the bladder tank.

If I have to use the hand pump, I just pump directly into 5 gallon plastic containers and then dump them into the filter tank on the motor home. It's a lot messier, and definitely tiresome, but using the barrel pump is a lot faster than the electrical pump, so there is a trade-off.

And, whether I'm using the barrel pump or the electrical pump, I always cover the end of the siphon tube with a couple of layers of chiffon fabric. It's strong, lightweight, and the perfect mesh for keeping debris out of my oil.

It's a fairly simple process... I just pump the oil out of the restaurant's container and into mine. And, once I have the oil in the filter tank on my motor home, I turn on the tank heater, warm up the oil, then turn on the centrifuge to spin out the finer particles and the water. After an hour or two (depending how dirty the oil was to begin with), I have clean oil that I can use to run my engine. I transfer the newly cleaned oil into my clean veggie tank, and I'm on my way (well, after I clean up my mess, of course...)

Gettin' Greasy...

In the photos, you can see how dirty and sticky the used oil is. And, it gets everywhere. If you ever want to return to your source for more oil, you definitely have to keep your workspace clean. So, I lay down some cardboard (when I can find it) and always clean up any spills (no matter how small). The best products I've found for cleaning up a veggie oil mess is Clean-Rite's Purple Power and Scott's Shop Towels.

Let the Purple Power sit for a minute, and it will clean oil off of anything. And the Shop Towels are absorbent and tough enough not to fall apart even when wiping grease off of concrete. (And, when I'm done, I put the towels in a jar and use them as fire starters for when I'm camping! How's THAT for recycling?)

As I stated before, it's a messy job. So, if you're a neat freak... forget it. Get your gas at the gas station. But, if you don't mind getting dirty, and want to do your part to lower vehicle emissions... then get greasy!

The Vanishing America Project

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:18:00 +0000

"What will our country be like 100 years from now? Will there even be wild horses, bears, and mountain lions that aren’t confined to a zoo? Will still there be vast tracts of undiscovered natural wilderness? Will there be such a thing as a small town? Will our descendants even care? If we continue to let Progress go unchecked, these, and other cherished aspects of our country and culture, will be lost to us forever.

Precious aspects of our country and culture are in danger of vanishing within the next 2-3 generations, and photographer/writer Holt Webb is using his artistic eye to show the world what is at stake when we let Progress run rampant.

Beginning in May of 2007, and continuing through the end of 2012, Artist and writer Holt Webb will be driving an ecologically-friendly motor coach, powered by Vegetable Oil and Solar Energy, around the United States documenting and publishing images and stories of American treasures that could be lost to us during our lifetimes.

Holt’s Vanishing America Project looks to enlighten Americans on the fragile nature of our wildlife, our landscapes, and our own ways of life. Subjects include the great, but vulnerable, Okefenokee Swamp, the dying shrimping industry of the Atlantic coast, the uncertain fate of the Wild Mustang, and the search for authentic small-town life. Visiting 49 states, and traveling only by back roads, Holt seeks to capture scenes of America and American life that are all too easily forgotten in this age of technology, reality shows, and global commercialization.

The images and stories he brings back are both beautiful and shocking as we are shown man’s encroachment on nature, nature’s changing ecosystems, and our own forgotten cultural icons.

“America is changing fast. And, often, change is good. But sometimes change destroys the things we love about our country. Hopefully these images, and the ones that will follow as I travel across the United States, will remind people how precious, how ephemeral, and how important these aspects of our country and our culture are.”
-- Holt Webb

Articles, presentations, photo essays, books, Fine Art gallery exhibitions, a documentary, and a TV show will be forthcoming. Holt’s progress can be followed at www.vanishingamerica.net.

Veggie oil versus other fuels...

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:21:00 +0000

Want to know how vegetable oil compares to other types of fuels?

Popular mechanics put a great chart up on their website relating the costs of various types of fuels that we can run in our vehicles... Gasoline, Diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen, electricity, etc.

Well, I added a third: Used Vegetable Oil!

Click on the chart for a larger version

Land Rover Monthly Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:51:00 +0000

The Vanishing America Project is on the cover of Land Rover Monthly Magazine!

I promised I'd post the entire article once the issue came off the shelf, and I'm a man of my word, so here it is! The Vanishing America Veggie Rover (or what I like to call the Greasy Beast) profiled in the October 2008 issue of Land Rover Monthly Magazine

It's a great 5 page spread with photos and copy by some guy named Holt Webb. Who knew? :-)

If you want a copy of the entire magazine, you can order back issues online at the LRM website (http://www.lrm .co.uk/). Also check out the Land Rover Monthly page on Facebook (http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Land-Rover-Monthly/12828212721).

Click on any image to enlarge it so you can read the text.

Below are some additional images that didn't make it into the publication, but show a little bit more of the procedure and the details.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES AVAILABLE!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:10:00 +0000

Back by popular demand!

I will once again be offering photography classes while I am in Georgia. The first of these classes, PHOTO 101, teaches novices and amateurs alike the basics of camera operation and photographic technique.

Please send me an email if you are interested. Space will be limited to 10 people on a "first come, first served" basis.

Details below:

PHOTO 101

Introduction to Photography

In this class, you will learn the following:

What is a camera? (Types of cameras, parts of the camera.)
How does it take pictures and how do I take pictures with it? (Camera functions and photographic technique)
How can I control the camera to get what I want? (Camera controls, metering, lighting)
Special bonus: Simple portrait lighting setup.

• You will learn the basic functions of cameras, how they “see” and how to change the way they see.

• You’ll become familiar with those strange-sounding photography terms: “aperture”, “f-stop”, “depth-of-field”, and “shutter”, and others, and you’ll learn how to use them.

• You’ll learn how to see light as it falls on your subject, and how to record it.

When you complete this class, you will feel more comfortable with your camera and with your ability to take photos – and it will show in the pictures you take.

This will be a two-evening class with time spent in the classroom and in the field.
Dates: TBA
Time: TBA
Price: $75
Send me an email at holt@vanishingamerica.net if you are interested in signing up!

New Website!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:56:00 +0000

The new Vanishing America website is up and running!

It still has a lot of work to be done... images to be uploaded, stories to tell, videos to post... but the basics are there. And it looks great, if I do say so myself. It was designed and built by one of my best friends, Jim Evans. Jim is the guy you saw me getting muddy with in the go-kart in my "Rednecks" video.

With the new website activated, this blog site you are reading now will be put into a state of limbo. I haven't yet decided whether I want to maintain two blog sites (as the new website has its own built-in blog pages), but I'll weigh the options and let you all know.

In the meantime, all new entries will be posted on the blog at www.vanishingamerica.net. And, all the older blogs (at least until I get them transferred over) will still be here at www.holtwebb.blogspot.com

It is very easy to subscribe to the new blog pages, too. Just go to www.vanshingamerica.net, click on the "Blogs" link, and then enter your email on the right-hand sidebar, click on the "subscribe" button, and you're in!

When you check out the new site, drop me a line through the "contact" page. I'd love to know what you think (good or bad)!

Big Fish

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:43:00 +0000

Life is best tasted in small bites...

Sometimes you want to just jump into something with everything you've got. Go for it 100%, no matter what the consequences are.

But, beware... you just might bite off more than you can chew.

Just like this bass I saw wriggling on the surface of Lake Chicamauga in Tennessee...

We were able to bring it on board the boat and remove the (still alive) fish from its mouth, but the poor bass was so exhausted from his attempts to either swallow or expel his potential meal that, despite our best efforts to get him swimming again, he didn't make it.

His plight reminded me that, although it can be tremendously beneficial to go for the "whole enchilada"... if you're not prepared to handle it, you'll wind up choking on it. Just like Mr. Bass here.

WRCB-TV Chattanooga!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:13:00 +0000

Another trip to Chattanooga!
Who would have guessed?

Actually, I enjoy going up there. I get to see my friends, my goddaughter, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the nation.

AND... I got to do an interview with Jed Mescon from WRCB-TV, Channel 3!

Here's the link: http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8486940

(Just go to the bottom of the written story and click on the video link (it may have a tiny red video camera icon). I'll be embedding the video in the blog in the near future when I get the DVD from the studio.

Land Rover Vegetable Oil Conversion

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:15:00 +0000

You paid HOW MUCH!? Why bother?

That's what some folks say when I tell them how much it cost to convert the Land Rover Defender to run on vegetable oil.

While most people (mechanics, environmentalists, and laymen alike) are simply thrilled to know that this kind of conversion exists and stand in awe of such an ingenious and beautifully designed engineering feat, there are a few who simply can't justify the cost with the return. And, I understand their concerns.

Now, I'll admit, this conversion was expensive. We removed the gasoline engine and stock transmission and replaced them with a diesel engine and a better transmission. That added a tremendous cost to an already expensive conversion.

So, if saving money is your goal, don't do what I did. You could do it yourself and spend as little as $200 converting a car that already has a diesel engine. But, we were after bigger game. We sacrificed some fuel economy and horsepower for reliability, torque, and automation (I didn't want to spend half my day scrounging and filtering nasty oil.)

So, I didn't gain much in fuel economy; The Defender's lack of pep will make you cry; Used oil is getting harder to find; And, that diesel engine is pretty noisy. So, with all these drawbacks, why on earth did I do this conversion?

Well, we actually had two different goals in mind: One - free fuel. And, Two - an earth-friendly fuel source.

Now, keep in mind that going "green" fits very well into my Vanishing America project. I can't, with good conscience, go around documenting a Vanishing America and be a carbon-belching contributor to it at the same time. So, the decision was largely an environmental choice. But, let's talk specifics...

Reason Number one: Free Fuel.
The free fuel issue does seem to be changing due to the fact that waste oil is becoming a commodity. However, at this stage, it's still attainable, and at $5 per gallon for diesel, it's rapidly paying off. As a matter of fact, I just got back from two round trips to Chattanooga, TN (a total of 500 miles solely on used veggie oil). That means, at a 15mpg average, I saved over $160 in fuel. Multiply that over the course of a 10,000 mile year (with diesel prices continuing to climb), and we're talking about a conservative potential savings of $3500/year. Not much compared to a $30,000 conversion, but it adds up over time. But, money wasn't the only reason for the conversion. Which brings me to...

Reason Number Two: Earth-friendly fuel source.
Petroleum-based fuels are bad for the environment. We all agree on that. And, they come from a limited resource. (It may take a hundred years or more before all the oil is gone, but eventually it will be gone.) Waste oil, on the other hand, is completely renewable. And, since it comes from restaurants, it has already been used once. That means we don't have to pump oil from wells, we don't have to use crops that reduce the food supply, and, most importantly, we don't have to burn other fuels to process this waste into something that can be reused. It's a beautiful, efficient system.

Now, what about the waste oil becoming more difficult to get. Well, that's definitely the case. Every day, I see evidence that the cycle is progressing. It began with restaurants paying to have the oil hauled away. When renderers realized they could profit from the oil, they began to pick it up for free. Now, with more competition, some renderers are actually paying the restaurants for the oil. This cycle was expected. But, the good news is that the engineers responsible for creating new biofuels have not been sitting idly by. They have come up with ways to get fuel from waste wood, plant waste, tree bark, and even algae. And their progress is phenomenal. I expect that right about the time that everyone has to pay for waste oil, these engineers will have perfected these new ways of obtaining fresh oil, effectively collapsing the bubble created by the demand for waste oil. And, that puts guys like me back in the driver's seat. And, I see all of this happening within 5 years.

So, yes, the conversion was very expensive. And, on the surface, seems like a waste of money. But, I'll save at least $3500/year on fuel, there are still literally tens of thousands of places all over the US who will give me free oil, and my consumption of this product actually has a positive effect on the environment. And, that, to me, is priceless.

Vanishing America's First Ever Gallery Exhibition!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:18:00 +0000

Due to the tremendous interest in attending Vanishing America's first ever Gallery Exhibition, we've added a second day for the Open House!

Saturday, June 28th, and now Sunday, June 29th, 2008 mark the opening of the First Ever Vanishing America Gallery Exhibition, which will be on display through the month of July at Roswell's Ann Jackson Gallery.

Saturday's VIP reception will run from 6pm to 9pm and will feature live music from the Breeze Kings, Atlanta's hottest blues band! (See www. myspace.
com/breezekings)

Sunday's reception will run from 12 to 5pm.

If you are in the Atlanta area, I expect you to come. This will be an historic event, with a guest list that will include local politicians, representatives from the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Georgia, local media, and possibly a celebrity or two.

RSVP to me as soon as you can.

Space is limited and going fast!

Please visit www.VanishingAmerica.net or www.AnnJacksonGallery.com for more information.

For Jay Nowak

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:57:00 +0000

I'd known Jay Nowak since I was a kid. He was my father's friend, and later, became my friend. When I was 15, he took me to the Road Atlanta racetrack to ride with him on a warm-up lap in his Datsun 260Z. (Unfortunately, he had to take the lap without me.) The officials said I had to be at least 16 to ride in such an event. But, my dad and I watched him race. It's one of those memories that will never fade.

Today I attended Jay's funeral. He was only 57.

It's still a bit surreal to me, for I had seen him just last week. Jay had had a heart attack about a month ago. I was with him when the pains began. He had been recovering well, and getting on with his life, but it had weakened his heart so much that the second time it failed completely. I'm going to miss him more than I thought I would.

Jay's death got me thinking about my own mortality (as friends' passings and funerals are likely to do). It got me thinking because Jay was a lot like me -- independent, still single (after all these years), a bit impatient, quick-tempered, and in love with the outdoors. He was also very kind. If anyone ever needed a hand, Jay was there -- no questions asked. And, it was these similarities that made me take his death very personally. I began to consider the short time we are here on this earth, and what each of us decides to do with that time. It made me think that I need to make more of my days than I have been. To love more, to play more, to enjoy my time and to share that enjoyment with the people I love. Situations like this usually have that effect on people.

But, more than that, Jay's funeral got me thinking about how we choose to remember, and choose to honor, those that pass before us. His funeral was held in a church, in the traditional, dignified, Christian fashion. And, that's what many people want.

But not me.

Those kinds of ceremonies make me sad. They depress me, make me cry, and do nothing for remembering how great that person was.

When I go, I want a party. Maybe a big bonfire on the beach with all my family and friends. I want my favorite band to play. I want everyone to tell stories to each other that all start with "Remember when...". I want people to get drunk and divulge secrets, get pissed off, then laugh about it. To me, it's a time to celebrate a life, not mourn a death.

In New Orleans, traditional funerals start with a parade that runs through the streets to the cemetery. Music plays, people dance, and a life is celebrated. It's like a congratulatory salute saying, "Hey man! You did it! You gave your all and we appreciate you for it!"

Send me off with a raucous "Yee Haw!" And, remember me fondly. Save the sadness for someone else.

Jay had requested to be cremated, which I admire. Everyone has their own idea of how to be laid to rest, but I agree with Jay. Set me aflame as in the days of kings. Let my spirit ascend into the heavens with the smoke and the flames. There is no need for a pillow-lined coffin -- I won't be sleeping. I'll be dead. Honor my death by returning me to the natural elements from which I was made. It was this decision that made me recall a poem I had seen many years ago...

When I was in college, taking art classes, one of the requirements was to take a figure drawing class. And, one of the requirements for the figure drawing class was to visit the morgue so we could see how the human body was actually put together. I remember a lot about those visits, but what stands out most in my memory is a sheet of paper tacked up on the wall. It was a poem by Robert N. Test and it sums up my feelings on what to do with me when I go...

"To Remember Me - I will live forever"
by Robert N. Test

The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital; busily occupied with the living and the dying. At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped.

When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don't call this my deathbed. Let it be called the bed of life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.

Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face or love in the eyes of a woman.

Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.

Give my kidneys to the one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.

Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.

Explore every corner of my brain.

Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, someday a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window.

Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.

If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weakness and all prejudice against my fellow man.

Give my sins to the devil.

Give my soul to God.

If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.

That poem sums it up completely. Follow that poem to the letter, throw a party when I'm gone, and celebrate my life.

Thank you, Jay, for showing me the way to go. I'll miss you, buddy.

Save the date!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:21:00 +0000

Well, it's official!

Saturday, June 28th, 2008 marks the opening of the very first Vanishing America exhibit, which will be on display through July at Roswell's Ann Jackson Gallery!

This marks the first in a series of exhibitions of Fine Art photography from the Vanishing America project. Future exhibits will be held in cities all over the United States, each one showcasing new work as well as some original favorites, but this is the first!

All of the images are in signed, limited editions of 25 and vary in size from 8x10 inches to over 5 feet. And, once an edition sells out, there will be no more. What that means to the collector is that each image will not only retain its value, but that the value of each image will actually increase with time.

The opening night of the exhibit promises to be a blast, with music from Atlanta's best blues band, The Breeze Kings, a wine tasting from local vendors, and barbecue from Alpharetta's own Smokejack restaurant, all accompanying 25 of Vanishing America's best images to date.

If you are in the Atlanta area, and would like to attend... hell, if you're within 200 miles of Atlanta, you have to attend!... please RSVP to holt@vanishingamerica.net as soon as you can. This is an historic event. Space is limited and though this event is free, it will "sell out" very quickly.

Celebrity has its perks...

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:50:00 +0000

I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille...

I know. I know. I'm not even close to being a celebrity. Yet. But, the attention I get from fans of my project can sometimes give me a taste of what celebrity must be like.

About a month ago in Athens, Tennessee, I parked BABS in an empty lot near a busy highway. Mom was with me, and we had just decided to take a few moments to grab a quick lunch before we continued back to Atlanta.

As is usually the case, cars were cutting through the parking lot to get a closer look at BABS. But, this time one of the cars actually stopped. A nice lady got out, and knocked on my door. I came out to talk with her and found out that, even though she didn't have internet access, she was actually a big fan of what I was doing! She was so tickled to have met me that she kept giving me hugs and kisses, introduced me to her granddaughter, and even asked for my autograph. Me! Go figure. It was actually a great experience. Not only did it make me feel good, but it gave me a little affirmation (if that is the right word) that I was doing something that was as important to other people as it was to me. I got to meet one of my fans. (You know, that sounds funny... "my fans".) But, I think it's just a small example of things to come.

Tonight, while having dinner with a fellow artist at Pure in Alpharetta, a nice young woman named Heidi approached me. She asked if I was Holt Webb. And, once again, I felt that sense of "celebrity"... of being admired. That must sound conceited, but I mean it in the purest sense of appreciation. People are interested in (and in some cases proud of) what I am doing. And, that makes me feel good. It reinforces the idea that I am doing something worthwhile.

As it turns out, Heidi is actually friends with another friend of mine, Jenifer, a girl I grew up with. And, they wanted me to give a presentation to their school. Since school is almost out, that might not happen, but I am flattered nonetheless. They thought enough of what I'm doing to want to share it with their children and their school.

I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that celebrity doesn't have to be all about getting attention or being famous for the sake of being famous. Sometimes, celebrity can mean that you have a fan base that supports what you do and what you stand for. And, that's a real boost when you're alone, out on the road like I am, trying to make sense of the world around you. You realize that you're not the only one. You realize that there are other people who feel the same way you do, and who are grateful that you are out there telling their stories, and making sure that their voices can be heard.

Second Annual Pink Bandanna Ball

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:41:00 +0000

Fun with Fundraising!

I just got back from another wonderful weekend in Chattanooga promoting the Vanishing America project. And, it didn't cost me a dime. I drove all the way on used veggie oil! How's that for saving a buck?

This time I had BABS on display at Saturday's Second Annual Pink Bandanna Ball, helping raise money for Neuroblastoma. Check out their website at http://emilyspowerforacure.vpweb.com/index.html.

It was a great time. BABS was parked inside the First Tennessee Pavilion for all to see, and one of the images from the Vanishing America series was donated to their silent auction. They had live music from Love, Peace and Happiness, fantastic BBQ from The Butt Stop (their brisket and cornbread casserole were amazing!), casino games, and a badass mechanical bull (which loved the Nancy, Wendy, and Melissa, the event's coordinators, but had no reservations about kicking my butt)!

Jennifer, who rode the bull with me, has ridden some feisty horses in her day, and managed to stay on for another three minutes, looking like she belonged at a real rodeo. I think she could have outlasted any of the guys there.

And, thanks to the efforts of Nancy, Wendy, and Melissa, and the wonderful sponsors who donated their time, money, and prizes for the auctions, this year's event raised over $116,000! Next year's event promises to be even bigger. Heck, if they keep up this pace, they'll be selling out the baseball stadium!

After cleaning up and sleeping in until 10am, I joined the Cromie family out on Tennessee's Lake Chicamauga. (Nancy Cromie is one of the angels who helped organize the Pink Bandanna Ball.) We even did a little fishing. However, I was the only one who caught anything...

Marc and Nancy wouldn't let me keep it, though. They said we had to throw it back. Something about "catch and release", or it being too little... whatever.

But, before I threw it back, I named it Will.

Look what I found!

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:29:00 +0000

In Search of... A Snack!

This little tidbit will likely resonate more with the guys than the girls, but I'll tell it anyway...

You ever had the munchies? You know, when you're not looking for a meal, just a nosh. Just a little snack to settle those taste bud crazies.

You walk over to the fridge, poke your head in, look around, can't find what you want, then close the door. Ten minutes later, you do it again. Ten minutes after that, you do it again. You never see what you're looking for. Hell, you don't even know what you're looking for. You just know you're hungry and that if you keep looking, you'll find something to snack on.

You keep poking your head in the fridge expecting that something will just jump out at you. But it never does.

Well, last night it did. I went into that fridge three times looking for something to take care of that craving. Each time I came up short. But, for some unknown reason, I went in a fourth time. And, as I was closing the door, something caught my eye. I opened the crisper drawer, and lo and behold! there it was. What I'd been looking for all my life. The snack that has eluded me since I was a teenager. After years of searching the refrigerator, poking my head in time after time, my efforts finally paid off. I was rewarded for my persistence. And DAMN! it felt great.

What did I find? To be honest, it really doesn't matter what I had found. What matters is that I found it. Have you ever found what you were looking for?

The world is full of small wonders like these. And, it's these little darlings that make life so special.

What? You really want to know what I found?

Oh, okay. It was a protein bar. Happy?

Earth Day

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:19:00 +0000

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of the 38th Anniversary of Earth Day, I'm offering up a new Green Tip of the Day...

Plastic! What would we do without that wonderful material? It can be formed into any shape and color we desire. It can be as supple as a raincoat or as solid as a railroad tie. And, it's recyclable (for the most part). Such a great invention.

But... (you knew this was coming, didn't you?)... Most consumer plastics don't get recycled, and many that do, get "recycled" in third world countries.

I was running stairs at my old high school stadium (Go Milton!) and counted 27 used plastic water/juice bottles scattered all over the bleachers. On a recent walk around town, I counted 4 plastic grocery bags, 10 plastic bottles, 3 CD cases and 3 plastic "blister" packs (you know, those damn hard-to-open packages everything seems to come in now).

In fact, the U.S. only recycles about 34% of its plastic bottles. Guess where the rest of those bottles wind up? Take a look around you.

And, it's not just the lack of recycling of these products that is the problem. According to National Geographic, in the U.S. we buy 29 million plastic bottles of water or soft drinks every year. 29 MILLION! And, it takes 17 million barrels of crude oil (yes, oil!) to make those bottles. That's one hell of a lot of energy!

Now, I'm not ALL gripe and groan... many companies are coming up with some very creative uses for the recycled plastic bottle, including fibers for jackets, new fabrics for upholstery, and new building materials. But, it's still not enough.

So, what's the answer? Do we stop drinking bottled water? Of course not. But, we don't need to run around all day with a new bottle of water in hand (unless you're refilling it each time you run out.) We're not as dehydrated a society as Madison Avenue would like us to believe. But, if you have to have your agua, use your own bottle. And, there are plenty of bottles available that won't impart that weird plastic taste to your beverage of choice.

I use my plastic bicycle bottles when I need to carry fluids with me on short jaunts. Of course, I occasionally buy a bottle at the store, but I take that bottle home and reuse it. And, when it wears out, I recycle it.

I also buy powdered drink mixes in paper pouches or cardboard canisters. I could easily go through about 20 2 litre bottles of juice or mixer in a year, but I don't (did I say mixer?). First of all, I simply don't have the room on BABS for even 3 or 4 bottles. Second, if I don't buy those 20 bottles, that's 20 fewer bottles coming from the manufacturer and 20 fewer bottles potentially finding their way into landfills or recycle centers.

I guess it comes down to consumption. Consumption, not of the beverage, but of the package. Anywhere you can reuse a package, or bring your own package, you're saving a little bit of energy. And, at 29 million bottles a year, we could use a little of that savings, don't you think?

Photo Talk Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Holt Webb) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:17:00 +0000

Photo Talk Radio!

Last week I did an internet radio interview with the famous Howard Lipin and Michael Garcia from Photo Talk Radio. We had a great conversation. You can hear it at: http://www.phototalkradio.com/ptr080412.html