Through the Lens - JCI Photo Blog

Corvette

2012-02-21T16:40:00.000-06:00

When I was a kid, I always wanted a Corvette. I would probably own one today if I had enough extra cash to buy a "weekend car." But I guess the next best thing is being able to visit the plant where Corvettes are built from start to finish. The GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky is the only place in the world where the cars are made.

A lot of care is taken while putting these cars together. You can see that the employees care about the product that they are producing by the attention to detail that give to each and every car. From welding the frame, to installing the powerful engine to the final inspections, visitors can tour the plant to see how these classic American cars are made. If only I could have driven one home, I would have been a happy guy.

Photos by Jeff Adkins for the Kentucky Economic Development Guide.

Chile Today, Hot Tomorrow

2012-02-18T21:40:00.002-06:00

It’s hard to drive through Hatch, NM, and not see the large statue of Uncle Sam sitting next to Sparky’s Burgers, Barbeque and Espresso. Especially considering there are probably no more than two roads that pass through the small town in southwest New Mexico. You’d have to be blindfolded or asleep not to see it.

But if you look closely, you’ll see in the outstretched hand of good ole Uncle Sam, there sits a green chile. Which is fitting, because Hatch, NM, is the “Chile Capital of the World.”

Each year on Labor Day the small town holds its annual Hatch Chile Festival, attracting upwards of 30,000 visitors. Not bad for a town of less than 2000.

But you don’t have to wait for Labor Day to enjoy Chile Capital of the World. Just stop at one of the roadside shops with strings of chiles hanging from the eaves. Or better yet, stop by Sparky’s for a green chile cheeseburger as you make your way along the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail.

But if you get lost while you’re in Hatch, just look up and Uncle Sam will lead you there.

(Shot for the Business Images Rio Grande Region Magazine)

Brentwood vs. Franklin Football - Franklin, TN

2012-02-09T21:56:00.010-06:00

Friday night football. This is a fun and exciting assignment for a photographer, but at the same time is never easy. The speed of the game and dim stadium lighting will test any photographer's skill set, so when I got the word I was shooting the Franklin Rebels vs. Brentwood Bruins for the Brentwood/Cool Springs, Tennessee magazine, I was ready for a challenge.

These two teams came out ready to battle. Brentwood RB Chudi Echetebu rushed for 158 yards while Franklin's QB Matt Kuivinen threw for an impressive 251 yards. A tie was held for most of the game with both teams matching each other touchdown for touchdown, until late in the fourth quarter when Brentwood scored a safety to go up 16-14. With six minutes to go, Brentwood scored the final touchdown to take a 22-14 victory over the Rebels.

Musgrove Country Club - Jasper, Alabama

2012-02-08T11:55:00.003-06:00

Over the years I've shot a number of great golf courses across the country. Last week while shooting the Images of Walker County, Alabama magazine, I was impressed with a course in Jasper that's truly unique. The golf course at Musgrove Country Club is a beautiful 18-hole championship course with rolling hills and two wooden swinging bridges crossing Blackwater Creek. A dam that was built originally to create electricity for Musgrove can be seen from the log cabin style clubhouse, which was built in 1924 from trees on the estate. There is also a dining room on site with a lounge and grill, as well as six rubico tennis courts and an olympic size swimming pool.

Sunrise and Wet Feet in Glasgow, Kentucky

2012-02-07T09:18:00.007-06:00

As I think back on my trip to Glasgow, KY last week I have many fond memories. All of which I could blog about while showing you a good picture, leaving you with a positive feeling about this charming southern Kentucky town. But I would rather show you an amazing photograph and tell you about an unpleasant experience. For the photograph of a sunrise as seen from 31E (above), the experience went something like this:

Photographer (Me) sees awesome sunrise.
Photographer (Me) drives like crazy to get into position.
Photographer (Me) can't quite get the angle he wants from the road, darn power lines!
Photographer (Me) runs across a field full of wet grass to get better angle.
Photographer (Me) gets awesome shot.
Photographer (Me) wishes he had remembered to put on his waterproof boots.
Photographer's (Mine) feet stay wet the rest of the day.
Photographer (Me) is grumpy for the rest of the day.
Photographer (Me) looks at the awesome shot on laptop, and thinks it is worth it and knows he would do it again in a heart beat.

JCI Photo
Antony Boshier

Wyoming wildlife

2012-02-02T09:48:00.005-06:00

I guess I should feel flattered. I mean, this guy was driving through Big Horn National forest in Wyoming and saw me standing on the side of the road with my 400 mm lens and must have thought that guy knows what he's doing.

I was shooting a bull moose that had settled in for a nap in the woods and along came Joe Tourist with his point and shoot camera. He didin't say a thing to me as he eased into position and found the perfect place - right in front of me!

I spent a decade covering the NFL, jockeying for position along the sidelines but never dreamed that I would have this problem in a National Park with 189,000 acres of wilderness.

After a few minutes Joe went back to his motorhome having gotten his fill of nature and the moose and I were once again left alone. I was able to get a decent shot and I hope Joe did too. - Jeffrey S. Otto

The B. Harley Bradley House and Stable in Kankakee, Illinois

2012-01-31T23:48:00.007-06:00

Located on the banks of the Kankakee River, The B. Harley Bradley House and Stable recently opened it's doors to visitors as an arts and education center thanks to local not-for-profit organization, Wright in Kankakee. Designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the house is the recognized as his first Prairie Style design. The house, built in 1900 has been a private residence several times over as well as a restaurant and a law office, in it's century-long existence.

I got to spend several hours wandering around the house alone taking photographs for Images Kankakee County magazine. Being a photographer, I was really struck by the placement of the windows and the way the light changed the look of the house's interior at different times of the day. And the lines created by the woodwork gave me multiple options with which to compose photos within each room. It was like looking at a peice of artwork from the inside out, rather than the outside in- which is usually the case. It made me a little nervous and probably overly cautious not to accidentally destroy anything with my tripod. I would highly recommend a visit by anyone going to Kankankee, Illinois.

Solar Power in Dalton, GA

2012-01-25T08:37:00.010-06:00

Winters in the south creates a unique set of challenges to a photographer. There is seldom enough snow to fill the landscape, and it is seldom sunny enough to make up for the lack of leaves on the trees. It is often overcast, and when you do get a sunny day it is usually cold and windy.

Despite all this woe, I did get some luck with my shoot at the Dalton Utilities solar power, which I was photographing for the Dalton Whitfield County Economic Development Guide. I really needed sun for this shot, and I was willing to accept the cold and wind. Luckily my subject Don Cope, president of Dalton Utilities, was also willing to accept the cold and wind.

For this shot I was standing on a ladder on the roof of the Dalton Utilities building in a strong breeze. So you see, dealing with the wind was not a trivial matter. The reason I was standing on the ladder was to remove the distracting background of leafless trees; problem solved. But now Mr. Cope was looking up at me and as such he was forced to stare into the sun. So then I set up an umbrella on a light stand to block the sun from his face; problem solved. But now my umbrella and light stand wanted to fly away or crash into some expensive solar panels. Luckily I had a maintenance man with me who had not only let me onto the roof but was also now employed as a light stand holder. Problems solved!

JCI Photo
Antony Boshier

Fulton County, NY - Gloversville. The tradition continues

2012-01-24T15:04:00.005-06:00

As dusk fell on Gloversville, I walked down Main Street. I stopped dead in my tracks and peered through the window of the tiny glove shop. Looking just past the window display, I could see a light still on in the workshop. It was after hours but I was leaving town the next day and didn't want to miss a chance to witness history.

I knocked on the door and Daniel Storto, a man much hipper than his blue-collar neighbors, answered.

Storto is not a Gloversville native - something unusual in itself in this small industrial upstate New York town. More unusual is that he is a glove-maker. Perhaps the last one in a town named for the craftsmen that built it.

Storto is a native of Toronto and a learned his trade along side his grandfather. Working in a small shop with no heat, Storto carries on the tradition that named this city one custom pair of gloves at a time. His work has covered the hands of Hillary Clinton, who discovered his shop while a New York Senator working just down the road in Albany, and perhaps most famously Madonna when she and Britney Spears locked lips on stage.

After years of working with stars in both LA and New York, Storto was looking for a quiet place to settle down and make gloves, and he picked Gloversville for its history in the art he loves.

As well as working to make gloves he is restoring a turn-of-the-century glove factory in town where he hopes to have a museum where visitors can watch the glove making process as it used to be. Jeffrey S. Otto -

Fulton County, NY - Almost home

2012-01-24T13:41:00.006-06:00

While I was recently in Fulton County, NY I got a bit homesick.

You see, I grew up in New York a few hours down the 90 West-bound from Fulton County. I was greeted with familiar sights, smells and tastes of my childhood.

While I was there, a dusting of snow fell one day. Something I had not expect in mid-November living in the heart of Dixe for the past two decades.

As the heavy wet snow quickly melted away, the falling snow turned back to rain and a light fog lifted from the many lakes in the area. I was north of Gloversville, near Peck's Lake, when I saw this scene. I hopped out of my car and took a deep breath and the aroma of the lake and the fir trees filled my lungs reminding me once again - I was in New York.

After getting a few shots I headed back to the car the rain was now snow again. My thoughts drifted back to my youth again, and then of my 6-year-old daughter. I stuck out my tongue and caught a snowflake - Snow tastes better in New York. - Jeffrey S. Otto

Hamming It Up

2012-01-17T13:42:00.002-06:00

Walking into Johnston County Hams in Smithfield, NC, there’s a door just to the right behind the counter. I follow one of the workers through the door and down a hallway, past a big industrial-sized fan and into a room that would make any country ham lover feel like they’d died and gone to hog heaven.

Hanging from metal racks three high are country hams on top of country hams. This is one of the curing rooms at Johnston County Hams.

Rufus Brown is the current cure master for Johnston County Hams, a position his father held before him. Since 1967 the Browns have been responsible for some of the best tasting country hams in the country, getting nods from Esquire, Men’s Health and Southern Living magazines.

As someone born and raised in the South, I am all too familiar with the tastes and smells of country ham. For me, the smell brings back fond memories of Christmases past, waking up early and rushing to see what surprises lay buried beneath the tree. (I have to confess, there were a few times when I already knew what was under the tree because I had already snuck out in the middle of the night to see. What do you expect a kid to do when he on Christmas Eve?)

After unwrapping everything in sight with a bow on it, we would almost always sit down to a hearty breakfast cooked by my mom. It wasn’t an elaborate meal by any means; just eggs, bacon, homemade biscuits and country ham, enough to fill our bellies and put a smile on our faces. I think it was just my mom’s way of making us all sleepy so we’d crawl back in bed and give my parents a little more sleep time.

So it is without fail, whenever I get a whiff of country ham frying in a cast iron pan, I’m transported back to Christmas morning.

This past Christmas’ breakfast was just like the rest: eggs, bacon, homemade biscuits and country ham.

As the country ham sizzles in the pan, the bells are replaced by smells as I’m transformed into one of Pavlov’s dogs. But I’m the only one. It’s good to know my dog has a thing for country ham as well. You could tell by the drool pooling on the floor.

(From the Images Johnston County, NC Magazine)

Advanced Manufacturing - Casper, WY

2012-01-09T11:36:00.006-06:00

Manufacturing is big business in Wyoming...literally. Westech Custom Mining Equipment is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest mining truck body by volume, with it's T282C Flow Control Body, a giant that can hold the weight of 404.544 metric tons!

Wyoming is home to a number of highly sophisticated leading-edge manufacturing facilities who work with local colleges to create jobs for master welders, engineers and fabricators. A non-profit company called Manufacturing-Works assists companies with marketing, engineering, technical assistance and financial counseling. With all of these advantages, it's no wonder Wyoming is setting the standard in advanced manufacturing.

Zipping Right Along

2011-12-26T19:53:00.003-06:00

What do you do with over a mile of cable, a few trees and an entrepreneurial spirit? You build what’s called a zipline on the side of Purgatory Mountain outside Asheboro, NC.

Years ago, Buddy Hammer marveled as he watched on National Geographic as scientists used ziplines to study the Amazon Rainforest. That was almost twenty years ago.

That gave him an idea of what to do with the 50 acres surrounding his home.

Buddy waited for retirement and for his children to graduate from college. With plenty of free time, he decided to give that little pet project of his a try. Thus was born Richland Creek Zip Line.

I first met Buddy and his wife JoAnn a few years ago. Since that time, they’ve added new lines, (bringing the total to 15) and several sky walks. Their longest and fastest line runs 1400 feet long. But it’s probably not the most fun line.

That title belongs to what’s called the bouncy line.

As a rider crosses the creek bed below, one of the guides mans the end of the cable and literally puts all of his weight into pushing and pulling the line in every direction possible.

To say the rider is catapulted in every direction is an understatement.

It’s a jolting, scream-inducing thrill ride. And it’s the culmination of a two-hour fun-filled tour that will leave you wanting more.

(Photographed for the Images Asheboro/Randolph County NC Magazine)

Getting Schooled

2011-12-18T21:08:00.002-06:00

Being a geek, I’m always fascinated when I get to visit a place that utilizes advanced technology. Usually, it’s high end manufacturing with automated robots or students at a major university learning cutting edge technology. Before visiting Wilkes Community College, it would not have been on my radar.

But it is now.

The school’s Advanced Technology Center offers training in advanced composites, 3D design and robotics. They even have the ability to “print”a 3D prototype. Not too shabby for a school nestled in a small town in northwestern North Carolina.

And with businesses like MX Aircraft now calling the area home, the demand for well-trained employees will only grow. And Wilkes Community College will be there supply to supply the workforce.

(Shot for the Images Wilkes, NC Magazine)

Art in Dallas

2011-12-16T11:08:00.010-06:00

While I was photographing for the Business Images Southwest Dallas Partnership, I made art! Now, anyone who has heard me wax poetic on the perfect blend of art and science that is photography will say, in a sarcastic tone, "But Antony, aren't all of your photos art?" Well, yes they are, but this time it is different.
When I took this picture, I actually looked at the LCD screen on the back of my camera and said, "I want to hang that on my wall."
Since it my not be completely obvious what you are looking at here, let me tell you. This art depicts metal cee purlins. Don't feel stupid – I had to ask, too. Cee purlins are metal beams used in the construction of roofs and building supports; but now they are art!

JCI Photo
Antony Boshier

Alabama Agriculture

2011-12-08T11:34:00.008-06:00

What do you get when you add one photographer, one camera, three lenses, four lights, one rental car, one week and 1,500 miles? The following nine photographs. Well, actually there were a total of 1,292 photographs, but here are nine that I really liked.

JCI PHOTO
Antony Boshier

Food in Tyler

2011-12-06T14:42:00.006-06:00

I love to photograph food, and while I was in Tyler, TX shooting the Images Tyler, TX magazine I had two great opportunities to practice my craft. The first shot, seen above, was from Villa Montez. The presentation on this shrimp was some of the most reactive I have ever seen. I hope my photo does it justice. The second two shots, seen below, were from Chez Bazan. It's a family-run bakery where they know how to welcome customers and make them want to come back. Their sweet baked goods and savory dishes such as Chicken Florentine Crepes are awesome!

JCI Photo
Antony Boshier

King's Saddlery and The Don King Museum - Sheridan, Wyoming

2011-11-28T18:37:00.002-06:00

Located on Main Street in downtown Sheridan, Wyoming, is the Don King Museum and King's Saddlery. The Saddlery is a true Western tack store with thousands of ropes on-hand, as well as a huge inventory of saddles, bits, bridles and more. The Don King Museum has to be one of the most interesting places I've ever visited. Hundreds of hand-carved saddles surround an amazing collection of Western and cowboy memorabilia that has been in the family for more than three decades. James Jackson works inside the museum carving designs into leather to create one of a kind pieces. Photos by Brian McCord for Images of Sheridan, Wyoming Magazine.

Having a Field Day

2011-11-22T12:59:00.001-06:00

With the smoke from campfires filling the air, random shots of musket fire crackling from across the field and soldiers and civilians going about their daily duties in period attire, you begin to believe you’re truly living in the time of the Revolutionary War. Of course, it’s the concession stand selling pizza that brings you back to the present day.

For over 40 years, the Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site in Camden, SC, has held it’s Annual Revolutionary War Field Days.

Around 500 reenactors have besieged Camden, SC, to recreate skirmishes between Continental and British forces. Everything from encampments to artillery demonstrations, even a period fashion show, litter the 100-plus acres of the Historic Camden Site.

Early in the afternoon, a soldier armed with a bullhorn addresses the crowd gathered safely across a ditch to see the day’s skirmish. He provides a little background on the day’s skirmish: the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill, divulging the strategies deployed by the two armies.

Then the battle begins.

Two major battles: The Battle of Camden in 1780, which happened about nine miles away from the Historic Camden site, and a 1781 battle between General Greene and Lord Rawdon, sometimes referred to as the Second Battle of Camden, are the inspiration for the mock battles.

Later that day, after the carnage has been cleared, a new battle erupts.

After a day of trying to kill each other on the field of battle, the two sides come together again on that same field to play a friendly game of rounders. Not the game from the movie, but the inspiration for America’s favorite pastime: baseball.

(From the Images Kershaw County, SC, Magazine)

A Day in Fort Worth, Texas

2011-11-22T09:19:00.004-06:00

Fort Worth isn't your average Texas town. This is a thriving city with tons of cool sites and great places to eat, stay and play. The Cultural District is home to six world class museums, award winning restaurants and a variety of venues and theaters. The West 7th Corridor is considered to be the premier entertainment district with shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Be sure to visit Billy Bob's Texas, located in the Stockyard District. This is the world's largest Honky Tonk and is definitely a must see if you're in Fort Worth. They have popular bands performing weekly and an actual rodeo inside the bar! Photos by Brian McCord for Fort Worth magazine.

Elizabeth City - A sweet destination

2011-11-21T14:50:00.005-06:00

While shooting the Images of Elizabeth City, NC magazine recently, I had the pleasure of photographing AND tasting some delicious treats. Elizabeth City has quite a sweet tooth, it seems, which worked out great because so do I.

Chocolate House in Elizabeth City offers a wide array of sweets and while shopping in the Southgate Mall you can stop in and get some Bon bons to go or just enjoy some ice cream. The Cupcakery in downtown Elizabeth City offers cupcakes and now that word and demand has spread they offer other baked goods as well.

E-City's vices are not limited to sweets, however, if while you are getting your Caffeine buzz on you get a hankering for some fresh baked goods with a dose of sugar you are in luck. Sister stores Muddy Waters Coffee House and Nine Bars Espresso offer fresh baked cakes, breads and other baked goods all made on site at Nine Bars by Chef Esther.

What's in a Name?

2011-11-09T14:24:00.002-06:00

Walking into High Rock Outfitters on a Tuesday night, you kind of expect to see the kayaks hanging on the wall, the life jackets on the racks and the wakeboards on display. What you’re not prepared for is the guy standing in front of the kayaks playing a saxophone.

But then again, it’s Tuesday night and that means an open jam. And on Wednesday nights, it’s bluegrass.

You may be asking yourself “Why does an outfitter have live music?”

Go ahead and ask yourself why they serve coffee and beer as well.

High Rock Outfitters doesn’t fit the status quo when it comes to retail shops in Uptown Lexington, NC. And that’s the point.

They’re a new kind of business, started by a younger generation that’s looking to revitalize the downtown. And they’re doing it one pint, one latte and one kayak at a time.

(Photographed for the Images Davidson County, NC Magazine)

Mmmm Sumter

2011-11-09T08:54:00.007-06:00

In Sumter, SC, I visited Cafe on Main, where I photographed owner-chef Hugh China's signature Shrimp and Grits. My favorite thing about this photo is the light--by bouncing my flashes off the restaurant's ivory-colored menus, I was able to pick up the beautiful warm tones in the food. And then Hugh let me "sample" the dish. It was delicious! Add to the equation a friendly and helpful waitstaff and Hugh's welcoming demeanor, and Cafe on Main is definitely worth a visit.

JCI Photo
Antony Boshier

Congratulations! It's a Bouncing Baby Honda

2011-10-28T13:55:00.000-05:00

Driving down I-95, south of Florence, SC, it’s easy to miss the white buildings along the interstate. They sit back a little from the zooming traffic. And if it weren’t for the water tower with Honda painted on it, you probably wouldn’t take note of them at all.

The Honda production facility in Timmonsville, SC, started out making all-terrain vehicles back in 1998. It started out producing about 50,000 ATVs a year. Today, with almost 600 employees, that number is nearly 300,000. They go by the names of Foreman, Rancher, Recon, Rincon, Rubicon and Sportrax.

But on April 12, 2011, the plant reached a milestone. The plant’s first 2012 Honda Foreman 500 rolled off the assembly line. But this wasn’t just any ATV. This was the first ATV to be designed and built at the South Carolina facility. It’s their first baby.

While the general public isn’t allowed into the delivery room at the plant in Timmonsville, they can check out the newborns in the nursery at a Honda dealer. They may even get the chance to adopt one.

(Shot for the North Eastern South Carolina Economic Development Guide)

Buena Vista Historic Mansion - Prattville, AL

2011-10-25T14:48:00.009-05:00

Here are a few shots I took last week at Buena Vista, a historic antebellum mansion in Prattville, Alabama. This place is incredible, with three-stories of amazing details like moldings and medallions created by artisans from England, a circular mahogany staircase spiraling 24 feet and large Greek columns on the facade.
The home is now used for weddings, receptions, dinners and parties. It's owned by the Autauga County Heritage Association and operated as a historic house museum. It's open to visitors on Tuesdays from 10am til 2pm. Buena Vista will be featured in the upcoming Images of Prattville, Alabama magazine.