Whitetail Deer Fawn in Black and White...

It has been raining pretty solidly in our corner of Appalachia for 5 days now. There was a brief break in the clouds today that allowed me to get out and clean up some debris from the weekend storms. Now we're back indoors waiting out the rain again. I did manage to get out and make more photographs of our resident deer fawn. Rain or shine, the animals of the woods need to eat. I was able to sneak around to the backside of my house on several occasions during the last few days to watch the fawn and its mother feed on jewel weed in less intense downpours. Using a 400mm lens and keeping still allowed me to get several shots before being noticed. I chose black and white to help simplify the scene. The tangle of colorful weeds and vines can sometimes create interesting textures. Other times the foliage can be distracting. I found black and white perfect for this particular situation. 

(c) 2015 Jon Reaves Photography

Whitetail Deer Fawn in the Rain...

This little guy has alluded my lens since July. I have had only glimpses since. Wouldn't you know that he would appear right in my back yard the day after I finish the film project? This isn't the sharpest image. I shot from behind my bedroom window. I didn't want to scare him off this time. Nonetheless, I am pleased with it. I watched as it meandered through the wilting jewel weed in the pouring rain, eventually slipping away into the dark hardwood forest. 

Whitetail Deer Fawn, Creston, North Carolina (c) 2015 Jon Reaves

One Exposure A Day, 24 Days, Cheap Drugstore Film Project Update...

I took my final exposure for the film project today! It's over...heck of a ride. I started it by taking one single exposure each day for the first 10 days, then on day 11, I shot several frames (shame on me) of the same subject. Then I changed the rules for the remaining 13 days. I allowed myself to shoot multiple frames of one subject and one subject only. That in itself was pretty challenging, as most days presented me with lots of temping opportunities. 

For my last exposure, I wanted to capture star trails over my home here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Milky Way is clearly visible here this time of year...usually that is. I set up my tripod and dialed in my exposure settings while there was still daylight yesterday evening. The plan was to wait until midnight (beginning of the 24th and final day of this project) and make my final exposure. Mother Nature had other plans. My clear night turned into a solid overcast one as the clock approached midnight. I had to abandon my big finale. This morning, I found myself under the full autumn-yellow canopy of sugar maples at Bass Lake, where I made my final exposure. I'll save the subject and story for the film reveal. I'm going to ship the film tomorrow. When I receive the scans, I'll post six images and the stories behind them to this blog in four separate posts. Thanks to all who view this blog and follow my facebook page!

First Signs of Autumn, Glen Burney Falls, North Carolina (c) Jon Reaves Photography

Sunset Beach and Film Project Update...

My Grandfather had his 80th birthday celebration this past weekend, so my wife, the dogs, and me took a trip to the NC coast. It was a short weekend full of family activities, but I managed to sneak away early Saturday morning to do some light stalking at Sunset Beach. I took the 35mm and one of my digital bodies. This was the first time I'd seen the beach all year. It was great to finally smell the salty air and watch those Atlantic waves roll in. 

This was also day 19 of my 24 day film project. I decided to choose a more risky and difficult subject to photograph on film, my favorite little wading bird, the sanderling. They move so quickly it is difficult to keep the auto focus locked on, but I think I managed to get a shot. We'll just have to wait and see. On Sunday, day 20, I took a stroll down the street to a huge and gnarly live oak. It must be 200-300 years old! My wide-angle lens could only capture about a third of the tree's branches and canopy from underneath. It should make for a pretty interesting exposure...again, we'll just have to wait and see. I made my 21st exposure for the project this morning. Just 3 more days to go! By the way, even though I shot several exposures on day 11 and then changed the rules (see video in previous post), I've managed to only shoot one exposure a day for most of the days since. I'll save the stories for later.

Sanderlings

Sunrise at Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach Pier

Wood Stork in Flight

Wood Stork Dance, This stork almost landed on that little egret!

Wood Storks Wading

One Exposure a Day Film Challenge Update...I Broke the Rules!

I'll save the story behind the image for the final blog post on this project...I lost my self control today...I just had to get the shot! Thanks to all who keep up with the blog and facebook page. 13 days left of the project to go!

One Exposure A Day Film Challenge Update...

I found myself hiking the Glen Burney Trail today, a place I knew I'd visit for the 24 day project. Today was Day 10. Instead of choosing to use my one film exposure on the magnificent natural wonder that is Glen Burney Falls, which rises about 20 feet out of a cool mountain creek, I turned my lens to a smaller and quieter off shoot of the falls. The rainy and overcast sky cleared as I approached the main waterfall, casting a harsh bright light on it. This left me searching for a more evenly lit subject in the shadows of the Rhododendron.
 

The last few days have gone relatively smoothly as far as the 24 day project goes. No more accidental fires so far! Of course, I wont know for sure what I have until the film comes back from the lab. I'll save the stories behind the photos since my last update for the reveal.
 

On my way back from the falls, I found these little mushrooms hiding in the exposed roots of an overhanging oak in neat little clusters. I couldn't resist pulling out the digital camera and making this exposure. As for tomorrow's film shot, I actually haven't a clue what I'll be looking for yet. We'll just have to see what nature throws at me. 

Mushrooms on Oak Roots, Glen Burney Trail, North Carolina

One Exposure a Day Film Challenge Update...

Today was day 4 in my one film photo a day challenge. Days 1 through 3 went pretty well (I'll save the stories for the blog entries at the end of the project). I made my first big mistake today. I was waiting for a swan to pose for me on Bass Lake and noticed a change in the light intensity. While pressing the shutter button half way to get a new meter reading, I applied a hair too much pressure and tripped the shutter. The F100's shutter button requires less pressure to fire than my digital cameras and I am not used to that. I have no idea what the exposure will be like. I can imagine it will be too dark, and maybe the swan will be in focus...maybe not. I wont know how big my mistake is until the film comes back after I complete the 24 days project. All I can do now is move forward and take it one frame at time. Lesson learned. There is always tomorrow.

After botching the film shot, I switched out the film camera for a digital body and shot a few exposures of a group of Black Ducks dozing by the lake. So, the day wasn't a total loss.

American Black Ducks (Male), Bass Lake, North Carolina