New Website and Blog!!!

I have been working hard on a new official website for my photography work. It still needs tweaking, but it is live! All blog posts will be on the new site from now on. 

Please visit www.jonreaves.com

 

Thanks to all who have been following this blog!

-Jon 

From the Archives - Grand Manan Island...

I'm continuing to re-edit my digital shots from Grand Manan, Canada this week. There are literally thousands of photos going back to 2009. The first shot below was made on Seal Cove beach during my first trip to the small island. The blurry figure on the left of this long exposure is actually my wife. All of these images are from 2009.

Dusk at Seal Cove Beach, Grand Manan, Canada

Rock and Ocean, Grand Manan, Canada

Low Tide at Dawn, Seal Cove Beach, Grand Manan, Canada

Fishing Boat Off Seal Cove, Grand Manan, Canada

 (c) 2015 Jon Reaves. All rights reserved.

Nature Walk...

Here are a couple shots from this weekend's walks in the woods. This is the first time I've ever seen a red squirrel in 8 years of living in the NC mountains. Dark-eyed Juncos (the bird) are common in the thick brush bordering the forests. 

Red Squirrel, Creston, NC

Dark-eyed Junco, Creston, NC

 (c) 2015 Jon Reaves. All rights reserved.

Autumn's Final Hold...

Fall is a short season here in northwestern North Carolina. It seems that as soon as the bright reds, yellows, and oranges of the hardwoods peak, they begin to fade and are gone for another year. This morning, I observed the busy fury-forest dwellers (squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and the owl whose shadow haunts them) racing to collect food for the coming freeze. This morning the air was a nippy 20 degrees. Winter is coming. 

Over the weekend, my wife and I took a short hike up Mount Jefferson here in Ashe County. I made a few images of the last bit of fall color at that elevation. Here are a few of my favorites.

Golden Woods, Mt Jefferson State Park

Can you spot the rabbit? Mt Jefferson State Park

Mountaintop Blueberry Leaves in Fall Color, Mt Jefferson State Park

Golden Hardwood Forest, Mt Jefferson State Park

(c) 2015 Jon Reaves. All rights reserved.

24 Day Project Film Reveal...Days Nineteen Through Twentyfour

September 19th - Sanderling

 I managed to sneak away at sunrise on day 19. I drove over to Sunset Beach, NC. The beach was quiet and mostly vacant, except for about a dozen sanderlings. They are very quick little birds and are difficult to photograph, especially on film!  This one stopped briefly before prodding its little bill into the sand, just enough time for a shot.

September 20th - Ancient Oak

 My wife and I were staying with her father in Little River, SC. Before we left for our home in the NC mountains, I needed to get my shot for the day. I simply took an early morning walk down the street in the direction of the docks for about a half mile to find this huge live oak. It must be 200-300 years old! My wide angle lens could only capture about a third of the tree from underneath it.  

September 21st - Lichen on White Pine Bark

 The misty and foggy morning of day 21 brought me back to the pine grove. I decided to include some more forest texture. Lichen thrives in our damp little hollow. 

September 22nd - Wild Turkeys in Donelly's Pasture

 This group of wild turkeys frequent a cow pasture not far from our home. I took my F100 and telephoto zoom lens with me in the car while driving my wife to work. I stopped and shot out of the car window. This didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped. I was feeling rushed as cars started to come up behind me, so I snapped a few shots and moved on.

September 23rd - Crab Apples

 The south-facing ridge behind my home has some of the tallest maples and oaks I've ever seen. I climbed the slope through thick thorny brambles hoping to capture a nice landscape of that old growth forest in the golden morning light. When I noticed these little crab apples littering the ground and the contrast they made with the green moss, I couldn't pass it up.

September 24th - Heron on Bass Lake

 Here we are, the last photograph of the 24 day film project! I returned to Bass Lake to find this immature great blue heron wading through the lily pads. My heart was beating a bit fast. Was this the final photo, or should I pass this subject up and look for another? When the bird tilted its elegant neck, revealing its full profile, I released the shutter. I felt pretty good about it. 

(c) 2015 Jon Reaves. All rights reserved.

24 Day Project Film Reveal...Days Thirteen Through Eighteen

September 13th - Blue Aster

 After the jewel weed dies back, blue aster becomes our most prominent flower in the mountain meadows.

September 14th - Last Light on a Ridge Top

 Day 14 was another one of those last call for light pictures. I was racking my brain trying to think of a photograph and looking everywhere. It came down to the last few minutes of daylight and I made this exposure of the shadow covering the valley and the day's last light on the ridge. When I first saw this photo after it was developed, I was disappointed, but now it's growing on me.

September 15th - Maple Leaves on Lichen Covered Log

 I was sweating on this day, too. It was another late evening shot. I like to experiment with texture in the natural world, but the lichen and moss alone were not enough to make this image. I placed two maple leaves on the log and made the exposure. 

September 16th - Queen of the Undergrowth

 I have not been able to identify this flower. Could it be a type of Queen Anne's Lace? Or a type of Yarrow? I'm not sure. I found it under the dense pine forest. It's one of the few plants that grow through the thick pine straw this time of year.

September 17th - Yellow Leaves

 I walked by this tree with its yellowing leaves almost everyday of the project. On day 17, I finally decided to take a chance on it. It was early morning and the dew still saturated the leaves and branches making the colors more bold than they would be in the midday sun.

September 18th - Sunburst through the Woods

 In a rush to pack the car and head to the coast for my Grandfather's 80th birthday celebration, I had to make a quick decision. It was morning, the sun had just breached the horizon. I selected a narrow aperture to create as many points on the star as possible. Even though this shot was made in haste and I didn't have much confidence in it, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

(c) 2015 Jon Reaves. All Rights Reserved.

24 Day Project Film Reveal...Days Seven Through Twelve

 September 7th - Hummingbird on a Branch

 I sat on a rock wall, watching bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds dance around from flower to flower in a pasture adjoining my property. This female ruby-throated hummingbird stopped for a rest on a buckeye branch a few feet in front of me. 

September 8th - High Brown Fritillary

 While weaving my way through the tall grasses of the same meadow as the previous day, I came across this butterfly. It was only inches from my face when I spotted it. I shot up close with a wide-angle lens.

September 9th - Hummingbird in the Jewel Weed

 On day nine, I found myself in the pasture again looking for hummingbirds. I really wanted to push it and go for an in flight shot. At this time I was still sticking to the one shot rule. I nervously waited for the right moment. Click!

September 10th - Small Waterfall near Glen Burney Falls

I knew I would come to this spot, but with the intention of shooting the 20 foot high, water spewing  monolith that is Glen Burney Falls. Instead, I went for an offshoot, only a couple feet high.

September 11th - Doe in the Woods

Now we have come to the subject that caused me to break my one exposure a day rule. I was hiking up Elk Knob when I spotted this doe and her fawn tiptoeing through the misty hardwood forest. I quickly changed lenses, from a wide to a telephoto. I made this exposure hand-holding the camera. The shutter speed was slow even with a wide-open aperture. I was pretty sure I'd just made a blurry shot. So, I decided to forget the project. I had a good opportunity to photograph a doe and her fawn. They didn't even seem nervous at my presence. I shot 4 or 5 more frames on a tripod, but never got the doe and fawn together in the same shot. Ironically (life is full of them), that very first frame ended up being my favorite, as well as the sharpest! From then on in the project, I shot multiple frames of only one subject each day.

September 12th - Autumn Maple Impression

It was a windy day. These bright orange leaves were the first to change color for the fall season in my woods. I situated the camera on a tripod and selected a slow shutter speed. When a strong enough gust of wind came, I tripped the shutter.

(c) 2015 Jon Reaves. All rights reserved.

24 Day Project Film Reveal...Days One Through Six

For the first 24 days of September, I set out to make one exposure a day on cheap drugstore film (Fuji Superia Xtra). On day 11 of this project, I caved and shot several exposures of a deer and her fawn in a misty forest. From that day on, I chose one subject each day and shot only two or three frames. My scans came back from the lab today. For the next four blog posts, I will reveal the photographs and stories behind them, six images at a time. It was an exciting journey. I learned a lot about technique and exposure and sharpened my skills, skills that may have gone soft from the convenience and safety nets that digital cameras provide. Thanks to all who follow this blog! Here are the photographs from the first six days of project.

September 1st - Yellow Jewel Weed

 I decided to open the project with one of the season's most abundant plants. Finding a good specimen to isolate for a picture was difficult. Behind these orchid-like flowers is a dense hardwood forest where I would make the majority of the images for this project.

September 2nd - Mallard Hens Bobbing in Waterlilies

 Day two took me to Bass Lake. I drove up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway and turned down many tempting subjects. I settled on these ducks, waiting on the bank of the lake until they were all bobbing at the same time.

September 3rd - Two-Tree Hill

 I shot this exposure from the edge of my neighbor's property. This is a picture I knew I would make for the project. The warm evening light and simplicity of the scene is what makes this image for me.

September 4th - Regal Swan

 Life is full of ironies. On day four, I made this accidental exposure while trying to get a meter reading. I thought for sure I'd messed up my first image of the project. The irony is that this is one of my favorites! I waited on the bank of Bass Lake for about an hour hoping this swan would spread its wings for a picture. It didn't. When the light changed I pressed the shutter release button instead of the back focus read the scene. I pressed a little too hard. It was a pleasant surprise.

September 5th - Morning Mist in the Pine Grove

 I walked through this pine stand for a while, frustrated that I could not seem to find a subject. Then I looked up. My wide-angle lens did the rest.

September 6th - Goldenrod Spider

 In the late evening of day six, I was sure I'd have to settle for something ordinary. I was moving my tripod and camera around trying to get some interesting perspective in a field of goldenrod. Then I spotted this little spider, hiding in wait for a snack. 

(c) 2015 Jon Reaves. All rights reserved.

Morning Walk in the Woods...

Before the leaves fade from bright reds, yellows, and oranges, and into drab brown, I'm continuing my morning nature walks. Fall is a busy time on my little Appalachian homestead. There's wood to gather and split, food to put away, and later, hunting, and the days are getting shorter and shorter. Autumn is a very brief season. There is only so much time to gather what is needed for winter and there is only so much time to stock up on photographs. Here are a few simple shots from around home this morning. My next post will likely be images from the 24 day film project. Thanks for sticking with me!

Hardwood Forest in Full Color

Red Oak Leaf with Morning Dew

The Neighbors Driveway - For some reason these leaves have decided not to change color!

(c)  2015 Jon Reaves. All rights reserved.

Nature Walk...

'Twas a crisp and clear Autumn morning, so I took to the woods in search of that fleeting colorful foliage. I managed to make so much noise while hiking up the north facing slope in front of my house that I scared off a few deer and a hawk. They would have made nice pictures...oh well. It is nearly impossible to walk up a 45 degree slope in crunchy leaves and twigs without frightening a few critters. Here are some photos I made.

24 Day Film Project Update: I contacted the lab and my scans and film should be in on Thursday! I'm excited and nervous at the same time...

Forest Litter

Holiday Maple Leaf

Red Maple Leaves

Fall Color Update...

Autumn color is in full swing in my northern corner of North Carolina. We may get to peak leaf color by the middle of next week. If only the rain would let up! It hasn't stopped raining since last Thursday...I don't mind shooting in the rain so much, but the mists and clouds need to at least lift enough so that I see some landscape! Here's a few simple photos from yesterday's rather damp nature walk.

By the way, I'm still waiting for my 24 day project film to come back from the lab. The suspense is killing me!

Fall Maple Leaves, Creston, NC. (c) 2015 Jon Reaves

The hardwood forest is beginning to turn yellow, Creston, NC. (c) 2015 Jon Reaves

Rose Hips, Creston, NC. (c) 2015 Jon Reaves

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