You can have roots and wings.

I recently chose six of my images to enter into the Slow Exposures Juried show. If you don't know what this is about... You can read more about it here:  http://slowexposures.org/About.html and
http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/29/slow-exposures-celebrating-the-rural-south/  .

This would be my second contest...my first was Nature Undisturbed, which I wrote about in my first blog. For some reason, this time around it was more difficult to choose images. A panel of judges will critique my work and may decide to select it for the Slow Exposures gallery. That's intimidating for me...because I am a perfectionist! I was just as anxious for Nature Undisturbed, but that was attributed more to the "fear of the unknown" and it being my first contest...So why was this entry so much more difficult? I think perhaps because it was a little out of my element. Since I am born and raised in the rural south, I thought it would be easier. I, like many, have settled into a cushy life. All be it in the south, I am a suburbia brat now. Once I began to research more about the true rural south, and explore a bit, my creative juices began to flow. I discovered I had most of the images already!
 I thought I only had to reconnect to my southern roots a bit, and keep my wings at bay...I learned differently during this process.

So the deadline was at Midnight last night...I made my final submissions at 11:52 p.m. Honestly, I work best under pressure. Realistically, I had everything I needed...it was just my own fear and insecurities holding me back! Thankfully,  I had friends of a local gallery offer their advice and opinions along with another one of my great photographer friends, and one of my non photog confidants too. Each helped me solve my dilemma of which images to choose.  I love you all, and your advice is so very valuable to me! ;)  I truly feel that in my selections, I stayed true to my own creative style and perspectives while catering to the theme of Slow Exposures.

All Images are Copyright of Christy A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved. 2013

The first of these is titled "Food Truck For Sale" I captured this just outside of Rock Hills, Alabama. My husband I are were enjoying a drive through the countryside, and stopped for gas...I look to my right and see this truck parked in the back...makes you wonder how long it's been there, where it's been, what it was, and what it could be...

The next image I chose is titled "Forgotten Fence." I love Senoia, Georgia. It's one of my favorite places to take portrait clients for outdoor sessions, or just window shop and have dinner. If you're not familiar with Senoia then you would surprised to see a few zombies walking around often. It is the home of the hit TV show "The Walking Dead." Never a dull moment in Senoia...but it stays just quiet enough to feel as though you've stepped back in time.

 

 I captured a few more images in Senoia. I had this old vintage suitcase, offered from a family member...and my oldest daughter loves her cowgirl boots, hat, and plaid button downs...

 

 "These boots were made for walkin'..." and "Nowhere to go and all day to get there."

So the only reason we did these poses is because I was going for a deep southern tone, with some sass.We attempted, and I think succeeded, in keeping things moderate, without the shorts being too short and any other revealing clothing. After all, she is my daughter, and she has a Daddy, Step daddy, and Grampa's with guns.  This girl has an army of protection..haha!

We accomplished the feel wanted in the two shots you see. One on abandoned railroad tracks, overgrown with greenery, leading to the abandoned bridge in the second shot...

 The choice between the two was incredibly difficult. I could only enter six images in the contest. I had already chosen my other five...and could only pick one of these....I'll wait to reveal which one until later. I'd like to get your opinions below!  I like these so much though, a print of each is going up in the house somewhere! I was not however prepared to see how much older she is looking. When I am behind the camera, actually taking the shot, I don't see it. But in post production, I actually cried. ha ha. When do I never?

We call the image to the left, "Nowhere to go, and all day to get there."

 "Weathered Boathouse Hook" is my fourth selection.

It's one of my favorites actually because it was captured on Cumberland Island. It is an isolated, and mostly uninhabited historically rich island just off Georgia's coastline. Colonial Culture, mixed with Island accents and Southern Charm are what makes this destination so appealing. My husband and I caught the ferry in St. Mary's and toured the southern part of the island last year in late December. There are wild horses, ruins of the rich past that once was...and that's where we found a boathouse...abandoned and weathered. I imagine the island was once reminiscent of a home straight out of the Great Gatsby...I'll have to share more detailed images in a future blog. There are few cars, no cell signals or wifi, and you pack in and pack out what you need unless you are willing to shell out thousands for a night in the INN on the Northern Part of the Island. We plan on returning to camp for a few days soon, we were only able to do a day tour.

The next two selections are highly recommended by my friends.

"Senescent Glass" was captured in the historic parts of Newnan, Georgia.

This building is abandoned, but still has such character! I want to build my own personal loft there! I love the colors, architecture, and age of this building.

"Colonial Hooks" is my final selection.

This was captured inside Fort Clinch on Amelia Island.

I love the lines, textures, and colors of this image. I want to run my hands along the wall and walk through the room to discover what's outside that door...I did of course because I was there...but this image draws me in, making we want to return again.

 

 

I am sincerely hoping the folks over at Slow Exposures appreciate these images the way I do. Each has a little piece of me in them, staying true to my deep southern roots...but my wings got me there.

 Who says you can't have roots and wings?

Southern Charm

I am fascinated by America's forts. I feel a sense of patriotism, pride, and dedication. Some of these places have seen horrific battle, and heartbreaking tragedy. The workmanship...unbelievable. Each brick laid tediously and individually. There are many meticulous architectural  details. I love touring our old battlegrounds, rich in history and culture. There is something so appealing about the next few images I captured while on vacation with my husband in the deep south off the Georgia/Florida  Eastern coastline. Amelia Island is truly a treasure. We look to go new places on our Anniversary each year. We were hoping for warmer weather, since our anniversary is at the end of December and it's cold around our home. It wasn't too much warmer than home, but the beauty and relaxation was wonderful! Fort Clinch, images featured below, never saw battle however. It's beauty holding a sense of security more than tragedy...a must see!

OK, I admit it, I sprawled out in the grass for this one above. That was fun and really I could have napped.

 

This tunnel is under the grounds of Fort Clinch.  

I love the natural light in this particular capture above. Although this fort never saw battle, it was home to many soldiers for training. To be a kid playing in all the secret corridors, racing up and down the winding rock stairs! Wouldn't that be a blast? 

Almost all the comforts of home....just love the colonial feel....and right outside these walls?

Well the beautiful Atlantic Ocean of course!

Can't you hear the waves crashing against the rocks? Me too...time to go back.

 

 

 

Blog Rookie

This will be my first ever blog post. I've heard many photographers blog...I thought it was time to join in...not that I'm a follower or anything, ha ha. I do love to share my passion. Guess that makes me some sort of artist. I debate that often.

So now what to write about? I've got it! Since I am prepping to enter my second juried photography show...I'll share some highlights of my first experience.

My first involvement with a juried show, Nature Undisturbed, was a great learning experience for me. OK, so... I didn't place... but three out of eight images submitted were chosen to be on display in the gallery. To have a renowned artist critique my work and chose to include it in a selection with many other lovely photographers was enough for me...and the folks that encouraged me were incredible! I would have never even known about this particular show, because well, I'm a rookie in this world.  I share my images on facebook, and a local gallery owner suggested I enter...and even recommended what images would do well...and they were right on! I can't even begin to express my gratitude to these folks. We'd be here a while! So, I'll just share my photographs that were chosen.

 My first two selections were captured in Aspen, Colorado. Ahhh, Colorado, a special place in my heart...these places are anchored to my soul. We'll touch more on Colorado more later, in another blog...it needs its own space.  See? I'm getting into this already!

One of the most majestic sites you'll ever see...Maroon Bells. This image was taken on October first, 2012. I can honestly say that thus far...this is the most beautiful place I have ever stood, sat, froze, paced, skipped, hiked, and walked backwards from! Can you tell I didn't want to leave? The wind was skipping through to treetops and swooping over the mountains, air cool and crisp...golden leaves floating...clouds gliding...reflections shimmering...and then...the sound of my shutter...and I captured this:

 

All rights Reserved. Copyright of Christy A. Holmes

This next capture is also close to my heart. It is off of Independence Pass, just outside of Aspen.

While driving away from Maroon Bells, the sun was beginning to set behind the snow capped mountains. I look to my left and here I see nothing but golden arches of wispy leaves on white legs with charcoal stripes...lo' and behold, hundreds of thousands of Aspen Trees!

All Rights Reserved. Copyright of Christy A. Holmes

I call this Aspen Gold. Standing on a cliffs ledge, I was surrounded by this sea of gold. This was so very whimsical! The beginning of one tree heightened to the end of another...it was like a dream really...something you only see in movies. Unless, you visit Aspen in the early fall...

Lastly, my final selection is located near my home in Peachtree City, Georgia. 

 My family and I spend many evenings throughout the year along this creek bed. My children playing amongst the slippery rocks...gliding through the miniature rapids...the dogs chasing after them...the sound of of my husband's line casting for just one more catch...

and of course the sound of my shutter...

 

All Rights Reserved. Copyright of Christy A. Holmes

This capture is at Line Creek Nature Preserve. It is titled White Winter Waters. I decided to hike along the creek bed after a heavy winter rain...and one long exposure gathered together the sights of  rushing milky waters cascading over the rocks.

I look at each of these photographs and each have a piece of me. It was surreal seeing each of these displayed in a gallery full of other amazing works of art.

On opening night, my brother actually had to convince me it was real. He took me by the hand to each photograph, and pointed to the description so neatly written on the wall just below the frame...then said..."Look, that's you, that's your name!"

 I'll never forget that moment...the moment where my daughters showed their pride in my accomplishments, and my closest friends and family were by my side too.

I wouldn't trade it for the world. And that is why I am here.

 

Thank you for following...and I hope you enjoy these captures as much as I do!

Christy