It's Been A While

Seems like it's been forever since I picked up my camera and shot anything. I suppose that was one of the positive aspects of the Project 365 that I did last year. Anyway, today was my day off of work, Barbara went to her office to put in a long day, so I grabbed my Canon, jumped in the car and made up my mind to get lost. Well, as lost as one can get in Ohio. I concentrated staying on back roads and only jumped onto a major route when needed, which was often. Below are a few of my better photos from today's road trip. Hope you enjoy them.

Afternoon at Dillon Lake

Barbara and I went over to Dillon State Park this afternoon for a short poke 'n hike trip. We cut through the woods on a trail behind the campgrounds and then dropped onto the shore of the lake. It was windy and cold there, but was very much enjoyable.

On our way out of the woods.

Down on the shore of Dillon Lake.

"LOOK!! A lost ball!" (Focus, Click... Focus, Click... Focus, Click)  "Oh. Wait a second. Never mind. It's a Black Walnut."

I'm not sure, but I "think" these are called "Japanese Mystery Snails". I am still Googling them for positive ID. Regardless, they are the biggest freshwater snails I've ever seen in Ohio!

Just a newly beached Shad. I was just digging all of the contrasts of colors and textures, as usual.

Alum Creek Reservoir Hike

On Monday, while Barbara was at work, I took a short hike along the somewhat muddy but mostly frozen shoreline of Alum Creek Reservoir. You can find some interesting things if you look. Or if you just have weird tastes about what's "interesting".

I found Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup"!!  :-D

It was soooo sunny, even the beach needed shades.

Beached Towel. Get it? Huh? Do ya?

Ice covered rock that I found interesting.

I like this delicate, frosty feather. The long shadow adds much interest.

Barnacles on an old red brick.

This old tree has been here for quite a number of years. Reminds me of a big sculpture.

On my way back to the car, I found a Lost Ball!  Made my day complete.

Clear Creek Metro Park

On Sunday Barbara and I went down to Logan and bummed around a bit. We stopped at the Clear Creek Metro Park just off of 33 on the way back to Columbus and I snapped a few photos there.

I really like this old weathered rural mailbox. The different colors, the weathering and the rough use it's seen makes for an interesting object. Of course, the rust helps a lot too!  :-)

This old cabin is on private property, so I wasn't able to get close to it or to walk around it so I did the best I could from the road.

Abandoned. I really enjoy the many effects and look of weathered wood.  The piece of broken furniture underneath the window makes this photo just a tad bit more stronger. Speaking of underneath.....

...... what IS that living underneath the cabin?!  LOL Looks like two big evil eyes to me.

Amish Country Pics

Today was a day off from work, so Barbara and I drove over to Berlin, Ohio which is considered the heart of Amish Country. For January 10th, the weather was awesome!  Below are a few of the photos that I took today.

I really like this bright magenta colored wood door surrounded by the rough, earthy colored stones. The deep shadows helped to give this photo some nice dimension. 

Here is an exercise in getting two photos from the same subject. The photo above is a cropped shot of the gate to a farm wagon. The photo below is the same gate, only I moved in and just shot the interesting bolt-latch. For me, both work equally well although I am more partial to the bottom one.

Here is yet another example of the "two-from-one" concept. This time, the subject is the side rails of a hay wagon. Once more, both work well but again, I favor the more tight framed photo at the bottom. The nice blue sky helps this photo a lot!

And of course, one can't go into Amish Country without taking at least one photo of a horse and buggy. Here's mine.

Blackhand Gorge Hike

Today was my day off, so Barbara and I took a ride over to Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve for a hike. What a BEAUTIFUL January day! 

Abandoned Train Tunnel

The tunnel for the Ohio Electric Interurban rail system, which was used to travel between Newark and Granville.

"Petroffiti"

Blackhand Gorge was named after a huge black petroglyph that was carved into the side of a sandstone cliff by the Native Americans. It was said that it had one elongated finger which pointed the way to the flint mines and that all Indians passing through the gorge must do so in peace. This is not a photo of the petroglyph. Petroglyphs had meaning, purpose and often times told a story. This is graffiti, today's sad interpretation of a petroglyph.

"Beautiful Litter"

"Sandstone Cliff"

"Barbara's Hike"

"Cliff Dweller"

I found these ferns growing off of the side of a cliff.

"Blackhand Gorge Quarry"

Wandering 'Coon

I woke up this morning feeling a bit "Blah". Barbara suggested we go for a short walk out in the woods before I had to head into work, thinking the cool brisk air and exercise might help me. No sooner had we stepped onto the path when this raccoon made his presence known. Barbara spotted him first. 

Yep.. the winter walk and finding a photo-op helped. Now.. off to work.

New Year Blue Jay

January 1st of 2012 brought me a Blue Jay and probably my best photo of one yet. I find them very hard to photograph, mostly because they are so dang jittery and do not stay lit in one place very long at all.

Finch's First Snow

January 2nd of 2012 found the backyard Finches in a feeding frenzy during the first snowfall of the year. It'll just be a dusting of snow. Has been a very mild winter.

Bang Haunted Mansion

Up in Bang, Ohio there is this awesome building that is deteriorating away. Way back in 1875 it was the Knox County poor House consisting of 90 rooms and 40,000 square feet, and stayed as such for over 75 years. In 1953 it became the Mt. Vernon College and stayed that way until the late 1980s. After that, it became an actual "Haunted House" every Halloween until the center of the building began to cave in and it became too unsafe to occupy.

I AM going back some weekend this fall. It has to have some cool creepy photo ops!

Bang, Ohio "Haunted Mansion"

Bricks and Vines at the "Bang Haunted Mansion"

Over grown garage door at the "Bang Haunted Mansion"

Project 365 Leftovers

Here are some leftover photos from my Project 365.  In other words, these are the ones that didn't make it but aren't all that bad so I am putting them here.  :-)

Some antique oil lamps that were in a basement window at the Shoe Factory Antique Mall in Lancaster, Ohio.

From my "Bark" series on Project 365. Ever try to take creative photos of bark? Challenging.

This is the barn at the Slate Run Historical Park near Lithopolis, Ohio. It is an 1800s working farm. That is, people in period clothing, using period tools to run an actual farm, from raising hogs and chickens to plowing by horse. Worth the trip!

Queen Ann's Heart

I am not 100% sure, but I think this is a Queen Ann's Lace plant. They are usually more circular in shape. Perhaps this one was still growing. At any rate, I like the delicacy of it and the natural heart shape that it has. Black and white was the only way to do it justice.

07-20-11

Hodgepodge of stuff

Here's a hodgepodge of stuff from yesterday's motorcycle ride. Feel free to leave comments. I'd love to read them.