Through The Lens 105 – Williamsburg Christmas Decorations

We’ll stick with the Williamsburg Christmas decorations this week.  While many of the decorations are elaborate, using a wide range of materials, some of my favorites like the one in the photo above are the simpler ones.

Through The Lens 104 – Colonial Williamsburg Christmas

Another from the archives.  A few years ago, a snow storm hit Williamsburg in late December.  It was after Christmas but before they take the decorations down in January.  It was an easy decision to make the four hour drive in the snow for this photography opportunity.

Through The Lens 103 – Antietam Memorial Illumination

Tomorrow (unless postponed by weather) is the 2017 edition of the Antietam Memorial Illumination.  I won’t be attending this year as I have other commitments, but I highly recommend anyone in the area making the trip to Sharpsburg to drive through the Battlefield.  The army of volunteers places one luminary on the battlefield for each casualty.  Antietam remains our bloodiest day in war with 23,110 casualties, a number that isn’t fully understood until you see it represented in candles.

More information here for those who wish to attend:  Antietam Memorial Illumination

Through The Lens 102 – Wabun and the J

The engineer eases off the throttle of N&W 611 heading into a speed restriction on the uphill grade outside the town of Wabun, VA.  This was the first of two trips out of Roanoke on Memorial Day 2016.

After Norfolk Southern ended its first steam program in 1994, many thought we’d never get to see the J under steam again.  Fortunately miracles happen and the Virginia Museum of Transportation restored 611 to service with the help of Norfolk Southern and many other generous donors.  I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to ride behind and photograph one of the finest steam locomotives ever built.  Even better, I got to photograph it with some good friends.  Thanks again, Kevin, Mike and Rick!

Through The Lens 101 – Conowingo Bald Eagles

Bald Eagle

It’s that time of year again when the photographers start to gather at Conowingo Dam to photograph the eagles.  Doesn’t look like I’ll make it down this year, but I hope to make a trip next year.

Through The Lens 100 – Big Creek Cascades

Big Creek Cascades - Autumn

Big Creek is one of my favorite locations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Big Creek is full of these little cascades and pools and is a lot of fun to shoot.

Through The Lens 99 – The Road to Paradise

The road to Paradise has long been the nickname for the Strasburg Railroad. Fitting name too since the line ran from Strasburg PA to Paradise, PA where it interchanged with with the Pennsylvania Railroad, now part of Norfolk Southern.

I’m headed to Strasburg again soon for a photo charter featuring N&W 475, which will be disguised as her sister locomotive #382.   N&W 382 was made famous by O. Winston Link in his photos of it operating on the N&W’s Abingdon Branch, but was lost to the scrapper’ torch.

Through The Lens 98 – Happy Halloween!

One of my favorite photos of the Undead Ballroom Dancers from the Haunted Mansion Sequence of the Boo To You Halloween Parade at Walt Disney World.  The cast members who make up this group really play up their characters, making them a lot of fun to photograph.

Happy Halloween!

Through The Lens 97 – Gettysburg Fall Color

Fall color from a day trip to Gettysburg a couple of years ago.  The purple wildflowers contrasted nicely with the reds and oranges of the fall foliage in the background.

Through The Lens 96 – Abandoned Workshop

Here’s one from the workshop in the basement of the Klotz Throwing Mill. When the mill was in operation, machinists would have worked in this space to keep the mill running.

I’m headed there again Sunday with Abandoned America.