This post features more backroad vignettes and landscapes from recent visits to Ashe County, North Carolina. First up is an old outhouse behind the Phipps General Store near Lansing. As the sign and door cuts suggest, this appears to have been a unisex outhouse. Folklorist would say the moon cut indicated “for females” and the star cut meant “for males”. While the horseshoe generally was used for good luck, I’m not sure of it’s use in this context.
Phipps General Store Hisn & Hern Outhouse
The remaining captures are from various corners of the county obtained by just driving around exploring the county backroads. Sometimes those backroads change from asphalt to hard packed gravel, and back.
Shed on E Big Springs Rd Ashe County
Grassy Creek Abandoned Barn 2 Composition 1
Farm on Bryan Davis Rd, Ashe County Composition 2
Abandoned Neaves Home Tin Roof Detail
Abandoned House on Silas Creek Rd
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While visiting my younger sister and brother-in-law’s cabin in Ashe County, I was introduced to this picturesque little hollow, or holler as pronounced by folks in the Appalachian Mountains, along Buffalo Creek on Hwy 88. The holler was north of West Jefferson, and right below Warrensville. Later in October, I passed by to scout the sun position to determine the best time of day to photograph.
Stike’s Holler Composition 1
Luckily, there was an older gentleman carrying items in and out of the lower right shed. I walked across the bridge over Buffalo Creek up the hill to introduce myself and asked permission to take pictures on his property. He said yes, and introduced himself as Fred Stike.
Stike’s Holler Barn Composition 1
I mentioned there were local artists which made paintings of his property. Fred acknowledged his property’s appreciation in the local art community and went on to explain he was born in the lower house and now lived solely on the property by himself. He noted local folk referred to his home as Stike’s Holler, and his sister had previously lived in the house further up on the right, but had moved to a home nearby on Buffalo Creek.
Sinking Shed in Stike’s Holler Composition 1
Later in the week, I returned in the morning with my camera, but Fred was either not up or not at home. I wish I had an opportunity to take his portrait. The hill leading up to the barn on the top left and sinking shed on the top right was a bit steeper than it appeared at the base. The stream in the center of the property had a slow trickle of water. I found it fascinating how the structures were built into the hillside.
Sinking Shed in Stike’s Holler Composition 2
While photographing the barn and sinking shed at the top of the hill, I could feel the ground was quite soft. Perhaps the rocky soil has over time allowed dirt to wash through causing the shed’s foundation to sink on the uphill side. I took a moment to image what this small mountain farm was like when Fred was a young boy.
Old House in Stike’s Holler
Stike’s Holler Composition 2
I plan to drop some of these photos off the next time I visit Ashe Country and perhaps capture an outdoor portrait of Fred. Thank you for stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving to all especially all my good friends on WordPress! For the best viewing experience, click on an image to experience a high resolution version.
As the fall air turns cooler here in the Southeastern US, I’m posting this last batch of monochrome compositions from my visit last summer to Oak Island, North Carolina.
Last week my wife and I joined some friends for several days on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. This was my first visit to the island. I expected a commercially overdeveloped landscape, like many other popular beach destinations in North & South Carolina. To my surprise, local ordinances have subdued commercialization and preserved much of the island’s natural beauty.
Palmetto Tree and Beach Composition 1
When visiting a new location, I always take an interest in understanding the local history, culture and biodiversity. As my youngest son attends the University of South Carolina, I knew the SC was known as the Palmetto State. Before my trip, I would have identified the two trees below as two separate species. They are actually both Palmettos (Sabal Palm) trees. Palmettos loose their weaved “boot” barking once they mature.
Two Palmettos Composition
Calibogue Sound Fog Composition 2
The numerous stately live oaks, imbued with Spanish moss and reconstruction ferns, contribute to the island’s natural charm. The weather was overcast most of the week, but I’ve found such weather quite an opportunity for photography.
Live Oak and Spanish Moss Composition 1
Calibogue Sound Fog Composition 3
Live Oak and Reconstruction Fern Detail 1
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The Mountain Farm Museum, adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC, is a unique collection of farm buildings assembled from locations throughout the area. Most of the structures were built in the late 19th century and were moved here in the 1950s. This was one of the stops on my October Appalachian fall foliage expedition.
Mountain Farm Museum Barn Landscape Composition
Visitors can explore a log farmhouse, barn, apple house, springhouse, and a working blacksmith shop to get a sense of how families may have lived 100 years ago. The Davis House offers a rare chance to view a log house built from chestnut wood before the chestnut blight decimated the American Chestnut in our forests during the 1930s and early 1940s. I found the site to be a monochrome photography goldmine!
Mountain Farm Museum Woodshed Composition 1
Mountain Farm Museum Woodshed Detail 1
Mountain Farm Museum Davis House Composition Vignette 1
Antique Hay Rake Composition 1
Mountain Farm Museum Barn Vignette 1
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From my Blue Ridge Parkway expedition this past October, this wonderful spot along the Craggy Pinnacle Trail offered many intriguing tree, root, and rock compositions. A quick point on inquiry, has anyone noticed WP adds about +5 red tint to color photos?
Craggy Pinnacle Trail Tree, Root, Rock Composition 1
Craggy Pinnacle Trail Tree, Root, Rock Composition 2
Craggy Pinnacle Trail Tree, Root, Rock Composition 3
Craggy Pinnacle Trail Tree, Root, Rock Composition 4
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With the Thanksgiving Holiday, I hope to catch up on posts from my October trips to the North Carolina mountains. I also look forward to catching up on posts from the bloggers I follow. This post features several landscapes and vignettes from areas near the Oconaluftee River, just north of Cherokee.
Oconaluftee River Landscape 1
Oconaluftee River Trout Fisherman 3
Oconaluftee River Trout Fisherman 2
Oconaluftee Elk Bull
Oconaluftee Elk Cow
Gourd Birdhouse Composition 1
Mingo Falls Composition 3
Mingo Falls Composition 2
I’m thankful for my followers and those who take time to visit my photo blog. And especially for this community of photo bloggers, I enjoy your work, insights and friendship.
Located near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, North Carolina, Mingus Mill is an operational grist mill built in 1886. It uses a water-powered turbine instead of a water wheel to power all of the milling machinery.
Mingus Mill Composition 1
Mingus Mill Composition 3
Mingus Mill Aqueduct 1
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C.S. Young Jr. Fine Art Photography 