Out and About
Living where I do in an area that was once a major center for tobacco growing, textile manufacturing and wood products, and which today has changed significantly due to the evolution of global business, I love seeing how local leaders take steps to the preserve the history of their community. This clock, for example, has been recently erected next to a large wall mural that portrays the history of Leaksville, North Carolina, established in 1797.
Martinsville, Virginia is home to the only NASCAR race track still operating from NASCAR’s first season in 1948. I live just two miles from the facility and as such am able to make photos when I want. NASCAR schedules two races annually here on the one-half mile oval (paperclip design) track and racing fans enjoy the up-close views and tight racing often creating a lot of “bumping and banging.” For years I attended each race along with 60,000-plus others. The pandemic curtailed that last year but it’s now back open to fans fully. Here are several images I made this week to show the facility is indeed “waiting to race.”
Our home is special to me for many reasons. It’s not fancy but the front porch is great for sitting and relaxing.
I’m just a simple photo enthusiast who seeks ways to tell a story through my photos. While the technical aspects of each photo I make are important, I think it’s more important to have each image tell a story. Start with a wide view, for example, and then transition to a mid and lastly close-up composition. Like I did yesterday with a patch of Torch Lilies in my neighbor’s backyard.
Once there was a small, but thriving community of Axton, Virginia. Today, only a few empty buildings and a rusty water tower remain where two rural roads intersect. It’s a great place for photographers however, and that’s why I was there a few days ago.
This restored Shell Gas station in Fieldale, Virginia is a favorite location of mine, given the owners desire to fill the building’s interior with a variety of antiques. Not only that, but he’s now displaying a partially restored 1950s era Studebaker Hawk automobile. In some ways, the Studebaker company was ahead of its time design wise and while popular, couldn’t compete for sales with major U.S companies such as General Motors and Ford. And then along came Toyota. Farewell Studebaker. Thus ends my brief look at a small part of U.S. auto history. Whatever, the car looks perfect in front of the Shell station.
Philpott Lake in SW Virginia is a popular location for recreational activities. I visited it recently and made a series of photos from the “Visitor’s Center Overlook” that show the beauty of the area.
