Tag Archives: Martinsville Virginia

The Little Red Shed

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(Images made with Fujifilm X-T100 Camera with 15-45mm zoom lens)

Driving around Martinsville Virginia recently, I stopped at a railroad crossing and pulled off to an adjacent dirt road to explore that small red shed shown in the above photo. Below is what I found.

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As I got closer I noted there was a plant of some kind growing inside, along with debris of various sorts. I’m not really sure what the shed had been used for, but I’m guessing it was to store paint and similar materials. The diamond-shape small window in the upper right turned to to be a nice composition when viewed through the one directly opposite.

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So, when you come to a RR Crossing (Look out for Cars), check around and if it’s safe to do so, pull over and see what you can see.

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Black and White Architecture

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(Images made using the X-T100 camera with 15-45mm lens. Original color compositions processed using the Mac Desktop App “Tonality”)

I find that converting color images into black and white can result in a nice rendition. While I could have done this “in-camera” by adding a filter, I prefer to do it externally where I have more flexibility to get the look I’m seeking.

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As you can see, Martinsville is no longer the vibrant city it once was. Closures of major economic centers related to textiles, furniture, and other key industries are the direct cause, just as it is throughout this region of Virginia and North Carolina. Before the expansion of governmental jobs in Northern Virginia, Martinsville was a major “economic engine” for the Commonwealth. In many ways, the city is re-buildig itself today through small business development and tourist related attractions such as NASCAR’s oldest track, Martinsville Speedway, and an excellent and very popular compertitive sports complex. For me, it’s a perfect place to live.

On a Photowalk Uptown

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We live in Ridgeway, Virginia, directly adjacent to the much larger City of Martinsville. I often walk around the city center, looking for interesting and “different” photo compositions. Each time I go, I find something I didn’t see during earlier visits. Today was typical. Each image was made with the Fujifilm X-T100 camera.

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Toy cars in a shop window. Never underestimate photo possibilities of things on display behind shop widows. Place your lens as close as possible to the glass to prevent reflection. However, the reflected street scene in the window here blends in nicely with the toys.

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Flowers growing in a planter along a window ledge. Example of “leading lines” in a photo composition.

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Sun peaking out behind a Veteran Memorial monument in front of the old County Court House.

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Entrance to a back alley access door to a basement storage area. The grain of the wooden door caught my eye.

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Looking up one of the main columns of the Court House. Having a flip-out LCD on a camera allows one to easily make these kind of shots, without straining your neck or falling over while looking straight up.

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Same as the one above. I liked the contrasting and vibrant colors.

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There are always “signs” of our past in city centers, such as faded remnants of advertisements on brickwork of buildings as they once were. I like to find these and am happy when I discover one I’d missed before.

So, it was another good walk-about Martinsville for me today. I have many more images to share but that will come later.

 

 

Rhododendron Time

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We have a large Rhododendron bush in our yard, and it always blooms later than other flowering trees and bushes here. Now it’s time. It had rained during the night so when I walked by on the way to get the morning newspaper I saw my opportunity. Close up compositions with water droplets clearly visible was the way to go. I used my iPhone 7 Plus, with my favorite Photo App … Camera +. The Macro capability of that App is superb. As are all of its other features.

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A Dogwood Morning

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The Dogwood trees in our yard are nearing peak. Nightly freezes have had some effect on the edges of the blooms, with burned spots. Nothing to take away their beauty however. As the sun was rising the light was good so I grabbed my camera and made these images. It’s definitely Spring, but the temperatures here in SW Virginia don’t always give evidence in that regard.