Freedom isn't free!

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 Carter Shield's Cabin Cade's Cove.

Our freedom is not free. Please remember on a day like today, fourteen years after the attacks on our country, Freedom is not free. Remember those who lost their lives for our freedom. Not just on 9-11, but for hundreds of years before that and the many years since.  Image shown in from the Smoky Mountains. I had never been to a National Park before the day i went to Cade's Cove.  I Learned of a new Freedom that day.  Here is how some of our early settlers lived. Freedom is Not free. God Bless America and all she offers us!

The Carter Shields Cabin is believed to have been built in the 1830s.  George Washing "Carter" Shields, a veteran of the Civil War who was crippled in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, called the cabin his home from 1910-1921.  

I can see why anyone would want to live here. The place is amzing to see. The dogwoods blooming. The Bears roaming around. Deer everywhere. Bird singing. Just amazing. 

Learning to See

Part of growing as a photographer is learning to see light, shapes and movement. We as artist try to show our viewers what we see from behind the lens. This morning I saw this tiny little sun spot on this leaf as I was parking. I took three shots with my Sony a7. As soon as I took the shot I knew I liked it. I knew it was going to be a Black and white image. Sony a7 with Tamron Lenses 180mm Macro via Metabones adapter. On my Vanguard tripod. ISO 400 F22 shutter speed of 1/50th of a second. Edited in Adobe Light Room CC and OnOne Perfect Suite 9 (soon to be 10) Black and White.  

Sun Star Rain Drop.  

Bass Harbor Light

Here is a 3 shot HDR from the coast of Maine.  I didn't get a sunset but the fog added mood to the image. Work with what you have and sometime the image works for you. 

Bass harbor Light House  

Artistic Imaging.

Textures

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Sunflower with multiple texture layers. 

I pledged early in the year to become a better at editing. I wanted to learn editing to promote growth in my image making ability. I have for the past few years used in camera techniques to work my way through editing. I do believe it can and should be approached from the opposite angle. Like Artistic editing like this, Or focus stacking or even understanding how to take a picture with the intent of it being a black and white image. Image captured on a Sony a7 with Tamron 90mm Macro. On my Sirui P204s monopod with a -10 Tilt head. ISO 1000 F/16 Shutter 1/100 of a second. Edited in Lightroom CC and OnOne Perfect Suite 9

Sun Flowers

Sun Flower

I am guessing the birds have dropped some sun flower seed in the shrubs out front. I guess the 100 pound of seed paid off. The Sony a7 is absolutely the best macro camera in my opinion.  I can mount either of Tamron Macro lenses via the Metabones adapter and expect excellent result. taken with my Sony a7 with the Tamron 180 mm Macro vis Metabone's adapter on my Vanguard Alto Pro tripod. ISO 1600 F16 resulting in 1/50th of a second exposure.

Back Yard Sanctuary

My friend David Akoubian got me started on photographing every day song birds. He showed me the ropes on how to make sanctuary for my friends to eat. I have had some relaxing moments watching them and how they behave. When we were down in the Smoky Mountains Cecil Holme and I were talking about why the hell did we start this? Who thought we would be learning about birds and flowers. But I have really enjoyed it. I have been watching these Gold Finches the past few weeks. They are really quite the characters. They kind of get into being photographed. Yesterday a little female went as far as to actually appear to dance for me. Today the male shed his shyness and hammed it up. 

Male Gold Finch