Streetscape

For this weeks assignment, we were to capture people in their everyday life in a streetscape. You will see that some are in color, others in black and white. I am trying to acclimate myself with Photoshop CS 6, so I am just playing with the colors, gradients, etc. Hopefully, you'll see changes throughout the weeks ahead as I get to know the program better.

Tattoo artist on a break on the Plaza.

Pretty sure these guys were doing the Macarena as they were walking down 3rd Ave.

Landscapes

My photography inspiration this week was to photograph a landscape. While this might not sound difficult, the rolling hills of the Huntington-Ashland-Ironton MSA are difficult to find long vistas without human interference or hills.

I loved the wispy clouds in this field. There are hills behind the trees that mesh together into fall colors.

Man has made his mark as he slices through the trees to build his steel trees to carry power lines.

Man has also carved out areas to bury their loved ones. 

The road less traveled.

Cabell County Library

We took a very informative look at the archives of the Cabell County Library on September 30. We were able to peruse the microfiche copies of both the Herald Dispatch and the Huntington Advertiser from the Great Depression era. I began my search in October of 1929 and researched from October 24,1929 (Black Thursday) forward through the end of November. What I found was not necessarily one day where it seemed the world ended (figuratively of course), but day after day of stocks falling and then rising for a day or two, only to fall again. The period of October 24, through October 29, saw the market enter its darkest days.
From my knowledge and studies of the period, I really thought there would be "a day" where it seemed that everything came crashing down. Rather than a quick deep gash that immediately put industrialized world into a death spiral, I found day after of day of shallow gashes that continued over time and resulted in what is now known as the Great Depression.

Jason explaining how the microfiche machines work.

Huntington Advertiser headline from October 29,1929.

An article blaming Herbert Hoover, President of the United States, of the stock market decline.

Local advertisement

Before Roosevelt even took office on March 4, Congress had already given him broad powers to help stem the tide of the depression.

Roosevelt took office the same day as West Virginia's new governor, H. Guy Kump. Ironically, Kump would fight much of the New Deal in West Virginia because he didn't want to contribute state funds.

As FDR's programs began to take effect Huntington began to see immediate changes.

An evil greater than the Great Depression took power in Germany in 1933. Adolf Hitler grabbed power with horrific consequences for the world.

Huntington had reason to cheer on another front as FDR helped end Prohibition. Fesenmeier Brewery reopened in Huntington in April of 1933. 

We finished our evening examining a WPA built building just across the street from the library, the United States Court House.

Robert Whetsell and the CCC

We were blessed to meet with Robert Whetsell on September 24th for a discussion on the CCC in West Virginia. The CCC or Civilian Conservation Corp worked in West Virginia to build a variety of projects to benefit the citizens of West Virginia. Among them were most of the states parks, including Cabwaylingo in Wayne County, the flood walls in Huntington, many sidewalks and streets, and millions of trees planted. While the CCC and most of the other New Deal programs had there critics, the CCC made a lasting impact on West Virginia that lasts until today. There isn't a day that goes by that the state isn't safer or more easily enjoyed because of work done in our state in the 1930's.

Robert and Dennis share a few words before the class.

Robert presented dozens of slides and photographs chronicling the CCC in WV.

Robert discussing the New Deal and Great Depression.

Week 3: People in Everyday Life

For this weeks assignment we were to capture someone in everyday life. I have a friend that is a pastor. I chose to capture him while he was studying his bible. As you will see, it is a well worn bible.

Marty studying in the book of Isiah.

His favorite verse of scripture, Romans 8:28.

Week : Structures

Our prompt for our second class was structure. While this can be interpreted different ways, I took it as a physical shape. I actually have photographed several examples of structure and will share them below.

I started with because it isn't the typical type of structure you think of when you say you are photographing structures. In a Frank Lloyd Wright kind of way this very utilitarian water fountain has structure.

I love the plum color of this old building. It has stood in Ashland since 1900. That means it not only predates the New Deal, but it also stood up to all the 1937 flood could muster. You can barley make out the concrete flood wall just beyond the white truck.

The bell tower of the Episcopal Church in Ashland.

You might ask why I included this mundane looking stone building. The reason is it was a WPA project in 1936. It was built out of stone quarried in Boyd County Kentucky. It serves now, as it did then, as the bathrooms for Central Park. 

I included this too because it isn't what you think of with structure. The linear lines leading to the fountain caught my eye. These are the pavers in front of the West Virginia Capitol building.

Obviously, this is an image of the West Virginia Capitol building. The gold leaf was glowing on this beautiful Saturday!

Photography Week One

Our first weeks blog prompt is to just start shooting. Shoot anything that you want and then choose one image for critique by the class.

When I shoot, it is usually done while getting paid to photograph weddings, seniors or families with my wife, Julie. When I photograph for pleasure, I usually try to find things to photograph that are interesting or have significance to me. The images below consistently catch my eye as I go through Ashland and I enjoy capturing them throughout the seasons.

Paramount Arts Center Marquee

Rail road tracks that disappear into the distance. 



Architecture of a building in downtown Ashland. The arches above the windows caught my eye. 

Ripples in the Lilly Pond.

The three fountains in the Lilly Pond.

Lilly in the Pond. Notice the bee on the flower.