Photographic Expressions

My ever fun roomie Jessica, who sported the hair full of pink streaks, started ‘the love list’ while we all attended the McWorkshop. I don’t remember when it started but I specifically remember the random comment she made one day on one of our many drives past the lake and past the infamous southern-talking guy at McDonalds. “I love trees.”  Well the whole week long she kept adding to it; windows, trees, chocolate, and so many others that I have forgotten. 

So in keeping the tradition that she started last week, I have to start my own love list. First off, I must start with Corey and Amber, the ever fabulous instructors of the McWorkshop. I just love them as they are the most fun people to be around, shoot with, and their openness to hit them up for advice : )

Secondly, I have to add infrared imaging. I can’t quite recall when I stumbled upon it, perhaps it was while in college and I was still actively using my film Bronica. The tediousness of using infrared film instantly told me that it wasn’t something that I was going to be able to master, so in that sense it has always held a bit of mystique. 

So in honor of my new old love, infrared, I have to share with you this fantastic shot of me and my third love (mountainous landscape) that the master himself, Corey McNabb, captured on our adventure on the mountain. Please take a moment and check out his blog and enjoy the beautiful pictures that he was able to capture with his converted digital camera. 

Plus the signature Amberpose that Amber Holritz herself captured that afternoon. 

~C

I have had the ever fortunate opportunity to spend the past week in Asheville while attending Corey McNabb’s McWorkshop. Somehow after all the exhaustion of thinking/talking/shooting all things wedding (and some babies)….we found ourselves trekking up the highest mountain I have possibly ever been on. My passion started out in landscape so I’m surprised I was able to keep the car on the road since every time we encountered another overlook the clouds were so prominent and we saw the longest range of mountains I have seen this side of the Mississippi. I don’t believe I have been so high on a mountain that I was looking down on fellow mountain ranges with the Great Smoky Mountains. It certainly was beyond moving and since I truly didn’t want the week to end…it gave me another chance to hang out with Corey and Amber.  : )

I will miss you guys but I shall hopefully see you soon!

~C

The day had finally come. Months of anticipation, several emails with fellow attendees later, one suitcase beckoning to be packed and I was battling a cold. A sinus infected, throbbing head, feeling like scum, cold. Lovely. So after heading to the drugstore and loading up on Vitamin C and sucking cough drops like candy, I headed out on my trek to Asheville. 

I was one of 8, 11, 5, 9 (the numbers changed every day as it was ever popular that it was hard to keep up) McWorkshop attendees for this week. Mariah hailed from sunny California, my roomie Jessica flew in from Louisville, another Kentucky Jessica drove in from Lexington, Will stopped in from Mississippi for a few days and we even had Maureen escape Hurricane Faye in her Florida state. Corey along with the help of Amber were so awesome with their generosity and so much fun to be with. 

It was such a whirlwind of a week comprised of photo shoots, dart throwing competitions, technical camera exercises, image critiques, magic card tricks, pomegranate martinis, shooting at the Biltmore Estates, wine tasting at the Biltmore, carpooling all over Asheville, RockBand and much much more! English major be damned, I can’t put into words the amazing and invaluable time there was to be had that week. 

I’m going to share some of the photo shoots that we embarked on. The gorgeous Tara Jordan of Weddings with Tara  was with us most of the week and we had John and his wife Lindsay Bamber of Tennessee while at the Biltmore. Thanks so much y’all!

~C

Aprils Showers brings May Flowers. Whomever came up with that little nursery rhyme is right! My April wedding was met with rain storms last year and my cousin Christy’s wedding this April had a few showers that day. Nothing could dampen their spirit that day as their ceremony was held at a beautiful and intimate log cabin church nestled just inside of Smyrna.

So as luck would have it, we found a torrential rain storm threatening evening to get together and grab a few shots of Christy in her beautiful dress. The rain definitely came pouring down that evening but not before we were able to take advantage of downtown Lawrenceville and jump back in the car, just before the first drop of rain came down. Yes!

Thanks so much Christy for your time and I wish you and Daniel the absolute best in love and life.

ps. I’m in love with the red shoes!

~C

Driving up and down the mountain side, steering in and out of the curves I have to remind myself that I’m not Danica Patrick nor am I qualifying for the next big race. No I’m not speeding so please don’t tell my husband or a cop, but it is as if my car becomes one with the road as it cuts through the mountains.
One of my particular favorite ‘qualifying’ roads to zip down is Highway Nine leaving Dawsonville to Dahlonega but you are more able to experience the ‘wow’ of the Dahlonega Mountain range if you travel down Highway Nineteen from GA400. Popping up over the hill on Nineteen really takes your breath away for the two seconds you can allow your eyes to leave the road, then you have to refocus so you don’t run straight into the McDonalds.

Nestled in the valley of the surrounding mountains Dahlonega thrives on its rich, gold-digging history, quaint shops around the square, and the ever present North Georgia College and State University. If you happen to drive through the campus to take in the picturesque school around 5pm, don’t forget to stop at the sound of the bugle and the firing of the cannon. Yes, NGCSU still has a working cannon that is fired in the am and pm. From experience, it’s is quite something to get used to when trying to sleep in and the cannon is pointed straight at your dorm when fired!

Not that you can miss the shiny beacon that has become Dahlonega, but if you look to the sky you should be able to catch sight of the shiny, Dahlonega Gold plated steeple on Price Memorial Hall. Not only is the gold on the Steeple from Dahlonega but it also covers the Georgia Dome at the Capital in Atlanta.
Another treasure in itself that continues to amaze me is the Holly Theatre located at the foot of the hill from Price Hall. Walking toward downtown the peaceful atmostphere reaches for you in the oddest of places. or walls for that matter.

So as not to impede the traffic that most cities are becoming flooded with and to preserve the wonderful history, Dahlonega has built a Round-About road to navigate people in and around downtown. “Theres gold in them thar hills!” Twenty years before California or any other location in the country became the place to search for gold, this North Georgia city was already rolling in the shiny rock. Today you can ride circles around the original Dahlonega Courthouse and step inside to take in the Gold Mining History. Walking around to take in the shops I noticed a wonderfully funny shirt at the entrance door. Oh and before you leave, if you find the Smith House crowded with folk, walk on over to Caruso’s Italian Joint. Oh my goodness, the food!

Leaving out on my Highway Nine, you can’t help but stop for a Coke at C.L. Crane which has embodied the space just off a curve for the past sixty years. Love all the Coca-Cola memories!

~C