Holiday lights

Oliver Lara-Bennett, 1, plays with light-up snowmen and penguin figures in McAdenville on Tuesday December 4, 2012.

Holiday lights decorate Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, above and below, on Thursday December 6, 2012.

Nightscapes

I took a few night street scape photos of downtown Gastonia, above, and Belmont  recently for an ad campaign for a local car dealership. I've yet to see what the paper did with them, but I figured I would go ahead and share them here.

For those who are interested, the bottom photo was made by "light painting" the scene with a flashlight during the long exposure.  

Getting ahead

Ashbrook's Shannon Kay heads the ball during overtime in the match against South Point on Thursday April 19, 2012 at Ashbrook. Kay scored the sole goal of the match. 

A nice evening for arson

Firefighters asses the situation after arriving at 303 Lowell Ave. just off of Wilkinson Blvd. near McAdenville to find a mobile home fully engulfed in flames on Friday March 23, 2012. McAdenville, Lowell, New Hope and Belmont Fire Departments responded to the blaze, which was brought under control quickly with no injuries. Gaston County Police were called to the residence earlier in the day for a domestic, and the fire marshall is now indicating the blaze may be arson. 

Sometimes preparedness pays off. Friday night I had just gotten into my car to leave work when I heard a structure fire dispatched. The address caught my attention. It's the same address where police were called out to a domestic a few hours earlier.

This could be interesting, I though.  

And, as luck would have it, I pulled up on this fire right behind the first fire engine. I was standing there camera ready as they assessed the situation (above) and began fighting the fire (below). 

It's a good thing too; mobile homes fast. It was probably less than 25 minutes from when the first dispatch about the call came out to when the fire was more or less under control. 

Firefighters begin attacking the blaze.

Fire on the mountain

Flames creep up the side of Crowders Mountain during a prescribed burn at Crowders Mountain State Park on Monday February 13, 2012. 

I got to see something pretty cool last night. 

An editor called and told me there was a prescribed burn taking place at Crowders Mountain State Park, so between two afternoon assignments I rode out there to take a look, but all I could see was a big cloud of smoke. 

One of the rangers told me they would be 'dropping fire' until at least 8:00p.m., and I immediately knew I wanted to come back at dusk or night and see what it looked like. 

I wasn't sure if I could squeeze it in, though. I had to turn in photos from an two assignments I had just completed, grab dinner and shoot two basketball games on the other side of the county, but I figured if the basketball games started on time and I was efficient I could do it. 

It came right down to the wire with making deadline, but it was worth it. The line of fire lit up the whole side of the mountain, stretching at least a half mile from end to end. It reminded me of photos I've seen of some of the massive wildfires out West. 

I would have preferred to see the cliff faces poking out through the smoke, but it was still a sight to see. (you can just see rock in the center of the bottom photo, click on it to view larger)

The radio towers peek through smoke clouds rolling over the cliff faces of Crowders Mountain during the prescribed burn. 

Joy

Abbey Lightning

Lightning bolts light up the sky over the Belmont Abbey Basilica during severe thunder storms early on Wednesday May 11, 2011.

Carols for Curly

Zachary Etherton weeps at the 'Carols for Curly' candleligt vigil in support of his close friend and relative Michael 'Curly' Hastings in Cramerton on Sunday December 19, 2010. Hastings, an N.C. State Trooper and Cramerton Native, is in a coma in New York City after hitting his head in an accidental fall recently.

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Hastings cousin-in-law Lori Davis, above, speaks at the Carols for Curly vigil and Autumn Cauthen, 7, below, holds a candle during the event.

Happy Fourth!

4th of July fireworks in downtown Gastonia, NC.

Smoking Ban

Rick Rackley smokes Jan. 20 outside Mama's Pizza & Italian Restaurant on Benvenue Road. Rackley stated the smoking ban hasn't stopped him and his family from visiting the restaurant on each week.

Backyard Time Lapse

This is a short time lapse video I made over two nights in my backyard. Shot with a Canon 1D Mark II and 17-35mm f2.8 lens. 30 second exposures with 2 second intervals in between frames. Played back at approximately 24 fps.