Wicked-Cool Sculptures

I had an assignment last week to get some shots of a new art exhibit at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount, and I have to say these sculptures by Austin Sheppard are some of the coolest 3D art I've seen in a while.

I got the shots I needed for the paper, including shots with people looking at the art, but I actually had the time to walk around and enjoy it for myself and take a few cool pictures just for fun as well.

You might have a look at Austin Sheppard's website, all his stuff is pretty sick-looking to me.

The bottom photo is an example of some of the other cool stuff they have in the new exhibit that included sculptures large and small, paintings and even some photography.

Derailed Plans

Ashley Hinton from Warrenton rests on a cart on the platform at the Rocky Mount Train Station around 11:00 p.m. on June 11 after waiting since 2:30 p.m. for a train to Charlotte that was delayed due to a freight train derailment roughly 20 miles North of Rocky Mount.

More Funky Lights

I took some more Palaroids recently for my Polaroid Lights project. As with the previous photos, these Polaroids were made with multiple exposures of a point source of light in a dark room, some of them long exposures with camera movement, and others stationary. Focus and distance to the light source were also varied.

These photos are not of a Christmas tree, as before, however, but of 'On' lights on electronic devices. The red is from a surge protector, and the green light featured prominently here is on a computer speaker.

I liked funky effect so much after the first time so much that I just had to find some other lights to use the technique on. I love how the different lights create and entirely different look with the same technique. The Christmas tree pictures have a decidedly festive feel, while these have more of a cool techno feel.

The second picture from the bottom even has lines reminiscent of sound waves -- appropriate since the green light is on a speaker!

Now I'm addicted, and looking for my next fix. If I see some interesting lights in a dark room I'm going to pull out my Polaroid and fire away!

Check out all the photos.

Jockey's Ridge

I took a trip to Jockey's Ridge State park Monday to enjoy a beautiful sunny day with temperatures that couldn't have been over 80 degrees (the forecast called for a high of 75). I don't think the summer will be offering up many more days with temperatures this pleasant.

I've been to the park several times, but always as part of a larger trip with my family, and there was never enough time to explore the whole park.

So armed with my camera gear I wandered around the park, climbing 50 foot high dunes and traipsing through the small wooded areas in the park (it's not all sand). The weather was fantastic and people were playing in the sand, hand gliding, and flying model airplanes and kites all over the dunes.

(Note to self: bring a kite on next trip to Jockey's Ridge).

The trip wasn't productive for photography, but that's OK, since it was mostly a scouting / exploring trip anyway. Any good pictures I got would just be gravy.

The shot above was taken in the afternoon, but I returned to a similar vantage point near sunset, hoping to get a similar composition, except with hundreds of people on the ridge line instead of a few dozen, all silhouetted against a dramatic sky.

The hundreds of sunset watchers showed up on cue, but the dramatic sunset never happened, obscured by low clouds that rolled in. I guess I'll just have to go back again. Soon.

iPod Class

Teacher Corey Waugaman works with his second-grade students June 3 at Stocks Elementary in Tarboro using educational applications on ipod touches that were provided through an Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant.

Summer Splash!

Making a splash, Satchel Perry, 5, dives onto a water slide set up in the front yard of his home near City Lake where he and brother Cassius Perry, 3, not pictures, were cooling of May 28.

NOTE: This photo won third place for features in the North Carolina Press Photographers Association May clip contest.

C.A.S.T. for Kids

Erica Huff, 7, looks at a small bluegill fish caught by Nehemiah Davis, 6, left, during the C.A.S.T. for Kids event on May 22 at City Lake.

Below: Alfred Huff shows Orlando Price, 11, how to fish during the C.A.S.T. for Kids event. Huff organized the event sponsored by the C.A.S.T. (Catch A Special Thrill) for Kids Foundation, a charity that joins volunteers who love to fish with disabled and disadvantaged children for a day of fishing.

Eicya Kalonji , 10, holds a small bluegill fish that she caught during the C.A.S.T. for Kids event.

Chamber Celebration

Lyn Brown, above, of Providence Bank hugs Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Eddie Baysden during an event celebrating the conclusion of the Chamber's Mission: Possible membership drive on May 6 at Country Inn & Suites. Below: Members of The Chamber, including Jean Kitchin, left, and Tonya Blalock, far right, take part in the celebration.