Week Three ~ Old Building

I got busy last week cleaning up around the house and getting a bunch of things ready to go to Goodwill and totally forgot to post that week's challenge.  This week I have just been lazy.  So my apologies.  

For challenge number three we're back in Edenton, NC.  This time taking a look at the Chowan County Courthouse, constructed in 1767.  The original court house at the fork of Queen Anne's Creek was constructed from wood and completed in 1718.  Obviously, that structure is now gone.  However the new brick building was begun fall of 1766 and completed 1767.  It is the oldest government building in continuous use in the state of North Carolina.  

And out behind the court house of course sits the jail.  It only had four cells and each held four prisoners.  The second floor held offices and the like. 

For more information on the court house, and the source of my knowledge on it, you can check out this North Carolina History website.

Week Two ~ Porch or Balcony

This week's subject is a porch or balcony.  This images were taken in Edenton, NC at the Penelope Barker House and welcome center downtown.  The model is my friend Alyssa.  She was a great sport and there are some other awesome pictures from the day will probably show up in a later blog.  Something I learned today, I need to get better at giving directions to adult models.  And go in with a plan.  As you will discover in this post, my southern roots run deep and strong.  But for your viewing pleasure, the images.  

A view of the entire house from around the corner.  With both upper and lower porches facing out over the bay where the Chowan River meets the Abremarle Sound.  It's an amazingly beautiful spot.  There's a lighthouse behind the house that will feature in a later week of the 2019 series.  

Positioned all down the upper and lower porches are these green wooden rocking chairs.  I can attest, they are quite comfortable!  I have often fantasized what it might have been like to live in that house looking out over the water sipping sweet tea and reading a book in a rocking chair.  

This beauty, is Alyssa.  She was a great sport and we did some fun images too, that again may show up in a later post.  But for this, a woman and her view.  

Week One ~ Tiny Town

For week one I've chosen to feature the Tiny Town prompt.  I couldn't decide on just one image so I've decided this one should be a photo study.  In a sleepy little town on Christmas afternoon I walked the streets of downtown Buchanan, Virginia.  It lies on US Route 11 to the north and east of Roanoke.  Typical of many picturesque little southern towns there are more churches on the main street than restaurants.

First up the Baptist and Lutheran Churches. 

Followed by the Presbyterian and United Methodist Churches.  They're all such beautiful brick construction buildings. 

 I've attended a few services at the Presbyterian church and wish I could have gotten inside to get a few images.  White walls, gorgeous hardwood floor and wooden pews adorn the small sanctuary.  During the Christmas season last year they had fresh greenery decorating the room.  It was cozy and so very welcoming.

The memorial rescue squad center sits across the street from the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department.  I'll have to go back sometime when the town's not all closed up for a holiday to get a picture of the engines out in front of the building.  

Picking Christmas day for this walk was a mixed blessing.  I didn't have to try very hard to capture everything I wanted without a bunch of random strangers or cars in the images.  Not that it's a huge challenge unless it's open house weekend or a holiday like Independence Day, Memorial Day or Labor Day.  This town really comes alive for a celebration! But the walk was also rather lonely and a little bit creepy.  

Ransone's Drug and The Fountain sandwich and soda fountain is a fixture in the little town.  They make a mean BLT, delicious burger and one of the best club sandwiches I've eaten.  They also make a killer-diller milkshake.  Don't be in a rush though!  If you're expecting a fast meal you might be disappointed.  This charming little spot, like the rest of the valley exists at a slower pace.  I actually love that about it.  

The Buchanan theater shows two movies per week on Thrusday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I still haven't been able to catch a movie there yet, but I will one day!  The town is just eleven miles away from my parents' house.  From what I hear though it's a charming little theater with candy counter.  The ticket booth sits out front still.  

Down by the river is a very large park the town uses for festivals and fairs.  If you happen to be in the area near the fourth of July definitely check it out!  We played bingo for a quarter/card/game.  This little gazebo sits at one end of the park and I don't know why but every time I visit I am inexplicably drawn to the little building.  It's quite a nice place to sit and people watch too.  

I'll wrap up with just a few more pictures from around town.  

New Adventures in 2019

I suppose I should introduce myself,  hello world I'm Heather Williams.  I got my first camera at the age of five and fell in love.  I currently own more cameras than I should probably admit to.  My true passion is 35mm black and white landscape photography but I sadly lack access to a lab to develop my own stuff so I work in digital.  Which is not to say there will never be black and white photography as part of this blog.  

In 2019 to keep myself honing my schools and doing photography besides that which a national company pays me to capture, I've decided to take on a 52 week photography challenge as part of my personal photography.  When I found the list online it was just a list of 52 locations or subjects.  So I've set some rules for myself. 

1. I may use old photographs (because I don't live near desert!) 
2. It must be my work
3. I can photograph them in any order and at any rate
4. I'll be posting one subject per week
5. HAVE FUN!

I just want to say thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.  Week one will be a tiny town.  Over Christmas I spent time in the mountains of Virginia out near Roanoke, lots of tiny towns out that way to choose from and I look forward to sharing my take on one of them with you next week!