Motorsports ... It's That Time of Year for Auto Racing

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Yes, it's that time of year again. The Rolex 24 hours was run this past weekend, and the Daytona 500 is just around the corner, so auto racing is about to start a new season. As racing is one of my weaknesses (especially sports car road racing), I look forward to the new year, although I wonder what effect the economic downturn will have. I hope to be able to shoot at least a few events. Photo is of an old Formula One car from a vintage race at Road Atlanta.

Headshot Promo

Couple of headshot and promo photographs for a Chapel Hill graphic designer's website. Shot the exterior just outside my studio in Old Greensboro. I love the light when it's foggy and rainy.

(images copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Executives in Greensboro

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Today's image is an out-take from a magazine shoot for a local Fortune 500 company.

Uncle Billie and Grave Hunting

My wife Dedra is very interested in family genealogy, so in the winter when the leaves are off the trees, we often go looking for old family cemeteries and home places. Sunday we went to the New Hope area of Randolph County with her Uncle Billie Cranford and looked at several plots. We also went by the old Hurley store (below) close to Dedra's grandmother's home place in the Uwharrie Mountains.

(images copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Osprey

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Osprey in flight near Morehead City, North Carolina.

Alvin's Automotive

(I am double posting today because I have to be on location shooting tomorrow.) Another local establishment I frequent is Alvin's Automotive in Grays Chapel, south of Greensboro on Hwy 22. Master mechanic Alvin, who is my cousin's husband, has somehow managed to keep my family's and my neighbor's cars and a lot of our farm equipment going for years. When he's not fixing our stuff, he spends his time restoring classic cars and trucks and hauling fuel oil. He grows pretty good tomatoes too. In front of his shop is a store which acts a center for local news, politics and socializing.


Harry runs the front and keeps the locals under control.


Alvin always keeps a smile on his face ... always.

(images copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Wright Brothers Redone

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

On December 17, 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight at Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We produced the image above at Jockey's Ridge, a huge sand dune not far from the original flight site, for an outdoor apparel poster. We tried to produce it in the same vein as the famous photograph of that historic day. Like the Wright Brothers, we had our share of problems. After a couple of flights trying to fly into the wind the wrong way in order to get our angle, we crashed the hang glider and ended our day.

First Flight, December 17, 1903 (National Park Service Photograph)

Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Today in North Carolina it is snowing so I have decided to stay close to home and watch history happen. By the looks of the television news shows, Washington DC is inundated with people braving the cold to watch history first hand. I would love to be there, but I couldn't make it work out so I will sit in front of the fire and watch everything on TV. Though I am excited by the new day in American politics, I feel sorry for President Obama. The hopes of a whole nation and much of the world will rest on his shoulders at 12 noon, and that is a mighty weight to bear. God bless America and God bless President Barack Obama.

Farm Supply

Today's images are from my Saturday trip to the local farm supply near Greensboro.

(images copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Fashion Friday Part Deux

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Fashion image shot near Greensboro. Thought I would post something from a warmer time, since it hit 12°F this morning, which I know doesn't sound very cold to our northern friends. Believe me, in North Carolina, that gets our attention.

Robin Hood's Bay

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

It's supposed to be really cold here the next few days and with the sucking sound in the local economy, right now it's pretty dreary, so today's image is from my film archive of places where I'd really like to be. Robin Hood's Bay is on the coast of Yorkshire, east of York and between Scarbourgh and Whitby. It is sort of a storybook fishing village not overrun by tourists and perches on bluffs that run down to the sea. It's cool and damp because it's on the North Sea, but cool and damp in Robin Hood's Bay is different than frigid in Greensboro. Some fresh fish and chips and a pint of bitter and I'm good to go.

Routh Oil

Everyone seems to have a local place they stop by every day or so. Routh Oil Co. (yes, they are my cousins) in Lineberry, North Carolina is mine. Eric and Justin provide my gas, my news, my political commentary, and my daily entertainment.

(images copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Old Mill of Guilford

I went out yesterday to the Old Mill of Guilford to stock up on grits and bran muffin mix. The mill is a local Greensboro landmark and is a fully operational, water-powered, 18th century grist mill founded on Beaver Creek in 1767 to grind grain for the early settlers of northern Guilford County. The mill continues to produce all-natural, stone-ground, whole grain flours and mixes. It's an interesting place to visit and produces great stuff to eat. Annie Laura Perdue works the mill.

For info, go to: http://www.oldmillofguilford.com/

(images copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Teton Camp

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Image is from an outdoor apparel shoot. Campers warm up with the Grand Tetons in the background. Temperature was a balmy 20 degrees, up from a -5 in the morning when we started shooting.

Girl and Wall

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Out-take of a model from a recent fashion shoot in downtown Greensboro.

Pisgah Covered Bridge

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Located near Asheboro in Randolph County, Pisgah Covered Bridge is one of two covered bridges left in North Carolina, and the only one that is accessible to the public. It was almost destroyed by a flood a few years ago, but under went restoration and is now being preserved. For info, go to http://www.heartofnorthcarolina.com/things-to-do/index.pl?id=11

Railroads and Photographs

At the risk of being redundant in my work, today's images are again from the old railroad yard in Spencer. There is something about railroads and old equipment that draws my eye. Show me an old train car and rust and I'll make you an image, as a background in the fashion shot or as a still-life photograph.

(images copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Studio Fashion Photography Out-take

(Photograph copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Image is a portrait out-take from a studio fashion job. The fashion market in Greensboro is primarily casual wear, so we don't shoot a lot of haut couture models. Usage was for point of sale.

Being a Greensboro Photographer in 2009

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

The New Years weekend is over and we are now actually starting 2009. I begin the year somewhere between trepidation and cautious optimism. Our local area is not exactly a hotbed of economic activity, but I think now our government and the American public in general realize the scope of the problem, and I hope to see some real activity to find solutions. In the meantime I will try to stay proactive and try to continue to develop myself and my craft, and to provide value for my clients. Like everyone else, I will keep a close eye on my operation, and I will be spending more time working closer to home. North Carolina has a lot to offer as does the Greensboro area, and I plan to put more effort into local documentation. Of course, I am always open to travel and work elsewhere if the need arises. So, for 2009 I'm going to hang on. It might be a wild ride, but I'm sure it will be interesting.

Image above is of the statue of the Greensboro namesake, General Nathaniel Greene at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park.

Casual Fashion from Spencer

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Casual jeans shot at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer near Salisbury, North Carolina. The museum is full of background textures.

Check out http://www.nctrans.org/

Happy New Year

(image copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Here's wishing everyone a happy New Year. May 2009 be an improvement on the past year. Photography, and advertising photography specifically have changed over the years. I hope I can continue to adapt. That will be one of my resolutions, to continue to work to improve my craft and offer clients something of value. For those viewers of this blog, I welcome comments on what they like and criticism of what they don't. Being a Greensboro photographer means I don't have the strength of the larger markets to depend on, so I have to work harder to compete.

Image is from an old ESSO station in Denton, North Carolina.