Yellow Iris

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Old fashioned yellow iris from a neighbor's yard.

Wash House Window

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Detail from an old outbuilding, Grays Chapel, North Carolina.

First Harvest

Goat Lady Dairy in Grays Chapel, North Carolina started a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) garden this year and yesterday was the first weekly harvest and delivery to members. One of the key personnel involved was gardener Chram (pronounced "Trom"). Chram is a Montagnard originally from Viet Nam who has been training to help run the day to day gardening operations along side farm manager Daniel Woodham.





(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Moving Earth

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Earthmoving equipment in Randolph county, North Carolina.

Red Hot Chile Peppers

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Still-life photograph of 3 peppers.

Friday File Shot

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Photograph of a model in studio from my files. Sometimes you need to look back at what you did and where you've been to see where you are and where you're going.

Simple Things

Producing content for this blog has forced me to look at things beyond what I normally do in my commercial business. Sometimes those things are very simple and very close to home and in this case, very abundant. Two images of dandelions in my yard. My wife calls them "little lanterns".

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Willie the Goat

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

"Willie", a ram, photographed recently at a neighbor's farm in Grays Chapel, North Caroina.

Work Portrait

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Portrait photograph out-take from workwear fashion shoot. Greensboro, North Carolina.

Fisher Park Azaleas

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Azaleas, Fisher Park in Greensboro, North Carolina.

At the Store

One of the long standing traditions of rural North Carolina is "going to the store". I did it as a child with my Grandfather and I still stop by in the mornings today. Whether a true general store, a filling station or even a local convenience store, these establishments act as a center of the community for news, entertainment, politics and sometimes even philosophy. So, pull in, have a seat, grab a Pepsi and maybe a pack of "nabs" and jaw with the neighbors. And bring your own shovel. Shown are Bob Craven (above) and Harry Whitaker (below) during a recent visit to Routh Oil in Lineberry, North Carolina.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Vintage Racing

In the past I had the opportunity to shoot a lot of motor racing, in fact, at one time racing was a major part of my business. And, I must admit I miss it, but the market is just not there anymore. I do get the opportunity to shoot the occasional event like this vintage race at Virginia International Raceway north of Greensboro. Love seeing these old beasts, like this Porsche RSR and Jaguar D-Type (sans fin) go at it in anger again.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

More Fishing

A couple more still life photographs from my old fishing lure series.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Rienzi (1981-2010)

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

One of the things about living on a farm is that you are surrounded by the cycle of life, the annual growth of crops and with livestock the progression from birth to death. Sometimes it's harder to experience than other times. About 2 weeks ago our beloved horse Rienzi left us. We have had the privilege of having her with us for 28 years. She was a "mustang", a wild horse from the Skedaddle Mountains near Lake Tahoe on the border of California and Nevada. We adopted her when she was a yearling and she has shared our life and gained our respect for all those many years. The end of the cycle has been hard for us and we will miss her. My son Devin writes about her best.

The ivory streak along her face
reminds me of a comet's tail,
and every morning she would race
much like a comet through the fields.

She came from empty desert hills,
a Mustang from Nevada.
Her kind was always being killed
for glue and wasted fodder.

So in our pastures she found home
alongside our small herd of cows.
She'd follow them where'er they roamed;
We'd laugh and watch her as we plowed.

At nights she'd come to her corral
and rest there 'til the break of day.
She'd nip at us, pretend to scowl
if we replaced sweet feed with hay.

And now she rests beneath two trees
that grow between our pond and barn.
Above her, cows chew cud at ease;
She's with her herd and on our farm.

(Poetry copyright 2010 by Devin Routh)

Heroes on the Water

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

While my cousin Cory was down fishing, he helped host a group of soldiers from Fort Bragg for a "Heroes on the Water" outing. "Heroes on the Water" is a program that allows wounded, injured or disabled veterans to get out on the water on kayaks and do some fishing as an aid the their recovery. If a smile is any indication, Saturday morning was a great success. For info, go to http://www.heroesonthewater.org/.

Kayak Fishing

Saturday morning I met my cousin Cory Routh at Randleman lake in Randolph County, North Carolina for a few hours of kayak fishing. It was a gorgeous day and the first time I had been on the lake that has just opened to the public south of Greensboro. Cory runs a kayak fishing guide service out of Virginia Beach and can be found at http://www.ruthlessfishing.com/. Kayaks are a good way to get into out of the way fishing spots and are very green environmentally. Not to mention the fresh air and exercise. Cory's dad Larry lends a hand as well.







(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Source of all the Pollen

I am not normally a flower photographer, but this year has been beyond normal. A recent spell of hot weather has caused all of the blooming plants and trees in our area to blossom at the same time. Never in my memory have I seen so much happening at once. I have posted some images already on this blog of daffodils, dogwood, and plums. Add to that lilac, apples, money plant and wisteria among others, and our area has burst with bloom this year.





(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Thursday Still-Life

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Still-life photograph of a feather.

Ripping Ground

I have lived in the Grays Chapel community in North Carolina for some 56 years. When I was very young, many of my neighbors were full time farmers, and most farmed at least part time. Over the years things have changed and fewer folks are involved in agriculture. There are some, however, that still make their livings from the land and I appreciate seeing them hard at work. Here, Michael Williams uses a large "ripper" to prepare land for the upcoming corn crop. The corn will become silage for dairy cows.



(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Spring Turkey

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Spring turkey season is about to start in North Carolina, but this old gobbler doesn't have to worry. He lives in a large pen on a neighbor's farm in Grays Chapel.

Easter Image

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

In our area North Carolina, Easter is normally a time when nature blesses us with her blossoms. Dogwoods are one of those traditional offerings. This one blooms at my home in Grays Chapel.

Feeding Heifers

Michael Williams feeds his heifers at Williams Dairy in Grays Chapel, North Carolina.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Feline Repose

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Strutting down his wooden catwalk,
Whiskers poised, he purrs and stalks
Mice below the mill worn bedrocks,
But first he stops to strike a pose.

Yes, he knows that we can see him.
We are guests within his kingdom.
Nothing stays unless he lets them
(He even chases off the crows).

After noon he'll find a shadow
Chase it as he fights a battle
Under brush, through herds of cattle,
Until he stops to then repose.

(Poetry copyright 2010 by Devin Routh)