Nature Photography

I like the  photo below, an early-morning shot snapped from my deck on November 5th.

The last of my petunias on a fog-shrouded morning. 

Trust me; there really is a lake--mountains, too--in

the picture.

Yep, I thought my picture was really great. And then I looked again at photos nature photographer Fred First had sent me. I sighed. My photos are okay. Fred's are exquisite. You've heard of folks gasping at something so gorgeous it takes their breath away? Well, that's exactly what happened to me when I uploaded his pictures. Be sure to click on his photos below to enlarge.

Photo by Fred First.

 Another photo by Fred First.

Another Fred First photo.

These three pictures by Fred are only a few of the many incredible photos he will be showing during his presentation at the Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library on Thursday morning, November 10th at 10:00.

The presentation is a multimedia celebration of the natural history and rural landscapes of the southern Appalachians. Fred will be discussing basic elements of photo composition, offer original vs. post-processed shots for comparison of photo-editing impacts, and describe the synthesis of his writing with digital photography and the photo-essay format.

The event is free and open to the public. Y'all really should come.

Fred First, Nature Author and Photographer

I first met Fred First, a Floyd County resident, as we trudged up a hill in Rocky Mount to hear noted Civil War historian Bud Robertson speak. As we huffed and puffed our way to the lecture, I learned that Fred and his wife were restoring an old house, that he liked nature, was a photographer, and that he loved his dog--a Labrador retriever, I believe. And because I like all those things, I immediately liked Fred.

On Thursday, May 5, Fred delighted a large crowd at the Moneta/SML Library. Fred read some of his essays and selections from his two books. A nature writer and photographer, he inspired me to stop and look at the treasures nature has given us.

Fred First in the photo above and the one below.

Now I want to sit on the ground, study the insects, learn more about the plants I previously tried to eradicate. If my yard has more "weeds" than normal, blame it on Fred! And if I collect more ticks than usual, it's Fred's fault.

Yesterday I took some pictures of a few wildflowers, tried different settings with my camera. Remember to click on the pictures to enlarge.

This wildflower and the one below are the same. I think it's gorgeous, just don't know what it is.

I've been seeing the weeds below (or wildflowers--which is it?)

for years, usually plucked them from the earth.

This plant was trailing off a leaf-covered bank.

I don't know my wildflowers. I have only one wildflower book, which I perused a little while ago. I couldn't find any of those pictured above. Guess I need to invest in a good wildflower book. Any suggestions, y'all?


Fred's first book, Slow Road Home: a Blue Ridge Book of Days, ". . . invites the reader to join him on a field trip through time and place." I read this one several years ago, thoroughly enjoyed it.



What We Hold in Our Hands: a Slow Road Reader, ". . . directs our vision back for a closer look at the where and when of our lives." I'm looking forward to reading Fred's second book. By the way, did you know that Fred is Fred First the second?! I think that's so cool.

Below is one of Fred's breath-taking photos. Besides his two books, he has photo-notecards with this picture and many other equally gorgeous ones for sale.



Be sure to visit Fred's blog fragmentsfromfloyd.com and book web site www.SlowRoadHome.com.

Book Signing at Franklin County Library

Tuesday, November 16, I left the house at 1:15 for a 3:00-5:00 book signing at the Franklin County Library in Rocky Mount. Usually this drive takes about 45 minutes, but I had planned to stop by the Westlake Library and say a quick hello to author Fred First, who was speaking there at 2:00. That didn't happen. I dropped off the garbage, stopped at the post office to mail a letter, and then encountered fog. Even though it was daylight, many patches were thick. I slowed, afraid I might not see deer crossing the road or cars without lights. When I passed Westlake Library my watch read 2:05, too late to stop. I reached Rocky Mount only five minutes early.


I like the Franklin County Library. From where I sat I could see the front and rear entrances. I chatted with library patrons, some who already owned one or both of my books and wanted to tell me how much they enjoyed reading them. Others knew some of the same folks I knew. A 10-year-old boy wanted my autograph, even though he wasn't old enough to read either of my novels.

Traffic through the library was heavy. Fifteen to twenty computers on the first floor stayed busy the entire time I was there. My guess is that the five computers on the second floor were equally busy. I was impressed. The librarians tried their best to answer any and all questions library patrons asked. I hope Rocky Mount and Franklin County realize what an important treasure their library is.

I left promptly at 5:00, hoping to get home before dark. Not. I drove home in rain and thick, pea-soup fog. Some vehicles had no lights on. In some areas I struggled to stay in my lane. Even in the fog, blinding oncoming lights seemed to make the center line and edge-of-road line disappear. I prayed. It was 6:30 when I walked in my house.