Category Archives: Ashe County

Photographer’s Choice – Martha Combs

8 Replies

ACC Members are an Eclectic Bunch

Martha Combs - Make a Silk Purse? In a Pig's Eye!

Martha Combs - Make a Silk Purse? In a Pig's Eye!

The weekly postings in this series have included insects, fish, jelly fish, birds, horses and elk – subjects that are considered by most as “photogenic”. Martha has bravely stepped outside the usual and submitted this image of….a hog. Not only that but it might even be called a “portrait” of a hog. It’s not likely to be printed in a large format, matted, framed and hung over the mantle in the living room (although such a hanging would sure break the ice for your dinner guests). But it is a well conceived, beautifully framed photograph. One’s eye certainly has no trouble finding the focal point as the strobe lighted eye comes immediately into focus. The back lighted flopping ear helps to frame the eye and creates the dark shadow above the eye. A narrow depth of field allows the less important elements to gradually fade into the background. Processing the image as a tinted black and white is the final touch. In fact, one can’t image this shot in color.
Hats off to Martha.

Photographer’s Choice – Betty Rembert

5 Replies

Spring’s Frequently Overlooked Gems

Betty Rembert - Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)

Betty Rembert - Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)

A familiar spring scene in Ashe is a photographer on his/her knees or laying flat on the ground with a colorful wildflower in the viewfinder while overhead trees are performing their own magic, so common and ubiquitous they are often ignored. Here Betty has pointed her camera up to capture the delicate first leafing of a striped maple tree. Here are her thoughts on the image:

In spring the bright red scales, the rosy sheen of the buds, and the soft green of opening leaves make this small understory tree a rival to any of the more famous and sought after wildflowers. Called a “woodland dryad” in one of my tree books, it is worth many repeat visits through the seasons to try and capture its elusive beauty. The flowers, which are opening now, are a brilliant canary yellow and I’ll be trying to capture them when the weather clears. In summer its leaves, the largest of any of the maples, cast a bright green glow in the deep shade, and in fall they turn a clear translucent gold. So I choose this photograph for my Photographer’s Choice – for spring. It’s not necessarily my best or favorite photo, but one I wanted to share with everyone as my homage to this lovely tree. Go find one and see for yourself!