11 FROM 2011

I read about a challenge of picking your best shot from 2011. So I went forward after reading another way to do this and picked my best 11 from 2011. It was a bit difficult. Not because I had problems with the work, but because I didn't go shooting as often as I would have liked. But I found what I liked. And with each photo, I'll tell you why.

And here are my 11 from 2011.

#11 WATER LEVEL
While this isn't a particularly fascinating photo,
this was a recapture from 2008. I like the
simplicity of the image. And the age.

#10 TRAIN
While shooting along the Canal Walk in Richmond, this train came barreling
along the tracks above me. I always wanted to capture a train and the overcast
sky the heavy iron work made for a perfect black and white.

#9 ST GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
I can't tell you how many times I've captured the steeple
of St. George's Episcopal Church. It just stands out in
the middle of Fredericksburg and speaks of history. This shot
was taken from Chatham Heights. I've taken winter shots
from Chatham, and I wanted to check out spring. The red
roofs and green steeple were a pleasant surprise.

#8 GOLF?
All these years, I thought he was on the
course actually playing the game. Instead, he
was perfecting another skill. This is such a fun
photo - a very relaxed Tom in his element.

#7 BREAKING PROHIBITION
I had the opportunity to shoot at the A. Smith
Bowman distillery. It was a fabulous tour and
the barrels made for some great shots. And a lot
of fun artistic work.

#6 SKYLINE
A shot on the way to Belle Isle in Richmond.
I was walking across the suspension bridge to the island
and looking up saw all these wonderful lines. 

#5 SILVER LEAF
It's just that, a leaf. It was a cool spring day and everything had the full
color of spring. I saw the glint of silver from the light on the backside
of this leaf and gave it a shot. I really didn't expect the photo above, but
sometimes what you think you'll trash ends up being the best shot.

#4 LOVE
While shooting at the train station in Richmond (you wouldn't believe the
opportunities at the train station), I was strolling around, and for whatever
reason looked down and this was on the bricks. It was Valentine's Day.

#3 WISDOM LISTENS
Another shot from Belle Isle. It was the abandoned hydraulic plant, I think.
For graffiti, I love the message. It's just so true. But the fun part was
taking this from a boring wall and making it art. Will definitely print this
on metallic paper so all that glitters...well, glitters.

#2 THE DOOR
Okay, gotta admit, I love this piece of art. This shot
was taken at the A. Smith Bowman Distillery. And
this shot was a loss. Wrong lens, quick take,
unfocused. What can I say. Such is the power
of Photoshop. I get a lot of feedback on this shot.

#1 CROSSING THE JAMES
I don't know what it is about me and railroad bridges. Taken in Richmond,
this bridge crossing the James River spoke of timelessness. And turning
it into art changed the scope even more. This is a metallic print and
everything glimmers and shines. My favorite shot of the year.

BOURBON AND BARRELS

Sometimes it's about who you know, and sometimes it's about who your SO knows. In my case, it was my SO's network of people who arranged for me to visit the A. Smith Bowman Distillery this past week. I met with Master Distiller Joe Dangler. Joe provided camera access and an informative tour of the distillery. And let me tell you, Joe knows his whiskey.

We started with the difference between a distillery and a brewery. Please, my friends, do not confuse the two. A brewery makes beer. A distillery, at least this one, produces fine bourbon whiskey (and rum and vodka and gin).

DEEP RUN LAKE

Those of my friends from Fredericksburg, VA are quite familiar with the Bowman Center. Most of them are probably familiar with the distillery. The A. Smith Bowman Distillery sits along the banks of Deep Run Lake. Joe told me that the distillery was a cellophane plant before the Bowman family took over.


But the magic is inside the distillery. Upon entering, a distinct odor captures the senses. My immediate question was the nature of the scent. It's called Angel's Share (the spirits volume lost to evaporation while aging in the barrels). Inside, barrels and barrels and barrels of aging spirits reach from floor to ceiling, as do the vats, stills, whatever you choose to call them.

To this photographer, the image of the interior was heightened by the rustic age of the facility. And the building is vast. Warehouse rooms filled with barrels, and those empty, awaiting barrels.

The barrels intrigued me. Did you know that whiskey barrels are charred on the inside? Did you know a barrel maker is called a cooper? The A. Smith Bowman Distillery uses white oak barrels, which Joe said makes for the best flavor of whiskey. And you know, when you've been in business that long (they've been brewing since before Prohibition), you know what works best and you stick with it.

I'm keeping this brief because whiskey is not my specialty (hit the links to learn more). Photography is my specialty and I hope you enjoy the shots (no pun intended).

 I want to thank Joe Danger and the A. Smith Bowman Distillery for the wonderful opportunity to photograph and learn about the this fine family business. I had a great time.

AGING

...AND AGING

...AND AGING
Makes for a fine bourbon

INSIDE AN EMPTY WAREHOUSE
This warehouse was refurbished from it's days in cellophane
keeping to the original architecture as closely as possible

CUTTER USED FOR CUTTING TAX STAMPS (if I remember this correctly)
Tax Stamps are no longer in use, but the distillery uses replicas
for decorative labeling across the bottle tops of the their spirits

MAKING A BARREL

WEIGHING THE BARREL
While no longer used, this scale is kept calibrated

COOPER'S TOOLS

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE TOUR