SAVING VIRGINIA'S BATTLEFIELDS

I’m a photographer who, no matter what the subject choice of a freelance photo gig I choose, always seem to wind up on a battlefield of some sort. Or I’ll guess that it’s a battlefield because there’s a Civil War cannon present somewhere. This isn’t a bad thing. Cannons love the camera. And really, when you think about it, there’s not a whole lot of land in the Fredericksburg area that isn't a battlefield of some sort.

With that, I want to make sure all my readers are aware of this weekend’s fundraising event, Bowling for Battlefields. The event is sponsored by the CVBT (Central Virginia Battlefields Trust). These folks are responsible for “preserving endangered hallowed ground” – Virginia’s battlefields. Their motto is Preserving…Dirt & Grass. How can you not like that?

The event takes place at Splitsville/Muvico over at the Village at Spotsylvania Town Centre.

On Saturday, Muvico will show Gone with the Wind and Glory for $5. Two showings of Gone with the Wind (at 12pm and 7pm), that wonderful southern chick flick with Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable. Glory will be shown at 4:30. While I never saw Glory, I’ve been told by many it’s a great film.

On Sunday, Splitsville will have the Bowling for Battlefields extravaganza. For $20 a person, you get open bowling, appetizers and soft drinks from 2pm – 4pm. Drop those pins and save a battlefield!

Splitsville/Muvico will be donating 100% of proceeds.

Magpi Studios will be out on both days showing and selling photography of area battlefields and historic locals. We’ll be donating 40% of our sales to CVBT.

I need the battlefields. The camera needs the battlefields. We need to preserve our history with more than just photos. And by the way, the photos in this post are a few of the images for sale.

Hope to see you there.

STEVENSON RIDGE - AN ARTIST'S VIEW

I've been neglecting the blog again. Sorry, my friends. It's that 80/20 thing which has now moved to a 99/1 thing.

But I did get out the other week and shoot, thanks to the wonderful folks at Stevenson Ridge; special thanks to Jennifer LaRock.

Simple. Serene. Idyllic. That was my morning at this beautiful lodge/bed and breakfast/inn. There are many words to describe Stevenson Ridge, but I'll stick with my three - simple, serene, idyllic.

Stevenson Ridge is an 87-acre historical property. On that property you'll see some of the best in historical building restoration, the guest houses actually - and my three descriptive words - unique, pristine, charming.

I stuck to the exterior of the property as these buildings, like most historical buildings, intrigued me. While I didn't capture all the properties (yeah, I forgot my map and missed a few), I did make my way around to several and it wasn't always the building itself that caught my attention, but the small details of the buildings that captured my eye.

At the backside of the lodge is where it happens. On my first visit to Stevenson Ridge, the pond centered on the property was so calming. I stood on the balcony of the lodge and took it in - the small dock, the benches, the trees, the oar sticking up out of the pond. I have no idea what story goes with the oar, but it catches my attention. Probably because I just know there has to be a story.

The morning of my shoot, I took it all in again, only this time I had marvelous morning light and beautiful reflections of the Riddick House shimmering off the surface of the pond. I can just see myself sitting on the deck overlooking the pond in the quiet morning sipping a cup of joe.

 

From the Riddick House, I made my way over to the Log Home. This place has a charm you wouldn't believe and that's only from the outside. The idea of dropping the camera and curling up in a rocker with a good book certainly crossed my mind that morning.

 

With the porch of the Log Home just calling out for relaxation, I have one question that continues to plaque my mind, even now - what's with the bathtub on the porch? Not so much the bathtub itself, that's just charm, but the can on a stick jutting out of the bathtub. Ah, yet another story of intrigue.

I moved onward. I think I found the Adrian Cabin next. This is another one of those charming porch features. The Adrian Cabin is a small cabin which reminds me that it should be in snow covered ground, so I'd have to think winter here, even in summer. The porch was decked out with this old crate and again, I was drawn into comfort and a good book, along with a tall glass of iced tea with a lemon floating on top, sweating on the table (of course, I'm back to summer). Irresistible.

From the cabin, I hiked over to the Servant's Quarters. The first thing I noticed here was the blue hurricane lamp hanging from the eaves over the door of the house. The Servant's Quarters is very basic, until you trek around to the back. A small deck invites you in. A green door with a porcelain handle beckons you toward the house. An outside bath house (shower) dares you to give up the comforts of home.

Last we come upon the Spy Hill House. A simple two-story cottage with a view of the pond. I liked the detail of the door on this building.

And by the pond, we find the boat, with one oar, which may explain the oar sticking out of the water.

 

On my adventure to Stevenson Ridge, I missed the Corn Crib and the Civil War House. I asked if I could come back in the fall to again capture the charm of this place, and when I'm out shooting the property with the leaves in full fall color, I will be sure to collect images of the two missing properties.

HISTORY IN THE 'BURG

I've spent the past month tromping around the battlefields of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. It's not the first time I've been to these historic sites. I've hiked the trails of Wilderness Battlefield, been to Chatham Heights many times (the view of Fredericksburg is breathtaking), tripped out to Slaughter Pen Farm and walked the fields, and I've taken to the hills of Marye's Heights and the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. In those days I wasn't always shooting.

But it came to my attention how important this area is to those who've spent their lives here. I'm not Virginia home grown. I'm Pennsylvania home grown and lived close enough to Gettysburg to understand the importance of its history. I've also visited Gettysburg on occasion and felt the deep loss of those who fought there. While touring the battlefields of our area, again, I felt that loss.

It becomes highly apparent when visiting such sites as the Confederate Cemetery in Spotsylvania and the Fredericksburg National Cemetery at Marye's Heights. All the stones; all the losses. The ones that always tug at my heart are the Unknown grave markers.

Unknown Confederate Soldier at Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery

To see the number of those markers astounds me. I think of family who never knew. I think of comrades who weren't there to identify the loss.

But there's so much more to this history than the loss of life. There are elements of the war that stand to remind us. The cannons at Chancellorsville; Ellwood (part of the Battle of Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse); Chatham Manor at Chatham Heights; and the Angel of Marye's Heights at Marye's Heights.

Cannon at Chancellorsville Battlefield

Ellwood

A scene of Generals Gouverneur K. Warren's headquarters at Ellwood

General Andrew Humphreys
Fredericksburg National Cemetery

 

Angel of Marye's Heights

This last one, the Angel of Marye's Heights tells a compassionate story of Richard Kirkland, a confederate soldier who aided wounded Union soldiers on the battlefield.

While these icons of history serve as a reminder of our bloody past, their images serve an artistic view of that past.

While working with the showcase for Congressman Wittman's office, it occurred to me how important these images are and how they serve our community, as well as preserve our past. It created a different view in my mind of the importance of our area; reminders of who fought and why they fought; sacrifices made; the joining of our country. The Civil War, known as one of the bloodiest and deadliest wars of our time, represents so much to so many and it's important to keep that history alive - as a remembrance; as a reminder; as a memorial to those who sacrificed their lives.

House by Fredericksburg National Cemetery

Statue at Chatham Manor

All photos are available through ArtLease.

MY FIRST TIME

Made you look.

My first time...we all have firsts. Mine is my first solo exhibition which is currently taking place at Congressman Rob Wittman's Fredericksburg, Virginia office. This is a very exciting moment for me. The office wanted something new on their walls and as Rep Wittman represents Fredericksburg (in Virginia's 1st congressional district), they were looking for images that do the same.

Well, fortunately, Fredericksburg is one of my favorite haunts. Old town is phenomenal as every time I go there I seem to find something new to shoot. I've lived here for somewhere around seven years; been roaming old town for about five.

The viewing process for selection went from basic art I've found in old town to photos that best represent the area. It was a matter of digging into old folders and finding images that don't make the website. Why don't they make the website? There's nothing wrong with the images, it's just that I do a lot of close up shots that I know represent Frederickburg, but that no one else knows represents Fredericksburg. These are the shots that hit the site. The others stay in folders in the darkroom. Nothing wrong with that. These are images I just don't believe would sell. Well, after having a heart to heart with my business adviser and working with Rep Wittman's office, I've concluded otherwise.

How did I rectify the problem? I made a new gallery on the website called Haunts. This is an area where I put those shots of favorite places I hang out. It gives me room to put up local images to share with visitors and potential clients. Currently Fredericksburg and Richmond take the honors. But, in the big picture, I'll be traveling a lot more.

Below are a few of the images that are in the exhibition. If you've ever been in old town Fredericksburg, you'll recognize many of them. If you've never been to old town, I encourage you to visit.

THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER

This is probably one of the most photographed and painted images in Fredericksburg.

FREDERICKSBURG CITY HALL

I just loved the way the shadows hit the lettering on the building.

FREDERICKSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH

Old town has many churches and you'll see the steeples as you roam the streets.

HORSE & CARRIAGE

I think old town still offers carriage rides. The horses are beautiful. If you can't take a carriage ride, go for the trolley. It's a great tour.

FREDERICKSBURG CIRCUIT COURT

I seriously thought this was a church steeple. As I was putting the presentation together for the show, I Google mapped the area to find the streets of the landmarks and learned this wasn't a church. It's a fascinating steeple.

 

 

CIVIL WAR CANNON

 Located at Marye's Heights, this is the location of the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. A lot of history at this site.

 

UNTITLED 1

Seriously? I honestly don't know what to call this. The photography? Piece of cake. Titling? Well, sometimes it just boggles my mind.

But the trip, the trip to get this photo was unbelievable. It started on the Canal Walk in Richmond, VA, by Tredegar Iron Works (now the Civil War Museum) and ended on Belle Isle.

Tredegar Iron Works has all this beautiful, black, industrial ironwork that makes for wonderful shots. I've been working with black and white lately and there's nothing like industry to make a great black an white. I only touched the surface.

Belle Isle was once a prison for Union Soldiers (a pretty nasty prison from the historic markers around the place) and served many other functions before it became a city park. It's a great point of exploration. I only walked a small part of the island and will definitely return.

The whole place is surround by the James River which in and of itself is a beautiful body of water. Over the next few weeks, I'll share some of what I found.