Spend the day hiking yesterday!!! LOVE this time of year!!!

Hope you are having a wonderful week!!! Thanks for taking a moment to stop by and view my photo!!! Will be back later tonight to catch up on some of your beautiful work!!! Have a great day!!!

Eastern Shore of Virginia

This cottonmouth was showing me that it was unhappy with my presence. I was trying to save the snake from being run over by the state park vehicle. It was sunning on the trail that is mostly used by bicycles. I alerted the park ranger and we finally managed to make it move off of the path.

This ghost crab was trying to hide in the sea grass from my dogs. The dogs eventually spotted it but they soon learned that those claws are sharp.

Machicomoco State Park is Virginia newest state park. It is on the spot where the Powhatan Tribes set out their canoes to go fishing and hunting.

Ok so I couldn't wait for the new computer to process this shot!!! We went walking today along the New River trail. This spot on the New River is called Foster Falls. Beautiful scenery, quiet and peaceful!!! It was a lovely day to be out enjoying God's glorious creation!!!

Thanks for taking a look!!!!!

Show of hands, who would like to see this processed not in a 'gray' midtone, but with about an additional stop of exposure to create a much stronger black - white contrast?

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IT'S BETTER: VIEWED ON BLACK & LARGE

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CHECK OUT MY PORTFOLIO

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Okay, so this is a slight re-processing of a shot I posted several months ago, but I much prefer it in B&W and it seems (at least to me) to be an almost completely different image, so I'm posting it as well.

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This is also one of the images I submitted to the 2009 FotoWeek DC contest so hopefully it's going to do well.

I cruised to Foster Falls last night after work to shoot the river under the full moon. As I made the final turn into the park I noticed a HUGE fire on the other side of the river. This was taken near the boat landing right before the 'falls' section, where the water is nice and smooth.

While this is probably more of a brush pile fire than a recreational bonfire, you can look closely at this image and see some beverages on the hood of a nearby truck. Plus, it would be very difficult to keep a fire that large burning for very long without insane amounts of wood. See this image of some campfires for comparison , it is looking the other way from the fire posted here.

It was fishing by the tidal marsh.

All Images © 2010 Paul Diming - All Rights Reserved - Unauthorized Use Prohibited. Please visit www.pauldiming.com!

Albert Carroll Jones began building this mansion in 1852. It is an interesting story about how it survived the Civil War that raged around it. The grounds had fruit orchards and housed a legal distillery. There is documentation that both the Confederate forces and the Union forces were fond of the peach brandy that was produced here and neither of them wanted to disrupt the supply, so the mansion was left unscathed. Victor and Evelyn Stewart purchased the mansion and grounds in 1918. It was eventually donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1967 and became part of the Chippokes Plantation State Park.

[ EXPLORE # 78 ]

VIEW LARGE & ON BLACK

This is the Amtrak Regional Railway crossing the Potomac from Quantico Marine Corps Base. I liked how it seemed to be disappearing into the fog halfway into the river.

Let me know what you think.

Went hiking on Sunday. Here's a fresh look at the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia!

Thanks so much for taking a look!! I appreciate it :) Hope everyone had a wonderful Monday, and wishing you a good week ahead!!!

This bullfrog was stationary. A big snake had just left the area and I think it did not want to attract any unwanted attention.

The smoke lingered from the summer wildfires, but it was a beautiful cool June morning on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Raven's Roost Overlook

I am surprised that that it could see down into the water with all of the algae. I wonder if they fish more from water disturbance.

I was so excited to finally take a photo of a bald eagle. I had spent 4 days in the Chippokes Plantation state park and biked to various viewing points along the James River. The only birds that I saw were the sea gulls. I had just put my camera in my backpack when I see this gorgeous thing flying by, I managed to get out my camera in time to get this one shot. Literally just a point and click, but I was happy!!! The park ranger told me this was one of the juveniles.

After a few stressful weeks, it was nice to enjoy a warm day along the trails at York River State Park.

Marion Virginia

The lotus were in full bloom in Back Bay today. I enjoyed seeing the mix of yellows and greens.

Otter at Fairy Stone State Park in Virgnia, USA. Taken from a kayak with telephoto lens.

Another shot of the sunrise at Manassas Battlefield Park.

This turtle was moving slow, but remember slow ans steady wins the race. Today must have been turtle day on my bike ride as they were everywhere.

Taken from a kayak at Fairy Stone State Park in Virginia

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Since a bunch of people were interested in what a higher contrast - higher exposure - bordering on high key version of my "Into The Mist" photo would look like - here it is.

I'm not sure that I like this one better - it certainly has a more dramatic feel to it, but I think the theme and mood I was going for was more accurately presented in the previous version.

Of course, that's just my opinion, as I like this version as well - it just didn't fit my original "plan" for the photo.

As always, interested to know what all of you think.

Show of hands, who would like to see this processed not in a 'gray' midtone, but with about an additional stop of exposure to create a much stronger black - white contrast?

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IT'S BETTER: VIEWED ON BLACK & LARGE

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

CHECK OUT MY PORTFOLIO

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Chippokes Plantation is one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country. A working farm since 1619, the park offers modern recreational activities and a glimpse of life in a bygone era. Visitors tour the historic area with its antebellum mansion and outbuildings, stroll through formal gardens, and view antique equipment at the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum. The River House was built on the property in the 1830 but has never been restored by the owners or the state. Black Vultures have taken up residence here.

On the southern tip of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Last stop before the 26 mile Bay Bridge/Tunnel

Green heron at Fairy Stone State Park

The Monarchs are visiting our valley as part of their amazing journey.

On the southern tip of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Last stop before the 26 mile Bay Bridge/Tunnel

Built in 1931, the through truss-built bridge in Hiwassee, Virginia—once owned/operated by the Norfolk & Southern Railroad—is now a crossing for New River Trail hikers/cyclists. The trestle structure spans 951 feet over the beautiful New River.

(NDL9130)

Another shot from Great Falls.