A trip to Franklin, NC

[Tartan Hiker]

Great pictures. You really captured the spirit of those places, and I know how hard it is to get those kinds of photos.

NOW who's up for a kilted hiking weekend in western NC this summer???

[Kiltedmusiclover]

Great pictures. You really captured the spirit of those places, and I know how hard it is to get those kinds of photos.

NOW who's up for a kilted hiking weekend in western NC this summer???

Ok lets get this plan for a kilted hike under way:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...138#post375138

[Splash_4]

Wow, Thanks for all the responses guys! I guess I can be my own worst critic because while I thought some of the shots had promise, I was disappointed in the photographs I took this weekend. It had been a while since I had been out with the camera. If you don't mind a little ramble here. I took up photography about 10 years ago just after I had my seventh knee surgery and the doctor said "No more sports or we wont be able to repair anything." As I had always been active, this about killed me. No more of my favorite pastimes of Soccer (futbol or football to some of you) and no more softball. After about a year of sitting around the house moping, my wife bought me my first SLR camera and it was off to the races. Additional lenses and then the darkroom soon followed. About 2 years after purchasing my darkroom, my wife said it was either that or her... Simple choice really. I moved into the digital age and purchased a DSLR (a Canon 10d) to work with the lenses I already owned. After selling off the darkroom and all of it's gadgets, it allowed me to add another lense to the collection and purchase photoshop.

The rest is history. Nowdays, I try to get out of town once a month for a photo safari, but I am not always able to due to work and travel schedules.

It looks you all had a great time. Those pics are not from the run of the mill digital camera. What are you shooting with? You have a real eye for composition.

See above. My current equipment is a Canon 10D DSLR. This is three generations old now and starting to show it's age. Once they announce a replacement for the current generation, I will upgrade. I use only three lenses nowdays. A sigma 18-200, and Canon 100-400L (with teleconverter for birding) and a Canon 50mm 1.8 for indoor and low light. Occasionaly, I will use my wifes Canon S3 IS because it is lighter and easier to pack.

Ditto to both of those statements. I grew up not far from there and love wandering those mountains.

I save your fence pic and will use it for wallpaper if you don't mind.

By all means, feel free to use any of these photos for personal use. (Of course, if your looking take make money... Contact me!)

Those photos are beautiful! Do you do a lot of photography?

Also see above. I have been into it for about 10 years and my current catalog is over 25,000 images.

Charlie Zahm has recorded a song that goes something like this:
"My heart's in the Highland, my heart is not here,
My Heart's in the Highland, chasing the deer"

If you substitute the word mountains for highlands, I think the song evokes the feelings many of you have expressed about Splash4's pictures.
There's something about walking through woods in rugged places that brings us closer to nature.

Great Pics, thanks for sharing.

For those who don't know Charlie Zahm, he has a great voice and wears kilts in concert. Often plays on the east coast highland festivals, I believe. Been a couple of years since I last saw him live.

Tom

Thank you for that. One of the reasons I get out and about into nature is for that very thing. I feel an awful lot closer to the creator when I am out and about in His creation. It gives me a chance to take my soul out and take a good hard look at it.

Great pictures Splash, and I'm glad you and your wife enjoyed your anniversary.I had to laugh at this though - Erie, PA also has a "Franklin Terrace," but it's not someplace you would want to spend a romantic getaway. Or any getaway, for that manner, unless an uniformed officer is involved. The mental juxtaposition was amusing.

Kind funny that. When I lived in Rapid City, it also had a 'Franklin Terrace' that was an interesting sort of place... I took Matt's advice on this particular hotel knowing he would not send me and my bride someplace like that!

Great pictures. You really captured the spirit of those places, and I know how hard it is to get those kinds of photos.

NOW who's up for a kilted hiking weekend in western NC this summer???

Hmmm, Kilted weekend hiking in NC. I might just have to get in shape for a little more than the 2.5 miles I can currently do. Of course, this might cause enough weight loss that my current kilt stable no longer fits...


Again, thanks guys for letting me ramble on here.

Mike