North Carolina is a beautiful state. The visual treats begin at the eastern end on the sandy beaches, its shallow rivers and coves, to the factories and farms of the Piedmont hills in the central region , and westward into the rugged heart of the Southern Appalachians, where folks like Daniel Boone navigated through the forests, while they hunted for their livelihood, and traded with the indians.
I recently moved to the western Piedmont- the “gateway to the mountains”. It’s summer. The heat is something to think about whenever you have to leave the house, but the skies are a beautiful blue, with fluffy cumulous clouds… until the lightning bolts begin to flex their muscles, and begin heaving sheets of rain upon the land. The thunderstorms indeed, seem like an almost daily event, for an hour or so.
So… out of convenience, I have begun my efforts to photograph NC in the Piedmont. This “gateway to the mountains” has thus become my gateway to begin capturing the essential beauty of this state, which is affectionately known as the Tarheel State.
An osprey flying in the sky with its wings spread wide, captured during sunset.
A butterfly with orange, black, and white patterned wings perched on an orange flower, with a blurred green background.
A close-up of a bee on a purple flower with a green blurred background.
A butterfly perched on a purple cone flower with pink petals.
A weathered, twisted piece of driftwood on rocky ground next to a small green plant.
Close-up of a cluster of tiny, dark brown insects on green leaves.
A wooden bridge with red railings over a calm river, surrounded by trees with green, yellow, and orange foliage, reflecting in the water, under a clear sky.
A blue jay perched on a moss-covered tree branch in a green, leafy forest.
Tall, dry grass stalks illuminated against a dark background.
Black and white photo of a creek or small stream in a forest, surrounded by rocks, leaves, and ferns.
Several small sailboats with white hulls and colored stripes are lying on sandy ground outdoors. Some boats have red or blue stripes, and they are equipped with small anchors and rigging.
Close-up of purple grass seed heads hanging from a thin green stem against a blurred dark green background.
A sunset over a body of water with dark clouds in the sky, reflecting faintly on the water's surface.
Close-up of yellow flowers with dark centers surrounded by green leaves.
Close-up of bright yellow flowers with dark centers, some with small insects on the petals.
A bee collecting nectar from a purple flower in a garden setting.
A peaceful scene of a lake with a wooden dock and metal railing, reflecting the colorful sky and clouds during sunrise or sunset, with trees and a building in the background.
Close-up of a bright yellow flower with multiple petals and dark stamens, blurred green foliage in the background.
Close-up of purple grapes on vine with green leaves.
Three black vultures, humorously standing next to each other in conversation
An osprey flying over a body of water with rocks and ripples.
Part of a body of water with ripples and a small section of a brown bird's tail feathers visible at the bottom edge.
An osprey bird soaring in a clear blue sky with its wings spread wide.
An osprey, diving for a fish, flying against a clear blue sky
An osprey hunting, flying against a clear blue sky with its wings spread wide.
An osprey catching a fish in water
A great blue heron standing on rocks along the edge of a body of water, with gentle ripples, during daylight.
