When in Staunton, I always like to visit the train station and have a look at the fences that keep people out of the path of the train. While these are not ornate, they are interesting and, combined with the afternoon shadows, they make nice compositions. the partially open gate seems to suggest that it is time to board and adventure lies ahead.
Back in mid-February, when the trees were bare and the air was crisp, the cardinals were gathering out behind the house in Staunton. Since last fall I updated my telephoto lens from a 100-400mm to 150-600mm, I took this opportunity to test it out.
Sometimes times the most memorable things are the small things that we pass everyday. Often, when I look at a fire hydrant on the street, they stand out to my eye as this one does in this image. The bright red stands out against a much more drab background and becomes the focus of attention.
So, in January we headed back to Staunton for a nice long visit. While our friends Steve and Renee headed off to London for the semester, we took care of their two cats. This gave us a nice extended visit to see friends and revisit old memories.
Above is some stairs on the Mary Baldwin campus looking across Fredrick street toward the First Presbyterian church.
Part of what makes these old cars fun is that the owners have decided to paint them a color they would never have been when new. Pre 1960 or so, cars were largely black or a dark color (dark green, brown, or possible blue). Of course, there were a few cars that had some color, but never candy apple red.
In the soft embrace of a luscious field of wheat, stands a delapidaged barn. Standing as a marker of times, people, and things long past.
Even though there are plenty of dead people in the local cemeteries, life abounds here. We were surprised to see an immature pheasant walking along the roadside.
