Chattahoochee Riverwalk

Can it be called a ritual if you have only done it two weeks in a row? I believe it will become my weekend ritual. Last weekend my excursion to Market Days on Broadway combined with a walk along the Chattahoochee Riverwalk was so enjoyable I decided to brave the potential rain to do it all again.

We are in a stretch of forecasted rain but Saturday morning appeared to have a chance at clearing skies and I really was looking forward to another walk around Uptown. I packed the camera bag, put on my walking shoes and took off. As I drove toward my destination the sun was working hard to burn through the cloud cover. By the time I parked the car I could see blue taking over the sky.

It was going to be a good morning.

I usually feel a little self conscious carrying my camera through the street even if I would have liked to capture the atmosphere of the farmer’s market. One of these days I will overcome these feelings and share why I enjoy this part of summer. So, leaving the camera in the car with no objective other than to browse the various vendor’s offerings, I headed out.

To be honest, the wares on display by most vendors are not something I would generally purchase. I guess, for me, it is the experience I’m craving. Walking the tree-lined street, seeing everyone having a good time, and occasionally finding something that catches my eye. I stopped and talked with a gentleman selling handmade pottery. I ended up getting myself a mug for my morning coffee. The mug was a bonus, the conversation with Joe of Joe Dallas Pottery is what I will remember.

OK. I’ll admit it. I stopped at Veri Best Donut Co. again. I’m weak. I went with a simple choice this time, a glazed twist. Holy crap! That thing was enormous! Practically a foot long donut, and it was still warm. I’m not ashamed to say it took all my will power to not go back and get a second one. It was delicious.

The Market Days occupy both sides of Broadway between 10th and 13th streets. I park along 1st Ave near 12 St and begin my circuit heading toward 13th St. When I reached the turn-around point down at 10th St I spotted the sign for the Gallery on 10th. I stopped into the gallery last year but had forgotten that it is open early on Saturdays.

When I entered the gallery I met the artist “on call” that day, Susan Dolan. It was a pleasure to talk with her about her work as well as the work on display at the gallery. The displays rotate every three months (next in July), so I will make it a point to return. The idea floating around in my head now is the Columbus Artists’ Guild. Susan was very persuasive about the guild once she knew I think of myself as a photographer. Something to chew on for now…

Well, I assume if you made it this far you are curious if I will be sharing any images in this post. I did go for a walk with the camera once my time on Broadway was done. I headed South along Front Ave thinking eventually I will meet up with the Riverwalk trail. I found quite a few areas to explore more on another walk. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center and the Chattahoochee Amphitheatre are two I will be returning to see.

It was getting close to noon and like last weekend I had plans to enjoy lunch in Uptown. I returned along the trail with the idea of stopping at Waveshaper Island. I brought my messenger camera bag which included my zoom lens. I had hopes of finding some water fowl. I was rewarded for stopping. There were a lot of great blue heron. I sat down on one of the rocks and enjoyed the show.

Cooper Creek Park, Columbus, GA

A while ago my daughter asked about a camera as she was interested in capturing some pictures beyond what her phone was allowing her to do. I had sent an old camera (Olympus Pen EP-3) to my son a few years ago that started him on his photography journey, could that camera perform the same magic again? I was a little surprised when he still had the camera (a story for a different time), but I asked him to send it to his sister.

Forward a few weeks and my daughter asked if I could meet her and one of her friends for some photography help. Her friend had acquired a camera recently and after seeing a few of my images (ego moment, sorry!) wanted to learn how to use his camera a little better. We met at Cooper Creek Park after work yesterday. It was a great time!

I feel a little bad as I think I brain dumped on both of them and I’m sure their heads are swimming now. Hopefully, I was able to provide a little knowledge and maybe I didn’t scare them away from photography. I did order them Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson which is the first book I read when I started. The books arrive Friday.

I told them we can definitely meet up again and I’m thinking the next location will be Flat Rock Park. Plenty see and photograph as we walk the trails around the park. I’ll try not to be more excited then they are… 🙂

I spent most of the time droning on about camera processes, settings, methods, composition tips and anything else that floated to the top of my head. I didn’t really spend too much time capturing images for myself. I was lucky enough to find a Great Blue Heron as we waited for my daughter’s friend to arrive. I captured this series as we scared him away…

Cooper Creek Park, Columbus, GA

A couple weeks ago as I explored Cooper Creek I ended up harassing another Great Blue Heron. OK, to be honest, it wasn’t that I “ended up” harassing, I set out to harass the poor thing. Once I spotted the heron I was determined to capture a few images. I definitely needed the practice and I was having a good time!

Cooper Creek Park, Columbus, GA

Sunday morning was undecided at best. The weather was eventually going to be good but Mother Nature hadn’t made up her mind as to when to turn those grey skies blue. And then there was me, I would have been content being lazy but knew once I got my butt out of the apartment I would enjoy it. And then she gave me the nod, a ray of sunlight broke through and lit up the trees out my window.

Out the door I went…

Cooper Creek Park was my destination. I wanted to practice capturing the birds. I haven’t had as good a morning as I did that first visit but learning more abut the birds and how to capture them was the goal. I’ve been attempting to be more purposeful with my images rather than the spray and pray method.

Once again the park was practically mine. Very few cars and even fewer visible people. Just the way I like it. Unfortunately, there were not that many winged friends to be found. No problem, an opportunity to learn a little patience. I stood next to the water listening. Waiting. To my left I heard them, a flock of pigeons taking off. Practice is practice…

I don’t have any thought that this one would win any prizes but I was happy being able to capture so many mid-flight. I could have used a little faster shutter speed and the background is a little distracting but I’ll take it.

Wait, what is that sound?

A woodpecker! I have to find that bird! As I started following the sound I saw a chunk of tree branch fall to the ground. Found you! Dang! He was high up in the tree hiding in the leaves going to town on a branch. I attempted a few different positions to get a clear view but the tree was not cooperating. I did capture a few images but he is buried in the leaves. Next time!

I walked around the first section of the park for a little while wishing for a few subjects to show up. Nothing. Not a problem, I drove to the other end of the park which is the opposite side of the “pond/lake”. The situation was not much better but there were a few more little birds flitting around. I can work with that.

I was chasing a cardinal along the path, hoping he would land on something interesting but I think he knew I wanted his portrait and refused to cooperate. I was hindered a little by my 300mm max focal length but I kept giving it a try. And then I spotted her, Ms. Cardinal. At first she was as uncooperative as her male friend. Nothing but hopping around on the ground.

Again, I captured a few images but was not inspired by the results. I continued along the path. Eventually I returned to the location I first spotted Ms. Cardinal. As I approached, she flew up in a tree to avoid me. Maybe being above me reduced her anxiety about me. I was able to get quite close and grab an OK portrait. I would have preferred less branches but practice is practice.

As I worked my way back to the car I spotted a dark mound off to my right.

What is that?

Wait! It moved!

Is that a turtle?

I slowly walked over to see what I found. It was a turtle. I think (don’t know) that it was laying eggs. According to Google Lens, this could be a Yellow-bellied Slider. I’m going to be a little worried for the hatchlings later. She dug the nest in the soft ground of the meridian of the road in the park. Hopefully they will make it to the water when they hatch.

I had spent almost two hours at the park. When I got home, I applied a more critical eye to my images and kept about a third of what I captured. That was fine. Spending the morning in the park was the real reward. I need to do this more often…

Cooper Creek Park, Columbus, GA

I mentioned yesterday that my morning visit to Cooper Creek Park was wonderful. That doesn’t quite feel like enough superlatives but I will refrain from gushing (sort of). Suffice it to say, the park is a new favorite place to visit. I will not bore you with any more ill-conceived words… on to my new feathered friends.