George Ella Lyon

         This week the annual Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame was held, and five writers were inducted. One of them was George Ella Lyon, my friend and the author of 40 plus books for children, adults, and for poetry.  And I made the photos for her Counting on the Woods, in 1998. She has been a social activist for ever, and she also writes songs and sings and love cats and her family and many friends.and fellow poets and writers. 

        I am fortunate to have made many a roadtrip with her, and I've taken many photos over many years, usually unplanned, though a few became used for publicity.  After her award this week, I decided I needed to see what photos of her existed on FB.  Then I realized that I have never gathered my photos of her, and I decided it needed doing.  Since I haven't asked her permission yet, this week I am going to show some of the well known ones that are already out there.  For part 2, someday soon, I will hope to share many that are not yet as well known.

        I hope all of you who appreciate her generosity and her gifts will enjoy this post tonight. 

        I believe George Ella is with her beloved third and fourth grade teacher.  We were in Harlan KY for George Ella Lyon Day!

during the annual summer writers workshop at the Hindman Settlement School

with her close friend and fellow writer Gurney Norman, at Hindman

 

 

Crossing paths at a gas station in Morehead, KY so George Ella could see my daughter as a mom-to-be!!

GEL with Bobbie Ann Mason -- who is holding my photo of a mountain with its top removed..

after presenting a long workshop at Kentucky's Natural Bridge State Park

another year, same message, GEL with her college roommate and friend Kris

on the way to a job in North Carolina

during one of our monthly writers groups

  If the light was right and taking the photo wouldn't be intrusive, then I often couldn't keep from  doing it.  I never took many at a time.  It was a lot of fun.  I prefer the natural look whenever it is possible. A moment in time.

 

I look forward to sharing more soon.  I can't beiieve I never thought of doing this before.

 Again, CONGRATULATIONS, George Ella, for your induction into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame!  And thanks as always for your patience when I can't resist taking your photo. 

 

Exploring what I see by chance and unexpectedly

            Our last snowfall (6 inches here in northeastern Kentucky two nights ago) was unexpected, and, for some reason, it set me thinking about how much the unexpected is part of my photography. I notice things, I like working with available light, and I wonder at what circumstance so often provides.  I have been amazed so many times that I was where I was, that the light was right and, of course, that I had a camera with me.

            I looked through some of my photos to find images I had no idea I would get.  Some of these I have already shared over the past ten years and others may be new.   

            I actually love the unexpected in general. It's sort of like having a really good idea that someone would never have thought of otherwise.  

This view is close to home, so having my camera nearby is not that unusual.  However, a reminder: It never works to say "Oh, I will take that photo tomorrow when I have more time."  Ha! No way!

Guess what - this is all about the light, fleeting at best.  I was in Maine for a cousin reunion, last July.  I had stepped outside for a moment, but I quickly had to put visiting on hold while I got my camera... in a hurry.

This light looks simiilar, but it is near home in Kentucky, and again this just happened. I think my camera was nearby in the car --- i.e. I didn't plan the timing, but I was delighted.

This is a moment, but there will likely be others like it  --- though there's never a guarantee. I don't always need spectacular unusual light to feel engaged by something I see.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

This rooster is probably one of my best known photos. I had just happened to stop by the barn area belonging to neighbors, and this guy decided to strut his stuff. We didn't have an appointment, but I did have my tripod in my car  and made this photo -- back in the days when I used slide film.

This photo also started as a slide.  It was getting dark in the woods, but I wanted to show my daughter this nest on the ground that I had discovered.  I NEVER expected 1) there would be a bird on the nest or 2) that she would not fly away.  I only took 3 photos so as not to scare her away -- I later talked to a Fish and Game person who supposed she was protecting newly hatched chicks. She made it into the book Counting on the Woods, by George Ella Lyon. The bird is a worm-eating warbler who actually may not eat worms.

an unexpected gift!

I wasn't looking for a writing spider, but there it was, near the pond.

There is a car in that mini-pond -- this photo made it into the newspaper.  UNEXPECTED!

This fire tower is in Central Kentucky and I wanted to go see it. Since no one seemed to have time or interest in going with me, I went by myself.  I didn't know I had to climb  part of the side of a mountain to get there, and then no one was around.  So  of course I climbed up almost to the top to see what I could see. It was worth it, though I should have known better! 

 

                                     That whole afternoon was unexpected......!!!!!!!


          I think I'll stop this for tonight. I can already see that I want to do another unexpected post.....This has been too much fun.  Thanks so much for coming along --   Ann