An Interesting Week

A barnacle encrusted bottled someone left on the dock. (click any image to enlarge)

Last week proved to be an interesting week.  First, I had warm season grass sod installed in my back yard (garden) since the growing season was just about over by the time we moved into our newly constructed home last fall.  I like the idea of installing the sod while the grass is still dormant.  The operation was interesting to watch.

Second, my wife and I hosted friends from out of state.  The visit was perfect and, as a bonus, my friend Dave (twolanetouring.com) and I took a day to go out locally and photograph.  It was a nasty day with wind, rain and heavily overcast skies.  Not at all optimal for good light or good photography.  But bad weather can sometimes create interesting photographs.

Then, early Saturday morning, we experienced a full blown thunderstorm with high winds, 35mph gusting to 50mph (56kph to 80kph) and driving rain.  That was followed by the passing of a cold front which dropped the temperature from 62° F Saturday morning to 31° F Saturday afternoon to 22° F Sunday morning!  To top it off, the rain turned to driving snow on Saturday afternoon!  That is very unusual in my area this time of year.  Unusual, but I loved it!

All that said, to me the best part of the week was when Dave and I headed out on Wednesday morning, as dreary and rainy as it also was, to find what we could find that may be worth photographing.  Normally, for me photography is pretty much a solo experience as no one who I know and lives nearby enjoys the craft as do I.  But when I can go out with a friend or friends, the time is special, whether photographing birds and wildlife or just wandering around and looking.

Jones Creek on which Rescue is located.  In the distance on the right is where the creek
meets an inlet of the James River. 

Two wooden deadrise oyster boats moored to a dilapidated dock on Jones Creek in Rescue.

One of the places we visited was a small enclave of houses, a small harbor, post office and a smattering of businesses called Rescue, Virginia.  It is located on Jones Creek about 1/2 mile up the creek from the James River.  I wouldn't suspect more than a few hundred people live there.  I couldn't find a reliable figure for its population since it is in an unincorporated part of Isle of Wight County.  

I thought I would post a few images I made during our wet and overcast visit to Rescue.  I was surprised to make as many pleasing images as I did when documenting this small area.

Oysterman are required to use these long hand tongs to fish for oysters.

Using these long handled tongs, oystermen grab the oysters from the riverbed and drop them on the
flat bottom of their deadrise boats.  Once returned to the dock, the oysters are shoveled into the 
colorful baskets and hoisted by winch onto the dock where they are transferred into large
bins to be trucked to a distributor or directly to restaurants.

Rescue U.S. Post Office.  About the size of a one car garage in the U.S.

Rescue Friends Church was founded in 1913.  Considering the mission of a church,
I love the implication of this church's name being "Rescue."

The daffodils are now blooming.  It's nice to finally see some color in nature.
The forsythias are also blooming.  It won't be long before the tulips are
up and blooming as well.  Nice.

All images made with a Fujifilm X-T4 and a 16-55mm f/2.8 lens.

Even though the light that day was terrible, the outing was much about friendship, shared experiences, exploration, becoming inspired by what you find and trying to make something out of largely nothing.  Try it.  It's always nice to get out with your camera.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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