documentary photography
“Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the housefly
in my bed.
Once I heard and answered all the questions
of the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling dying
flake of snow,
Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .
How did it go?
How did it go?”
(photograph taken in northeast Chatham County)
These seabirds, distant cousins of frigatebirds and boobies, skim Jordan lake swooping for small fish. They settle on docks and bobbing markers, spreading their wings to dry.
(photographs taken at Jordan Lake in Chatham County)
"Post Office in General Store and Filling Station" (above) was taken in 1939 by Marion Post Wolcott and recently made available by Yale University. The university went public with about 170,000 photographs from the Great Depression that were at one time stored within government archives. Today, the Bynum General Store serves as a community gathering spot. It's the home of the non-profit organization Bynum Front Porch perhaps best known for its music series, drawing folks from across the region for outdoor bluegrass concerts and impromptu pickin' sessions. Remnants of the post office remain inside the store, a nod to the town's history and evolution.
(photograph taken in Bynum, NC, Chatham County)
The couple was celebrating an anniversary with an evening balloon ride over the Chatham County countryside. The balloon lifted at about 7pm Friday from a field in Silk Hope and floated West. Estimated travel is about 5 miles with calm winds.
(photographs taken via i-phone in Silk Hope, NC about 40 minutes southwest of Carrboro/Chapel Hill in Chatham County.)
More than anything, Bynum folk art legend Clyde Jones likes to make children smile. He has an unconventional way of going about it: by revving up his chainsaw.
It works. And kids aren’t the only ones smiling.
He starts with log remnants or an old stump. With a few swipes of his saw, a hammer and nails, and perhaps a coat or two of paint, a “critter” is born. Plastic flowers, tennis balls, artificial grapes, and bottle caps become eyes. A pair of panty hose or a clip-on braid becomes a tail. Some get saddles or a string of lights. The lucky ones get a frosting of glitter.
But the whimsical pieces aren’t for sale. He generously donates them to schools and to local nonprofits. And he gives them to folks he takes a liking to, which includes most of his neighbors, owners and waiters at area restaurants, his dentist, and Captain John's Dockside restaurant in Chapel Hill. In fact, when famed Russian ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov arrived in a limousine in 1991, Clyde politely refused to sell him one.
“You can’t buy one,” Clyde said. “But I like it when people come and take a look.” However, those interested in owning a critter will have a rare opportunity to bid on one at the 14th annual ClydeFEST celebration on May 2nd in Bynum where Clyde will be fashioning a critter on-site for auction.
The Chatham Arts Council honors Clyde with an annual full-day, smile-packed event for children called ClydeFEST. Kids play original Clyde-themed games, make their own art, eat food, and enjoy live entertainment. At Clyde’s Critterville, children get to paint and glitter their own Clyde Critter cut-out to take home. This year’s ClydeFEST is set for Saturday, May 2 from from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Ball Field in Bynum just south of Chapel Hill/Carrboro towards Pittsboro. Admission is $7 for ages 12 and up, $3 for ages 3-11, and free for children under age 3. In case of inclement weather, the festival will be held from 1-5 p.m. May 3rd.
(written by Bett Wilson Foley, photographs taken at The Barn at Fearrington in Pittsboro, NC)
Beading and sequins, pearl strands and gloves. Teens from Chatham and Orange counties arrive in clusters -- many by school bus -- to participate in Cinderella's Closet of Chatham County. The organization helps high school girls who might not be able to afford prom by outfitting them in ensembles certain to magnify memories. Volunteer "fairy godmothers" usher the students -- referred by community organizations and school staff -- as they till through racks of more than 600 dresses in a rainbow of colors, sizes and lengths. Seamstresses ensure a perfect fit. Scores of high heels, heaps of make-up, rows of clutches and cosmetic bags leave some speechless. The wide eyes and giggles among the girls are infectious. The the reactions, immeasurable:
(photographs taken at Cinderella's Closet of Chatham County)
Metal rings on bulls are typically inserted into the nasal septum to control a bull. It's a practice dating back to the dawn of recorded civilization. Known for fiery tempers, these powerful animals can be unpredictable and can pose a threat to handlers -- bull handling is a leading cause of injury or death for U.S. dairy farmers. Yet these 1,200 to 2,200-pound muscular animals tend to be compliant when led by a ring or a rope looped around the ring which is pierced through sensitive nasal tissue. A ring is often installed by a veterinarian using local anesthesia when a bull is about nine to twelve months of age.
(photographs taken at Fearrington Village in Pittsboro)