New Year. New Friend. New Place. New Opportunities.

I met Steven a few months ago. Steven is married to a lady, Sandra, who works with my wife. Immediately, Steven and I hit it off. He has a certain joie de vivre, or joy of life. According to his wife, he likes to be on the go! Myself, I’m an admitted homebody. I like to stay close to home. After our initial meeting, he and I vowed to stay in touch and go out shooting sometimes. He has an interest in photography as well. Well, we made it all the way through the remainder of 2007 without making good on that promise to stay in touch.

Saturday morning, I decided to break the silence and give him a call. I asked if he wanted to go shooting sometime, like Sunday! He agreed and we had intended to go to the Blue Ridge Parkway; however, the weather forecast called for rain, rain, rain. So, when I picked him up this morning at 5:45 AM, we decided to go to another place that he was telling me about, Greenville, SC.

Mind you, Greenville is not a place that I would have considered going. I’ve passed through it on the way to Atlanta, because, well, it’s on the way. Probably the only thing that Greenville might be known for is the only BMW plant in USA. Greenville is about 100 miles southwest of Charlotte.

We arrived just as the sun peaked over the horizon, but 7:30 AM. As this was my first time, the shots that I got were, in my opinion, rather pedestrian. I was feeling out the place. We shot for about 90 minutes and walked and talked about family, friends, photography, travel, and all manner of things. I wasn’t there for serious photography, but more for friendship building. It was an enjoyable time. I wasn’t really ‘in the zone’ nor trying to be.

The area that Steven showed me was beautiful and has lots of potential. I shall have to visit it often. Perhaps I’ll even spend a night in Greenville, get up early, and do the place justice. What I did find out about this place is that it is quite beautiful, quiet, and would be a great place to take the wife for a nice lunch, walk, and then perhaps a romantic dinner at one of the restaurants that overlook the river. I’m sure that she’d enjoy it.

During the shooting, I let him use my Nikon D40, and I used ‘the tank’, my D2x; now, he has the unenviable task of trying to convince his wife and chief comptroller that he ‘needs’ this camera. She’s already told him that he can’t have a D2x!!! Maybe I’ll sell him mine when my D3 arrives.

We had a great time and it is good to get to know someone who will challenge me to get out more and more. It’s also really cool to have someone who is so interested in photography and likes to talk as much as I do! We’ve already made plans to go shoot some snow up on the parkway next month. Perchance, between that time and this, we will even have another outing. I know that I certainly look forward to it!

Addendum: The river is natural. The name is Reedy River. It is a former Cherokee land and hunting ground. It was used in the late 1800s and early 1900 to provide power for the grist, textile, and cotton mills that were built along its banks, leading to its eventual demise and degradation. It became very polluted and neglected. In 1967 the land was purchased by the Carolina Foothills Garden Club who, over 4 decades, restored the area to its former glory. If you’re ever in Greenville, SC, make a stop and check it out. I know that I’ll be back very soon! Perhaps as soon as Saturday! It’s nothing but 100 miles away!!!