Mountain Glory Creations

A Bit of Green...

2011-09-28T16:24:00.003-04:00

We know our Mountain Glory Creations prints/note cards/montage posters, etc. have made it pretty much around the world, can't think of a country where we haven't heard our items have been taken or sent. But a customer recently stopped us to tell us that she'd sent our DVD (featuring Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA) in a CARE package to her son who was stationed with the Army in Afghanistan. He and his fellow soldiers (no one else was from C-ville!) played our DVD over and over again...because it was a bit of lush green and color in an arid brown environment, and for one soldier, at least, provided a few minutes of 'home.' Bob, a retired Navy officer, felt pretty darn good about that!

See information on our DVD www.mountainglorycreations.com.

Harrisonburg, VA Photo Montage - Checked Off!

2011-03-28T11:45:00.005-04:00

We spent an interesting day in Harrisonburg, VA - exploring the city and the campuses of Eastern Mennonite University and James Madison University. This was the result! We live just 'over the mountain' - about a 45 minute drive from Harrisonburg, but had never really taken the time, when whizzing through on I-81, to really stop and look. What an interesting city! We also did our customary stop at the Green Valley Book Fair in Mt. Crawford, a fun way to see more of that part of the world!

To purchase our new Harrisonburg, VA montage poster, see our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Spring Maple and Monterey, VA!

2011-03-16T11:01:00.004-04:00

In the many mountain nooks and crannies of Virginia, we found Monterey, VA, with its wonderful Highland Maple Festival held every March. The drive out 250W from Charlottesville made for some spectacular scenery. (The Highland County area is not called Virginia's Little Switzerland for naught!) And...we learned about sugar camps...raising sheep...The Highland Center...that there is at least one true general store alive and well in VA...mountain trout...Civil War battles...ghosts of the Highland Inn and more. Here's our newest montage, Monterey, VA, and now available for purchase on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

And oh yes, the Charlottesville City Market swings back into action the first Saturday in April, 7 a.m. to noon. We plan to be there frequently, and hope to see you there as well!

Peace Lutheran Church Holiday Fair

2010-11-13T07:57:00.003-05:00

Off to Peace Lutheran Church's Holiday Fair today, Sat., Nov. 13th, 9-2, corner of 29N and Hollymead Dr., Charlottesville, VA. Car is loaded...see contents of said car at www.mountainglorycreations.com! Whew.

The City Market Continues....

2010-11-06T09:16:00.005-04:00

The Charlottesville City Market is still in full swing on Saturday mornings through December 18th, Water St. Parking Lot! So put on those extra layers and come down and have fun - and find wonderful artisan items, fresh baked goodies, holiday greens in December. Mountain Glory Creations plans to be there on several Saturdays with our 2011 local calendars, prints, posters, tote bags, coffee mugs, notecards, holiday cards and greeting cards...plus our little outdoor propane camp heater. We'll be glad to share to warm you up! See many of our new local montages and prints at www.mountainglorycreations.com.

RAIN...oh my...Foxfield Family Day

2010-09-26T12:51:00.004-04:00

For those of you who live in the Charlottesville area or have attended UVA, you know what 'Foxfield' means. These steeplechase races have long been a staple of autumn and spring, and the proceeds go to wonderful area charities. We were to participate in their Family Day today, displaying and selling our local scenic photography, but alas...we woke up to hear...unbelievably, the sound of rain on the roof. What timing after weeks and weeks without rain. The Weather Channel showed lots of blue headed toward C-ville, so....we didn't chance it. We so need the moisture (think burnt grass, dusty, brown leaves), but the charities so need the money.

On another note, for all you fans of the Charlottesville City Market, we have put together a wonderful new photo montage of some of the vendor signs on display on many Saturdays. It can be ordered from our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/. Other new items? A cheery red coffee mug featuring three image of C-ville as well as a great grocery tote bag. We'll be posting all new items on our website for ordering, along with how to order our beautiful holiday greetings.

Hazy...Hot...Humid

2010-07-25T09:05:00.003-04:00

The City Market was hot, hot, hot yesterday - but, as always, fun. Had enough ice water in our cooler, and bought a wonderful coffee and cream slushee type drink for caffeinated energy. Come see our 2011 local calendars, our brand new City Market canvas tote bags (using our beautiful market morning veggies and flowers image), and our newest C-ville ceramic coffee mugs, featuring our "White Shed...Blue Ridge" image. Our little design team has been busy as it's just too HHH to take pictures right now. You can check out our new products on our website at www.mountainglorycreations.com! Also delivered more of our 'creations' to the gift shop at the top of Carter Mountain yesterday. Hot, but as almost always, a lovely breeze sweeping across the mountaintop, and the fresh peach aroma on the wind!

2010-03-30T09:49:00.002-04:00

The Charlottesville City Market will open for its 2010 season on Saturday, April 3 from 7 a.m. to noon. (Think fresh veggies and flowers in season, the aroma of perked coffee, baked goods...!) We will be there on many Saturday mornings through the season with a large selection of our note cards, prints, montage posters, coffee mugs, greeting cards, our 2011 calendars - all featuring our uniquely local full color photography! Stop by and see us, we'd love to meet you!

Another Moment of Fame:-)

2009-12-30T10:41:00.002-05:00

Mountain Glory Creations is to be featured in the Dec. 31 edition of the Daily Progress (Charlottesville's daily paper) in the Home Style section. Check us out if you get the DP - we haven't yet seen the article, so should be interesting!

Happy and Healthy New Year to you all!

Autumn/Winter Repeat....

2009-12-08T14:45:00.002-05:00

If you live in the Charlottesville area, you know we've received our first beautiful snowfall of the season. This lovely farm driveway is a sight we pass every day - and the changes in light and color from season to season are amazing. This photograph was not taken in black and white - these were the actual colors of the day - grays, blacks, and all variations whites and subtle blues. (One of us was standing out with camera, bundled up, shielding the camera from the falling snow.) Be sure to see more of our recent work at our website, www.mountainglorycreations.com, and also take a look at the wonderful holiday gifts we offer - prints, photo montage posters of your favorite Central VA town or neighborhood, your choice of 2010 local wall calendars, local scene DVD or screensaver, set of local scene notecards selected by you! We also provide holiday greeting cards as well using our photography. Have a look!

An Albemarle Autumn...

2009-10-24T14:07:00.005-04:00

We've seen many autumns come and go in Charlottesville, and each year are taken aback (given the right weather...the right timing) with the blazing color on the mountains, the vibrant red or gold or bronze of a lone tree, the drying pods and grains in the fields. Yesterday we caught this beautiful farm lane in the rain. While I was busy snapping pictures (and getting wet!), three deer sauntered up in the field you see to the right, curious and alert, but not afraid. See this and other local prints at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/. And it's not too soon to order your local scene 2010 calendars and holiday greeting cards from our website as well! We're having our third batch of calendars printed this week!

Holiday Greeting Cards Featuring Charlottesville, Albemarle, the University of Virginia!

2009-10-01T15:22:00.006-04:00

That time of year is slowly coming our way - the great winter holiday season. If you're interested in sending some beautifully unique holiday cards this year, you may want to check out our colorful local scene holiday cards at www.mountainglorycreations.com under"Other Creations." We can turn any of our online images into a special holiday or Christmas card. What a wonderful way to share the quiet winter beauty of the University of Virginia, the County of Albemarle, or the City of Charlottesville with friends or professional associates. Many clients tell us that they've walked into offices or homes long after the holidays and found their Mountain Glory Creations greeting card pinned to bulletin boards or even framed! Now THAT is making a memory, we'd say!

A Summer Still LIfe...

2009-07-20T14:20:00.004-04:00

The art of the still life is alive and well! This recently taken image of a farm's produce display combines the mid-summer color riot of fresh veggies and flowers, highlighted by the early morning sun. (As always, just past sunrise is a 'witching hour' for photographers. It's worth rolling out of bed early and grabbing the cameras!) We've framed and hung this large sized print in our own kitchen - perhaps it would look wonderful in your own kitchen/dining area as well, particularly come next January and February! You can see and order this vibrant print under the "Charlottesville City" tab on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

2009-06-23T09:06:00.005-04:00

We were busy during the late spring deluge of rain Charlottesville received. One wonderful thing about rain (besides the current lushness and the many shades of green on our mountains) is the way it transforms colors - adding an almost European look to photographs. This image was taken on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall during a recent spate of heavy rain. Note the details of The Nook's iron trellis, the bike, the lights in the windows of the stores and second floor offices, the shining brickwork and vibrant flowers. All were enhanced by the gray skies and rain. This image is available as a print, notecards or half-fold greeting card at our website www.mountainglorycreations.com.

Always watch the Weather Channel...!?

2009-05-31T09:55:00.004-04:00

This past week we decided to (literally) climb up the side of a mountain to capture some sweeping images of oh-so-green Charlottesville. At the foot of the mountain, we heard a (not so far away) rumbling of thunder. Laden with cameras, backpacks and water bottles, one of us (who shall remain nameless!) queried "You really think this is a good idea?" "Sure, it's just one of those usual afternoon squalls passing by to the west of us," said the other one of us, who will also remain nameless. Ahem. After we'd trudged one mile UP the mountain, the heavens broke loose and we were caught in pouring rain for the entire time it took to run back DOWN the mountain....frantically stuffing cameras into backpacks, wringing out clothing. Two bedraggled photographers, soaked to the skin, ran one mile in record time (for our ages), we're sure! So note to all nature photographers out there - Weather Channel watching with those 'Locals on the Eights' might make good sense before going up a mountain on an iffy day!

The Scent of Lilac....

2009-04-26T15:59:00.006-04:00

The Charlottesville City Market has begun their 2009 season - and last Saturday in her usual round of the market vendors, Jan passed an Earlyville flower vendor's display and caught this beautiful early morning image of several differently colored lilacs and yellow tulips. Funny thing is, the scent of the lilacs drew her to the display before she ever saw the flowers! She followed her nose. The sun had just risen...the flowers were freshly picked...and so many of us seem to harbor fond memories of lilacs. This image is available as notecards or prints at our website http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

2009-03-04T08:20:00.004-05:00

Many of our customers have asked us to begin a series of Charlottesville T-shirts. After much thought, we have initially chosen our Charlottesville City Market photo montage to grace the front of our initial 'creation' - a crisp, white, pre-shrunk cotton T. The montage is a swirl of vibrant colors representative of the market's seasons - fresh flowers...fresh veggies...orange pumpkins...! Great as a local gift or for your own relaxed wear, sleeping apparel, etc. See more info on the montage or the T-shirt at our website, http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

The Seven Days of Valentines....

2009-01-17T11:39:00.005-05:00

Plan ahead...a little bit...with our special Seven Days of Valentines series, which can now be found on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/ under "Other Creations." We provide seven vibrant and beautiful cards with envelopes, each with the caption, "I love you because..." You provide the inside message for each of the seven days prior to February 14th. Send them one per day by post, or hide them in cereal boxes, under pillows, in a lunchbag, etc. A unique treat for anyone who is special to you - from your child to your significant other to your grandad! We'll even include a list of suggested small items to leave with each card as a small token of your caring!

Facebook...we're there!

2009-01-14T13:04:00.002-05:00

We just put a page on Facebook! If you have a Facebook account, log in and see us at Mountain Glory Creations.

Mountain Glory Creations Featured on WCAV-TV!

2009-01-05T08:44:00.004-05:00

Guess we (and Mountain Glory Creations) had our few minutes of local 'fame' yesterday (January 4) as we were featured in a segment on the local news on WCAV-TV out of Charlottesville, VA. The segment will be on their website for two weeks at http://www.wcav.tv/ if you're interested in seeing our story. Look for "Local Couple Discovers Photography in Hard Times." Their talented and multi-tasking reporter (Liz Palka) was wonderful to work with, and we found her job fascinating as well - its hands on from start to finish - from interviewing to camera work to audio, writing, editing, etc. Her photographic equipment is just a wee bit (!) more intimidating and complicated than ours. Bob and I also know that Hollywood won't be calling us anytime soon:-).

An Afton, VA montage - finally!

2009-01-01T13:53:00.004-05:00

Many of our customers have asked us to create a photo montage of the lovely little town of Afton, VA, and - voila - 'tis now ready! Afton is a small town perched on the side of Afton Mountain. If you've traveled I-64 west from Charlottesville, you've passed over the mountain infamous for its sudden fogs. (The only thing we're missing is a sign for the famed 'Cookie Lady' of Afton, beloved to all the folks who follow the bike trails around Central Virginia. We've looked closely up and down the little mountain hamlet, but could not find the sign. Any bikers out there who can tell us where she is/what has become of the hostel? You can find this photo montage for sale on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-27T08:18:00.004-05:00

Here's to a bright and shining 2009!

As the year ends, we've been busy reorganizing and adding many new images to our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/. Take a look for a beautiful visual break! This photo was taken on a crisp, cold day - the shadows in the clouds reflect the colors in the mountains. Always an amazing site to watch the continuous interplay of mountains and clouds...lights and darks.

Small gift ideas...

2008-12-11T08:48:00.005-05:00

Looking for a colorful, unique, small (i.e. portable) and economical gift for a friend, officemate, neighbor, teacher...well, almost anyone who lives in or loves Charlottesville or VA? Take a look at our website, www.mountainglorycreations.com. We have some great suggestions.

- Our 2009 special edition wall calendar featuring 12 full color scenes of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and UVA. (Our other two calendar versions - the City Market and UVA are sold out.)

- A notecard assortment featuring beautiful scenes from our website - you choose, we package. (Anybody watch Oprah the other day to hear that notecards are 'in' at the current moment? When were they ever out?? Who doesn't enjoy getting a hand written note?

- A montage poster featuring a specific small town or neighborhood or area - truly a one of a kind find. Whether you're hunting for Scottsville or Urbanna or Charlottesville, Belmont or Woolen Mills, Earlysville or Crozet - we've got 'em plus many, many more on our website.

- A print of a special view or area in VA - you choose, we send.

And while you're on our website, check out the holiday greeting card selection. Perhaps you want to send a few very special cards to some very special people in your life?

Find all of these suggestions and more at www.mountainglorycreations.com. You can easily order and pay with a credit card online, or, if you're in the Charlottesville area and want to save on postage, give us an email at mountainglorycreations@msn.com or call us at 434.979.1566 with your order.

The Wahoo Squirrel...

2008-11-17T10:18:00.005-05:00

If you're of an 'experienced' age and live in Charlottesville, chances are you know about OLLI (affiliated with UVA). OLLI offers short daytime courses geared to us 'retired' (ahem) folks in everything from Shakespeare to history to art to...you name it! (OLLI operates under the umbrella of UVA.) OLLI's spring catalog will feature the wonderful Pavilion Garden image you see above - Wahoo Squirrel and all! Look carefully - do you see him (or her?)? We hadn't a clue we'd caught him (or her) in action until we were culling our photos after the beautiful spring shoot. This lovely spring image can be purchased through our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Moment of Zen...

2008-10-31T15:24:00.004-04:00

Yesterday we walked along Charlottesville's/Albemarle County's Thomas Jefferson walkway, a long uphill and invigorating climb (but accessible to all!) up the side of Carter Mountain. A stiff breeze was blowing, leaves were flying. As we rounded the pond at the foot of the mountain, this wonderful image of the reflected leaves shimmering in the wind-rippled water came into a moment's focus. You don't always need a massive mountain of color to say 'autumn' or 'peace.'

This beautiful print can be found on our website for order soon - http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/. If you love Charlottesville, check out our 2009 calendars and holiday greeting cards on our website as well. Been very, very busy!!

Between Summer and Autumn...

2008-10-24T08:44:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was photo hunt day - put the dog and cameras in the car and off we went, winding up and down Albemarle County dirt roads we hadn't yet explored. (And there are many!) Our amazement was the lack of color this late in October, even on top of the highest ridge lines. Autumn, it seems, is coming later than predicted. We did get this unedited but lovely picture of the 'just beginning to turn' trees in the middleground and mountain ridge - through the last of the summer wind flowers. Even more amazing considering we had a hard frost the other night. The fragile lavender, pinks, and purples blowing in the wind juxtaposed on the autumn colors provide visual interest. A wee bit of editing and this will be a notecard, we think. See many of our other autumn images at our website, www.mountainglorycreations.com, and check out our 2009 Albemarle/City of Charlottesville/University of Virginia wall calendars as well.

Last Saturday Markets...and Color!

2008-10-05T16:46:00.005-04:00

This is always a semi-sad time of year - the wonderful outdoor Charlottesville City Saturday Market ends on the last Saturday in Oct. (But fear not - the Holiday Market begins on the Downtown Mall shortly after Thanksgiving!) But even so, until next April, no more early Saturday morning aromas of fresh coffee and donuts, colorful produce, flowers, veggies, etc. The rich color feasts of spring, summer and autumn will give way to the more somber colors and textures that are our Charlottesville winters - dove grays, blues, varied browns, whites. But each season has its own visual beauty, we have learned. While we were at the City Market this past Saturday, Jan took this beautiful photo of autumn's vibrant dahlias in very early morning light. For the dahlia lovers (and we know you're out there), we'll soon have it posted on our website, http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/. Our last Saturday at this year's market will be Oct. 18th. See our website for pre-holiday events in which we plan to participate.

First Pre-Holiday Event...Or Where Has the Summer Flown?

2008-09-21T08:16:00.004-04:00

For us, it's time to start gearing up for pre-holiday art fairs and shows, and for the first time, Mountain Glory Creations plans to participate in Aldergate Fest next Saturday (September 27th) at 1500 E. Rio Road, Charlottesville (near Fashion Square Mall), from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. It's a rare chance for us to be on the "29N" side of Charlottesville with many of our local prints, posters, calendars, DVD, screensaver, holiday greeting cards, booklets, placemats, notecard....etc. - all available for purchase as holiday gifts! Bob, the 'Director of Logistics' for MGC (among his many corporate titles!), is in charge of transport and set up. Jan mans the printers this week and selects what goes with us across town. Promises to be a fun day, from what we've heard - so if you're in the area on the way to Fashion Square...or Target...or Lowes...or Whole Foods...or soccer practice...we know the Saturday drill! - stop by and see us! More about our pre-holiday appearances can be found on our website under "Who and Where", www.mountainglorycreations.com.

Autumn Colors...How Welcome!

2008-09-12T09:50:00.004-04:00

Yes, yes and yes - the fall colors are so welcomed by these photographers after this summer of browns (no rain!) and dull white skies. As as we always have cameras in the car - even for a trip to the dentist - yesterday was no exception. This explosion of color was found at Ivy Corner Nursery along 250W, and is an autumn vision in textures (mums, Indian corn, pumpkins, gourds) and colors (russets, yellows, golds, reds, oranges, greens). We'll hope these colors are the precursor of what we'll see on our mountains in six weeks or so. (P.S. You can find a selection of our autumn scene notecards at Ivy Corner Nursery!)

Random Thought to Placemat to Product...Whew!

2008-08-27T08:20:00.007-04:00

So....daughter number two (of three) recently visited along with her family. Looking at some of our framed photography which we have displayed in our kitchen, she mused "Hmmm....wonder if you could turn these into trivets, or placemats? That would be pretty cool, actually." SO...that started the wheels turning, and voila - we have created some beautiful reversible placemats suitable for indoor or outdoor dining! They wipe clean with a swipe of the sponge, are ultra-sturdy (in honor of grandchildren!), and represent all four seasons in the Charlottesville/Albemarle/UVA area. Your meals may not consist of gourmet cooking (they surely don't around this house!), but you can eat on ever-changing beauty and cut down on laundry - a laudable contribution to an ever greener lifestyle. You can read more about our new placemat collection on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/, in Gallery 3. For now, they'll only be available at the Saturday City Market. We think they'll make great holiday gifts! You just never know how and when a creative idea will present itself....

Autumn...Now?!

2008-08-18T08:51:00.005-04:00

We've seen Halloween items for sale in the local stores and it's only mid-August. Hmmm...a strange bit of rushing of the seasons? BUT, for scenic photographers, we do plan ahead, well ahead of the season's change. Very often we may be out - way out - in the mountains driving or hiking for another photo shoot showcasing mid-summer, and both exclaim "Wow, this scene would be just beautiful in autumn...or winter...!" Pre GPS, we wrote down the location as best we could figure out. (A hard task in rural Central VA!) Post GPS, we 'mark it and save it.' Works like a charm. So we have a wonderful list of potential autumn locations on our GPS should we have a colorful display this year. The scene above was taken in Albemarle County, VA in misty autumn sunlight. The visual path of gold extends into the cleared meadow. The woods were hushed and quiet. Beautiful! You'll find this image for purchase on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Waynesboro, VA Montage...Finally Finished!

2008-08-13T09:10:00.005-04:00

At the long time request of several of our customers, we finally got to finish exploring our 'over the mountain' neighbor - Waynesboro, VA. We've been there taking photos in the autumn and recently went back on a quiet summer Sunday afternoon. (Sundays equal few cars, better views!) After miles of walking and talking with residents, we have what we think is a great photo montage poster representative of the city. From the beautifully preserved homes to the military academy campus to the valley views to the small quaint art center and museum, quaint downtown buildings - just an interesting place to explore. We love to do photo montages. It gets us in our walking shoes, talking with locals, and always, always learning more about history and local lore than we thought possible. You can see and purchase the Waynesboro photo montage on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Signs Can Point the Way...

2008-07-31T10:32:00.004-04:00

Street signs...shop signs...farm signs....and in this case the quaint post office sign identifying Afton, VA, can instantly bring your viewer a small slice of what life is like in a particular area. In this case, Afton is a beautiful small crossroads near Charlottesville, VA, perched near/on Afton Mountain - the home of mighty and unexpected fogs and ice storms for intrepid travelers on I-64! This handcrafted wooden sign says much about that area of Virginia - rural, independent, crossroads, the post office serves as a community meeting place. We incorporate many signs in our work - especially in our photo montage posters. You can see them by checking out our website, http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/, and clicking on Montages. Look at each 'place' montage closely - chances are you'll see we've used many different signs, each adding to the story of the city or town we've explored with our photography.

Technicolor or not to technicolor?

2008-07-17T19:30:00.009-04:00

We pride ourselves on not doing massive amounts of editing to our images. Purists at heart, we guess. Sure, a tweak here and there to increase brightness, saturation, etc. - all well and good. But cobalt blue sky when the sky was our typical summer 'white/gray'? Nope. Crisp mountains when the day was humid? No. Not our style. We want to start with a great (but realistic) image and keep it that way.

The true pleasure of digital photography, we think, (and the pleasure of having the luxury of time!) is watching and waiting - and having cameras ever at the ready. This is a photo we took this week while delivering an order near the University of Virginia's Corner. With just a bit of tweaking, it might make an interesting print, following the photographic rule of thirds. (More about that in a later blog post.) When we do decide it's ready, we'll post it on our website for orders at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/. But will it look like Technicolor personified? No, not our style. It will look like 2:00 p.m. on a typical summer day in C-ville - subtle colors, a slight 'mist' in the air, shaded side of the Rotunda. Sure, there's nothing wrong with intensive photo editing - it has its place, it's a learned skill, it can be lots of fun, and we respect that. But we prefer to do things the old fashioned way - waiting, watching, and catching an image that is true to the time of day, weather, light, location, and camera.

Exploring 101 - History and Hidden Gems

2008-07-09T15:47:00.008-04:00

One of the wonderful things about our small business has been the opportunity to take the time to really explore and learn about so many small towns in Central Virginia and beyond - the amazing and varied history of each, the unique things each area offers. From this image, taken in Staunton, VA with it's preserved Victorian architecture...to Orange, VA with it's bustling community art center...to the quaint Court Square of Palmyra...to Gordonsville's historic role in the Civil War...to Altavista's train station...to Lovingston's nestled under the mountain feel - what an amazing education we've had in the hours we've explored. And we've walked (or ridden) the streets of Scottsville on the James River, Crozet, Amherst, North Garden, Madison, Stanardsville, Covesville, Batesville, Earlysville, Stony Point, Louisa, Urbanna, Sandbridge, etc. - with images of more Virginia towns on the way. Look at the wonderful montage posters from all these distinct areas under 'Photo Montages' on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/, or contact us for beautiful individual images available for each locality, but not displayed on our website. We'll continue to explore with our cameras and walking shoes...and learn!

Off (and OFF!) the Beaten Path...

2008-06-25T08:33:00.006-04:00

Many days we pack cameras, lunch, load the dog in the car and take off into Central Virginia for points unknown - as in turn off back country roads...to unpaved roads...to narrow dirt roads, usually winding up the side of a mountain. (Yes, GPS definitely helps here!) We never know what we'll find, nor what the lighting might be like when we find it - but oh, the surprises we've had! From stumbling upon this delicate waterfall in Albemarle County, high above Crozet...to watching a large mother bear and her three cubs tumble out of the woods near the Shenandoah National Forest, stop and slowly take in our car, and equally as slowly amble back into the forest...to old log cabins long ago forgotten by time, almost claimed by the mountain undergrowth. Each short trip yields a visual treasure, no matter how small, no matter how hidden.

This print, "Tumbling Down the Mountain," is available on our website http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Plan Ahead...2009 Local Calendars!

2008-06-13T16:40:00.006-04:00

Each year we have fun sitting down and creating our full color wall calendars from our latest local photography. This year we'll have three calendars from which to choose - a general local calendar which includes seasonal photos of Albemarle County, Charlottesville City, and UVA; a Saturday City Market calendar, featuring vibrant photos of the wonderful Saturday morning market on Water St., and a UVA calendar....featuring, you guessed it, wonderful images of the Lawn area of The University, Pavilion Gardens, etc. Yes, we thought it was early to be thinking 2009 calendar, but many of our customers wanted something lightweight to take as a special host or hostess gift this summer, and thus the timing! One calendar gives a year's worth of beauty, and a wonderful glimpse of where we live. To order your own, please see our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/. Plus there is plenty of room on each date for jotting down birthdays, anniversaries, etc. We ran out of our 2008 local calendars last year - they truly are limited editions - so plan ahead:-).

Five Minutes of Fame...

2008-06-05T07:30:00.004-04:00

No picture today...but fun news in that Mountain Glory Creations Scenic Photography is featured in an article in the current June/July 2008 edition of "The Next 50" full color magazine, which can be found in many locations throughout the Central VA area. The article details the serendipitous way our small business came into being, and starts on page 20. Pick up a free copy anywhere you see "The Next 50" box!

Mountain Glory Creations has also been featured in articles in the Washington Post, Newsweek Online, The Daily Progress, and on the national SCORE webpage. Links to many of those articles can be found on our website at www.mountainglorycreations.com under "What's New at MGC?" on our home page. Next week we'll be back to our 'image of the week,' we promise!

Rotunda Dogwood...

2008-05-28T12:14:00.004-04:00

The last of our dogwood to bloom has come (and almost gone) in Charlottesville. This beautiful image of the historic Rotunda of the University of Virginia was taken through the Chinese dogwoods just before a graduation weekend. Photographic story? Jan shot many pictures through branches and blooms, from many angles, hoping the light would be right....and voila! Digital cameras allow for unlimited tries....you just need unlimited patience (and sometimes unlimited time!) to wait for that cloud to pass or the breeze to die down...or our wonderful tourists to leave the visual field. 'Tis much of the fun of taking pictures, we think! This print can be purchased from our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

South St. Pink...

2008-05-20T15:32:00.004-04:00

Ah, the wonderfully walkable City of Charlottesville, filled with small, unexpected nooks and crannies, gardens and vistas...an interesting picture to be had around almost every corner! We fell in love with this pink bike, highlighted by the backdrop of 'the large pink building' and the bright flowers on South St. (And if you walk around the back of the building, toward the railroad tracks, look to your right. A gardener lives or works there, we'd guess, and has claimed a small patch of earth for himself or herself. Thank you for the spot of color, whoever you are!)

This bright print is available for sale on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Ladybug, Ladybug...Fly Away Home!

2008-05-16T10:50:00.004-04:00

It's that time of year - peonies, one of the most beloved flowers, are bursting into bloom, and this little ladybug decided to tarry a while on a peony bud. Bugs can be interesting, folks! So get in close with your camera and snap away...look carefully and see what you can find in your own garden. A beautiful spider web outlined in rain? An early butterfly?

This unique print is wonderful for a child's room or nursery, can can be found in Gallery 2 on our website at www.mountainglorycreations.com. Along with our photography of butterflies, horses, birds, etc. - a whole decorating theme could emerge if your little guy is a nature lover!

Ocean (Yes, Ocean!) Clouds...

2008-05-08T17:29:00.005-04:00

We 'camp.' Or we're trying to learn how to 'camp' in an RV. A little different from our younger days of tents and pop ups! And because Bob is a retired Navy Commander, we get to use military campgrounds...of which there are quite a few in the Tidewater area. This past week we spent a few days on an almost empty Atlantic beach near Oceana Naval Air Station - just us, the gulls, the dunes, the wind, and the ever changing light and ocean. This shot was taken as an overcast, dove gray sky began to change as patches of blue started peeking through the clouds. The ocean picked up the colors as the sky changed. Hear the surf? Feel the wind? See the delicate line in the sand where the water meets the shore? Charlottesville offers a unique and special kind of beauty, but the Atlantic ocean or the Chesapeake Bay offers ever changing beauty comparable to our mountains. We are also working on a wonderful montage of roses from the Norfolk Botanical Gardens - everything is in full bloom of reds, pinks, yellows, oranges - only three hours away. The Botanical Garden's massive Rose Garden tests new roses each year pre-naming, and are an absolutely amazing sight for winter weary eyes!

See other Virginia water photos in Gallery 2 at our website http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Photo Montage Posters - Is YOUR Favorite VA Town, City or Neighborhood Here?

2008-04-30T20:10:00.005-04:00

What fun we've had creating our many unique VA photo montage posters...and how much local history (and beauty) we've absorbed along the way! Each montage we create involves hours of driving, walking and exploring, talking to local residents, reading and researching before and after a photo shoot to find the most important/historic/unique areas of a city, town or neighborhood, to learn what represents the special essence of that locality. Then comes the fun of choosing exactly the right images and the puzzle of fitting them all together. And so we've 'discovered' Charlottesville, Batesville, Crozet, Palmyra, White Hall, Scottsville, Free Union, North Garden, Covesville, Earlysville, Gordonsville, Albemarle County, Barboursville, Orange, Louisa, Keswick, Madison, Stanardsville, Urbanna, Sandbridge, Altavista, Amherst, Staunton, Lovingston, Nellysford...as well as various neighborhoods of Charlottesville such as Downtown C-ville, Woolen Mills and Belmont. And then there are our themed montage posters such as C-ville Wings (birds - it took hours just to get the little hummingbird photo!), Garden Royalty for the iris lover, Daylily Summer, UVA, The Charlottesville City Market, Pavilion Gardens (UVA) - and many more. The most fun? When someone spots their 'home' montage in our portfolio and a broad smile appears and the stories begin. "When I was a kid, my grandma's house was right beyond that bend in the road..." and we sit back to listen and learn. Our photo montages can be seen (and ordered) on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/. Click on the 'Montage Posters' tab for a great show!

Off the Beaten Path...

2008-04-23T09:11:00.004-04:00

We have discovered many beautiful vistas simply because we randomly turned down small country roads...then turned off onto dirt roads...which then twisted and turned up and down mountains...until we were totally lost but oftimes in awe of spectacular views. (Thank heavens for GPS!) This lovely spring green image of a farm nestled against a backdrop of purple mountains is a prime example. The dirt road wandered this way and that, through patches of forest - before openinng onto this sweeping vista. Lesson to be learned? Central Virginia still has many dirt roads just waiting to be explored. Almost no traffic means you can hop out and snap away to your heart's content when you come upon a scene of breath taking beauty in just the right light. Take a sandwich with you, grab your camera, put your dog in the car and go! (Ted, our 'kind of poodle maybe' SPCA alumni photo dog, goes on most shoots with us and knows that when the cameras are being readied - it's ROAD TRIP time. Let the wagging begin!)

This image is available as a notecard or print at our website http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Pavilion Garden...Rabbit!

2008-04-16T16:52:00.004-04:00

A few days ago, we were walking through the beautiful Pavilion Gardens of the University of Virginia. One of the wonderful gardeners, seeing our cameras, asked if we wanted to see 'an old friend in the garden,' - which of course, we did! Taking us through several of the lovely white garden gates, we wended our way through Pavilion terraces, paths, and historic plantings. When he quietly signaled us to stop, he began softly talking to 'his friend', telling her he'd brought visitors! It took Jan a minute or two to spot this little guy - who evidently sunbathes in the shelter of the serpentine wall every spring morning. As we quietly talked, her ears and head rose higher and higher, obviously interested in the human voices. And - voila - this was the smile inducing picture that resulted! (This print is now available on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.)

Where are YOUR favorite views or places?

2008-04-14T10:06:00.006-04:00

We're picking our readers' collective brains in this post, so thus no new image (but stay tuned - more are coming!). We have been happily amazed when folks see us walking with our cameras down country dirt roads/on narrow mountain trails/in small towns or large cities, etc. - and after chatting with us, share the location of a special and beautiful view or place they have always loved...or a five day old colt with his mother...or a newborn lamb...or a rare flower growing in their garden. Sometimes that special shared view or place is high in the mountains, requiring four wheel drive - other times, it's just around the corner but down a small street previously unknown to us.

We'd love for you to share with us the location of a beautiful local view or place which is special to YOU! Who knows? You just may see it on our blog! We have had Richmonders share with us as well as residents of Virginia's coastline, and receive many wonderful tips from people all over Central VA and the Shenandoah Valley. So, no matter where you live, we'd love to hear from you. Your response may be the start of another fun 'photo quest' for us and you may even see one of your favorite scenes on our blog! If you'd like to reply 'off blog', just email us at mountainglorycreations@msn.com.

Orchard Fog...

2008-04-08T13:38:00.000-04:00

The clouds, fog, and much needed rain have settled over Albemarle County, but fog can afford some amazingly wonderful images - even without the aid of ultra-fancy cameras. This recent photo is of a fog-shrouded orchard in Crozet, VA, just breaking into full pink bloom. Note the wisps of fog swirling around the mountain nestled farm. Rain or fog should NOT keep you at home - grab some clear plastic bags to protect your camera (or have a similarly obsessed fellow photographer hold an umbrella for you!) and get out there, get a little damp, and have great fun. This beautiful spring print can be purchased at our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

The City Market...What a Photo Op!

2008-03-31T11:04:00.001-04:00

The Charlottesville City Market's 2008 season begins on Saturday, April 5th, from 7 a.m. to noon in the Water Street Parking Lot, located one block from the Downtown Mall. There's plenty of parking on side streets and in the parking garages/lots. The Market provides a wealth of vibrant photo ops throughout the seasons - from the primary colors of fresh veggies to the beauty of seasonal flowers to the browns of home baked breads - the market has it all! Look for Mountain Glory Creations Scenic Photography at the Market (near Mono Loco restaurant) as well - as we attend every Saturday morning, weather permitting, bringing a large assortment of our notecards, prints, greeting cards, montage posters, DVD's, screensavers, books, calendars, etc. Stop by - we'd love to meet you and chat! Check out the details of our schedule at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Early Morning Light

2008-03-24T15:55:00.000-04:00

No, you don't need fancy lighting to get interesting outdoor portraits! These two beautiful little girls (Caitlin and Meredith) were caught in the early morning spring sunshine planning how to spend their day. Notice the warmth of the brick and the girls' very different skin tones which were enhanced by the earlier rays of the sun. Another great time for outdoor unposed snaps is late afternoon. So get out there with your camera before 10:00 a.m. or around 4:30 'ish' and have fun!

Garden Patrol...

2008-03-05T10:31:00.000-05:00

Now is the time to take your camera in hand and go on a pre-spring treasure hunt. Look in the smallest, warmest, most sheltered areas of the garden....under leaves, beside walls. Yes, even now, spring is slowly arriving with a clump of sheltered crocus here, a bursting jonquil there, early buds showing color on the trees. This is an adult version of an Easter egg hunt, and you'll be rewarded with a taste of longed for color at this time of year! For a wonderful garden hunt and stroll, try the many gardens of the University of Virginia....from the formal Pavilion Gardens to the many smaller 'pocket gardens' on Grounds.

It's in the Details...

2008-02-22T09:34:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we braved the blustery winds of C-ville to stop at the Main Street Market - a grape purple-painted building filled with a wonderful combination of colorful ceramics, gelatos, fresh produce, cheeses...you name it! We had our cameras with us on our errands, as always. (And we wonder why we're so frequently mistaken for tourists?!) On the way out, we happened to pass this wonderfully weathered wreathed heart, obviously pointing toward 'local.' It brought a smile to our faces even in the cold of the parking lot.
Sometimes it's the smallest of details which make for the best photos - so stop (yes, even in the frigid winds of winter) and look...and look again. You may be surprised at what you see in the details.
(This quirky heart can be found as a notecard, half-fold card, or print on our website http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.)

Fog on Snow...The "Look Behind You" Moment

2008-02-08T12:40:00.001-05:00

A winter or so ago (yes, we DO have occasional snow in Charlottesville, despite the balminess of this winter's weather!), we were out and on the road early after a snowfall during the night. A weak winter sun was just beginning to peek through the last of the snow clouds. As we slowly drove in the Pantops Mountain area down toward C-ville, Jan happened (photography lesson here!) to look behind us, and with a quick "Pull over!", we safely parked well off the road, and trudged through the fresh snow - cameras at the ready, to take this beautiful picture of fog rolling in on Montalto (the mountain which is the home of Thomas Jefferson). The iced in lake, the snow etched branches, and the peaceful bench completed the scene. You can see the full photo on our website at http://www.mountainglorycreations.com/.

Why a Blog?

2008-02-05T15:37:00.000-05:00

We walk, we explore...always with cameras in hand, and see pictures in our heads before the lens aperture opens. We live in a world of four staggeringly beaautiful seasons - in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While you can find our commercial scenic photography website at www.mountainglorycreations.com, we thought it would be fun to occasionally take you along on a virtual photo shoot, highlighting one photo and telling you the behind the scenes story. (Because every photograph has a story!) Sometimes we might highlight an autumn scene in Albemarle County, or perhaps a summer blaze of fresh flowers and veggies at the Charlottesville City Market. Perhaps we'll post spring time in the Pavilion Gardens at the University of Virginia, or occasionally venture to the Virginia shoreline and the Chesapeake Bay or Rappahannock River. Virginia is a beautiful state, and you never know where we'll be or what picture's 'story' we'll be featuring. So stop by occasionally and see our featured photo - relax, enjoy, and take a small visual break in your day.

We'll post the first picture and story tomorrow, we'll look forward to seeing you!