For the Love of Photography – “Walks on Sunday”

April 2, 2017April 2, 2017 / Donna Robinson Photography / 5 Comments

I’m stepping out of my comfort zone today and posting photos I took with my cell phone. You see, our Sunday morning walks are not for the faint of heart! And, schlepping 10lbs of camera gear really isn’t a good idea…..let alone the fact you tend to draw a LOT of attention when you’re carrying a camera around your neck looking like a tourist who just stepped off a cruise ship in the Bahamas! Trust me……..I speak from experience.

So, when Michael said he had a new path for us this morning and that it would take us from the Condo down to (and through) Rottenwood Creek, by The Weather Channel, by the new Braves Stadium and back home……….I decided my handy Samsung 6 would do just fine!

RottenWood Creek

Walking under I-285.

Walking over I-75 to SunTrust Park

The entrance to Delta’s parking garage at SunTrust Park

Bronze Statue

Another Bronze Statue

Cool Billboard

Braves Chop House

I can’t forget Coca-Cola!

To put into perspective just how far we walked, this is a picture of our condo. It’s hard to tell, but there are two (2) major interstates (I-285 and I-75), a six (6) lane parkway (Cobb Parkway), a mall and several hills between where I was standing (in front of the stadium) and the condo!

2 1/2 hours and 8 miles later we made it back…….I was glad I opted for the cell phone!

For the Love of Photography – Cuban Chicken Night

February 12, 2017 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

It seems that Social Media (I.e. Facebook) has caused a phenomenon of people taking photos of their food and posting it out there for friends to “ooh” and “ah” over. Whether it be a gigantic burrito at a favorite Mexican restaurant, or a colorful cocktail from a local watering hole, society is obsessed with taking pictures of food! But, one thing that drives me crazy is to see a post from a restaurant who is trying to entice you to come in for today’s soup special and it looks like……..well…..let’s just say something very unappetizing. They may have good intentions and I’m sure that the special is really good, but the photo is NOT going to entice me to try it!

And so, with that I’ve discovered a need (and desire) to expand my skills into food photography. I’ve always said cooking is an art, so why not try my hand at photographing food?!?

Which leads me to this past weekend when our good friends “JB” and “JB” (husband and wife) invited us over for dinner. The “JBs” love to cook, grill and fire up their smoker. Lucky for Michael and I we are often called upon to be the “taste testers.” It really isn’t a hard job….good food, good drinks, great conversations…..never have we been disappointed!

The menu for the evening was “Cuban Chicken, Black Beans & Rice.” Their method of preparation was a VERY fancy pressure cooker (not your mother’s stovetop pressure cooker with a whistle that blasted like a civil defense siren).

Stand back! She’s going to explode!

As the timer went off and the food rested, I pulled out my camera and flash and began snapping away.

First, the chicken…….

Then the yellow rice………

And, lastly……….the final plating with black beans garnished with a lime…..

And, what’s a great meal without a dog sitting nearby waiting for a morsel or two to drop?!

We’ve had countless “taste tests” at the “JBs” and this one did not disappoint. Not to mention, what a fun way to practice photography!

BON APPETIT!!!

For the Love of Photography – “From Flip Flops to Snow Boots”

January 8, 2017 / Donna Robinson Photography / 3 Comments

From a weather standpoint the first week of January has been somewhat of a roller coaster. The beginning of the week we found ourselves wearing flip flops, but ending the week bundling up in layers of long johns, gloves and snow boots!

The local Atlanta weather forecasters had the entire city on “Blizzard Alert,” with everyone racing to the grocery stores wiping out all of the milk, eggs and bread. But, as usual, we only ended up with a little ice in the trees and a dusting…..not as pretty as the snow that the suburbs had, but pretty enough to give our little town of Vinings some glitter in the early dawn hours.

The coming week looks like Mother Nature is going to do an about face and the temps will be gradually rising to above average highs. I suppose I should keep those flip flops handy!

For the Love of Photography – “Gone But Not Forgotten”

July 17, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 3 Comments

One of our favorite routes to SSI Casa de Playa is Hwy 341, or as its better known, the “Golden Isles Parkway.” A four (4) lane highway along the backroads of middle Georgia running Southwest between Perry (Macon) and Brunswick, Hwy 341 is like taking a step back in time where families made their living off the land. For miles and miles (168 miles to be exact) the roads are lined with the most beautiful pecan orchards, cotton fields and timber farms.

About an hour in to our first drive down Hwy 341 we noticed an old windmill and rusted water tower off in the distance. They stood just high enough over the tree line that we didn’t see them until we were about half a mile away.

As we approached closer, we noticed an old house at the base. Brush and trees had grown up all around it. It was obvious a front porch once framed the house, but had long ago deteriorated to the point where it was dismantled and hauled away.

The front door with its faded blue paint leaned against the door jam and dingy brown curtains still hung in the window. Collectively, the house, the windmill and the water tower were reminders of times gone with questions running through our minds…..who lived there? why did they leave this beautiful land behind? where did the family go?

While I was taking pictures a white pick-up truck drove up. The driver stepped out of the truck and I then noticed the “posted no trespassing signs.” Quickly, I complimented him on the property and asked if I could take a few more pictures. He smiled and obliged not seeming at all bothered with my request.

And then, as I pulled back on the lens for a wider shot of the property, I noticed that the times that appeared to be gone were not forgotten. A neatly built wooden fence and freshly cut grass carefully framed the house and its two (2) towers. To someone (perhaps the gentleman in the pick-up truck), this was still a part of their family and their history.

For the Love of Photography

March 1, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

I’ve been torn about this week’s blog theme. It was either going to be “Springtime” because we’ve had some incredibly beautiful weather this weekend in Atlanta. Or, “Island Time” because lately, my husband and I have found our conversations drifting off to the Caribbean and making plans to journey back to our favorite spot (and place where we spent our honeymoon), Peter Island, BVI.

As late as early this morning, I was still struggling. I spent several hours over the weekend pouring through photos, both of “Springtime” and “Island Time.” Then, in the middle of my morning work-out, Jimmy Buffet’s song “Tin Cup Chalice” came on………and at the beginning of the song he sings:

“I want to go back to the island, Where the shrimp boats tie up to the pilin’.
Give me oysters and beer for dinner every day of the year,
And I’ll feel fine.”

And so, as my heart and mind travel “back to the islands” here are a few memories from our Caribbean adventures………Enjoy!

Peter Island, BVI

Antigua

Postcard from St. Thomas

Cancun – “Shipwrecked”

Virgin Gorda, BVI

Peter Island, BVI

For the Love of Photography

January 31, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / Leave a comment

So, here we are the last week and the last day of the month! I hope you are enjoying the weekly themes I’ve put together: “Thoughts,” “Life in Black and White,” “The Magic Lantern” and now this week’s theme, “For the Love of Photography.” For this topic, I will be sharing some of my favorite photos (both mine and others) and recommending links to other photography blogs. I’ll try to limit the words to a brief description, captions and camera settings so the photos can tell their stories!

This week’s “For the Love of Photography” theme is the Pacific Coast Highway. A few years ago my husband and I traveled the PCH between Christmas and New Years, starting in San Diego and ending in San Francisco. Our theme for the trip came from a Toby Keith song, “No map, no plans, no place to be.” Literally, the only reservations we had was the airline flight and rental car. Each day we would drive until late afternoon and stop at a local watering hole to ask the locals for recommendations on where to stay for the night. Most were awesome, others not so much………but that’s a story for another day.

“Malibu Sunrise” Settings: TV 1/2500 sec; AVf6.3; ISO 400; Exp. -0.7; Focal Length 24mm

“Somewhere on the PCH” Settings: TV 1/2000 sec; AV f/4; IS 400; Exp. +0.7; Focal Length 35mm

“Somewhere on the PCH” Settings: TV 1/6400 seco; AV f/4; ISO 400; Exp. 0; Focal Length 40mm

“Somewhere on the PCH” Settings: TV: 1/8000 sec; AV f/4; ISO 400; Exp. 0; Focal Lenght 24mm

“Contemplation” Settings: TV 1/6400 seco; AV: f/4; ISO 400; Exp.0; Focal Length 58mm

“Big Sur” Settings: TV: 1/1000 sec; AV f/16; ISO 400; Exp 0; Focal Length 47mm

“Taking Flight” Settings: TV 1/8000 sec; AV f/4.5; ISO 400;Exp. 0; Focal Length 100

“Pigeons Point Lighthouse” Settings: TV 1/3200 se; AV f/5.6; ISO 400; Exp. 0; Focal Length 360mm

If you’re interested in exploring places from around the world, I recommend checking out “Wallflower Wonderer” http://wallflowerwanderer.com Kirsten (the Wallflower Wonderer) is traveling around the world and visiting some amazing places. Check out her site/blog for wonderful stories and photos of her adventures.

Until next time!

Donna

Zoom Photography by Donna Robinson

July 6, 2015December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

I started this blog a few months ago as a place to share my photography with others and to also sharpen my writing skills. You see, I’ve been in Corporate America for a long, long time so I’m a little rusty when it comes to “creative writing” or finding the time to do something with my passion for photography.

A friend of mine and fellow blogger, Janet Berridge (check out her blog at Spanish Moss Series) gave me the inspiration to try my hand at it. So, here I am a few months into this with a personal commitment of writing one blog per month. I was doing fairly well until June came around and I just couldn’t quite get one completed (although I have several drafts started). I’m hoping that through Blogging 101 I can learn a few things which will help me to improve my blogging experience.

With that, thank you for stopping by and checking out my site. Here, you’ll find my bio, a few blogs I’ve written about St. Simons Island, Ga and a glimpse into some of my photography, of which the following are a few of my recent favorites.