Collectors are pretty active in Randolph County. Images are from the property of Raymond Frazier of Level Cross. His collection of old stuff is beyond words.
(Photographs copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
More Collections
Category: Portraits
Firefighters and the Flood
Some days are better than others and of course, some are more trying. Today was one of those trying ones, for sure. Late this morning while I was beginning to edit a job, the fire alarm in our building went off, which is never a good sign. After checking things out, I found out a cable worker had knocked a sprinkler head off in the hallway above my studio, directly above. A deluge of water soon began to pour through my ceiling and I started the rush to move my computer and camera equipment before it was ruined. With the help of my wonderful building neighbors, I was able to move everything that could be horribly damaged (I hope) including my film archive. Still, a lot of water came in and a lot of damage was done. A flood. Bright sunny day, my studio is on the second floor, fifteen feet above the ground, and I have a flood.
However, even in adversity comes opportunity, I guess. I’ve been thinking of doing portraits of firefighters, and have been thinking about who to approach. This morning, they approached me. The firemen of the Greensboro Fire Department showed up at my door and I grabbed a couple of images of them as I was documenting the damage to my studio.
(Photographs copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Portrait of a Neighbor, Friday Faces
(Photograph copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Portrait of Larry Routh.
Sawmill Portrait #2
Charlie Latham at Gary Mac’s sawmill in Grays Chapel, North Carolina.
(Photographs copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Sawmill Portrait
(Photograph copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Cecil Bailey stacks lumber and slabs at neighbor Gary McMasters’ sawmill on Saturday in Grays Chapel, North Carolina.
Young Man
(Photograph copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Studio portrait.
Kevin Ford, Master Blade Shearer
Thursday and Friday of last week I spent several hours at Rising Meadow Farm in Grays Chapel, North Carolina, watching sheep being sheared during the farm’s annual shearing weekend. It was a new experience for me, for while I was raised on a cattle farm and I am familiar with pigs and goats as well, I have never been around sheep and had never actually witnessed one being sheared. What made the experience even more fascinating was the folks doing the shearing were doing it with hand powered shears or “blade shearing”. To top it off, the lead shearer was Kevin Ford, from Charlemont, Massachusetts, arguably the most experienced blade shearer in the United States and one of the top shearers in the world. Kevin has written “the” book on blade shearing, he gives workshops, and he competes in shearing contests in this country and internationally. He also shears commercially, traveling from Massachusetts south to North Carolina every year shearing flocks along the way.
Blade shearing is slower than shearing with electrical clippers, but it easier on the sheep and leaves a little more wool on the sheep for protection. There seems to be more control and finesse involved with hand blades, and it was fascinating watching Kevin work with a sheep. The control he had over the blade and the sheep was amazing. I felt very lucky to be able to watch a master at his profession work the first time I was witness to it and I am appreciative of Kevin and the folks at Rising Meadow Farm for letting me get close to the action and to answer all my questions.
(Photographs copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Friday Faces, Alvin’s Automotive
(Photograph copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Neighbor Alvin Ward changes the oil in a car at his shop, Alvin’s Automotive, in Grays Chapel, North Carolina.
In the Greenhouse
Cousin Thomas Routh works in his greenhouse on a warm afternoon last week in Grays Chapel, North Carolina. Thomas and his wife Lula Mae raise a large tract of vegetables they sell at the local farmer’s market. This year they are branching out into hanging flower baskets as well.
(Photographs copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Test Shot
(Photograph copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)
Phil Allison stands in for a lighting test on a recent commercial job in Greensboro. Phil has been working with me for several years and is a great assistant as well as a top notch photographer in his own right. In this business, you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.
Dan Routh Photography 