Sunset Rock Highlands North Carolina

This weekend over Fall Break we made a quick trip up to Highlands North Carolina. On Saturday morning we strolled up to Sunset Rock to get the kids out of the house before lunch. The trail head is located just past Mountain Fresh and only takes about 20 minutes to hike. There is parking across the street from the Highlands Nature Center on Horse Cove Road. Sunset Rock offers a stunning overhead view of the town of Highlands. In the morning the sun behind you provides beautiful light over the town, highlighting the fall colors.

 

Full Res Image on CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

 

In the evening the sun sets perfectly over Highlands. Below is a picture taken in November of 2015 over Thanksgiving.

 

Full Res Image on CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

 

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Buckhead Lenox Road Skyline

We were leaving Phipps Plaza on Friday night after stocking up on winter clothes at Belk and I got a couple of pictures of the skyline looking west over Lenox Road.  There are a lot of great perspectives from Phipps Plaza of nearby Buckhead high rise buildings.  Here is how they were shot:

Nikon D800, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
ISO 500, 14mm, f/5.6
5 frames 1/10-1/160 sec
Processed in Photomatix Pro and Lightroom

Prints of these images and many more available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

PRUMC Soccer at the Atlanta International School

This past weekend our son’s PRUMC soccer team the Ninjas played their game at the Atlanta International School fields in Buckhead.  What an amazing venue for a soccer game!  The fields are all turf, the historic buildings hover over the fields, and on this day the sky was just perfect.  Here is a shot of the back of the school and some action shots.

The Swan House

The Swan House – built in 1928 – designed by acclaimed architect Philip Shutze of Heinz, Reid & Adler – located on Andrews Drive in Buckhead – Operated by the Atlanta History Center as a museum since being acquired from the Inman family in 1966.

This is a nine image HDR photograph taken in November.

ISO 200, 90mm, f/18: Processed in SNS-HDR & Lightroom

Prints of this image are available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

Photos of Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada Florida

Florida Keys Sunrise

We took a quick trip to the Cheeca Lodge and Spa in Islamorada Florida the weekend before Thanksgiving.  It’s a pretty amazing place in the Florida Keys just south of Key Largo; mile marker 82 to be exact.  My brother, Father and I went there in 1992 on a boys fishing trip.  It was a very different place back then.  It has since burned to the ground and been rebuilt as a fabulous resort.  These photos were taken on campus as well as next door at the Moorings which is the resort next door to the Cheeca.  Sunrise and sunsets are simply amazing each day, and easy to see regardless where you are staying.  The island is probably a 10 minute walk from coast to coast.  We took a sunset cruise one night and there are a couple of pictures of that below.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

     

The Moorings

The Moorings Hammock

Moorings Tree

Islamorada Sunset Cruise

Florida Keys Sunset

Rest Stop in North Fulton Golf Course

Rest stop on the eastern side of North Fulton Golf Course along Lake Forest Drive in Chastain Park.

 

 

Carson Matthews Photography

Atlanta Yellow Tree

Yellow trees really pop in Atlanta during the Fall.  Here is one in our front yard.

Water In and Around Atlanta

Over the past 6 weeks I have been taking a photography class at the Showcase School here in Atlanta.  We had to choose a project for the class and I decided to document some of the bodies of water in and around Atlanta.  A few examples that I photographed are the Chattahoochee River, Nancy Creek, Lake Clara Meer, the Pond in Atlantic Station, and the Chastain Park Pond.  Here are some of the photographs from my project:

These images and many more are available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

Midtown Atlanta Skyline over Piedmont Park’s Lake Clara Meer

I have been taking the 103 class at Showcase here in Atlanta and as part of the class we had an ongoing project that was due at the end.  My project was on the bodies of water in Atlanta.  This was the final picture I took, and it is in Piedmont Park overlooking Lake Clara Meer with the Midtown Atlanta skyline in the background.  This is 9 images combined using SNS-HDR.  I think it turned out pretty well.  My teachers critique was that my black point was too high and by reducing it I may be able to bring out more details near the base of the trees in the distance.  Having said that I’m not sure I would change it.  I like the richness of the image and can live with the darks.  Your thoughts are always welcome.

HDR Halloween Yard Decorations

Today we capped off Fall Break by decorating the front yard with some Halloween decorations.  Here’s a shot of the scary grave yard.

Swimming at Chastain Pool

Last weekend we took our new GoPro out for a spin at Chastain Pool. We had a lot of fun trying it out and getting some underwater footage.

 

Carson Matthews

Thanksgiving Turkey Preparation Timelapse Video

Here is a iPhone 6 timelapse video of our Thanksgiving turkey preparation on Thanksgiving morning. After this it went into the Big Green Egg for several hours and came out perfect!

Timelapse Compilation of Sunrise and Weather

Here is a video compilation of time-lapse videos out of our front window. Our house faces East so we get great sunrises and a consistent look at clouds and storms moving through.

Sunset over the Chattahoochee River

Here is a picture of the sun tonight as it began setting over the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta. This shot was taken from the East Palisades Trail of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area looking west to Cobb Parkway as it crossed the Hooch.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8

70mm f/8.0 5 frames processed in Photomatix and Lightroom

Saturday Down South

Saturday Down South