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

 

Advertisement

Pictures of the Chastain Park Playground

Yesterday we took the kids to check out the newly renovated Chastain Park Playground. You can read all about it at ChastainParkBlog.com. Here are a few of the pictures I got of the new playground, it’s truly one of a kind. More pictures are on my website www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com/ChastainPark

 

Thanks,
Carson Matthews

 

The Bellwood Quarry – Atlanta Georgia

A couple of weeks ago I was given the opportunity through the Trust for Public Land to go and photograph the Bellwood Quarry on the west side of Atlanta. The Bellwood Quarry is part of Westside Park, a new City of Atlanta park that will be 351 acres along with a 45 acre lake once the Quarry is filled up.  This will be the biggest park in the city of Atlanta.  The Quarry will also serve a drinking water reservoir for the city of Atlanta.  Westside Park is part of the Atlanta Beltline Project.

The image below is available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com.  50% of the profits from sales of this photograph will be donated to the Trust for Public Land.

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Park Photography

This past week I stopped by the Whitewater Creek area of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Park to see how spring was coming in.  Spring was in full force, the wildlife was everywhere.  I crouched by the water to take a picture and a beaver popped up right in front of me checking out some wood for his fort.  There were salamanders all over the place, and of course a blue heron and lots of ducks.  Here is a shot looking north up the Chattahoochee.  The clouds were vibrant and really made the blue sky pop.

Prints of these images are available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

Here are some additional pictures from my walk along the Hooch:

Carson Matthews

Carson Matthews Photography

www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

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.

City of Atlanta Skyline Fogged Over

This morning the fog was thick in Atlanta, and even at 9:30 am it was still hanging low.  I was on my way to Decatur on Freedom Parkway and saw the City was still engulfed so I jumped over to the Jackson Street Bridge and caught this shot.  You can view what it typically looks like here http://picturesofatlanta.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/hdr-atlanta-skyline/

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

City of Atlanta Skyline SNS HDR

The picture above was processed using SNS-HDR.  I also use Photomatix a lot to process HDR shots, and here is what it came out looking like.  I’d be interested to hear which one you prefer.  I like the one out of SNS better, it just feels cleaner to me.  Let me know what you think.

City of Atlanta Skyline HDR Photomatix

Sunflower Shooting Range at Blalock Lakes

Skeet shooting range in Blalock Lakes bustling with sunflowers.

The Atlanta Falcons Julio Jones

I can’t wait to see Julio Jones high stepping into the end zone over and over in the 2012-2013 season scoring for the Atlanta Falcons.  This picture was taken last year when the Falcons hosted the Baltimore Ravens at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Turner Field Home of the Atlanta Braves

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to go on a helicopter tour of Atlanta.  It was an October day just after a front had moved through so it was crystal clear out, perfect for a helicopter ride.  Here is an overhead picture of Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves and also the site of the 1996 Olympic Games.

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