Pictures from Altama Plantation, Southeast Georgia

This past week I had the opportunity to visit the Altama Plantation, formerly called Hopeton, near St Simons Island, Georgia.  It is such a beautiful property with a rich history with records dating back as far as 1763.  It was most recently owned by the Jones family that also owned Sea Island.  One of the original owners studied water control in Holland and put that knowledge to work in a diking and drainage system that supported the rice fields of Hopeton. It was also home to sugar mills, and ruins still remain, two of the chimneys pictured below with the year 1899 engraved with cut bricks.  The ancient oak and pine trees are just stunning with drooping Spanish moss, and Gardenia’s like you have never seen before left over from prior owners gardens.  Wildlife is abundant, while only there for 24 hours we saw an alligator, wild hog, tons of deer, a water moccasin, a turkey, several hawks and a massive owl.  Coming from Atlanta it was simply amazing to be in a place like that.

I spent some time looking for information on Altama, and this is one of the best records I could find: Georgia’s Land of the Golden Isles

Below are pictures I captured while there.  All of these images are available on www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com/Travel/GoldenIsles

 

Thanks for reading,

Carson Matthews
www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

Twisted Tree – Chattahoochee Nature Trail

I love this tree along the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area trail.  I’m usually running when back there so never have my camera and certainly not my tripod.  I took both out for a hike on Friday afternoon and got a picture of this twisted tree.

How I did it:

ISO 100
17mm
f/9.0
5 exposures 1/30 sec – 1/500 sec
Shot on Tripod
Processed in Photomatix Pro 5 & Lightroom

View or purchase a high resolution image at http://www.carsonmatthewsphotography.com/Photography/OntheStreets/i-LzQ3Ncz/A

Thanks,

Carson Matthews
www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

Washed up Seaweed on Sea Island Georgia

We went for a walk on the beach after a storm on Monday and found all sorts of creatures washed up on the shore.  I don’t have any idea what kinds of seaweed these are, so chime in below in the comments if you can identify any of these seaweed species.  Both of these are 5-image HDR shots taken with the lens resting on the beach sand (very carefully).

Print available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

Print available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

Sunset over the Marsh in Sea Island Georgia

Last night I got this shot of the sun setting on 13th Street overlooking the Marsh in Sea Island.

How it was taken:
ISO 100
14mm
f/2.8
5 images 1/50 – 1/800 sec

Print available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com 

Chattahoochee River Sunset

Sunset over the Chattahoochee River last night.

Pictures of the Moon and Stars from Sea Island Georgia

This past Sunday night we were in Sea Island and the sky was so much brighter than what we typically see in Atlanta.  I went out that night with my tripod and got some shots of the moon and stars.  Here are two of my favorites:

ISO 100 – 300mm – f/5.6 – 1/200 sec

ISO 400 – 28mm – f3.5 – 8 sec

Enjoy, Carson Matthews

Afternoon Moon

I got this shot of the moon yesterday afternoon.  I used Lightroom to zoom in and love how you can see the details of the moon’s surface

Nikon D800 – ISO 100 – 300mm – f/5.6 – 1/160sec

 

 

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

Wild Mushrooms

This morning I was walking around Chastain Park and came across these cool mushrooms dancing in the morning sun.

Wild Atlanta Mushrooms

Nancy Creek Through Chastain Park

Today Henry and I went for a walk with Cody in Chastain Park.  We walked on the east side of the park off of Lake Forest along Nancy Creek.  I went back later with my camera and got some shots of the creek.  As I walked up the biggest blue heron was standing in the water right where I was headed.  I only had my wide angle lens and couldn’t get close enough to get a picture of him.  He flew off pretty quickly as I tried to get closer.  Oh well, I was able to get some good shots of the creek and water.  Here is a close-up of the water rolling across the rocks.