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

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Ben’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich looks good enough to photograph!

ISO 6400, 125 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec

Beautiful Atlanta Sky From Phipps Plaza

I have tried to capture this shot before and was stopped by security.  This time I stayed in my car and was able to get the image I was looking for.  The clouds and sky were pretty amazing for about 3 minutes, then it was gone…  This is a 3 exposure HDR processed in SNS-HDR Pro and Lightroom.  The Church on the left is Wieuca Baptist Church and the building on the right is the Ritz Carlton Residences.

ISO 320 @ 24mm, f16

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

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.

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.

Peachtree Heights East Duck Pond

The Duck Pond in Peachtree Heights East is a popular gathering place for families in Buckhead.  It’s located at the corner of Lakeview and Demorest just off Peachtree Road.  This picture was taken on Parkside Drive looking west.  Below is another shot of the pond.

Lake Burton Dinner Table

This past weekend we went with some friends to their house in Lake Burton.  On Saturday night we grilled an amazing tenderloin and for a bunch of guys put together quite a spread.  Here is a shot of the table just before we sat down.