At the Kingsport TN Tomato Festival in August. But, wait, there’s more:
Veggies on parade!
Category Archives: Bob Lawrence Photography
Spell Check!
What’s a word that begins with “g”, ends with “t”, rhymes with “roast” and means a type of spirit?
BlAAAAAAAAAAAH!
We’re sorry, the correct word is “ghost”.
Saltville VA
I have this thing about doors, doorways and windows. It started when I was still a graphic artist. I enjoyed drawing doors and windows. It’s easier to take pictures of them. The Tao rolls on.
This is looking into one of the abandoned Olin-Mathieson buildings in Saltville.
Silver Trees
I always thought that saplings painted silver added a certain je ne sais quoi to nearly every place, no?
School Window
This was a window in something like an alcove on the second floor of an abandoned school in Glade Spring VA. The place had been trashed.
The foliage outside looked faded in the master file. It was overexposed when I tried to enhance detail in the foreground. There was a simple cure for that: in PE11, duplicate the main layer and then, in that layer, erase everything except the window openings. Set the opacity to 100% and mode to “multiply”. And Bob’s your uncle (no, no, not me…I’m not, repeat, not your uncle! It’s an British expression that means “and that’s that”. “Bob” was Lord Salisbury – this was in the 1880s – who was widely known for being loose and free with plum government positions for those with whom he shared DNA. It’s called “nepotism” and derives from “nephew”, or so I read).
Matching Tools
These were at a yard sale in Johnson City. Just sittin’ there lookin’ purty.
Warrior’s Path State Park
This is on Duck Island. Note the informal meeting of many of the park’s resident turkey vultures.
But, then, they just could be fat, ugly corvines in a murder.
I Bring Good Luck
I don’t really know which side is supposed to be the front of this medallion, which appears to have been holed at manufacture.
In the left side picture, I set it so the inscription could be read easily; however, when this piece is set with the hole on top, at the bottom, in small letters, is “SOUVENIRS INC N.Y.C.” ( I needed a 10x loupe to read it)
Greater Pittsburgh Airport went into service in 1952 and the Connie (the plane pictured, a Constellation) was retired by United in 1964 or so.
For its age, it’s in pretty good condition. I guess flying was a little bit scary in the late 50s, hence the appeal of a good luck token.
Flags piece
I picked this up at a flea market in Wise County. I know the right hand flag is the one used by South Vietnam from 1955 – 1975.
The piece is flat with nothing on the back except two splotches, one behind each flag, where this was glued to something.
You just never know what’s going to pop up at a flea…
Caryville Dragon
If you live around Clinton or Lafollette TN, you know about this dragon.
The story is here.
I-75, which this dragon overlooks, came through this area in the early 80s, which would agree with citations on the ‘web about this figure having been constructed in the early 80s. I’m hopeless when it comes to estimating the height of something, but this dragon is quite a bit taller than the Dollar General store that now occupies the old Monster Fireworks location. A lady who has lived in the Caryville area for a long time told me that there used to be red lights in the eyes of the dragon.
This dragon has probably stalked through many a child’s nightmares.
Sunflowers!
Nothing like a bunch of fake sunflowers to brighten up the day!
This was at Smoky Mountain Flea Market, across the mighty I-40 from Bass Pro Shop.
It must have been 90 degrees on that asphalt outside.
La Republique
A pre-WWI Tuck & Sons postcard, printed in Saxony.
The image is a hand lithograph.
On the back, along the left side:
Raphael Tuck & Sons Educational Series of Post Cards No. 406. “AVIATION”
ART PUBLISHERS TO THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND QUEEN
Description:
LA REPUBLIQUE
La Republique, an airship of the semi-rigid type, was built for the French Government by Lebaudy Bros., and made its first flight in September, 1908, covering a distance of 200 kilometres in 6 1/2 hours, returning to its starting point without descent. In length it was about 210 ft., while it was fitted with twin screws driven by a motor of 80 h.p. A sister ship to La Republique was La Patrie, which broke away from its moorings and was never found. La Republique in 1909 also met with disaster.
Blue Q Robot
This little (1-3/4″) chrome-finished robot was made by the Blue Q company a year after the company was founded in Boston. they’ve now moved away from Boston and, although they’re still in business, I don’t think they still sell robot pins.
Doe River Gorge
This is Pardee Point on the old ET&WNC narrow gauge line in Doe River Gorge.
Looking east…there’s almost a face in the rocks up ahead.
Chernobyl Donor Pin
It’s a little fuzzy, sure. That’s because I photographed it in its plastic pouch. So, sue me.
The event at Chernobyl happened 30 years ago now. This Russian-made pin was probably given to people who donated money to help those who had been displaced by the explosion and resulting radioactive contamination. It’s 3″ top to bottom and 1″ wide. Enamel on some sort of pot metal. Quite light.
It’s listed as being rare.
Strange sight
Warning! Below is a picture of a dead animal.
I had just finished taking some pictures of a tunnel on a railroad line between Eastern and Hueysville KY, when my buddy motioned me over to look at this. I’ve never seen anything like it. I hope it was an act of sentiment on the owner of the dog, but that’s unlikely, I suppose.
There’s also the carcass of an elk close by. It was kind of creepy.
Here’s the picture:
Uncle Bob's Pix 