Another trip to Asheville revealed more doorways that look as though they lead to magical places. These pictures didn’t need more than a touch up.

In a recent trip to Asheville on a rainy cold Sunday, the empty abandoned doors and cafes had a special piquancy through the gloom.

when I got out of the car at DuPont State Forest for my daily hike, I looked down and thought that someone had painted a fake carpet in the parking lot. Turned out to be patterns of ice in the frozen mud. Beautiful and intricate patterns of strangely fractal shapes. Nature is astonishing. And this pic is more beautiful than just another shot of the woods in winter, which must be experienced and not just photographed.

There is ice and mud everywhere, but that doesn’t mean not hiking at all. DuPont state forest, let’s go black and white this time.

I am appreciating the way ordinary objects are transformed by snow. Instead of a place to sit, a bench becomes a configuration of snow and light. From my favorite local walk. Sony RX100 with Faded Black filter.

This morning I found the cat’s outdoor water frozen solid. When I dumped the ice upside down into the sink, it was surprisingly delightful. When water freezes you never know what will happen.

iPhone 7 Plus, edit in Photo Toaster.

Life n the mountains is just better. Even snow storms are better because they are so clean and pure and refreshing.

Shot with my RX100. The Zeiss lens is amazing.

Just found this mage nestled amongst 50 useless shots. Had to share! As long as I live I will never tire of taking water pictures.

Went to Pearson Falls this morning, in Saluda. Cost $5 and was worth the trip. Took the Sony RX100; I’m getting some good shots with it.

Yesterday I went to Chimney Rock, a classic North Carolina hike – it’s a tourist thing, but also an amazing place of rock formations, and I really miss the good solid granite of New England.  With a little gneiss thrown in for our viewing pleasure.  Below is the infamous Exclamation Point.  The picture doesn’t do it justice: imagine little tiny dots on the top, representing people.  This thing is massive, and very high.  They have created metal and wood staircases so you can walk right up to the top, “completely safe” says the map.  However, you can also see straight down beneath you the whole way, and some of us prefer not to know.  I got almost to the very top before I realized that going down was going to be 10 times for exposed than going up.  Going down was a trial for me, so I chose the Subway route, the end of which is shown below.  At the top of the photo, it goes through a cave, which for me was the easy part because I felt protected on all sides.  Emerging from the Subway at the top? Hell.  VERY exposed.  There were many kind people who asked if I was ok, probably because I was puking and gasping from fear.  Nobody was nasty.  Nobody rolled their eyes.