Wildflowers and Waterfalls

May 6 - 9 2009

Nature Photographer Kenny McKeithan

Invites you along on a photographic adventure...

To the 'Land of Waterfalls' ...

In the 'Cradle of Forestry', Brevard N.C.

Come along for a photographic immersion in Waterfalls and Wildflowers...

This workshop has come to be an annual event around here. And one of nature photographer, Kenny McKeithan's most popular every year. McKeithan has been taking a half dozen photographers on a trek each year since 2002 to Translavania County NC for this springtime adventure. Each year is bigger and better than before. The trip encompasses a list of eight must see waterfalls and an endless list of botanicals. Other sights you might encounter along the way are unplanned and total surprises. You might see a cabin or ramshackle hut grown over with vines that is just waiting to be captured. That mystery is what keeps McKeithan coming back year after year. All stops are easy to get to so intense hiking need not be a concern. I have it on good authority that May is the perfect time to photograph spring arriving in the mountains. Now that summer has arrived at the shore, take the opportunity to experience spring twice this year!

To find out more interesting facts about 'The Cradle of Forestry' than I have room to write here visit: The Cradle of Forestry

McKeithan will be staying at the Hampton Inn Brevard, if you would like to make reservations there you can go to: Hampton Inn Brevard

And most importantly, to reserve your space in this you can call CCforP at 843.720.3105 or log on to our website http://www.ccforp.org/

We'll see you there!

*** UPDATE ***

Upon posting this blog I received this email that I thought I'd share.

I have been receiving Kenny's very informative newsletters for the last couple of years and when he announced the "Land of Waterfalls" workshop to be held in June 2008 I quickly signed up. It turned out to be a rewarding 3 day learning experience. My Nikon SLR was pretty new but Kenny's extensive camera knowledge taught me many features of that camera that I wouldn't have learned otherwise. Most helpful was learning his techniques for shooting waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest. Although this is an expansive area Kenny knew every remote road and where to take us for our shooting sessions. How many of us have the discipline to get up at 5 AM and travel up to the Blue Ridge Parkway for sunrise shooting. Well, in this workshop you are glad you did. Another opportunity to learn from Kenny's extensive photographic knowledge. I hope I have sometime a chance to attend another Palmetto Photographic Workshop led by Kenny McKeithan.

Paul Choate

Exhibit Opening Tonight!

The Buist Academy 7th grade class has been shooting away to present to you "Imaging Life: Through the Adolescent Lens"! It's a photjournalistic journey into the life of and through the eyes of these teens. We asked them: What's important to you? What do you see around you? What story would you like to tell? And man, did they answer! These students have worked so hard to show us, with their cameras, the world that they see.

Join us this evening April 16th at the CCforP gallery 6 -7 pm for a night of amazing photography. The students will be on hand to proudly show their works and answer questions. It's a unique show that you won't want to miss!

See you there!

Around the World With...

A final word from Alice in South Africa!

Hello Everyone!

My trip is coming to an end and I have had some incredible adventures and met some amazing people along the way. South Africa is such a fascinating place! It has incredible beauty, but a very troubled past and issues that still trouble this nation today.

The taxi drivers whistle sharply, hoping to fill their busses, while the smoke from the women cooking corn and sheep heads fills your nose, and a small child darts across the road in front of a speeding car blaring its horn. In the background you can hear the train roll in, and children yelling with delight as they run down the dirt street barefoot.

Welcome to the madness of “Khaya”. Some of my favorite times during this trip have taken place in Khayelitsha, the second largest township in South Africa, second only to Soweto in Jo-Burg. It is a very transient area, so the exact amount of people living there is virtually impossible to nail down. I have seen estimates between 500,000 to three million. Less that 7% of its residents are over 50 years old and over 40% of its residents are under 19 years of age. It is a bustling area, where there is always something going on. You will see Lucy, with whom I spoke for a long while. She is going about her daily business of doing her laundry behind her shack that butts up against Chuma Primary School.

At Chuma, you will see a woman in an apron who sells sweets and snacks to the school children. And as the demographics suggest, you will see a few of the many children and young people who make up the majority of this community. All of these stories, these people, come together, in and out, and make up the stories of Khayelitsha.

I found the CCforP blog post about “conversation” very interesting, as I often find that my favorite thing about photography is the people I encounter. I love hearing peoples tales of life that are so different from my own. South Africa has somewhere around 11 different official languages. It is not uncommon for people here to speak 4 or 5 different languages. Most people, especially in the larger cities, speak English very well. That helped in my conversation with the people I photographed while in the Cape Town area. It's interesting how it is sometimes hard for people in South Africa to understand the American accent as we soften and slur together many words. One will often find it helpful, when traveling here, to ennunciate and sharpen words more than Americans usually do. Many Americans I know that have lived over here forsome time have picked up quite a strange accent!! Kids here begin learning English around grade five, so the little ones don’t speak much English, if any at all. With a little effort it was easy for me to pick up a few slang words, or phrases, that are relevant to asking permission to take a picture. For instance, when a pack of kids comes running up to you yelling about “un phot” it is easy to figure out that they don’t use the words picture or photograph, but rather the shortened slang option. I found that using this phrase in a question form when making eye contact with a stranger is often enough to figure out if they mind being photographed. Usually people make it pretty clear if they do not want to be photographed. While here, I haven’t encountered a single person who did not want to have their picture taken.

Thank you, Alice, for sharing your wonderful experiences and images from your amazing trip with us! I know it has made me excited to travel... I am anxious to have another stamp on my passport.

Until next time...

All images by Alice Keeney ⓒ 2009

A New Vision

To all of CCforP’s Supporters,

 Most of you have met me or know of me. For those who don’t, I served nearly twelve years in the U.S. Air Force and traveled to over 40 countries as a combat photographer. I won several awards both photographic and civic; made television appearances on the news and Oprah; and met and married a wonderful photojournalist, Andy Dunaway. I am actively involved in the largest tuition free-international photographic workshop, Eddie Adams. I conduct photojournalism and aerial photography workshops throughout the U.S. and travel the world on various photographic assignments.
 I moved to Charleston from England seven years ago. After moving here, I met some wonderful Charlestonians, such as Jack and Jennet Alterman and other Center patrons. It was an instant connection, which pulled me in immediately. After retiring from service, I became the Director of the Center. My energy and ambition for the Center was apparent from the beginning and I believe Jack recognized that. So, here I am; the new custodian of this wonderful institution.
 Jack and the ‘Founding Fathers’ (as I call them) did an exceptional job establishing the Center’s high standards for photographic eduction. As I take the reigns, you will be pleased to know that those great qualities will not change. In fact, it is my intention to expand our education department by adding new beginner classes in multimedia, video and graphics. I will also be offering one-day workshops in digital scrap booking, black and white wet lab printing, pinhole cameras and more. This summer we will have one-day photo safaris, teen camps, product photography seminars and free Nikon camera demos.
 Here are some new changes you may be interested in. I am establishing a Photo Post Production Department for professional wedding and portrait photographers. Yes, you can give us your images and we do the dirty work. In our new department, we will have trained Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom professionals who can covert RAW files to JPEGS, retouch pictures, color correct and even offer signature finishes to give your pictures a pop! Our turn around time will be quick and it will allow photographers to concentrate on what they do best... shoot.
 Our Printing Department has expanded and will be offering new introductory prices. Our standards remain high, but our prices will be competitive. Now you can save yourself a trip, because the www.CCforP.com site allows you to upload your images online for printing too! That’s right, I have added a page where you can send your high resolution photos to us, choose your sizes and paper type. Then come and pick them up upon completion. I have also added the option of having your prints mounted to acid free matts or foam cores upon request.
 Also new to the Center is our Photography Department. I will be offering one and two hour photography sessions in our studio for individuals and families as well as two hour sessions on location. Along with family portraiture, I will be offering commercial, fashion, aerial and event photography. However, my house is your house. If you have a Professional Membership with CCforP, you can rent the studio for a very low price. In fact, I have lowered the studio rental rate to $50 an hour for Professional Members and $100 an hour for non-members.
 I could go on and on about the wonderful changes happening at the Center, but you are just going to have to come on down here and see it for yourself. Join us this month for our FREE Second Monday Lecture Series. We will be featuring Al Anderson! I can’t wait to meet you all.

See You Soon,
Stacy Pearsall

A Fresh Start

I would like to thank everyone who came out this past weekend to help throw a fresh coat paint on the Center's walls. It was a big undertaking, and I could not have done it without you. The next big step is adding some new photographic art!

-Stacy Pearsall

All photos by Andy Dunaway