Wayne Morgan Images

The Satilla River / Satilla Solitude

2011-08-06T13:10:00.005-04:00

I've been out in this 100+ degree heat cutting grass and this is when I can do a lot of thinking. A lot of people know I love the Satilla River but I was pondering on maybe I should go in detail a little more on what this dark water river really means to me. Since I was a little boy and would stand beside daddy in his old truck as he would say "lets go to the river" I can remember the joy of those words. We would usually swing by daddy's uncles (Kenny, Hugh, Gerald, Arnie, Elton & Glendin) to see what they had caught and most of the time they had just been fishing, were going or were doing it when we found them. Usually they had a mess of catfish, bream or bass. Each uncle seemed to have their own choice of fish and in their own way were very good at catching what they liked.

In 1970 my granny and grandaddy were camping on the bluff at 301 bridge. Something happened during the night and granny fell in the river and the Satilla claimed her life. I was 6 years old at the time. Both of my kids have been baptized at the boat ramp near where granny passed away.

My uncle Charlie passed away about a year ago and his request was to scatter his ashes over the Satilla River.

The year 2012 marks the 450th anniversary of Jean Ribault discovering the Satilla River and saying it was the "fairest, fruitfullest and most pleasantest of all the world."

Soon after I had my heart trouble in 1999 and was fishing with Ralph Gurley we talked about how beautiful the Satilla was and lots of people that cross it every day don't even have a clue what beauty this natural resource has. I made up my mind then that I was going to learn how to make pictures and show the rest of the world. One thing that I still will not do is doctor a picture using any photo editing software. I believe this river is beautiful just the way it is and does not need any help. I just need to be in the right place at the right time and capture it.

I feel like I have been blessed, lucky or just fortunate to catch some of the things I've been able to see through my camera lens: two owls together on a tree, woodpecker feeding babies, two otter playing, blue herons, egrets, fox, deer, raccoon, squirrells, ducks and lots of trees.
Some of the notables that have my river pictures are former President Jimmy Carter, Sonny Perdue, Jack Kingston and the head of the DNR Mark Williams will have one on their meeting room wall as soon as I bring it to north Georgia.

I've had the idea about a Satilla River book for several years but was not sure about what I wanted or how to go about doing it. I searched the libraries and internet trying to find a book strictly on the Satilla River and have found none. Some have short paragraphs in them but that is it. I think my book is unique because of this and the first of its kind on this beauty of a river.

An old friend that lives in Macon told me about a year ago he would help me put one together if I sent him the pictures. Jerry finally had to give me a cut off date to "stop sending or we will never get through with this thing!" and I kind of obliged after sending in a few more.

I have taken several thousand pictures and have finally narrowed it down to 175 of my most favorite Little Satilla, Big Satilla and wildlife pictures. After talking with several publishers (all started to sound like used car salesmen) I decided to publish it myself with help from Four Colour Printing in Kentucky. After all I don't believe anyone will try to sell my book any harder than I will and I figured I could save a little money in the process. I am extremely proud of what I have and from what I have heard from people others are also.

I hope this has given a little more insight as to why I love this river so.

If anyone is interested in purchasing a book I am taking pre-orders for $45 per book plus $5 for shipping if out of town.

My address is:
89 Pat Harris Rd.
Nahunta, Ga. 31553
or my website is http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/
and you can use pay pal. After the books get here which should be the first of November the books will be $49.99 each.
Thanks. Feel free to send this link to my blog to anyone you think may be interested in this book and I do appreciate it very much.
Wayne

North to Alaska and Satilla Solitude

2011-07-13T15:12:00.004-04:00

We finally made our trip to Alaska the last part of June. It was a very good trip and I got to shoot quite a bit of wildlife including nesting bald eagles, dall sheep, coyote, several moose and some of the big ole "skeeters" that I kept hearing about. When me and Bonnie would get off of the beaten path and walk on a few of the trails they would aggravate along with the black flies.

We were about 120 miles south of Anchorage when we heard on the radio that there was a mild earthquake but we felt none of it. Anhorage reminded me of a city about the size of Savannah but once you got about 10 miles south of town the beauty was amazing. Snow capped mountains on one side and inlets from the ocean on the other. We checked out Whittier (which we had to drive 2 1/2 miles through a tunnel in the side of a mountain to get to) Seward, Homer, Palmer, Wasilla (didn't see Palin) and turned around at Willow to come back to Anhorage.

Alaska is big and most of it beautiful. Some of the places on the side of the road had mobile homes with bunches of junk cars all around but the other scenery was breathtaking. Bonnie couldn't get used to sleeping when it barely got dark at all. The temperature was in the 40's and 50's and was quite a change to get back to south Georgia and the smoke and 100 degree weather. I'm sure we will make another trip north to Alaska if we get the chance.

I'm still talking with publishers about my Satilla River book and they are all starting to sound like used car salesmen. Each one has a package that is "better than the others and I need to jump on it now before the price increases." I've had lots of people intersted in it (over 300 on my list that have said they wanted at least one) and I hope to make a decision real soon about getting it done and available before Christmas of this year.

Now me and Bonnie have got to start thinking about where we are going next year to make more memories and pictures.

wayne

Zirkle, Channel 2 news and other news

2011-04-25T11:28:00.003-04:00

Brantley Telephone Company is working on a new local TV channel and last week they called about getting footage of me making pictures at Zirkle and the Little Satilla River. This morning Robby came over and took video of me doing my thing that may be used later. Also he interviewed me and went back to Jerry J's restaurant in Nahunta where a lot of my pictures are on display and took some video of them.

I entered two pictures in the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts show in Valdosta and last week found out that out of 464 entries I made the top ten overall and finished 3rd in the photography portion. (They paid money to the top two so I got a purple ribbon out of it.)

I have always wanted to go to Alaska and in June we are flying to Anchorage, renting a vehicle and driving around for a week.

I have finished sending pictures for my book on the Satilla River and waiting to see the finished product. Hopefully they will be out and for sale later on this year. My passion for photography still remains as strong or stronger than ever and I still look forward to seeing what I can photograph every day. The Satilla is still my main subject and seems like everytime I go I find something that I think is unique.
wayne

Kase Morgan Crews

2011-02-14T19:19:00.006-05:00

Last Sunday a beautiful baby boy was born to my daughter and I became a grandpa. I've been hearing for a long time that there is nothing better than having a grandchild come into your life and now I know what they mean. Within a couple of days of them coming home from the hospital Kase slept on my chest for 3 or 4 hours while I held him in the recliner. I was the one with a big smile on my face and a tear in my eye... all at the same time. I can't wait until he gets to come home and spend the night with grandma and grandpa and when he gets to go with me on the Satilla and make some pictures. I am already thinking about how I can get pictures of him holding a fishing pole or sitting in the boat or just sitting on the river bank.
Our world has changed.

My photography book is coming along and I hope to have something to look at before too much longer. I have decided to go back to the original plans and do one strictly on the Satilla River (Little & Big) and some of the things I've seen around it including much of the wildlife.
wayne

Disappointed in Yellowstone

2010-09-02T10:47:00.006-04:00

09-02-2010

We left last Monday morning on a trip to Montana and see Yellowstone and all of its beauty. I have to say there is a lot of it and I only had one week to stay. I got pictures of a grizzly, bald eagle, elk, deer and lots and lots of scenery. There is so much to see out there that if it would have been me by myself I would still be a long ways from being through. If I had more vacation time and money I would be out there for a very long time.

The Beartooth pass coming out of Yellowstone on the northeast side is an adventure in itself with the winding roads on the edge of the mountain with very few places that had guard rails. At one good looking place I yelled at my brother-in-law Johnny to STOP! and he wheeled our rental car right over to the edge. About that time my sister-in-law Debra started screaming and sliding way down in the seat. "DON'T DO THAT! You don't have to listen to everything Wayne says!" and would not look over the side.

After getting to the top of the almost 11,000 feet elevation a couple of men flagged us down at a pull-off. After stopping we discovered an elderly man sitting under the steering wheel of his car with his left hand folded into a tight fist and pressed up against his chest. His wife said they had been to all of the states but four and this was the last one to visit. He complained that he didn't feel right and collapsed where he was sitting. We helped get him to the passenger side of their Virginia vehicle and tried to get her to let me drive them back down the steep mountain but she insisted on doing it herself. Someone had went ahead and called 911 and they met them about half-way. We followed them down and came on back to the cabin in Ennis, Montana.

The Buffalo out there are roaming all over the place and we almost ran into a Grizzly and a couple of deer. I watched as two elk were feeding and gradually got too close and started to rub their antlers together. I don't think they were actually fighting - more of a pushing match than anything until the smaller one had enough and walked off.

The Grand Tetons are amazing and I really could spend a lot of time making pictures of them all times of the year.

We flew 2,500 miles and met a couple that live in Pierce County about 20 miles from home in Georgia. Max and Molly live in Montana part of the year and Pierce the other part. They took us to places that I would probably never have found and really enjoyed what they did for us. The cabin was wonderful and everyone we met around the small town was so nice.

Bonnie didn't get to shop as much as she would have liked on our trip which is totally my fault. For her first time flying I think she can handle it from now on. She kept me straight once we reached each airport and found where we needed to be with no problems.

My biggest disappointment about Yellowstone was having to leave the place and come back home.......but I will be back.

wayne

Grandparents and 2010

2010-06-18T10:51:00.004-04:00

06-18-2010

My daughter invited us and Brandons mom and dad to eat lunch with them last week. After we were through eating she slipped into her bedroom and brought out four envelopes - two pink and two blue and told us to open them up. Each one had a pregnancy test that with all of the hooping and hollering going on by Bonnie must have read positive. My vision was kind of blurry and I couldn't see too well about that time. We are going to be grandparents and the youngun' is due in February!

The year 2010 has been a great year for me so far. I was named 2010 Brantley County Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. I've sold enough pictures to pay for the cabin rental in Montana that we are going to fly to in August. A great friend donated frequent flyer miles for us so our tickets are paid for. I did a photo shoot for Stormwatersystems that installed the litter catcher in Waycross and sent them a bill that they "disputed." They sent me a check for double what I asked for because of my work above and beyond to help the Satilla River. And did I mention that we are going to be grandparents also?! Looks like I'm going to have another subject to take pictures of.

I've done several big shows this year and the new Jerry J's will be opening soon and I've already been asked to hang several pictures in it.

These are two pictures I've taken lately. Butterfly in my backyard and the trees are in Trudie Lake. Did I mention that we are going to be grandparents??????

wayne

Citizen of the Year

2010-05-30T09:39:00.004-04:00

2010 Citizen of the Year

I was named the 2010 Citizen of the Year for Brantley County last week but the one that truly should be named Citizen of the Year for Brantley County was sitting out in the audience at the awards ceremony the other night. After seeing the latest Robin Hood movie I started calling her "muh Lady." She has sacrificed so much over the years and done without things that I know she would liked to have had so I could work on my dream as a photographer. She has told me that I've got three wives and their names are Sony, Nikon and Bonnie and we've been married almost 26 years now.

Years ago when I first started photography one of the first photos I was ever able to sell went to a little white haired lady from Jacksonville. It was of a curved dirt road taken in the fall of the year that I called the Road to Strickland Landing. She had lived in Brantley County as a small child but her family moved away to Florida. The picture took her back to when she was walking down a road just like this kicking a Campbell soup can without a worry in the world and brought back lots of fond memories. Before she retired from her job at an insurance company Sibyl was looking at the picture while standing near a copying machine when her supervisor walked up. He watched her for a while and said "I don't know where you were at but you weren't here" and she told him about the little girl on a dirt road.

I think one of the best things an artist can hear from someone is first of all - I'd like to buy some of your work and next would have to be - your work tells a story and stirs an emotion. I've been very blessed for several people to tell me this.

I've met so many great people through my photography and many Brantley County photos of mine are in possessions of people around the world. Governor Perdue, former President Jimmy Carter, the Tatum Family in England and several others.

I did a job shadow with an 8th grade student the other day that is interested in photography that asked me how much I've made from my photography and I had to laugh. I added it up farely quickly and said about $10,000 and $9,500 was of Brantley County. I figure I've spent at least twice that much and Bonnie says the costs have been way more than that and she is probably right once again.

I read an Ansel Adams quote the other day that said "Good photography is know where to stand." I think I've been standing in a very good place all of my life. Brantley County.

wayne

Latest events

2010-05-11T07:56:00.007-04:00

05-11-2010

I've been so busy lately and haven't written a whole lot. I was finally able to get some turkey pictures and a couple of Horned owls that I'd never even seen in the wild before.

The show at the Brunswick Hospital in March was well received.... but no sales.

I have put the word out in a few places that I would like to do a book about Zirkle and have stories and pictures.

The river was almost getting to where I like it for pictures on the Little Satilla and now has jumped back up from the rains last week.

Getting ready for our trip to Montana and Yellowstone in August.

The 2nd issue of the Brantley Magazine with another one of my photos is on the front cover and turned out really nice.

CSX is willing to help with our SatillaRiverkeeper and Rivers Alive clean-up this coming year and I'm still finding plenty of trash left behind so I guess there will be some to get. It would be nice to have a river clean-up and not have anything to do!

One of my river pictures will be auctioned off to help the SatillaRiverkeeper organization at the Spring Gala on Jekyll Island this Saturday the 15th.

Brantley County has a new brochure promoting our county with my photos on it.

I'm doing a show for the month of May at the Okefenokee Heritage Center in Waycross and the reception is Thursday the 13th from 5-7pm. Come out if you will.

Here is a shot I got of the turkeys and of the trash I found just a few feet away from the river.

wayne

www.waynemorganphotography.com

(912)288-0810

Nahunta Jail

2010-03-18T10:20:00.005-04:00

03-18-2010

The walls are dark, damp and dreary. The steel bars are cold and hard. Pencil scribblings cover the walls and are on almost every brick that appears to have been repainted several times over the years from occupants of the Nahunta Jail. Some seem to be looking for religion while others definitely are not. Most of the names that are written apparently had something to do with why they were behind these bars and are not highly thought of by their quotations. A few good artists have spent some time here with a cigar smoking pig with a star on his hat and chest on one wall with Jesus holding up his hand on another. Bugs Bunny, old hot rod car and a Georgia Bulldog sign grace the wall of another cell. Several hand written monthly calendars from 2007 with most of the days marked through are on one with bible quotes scattered throughout with one eye catching note in one of the womens cell - "I MISS MY SON!"

The two large cells have four steel racks coming from two walls for bunk beds while the smaller cells have two. There is one shower stall in the corner and each has one toilet sitting out in the open. No privacy here.

It seems only fitting that Trey Keene and his workers are cutting the steel out of the old jail. He probably don't remember his grandpa but Arthurs Liquor store was once a popular place right across the street. I use to work in a pool hall when I was 16 years old between the jail and the redlight and could watch Arthur sitting on his cement bench waiting for customers to stop in and take out a brown bag or two of their favorite beverage. He was a rather large man with a rather large moustache and rumor was that he would put a whole pack of Redman in his jaw at a time. Many of his regular patrons spent many a nights sobering up in the old jail across the street. Arthur and his store are gone now and so shall the old jail be.

The power has been cut off to the building and while I was inside taking photographs the wind blew the heavy steel door shut and I was almost in total darkness except for the little peep hole in the door. The sound of that door shutting sent chills up my spine as I could only imagine what that would sound like knowing this would be my living quarters for at least a little while.

My uncle Charlie passed away a few months ago and I know he spent quite a bit of time behind these bars. Several years ago he thought he had been in there long enough and decided to leave...... without permission. When he got to the county line he called the office of the jail and asked '

"Do you have Charlie Davis in your jail?"

"Yes we do" the operator replied.

"No you don't! I'm gone and will catch you later."

Which they eventually did.

I asked him before he died how he escaped and all he said was "spoon and a toothbrush. Made me a key."

I'm sure there are lots of stories about the old Nahunta jail that has been a part of Brantley Counties history that will never be known.

Here is a picture of the demolition of the Nahunta Jail and the latest issue of the Brantley County Magazine.

wayne

Getting got

2010-03-09T08:34:00.005-05:00

03-09-2010

I've found out over the years that people at work will try out the new guy to see how he takes things. Sometimes called "getting got." One I just heard about last week was a new young supervisor from New Jersey was told by a worker that a part was needed - a stool sample valve. Supervisor went to the storeroom and ordered the much needed part and found out he had been "got." Don't think he was too happy.

On other jobs I've had people have been sent to the tool room for pipe stretchers, board stretchers, sky hooks and a hen way. When they go ask somebody what's a hen way the answer usually comes back "oh about 4 or 5 pounds."

A story was told about a man when he was new on a job many many years ago this old quiet black man that he respected and enjoyed working around supposedly had a daughter that could really dance. Several people kept telling this young man to tell ole Mo he wanted to see his daughter and he finally got up the nerve to ask one day.

He walked over to Mo and said "I heard your daughter can really dance like crazy. When can I come see her?"

Ole Mo was sitting on his bucket over in the corner, looked up at him and said "that ain't funny man, my daughter has polio and cain't even walk!" Jeff felt like crawling under the nearest rock and ran away from there in a hurry. Later on he found out none of it was true and he had been "got." Most of the time things are not that cruel.

One of the first days on the job for me I was told by a co-worker to go check the oil in a certain locomotive. When I opened the door to the engine compartment there was this huge cement block sitting where the engine usually sits. I knew right then I had been "got." I closed the doors back and when asked later how was the oil level I just said it was full. No need to get mad about it.

I'm doing a show at the Brunswick Hospital for the month of March and this picture is when things were being hung. The other picture is one I took at Zirkle a while back and am going to enter it in a photo contest in Valdosta in a couple of weeks.

wayne

"Spur of the Moment"

2010-02-23T11:48:00.003-05:00

02-23-2010

A little over a year ago when I was training at the redi-center in Atlanta for my new job with CSX a question was asked on one of the tests that was something like "Do you sometimes do things on the spur of the moment?" I know the correct answer was supposed to be "no" because you can get hurt or do something stupid if you don't take your time and think about what you are doing. At work I can see where that would be the right thing to do but usually when I go taking pictures the "spur of the moment" thing happens a great deal. I will be going one direction and all of a sudden I decide to go somewhere else. "Instinct or gut feeling?" I don't really know. This morning it was foggy and I went to a couple of different places that I normally go and as I came up to this road that turns off of the river road I decided to turn left and visit the church where my granny and grandaddy are buried. Going around the "Road Closed" sign I pulled up to the opening in front of the church and there was a whole herd, covey, bunch or whatever a group of turkeys are called. I've been telling men at work I want to go with them sometime and get some turkey pictures and here are sixteen standing here posing for me. I shut my truck off and after they ran for a short distance quit paying any attention to me as they fed back and forth in front of the church. If I had not done the "spur of the moment" thing and turned down this road I would have missed this opportunity.

wayne

2010-02-09T09:46:00.003-05:00

02-09-2010

We almost decided to head north on my two days off today and yesterday but things are kind of busy right now so it didn't happen. The Satilla is out of the banks and not the way I like it to take pictures so that is not working for me. Stayed at my daughters all day yesterday digging holes for a new fence they are putting across the front of their property and didn't come home 'til almost dark. There are a couple of big ponds or small lakes on the Raybon rock road and they are full and running over the spillways. I stopped and did a long time exposure to catch the foam of the overflowing water. Being I couldn't go take waterfall pictures in the mountains and the Zirkle dam is not even shootable with my longest lens sometimes you just have to make do with what you have.

I've got two big shows coming up soon. The bottom floor of the Brunswick Hospital will be the month of March and I'll be doing a show at the Okefenokee Heritage Center in Waycross in May. Hope everyone can come check them out.

wayne

www.waynemorganphotography.com

Refections of '09

2010-01-05T09:06:00.005-05:00

January 05, 2010

The year of 2009 was an event full and busy time for me as I reflect back on some of the things that happened.

My first year with my new job at CSX.

Pa-in-law Ralph passed away.

Uncle Jerry passed away.

Uncle Charlie passed away.

Brother-in-law Stanley passed away.

My friend John that gave me my Nikon cameras passed away.

Mom almost did the same.

Me and Bonnie celebrated our 25 year wedding anniversary.

My 10 year pace-maker check up found me running on a tread mill until almost passing out. (They said I passed the test.)

Won 1st place at the Okefenokee Heritage Center photography show.

Did a month long show at the AW Jones Heritage Center on St. Simons.

Daughter celebrated her one year anniversary at her Sisters & Company cosmetology shop in Hoboken.

Son graduated from BCHS high.

Bonnie had a major operation to remove a cyst off of her esophagus.

Finally got around to cranking the engine in my dads truck that I rebuilt right after he passed away in 2001.

1st issue of the BRANTLEY MAGAZINE came out with one of my photos on the cover.

Met country music star Tracy Lawrence.

Received a thank you note from former president Jimmy Carter for the river photos he got earlier in the year.

Cleaned up around pa-in-laws house where junk yard once was. (Still not finished.)

Helped clean up about 3 more tons of trash out of the Satilla River.

Hobbled around with a heel spur part of the year until finally getting a painful shot to relieve the pain.

Worked about 1/2 the year part time at Lowes while working full-time on trains.

Shot photos for one of my best friends daughters wedding along with pictures for the Brantley Express and in my spare time taking some for myself around Brantley County and the Satilla River.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something but this is most of the highs and lows of my year gone by and who knows what 2010 is going to be like.

Speaking of reflections. Here are two I've taken lately of the Satilla River.

wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

R.I.P. JHS

2009-12-11T07:33:00.007-05:00

12-11-2009

"He said I'll love you 'til I die..... Went half crazy now and then. He still loved her through it all. Hoping she'd come back again. They placed a wreath upon his door and soon they'll carry him away. He stopped loving her today." George Jones

A friend suggested a couple of years ago that I start sending pictures and stories about my photo taking trips to a man in Iraq. John replied back that he appreciated getting them and always talked about a long lost girlfriend that he hoped to marry soon when he was home from the war. The first time I met him he slid a black box over to me to look at. Inside was a black and silver case full of Nikon camera equipment. He said "it's yours. Just keep sending me photos when I go back to war. I bought two of these kits - one for you and one for my girlfriend."

The next time I saw him he was a mess. Anxiety, depression and vodka. The marriage didn't happen, he was heart broken and getting ready to go back to Iraq.

A couple of weeks ago I got a call from the ex-girlfriend. John was dead and she didn't know any details. Last week I got an email from her wanting me to come over to Brunswick and pick up the camera. I walked in her office and saw a black and silver box sitting near her bookcase. She pointed at it and said "John wanted you to have it. Just remember him when you use it."

I opened it up and it was still in the plastic , never been used and just like the one he had given me.

The last post card I received from John was from Iraq with a picture of a temple on the front with a hand written note on the back. "I shall be one of the few Americans who lived & worked on the sacred grounds of Babylon. Peace to your Family."
JHS

John struggled with a lot of issues and told me his life was a mess but he was good at saving other peoples lives as a medic.

I didn't know you long my friend. May you now rest in peace JHS.

wayne

Her name is Cheryl

2009-11-03T08:58:00.003-05:00

11-02-2009

I sat at the hospital yesterday with ma who is on a ventilator. She has always been a tough little fighter and now her fighting weight is about 75 pounds and just came through surgery to repair another stomach ulcer caused by years of Goody, BC and Stanback powders. Her lungs are also in pretty bad shape.

I've done the math and I was born a month after she turned 16 with my sister coming a year later. She's had lots of medical problems in the past few years and the next days are critical to see if she can pull through.

The room across the hall had lots of activity and I saw the doctor meeting with part of the family and the news appeared to be bad. Doc L left his meeting and picked up ma's chart and headed our way asking for the nurse of patient in room 53. He asked several times before she came out of another room and came up to him and filled him in on the latest with her. I remember him from 10 years ago as he was the one that recommended me wearing a heart monitor that discovered I needed a pacemaker. A busy man with not much of a bedside manner and I told him ma's name was Cheryl.

He said her oxygen level is better and told the nurse to turn it down a little and give her something for pain and was said her was going to look at her chart and come back later.

Ma has been taking her brother Charlie back and forth twice a week to get chemo and radiation for the lung cancer that he was diagnosed with a few months ago. She kept trying to say something and me and several others could not figure out what is was. She would point at the P on the alphabet chart my daughter made up but that was all we could get. After everyone else left she pointed at my pocket and the P on the chart. I pulled out my phone and she nodded her head yes and I could make out " Charlie."

"Call Charlie?" Nodded yes and how he's doing was what I deciphered next.

In the shape she is in and wanted me to call her brother and see how he was doing.

I also had a doctor appointment yesterday to get another shot in the foot that maybe will help me with this heel spur that has returned. Bonnie says I look like a 100 year old man walking first thing in the morning trying to walk. Foot doc located the spot and reminded me it was going to hurt (I remembered it well) as he pulled the syringe and needled out of his pocket and buried it straight through the side of my foot and found the spot. Yes I remembered the pain and the burn as he injected it into the spot. This morning I can walk like a 45 year old again. Hope it lasts this time.

wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

(912)288-0810

Zur-clay

2009-10-16T08:36:00.006-04:00

10-15-2009

My pictures are on display for the month of October at the AW J0nes Heritage Center on St. Simons Island which is at the base of the Lighthouse. A reception was held for me on the 13th and had a great turn out with lots of people that I didn't even know showing up to check out my work. I think I spoke with everyone and one of the first ladies I met said she was an artist that painted and had sort of a French accent. As she was looking at the names underneath the pictures she stopped at one of my Zirkle shots and asked if it was pronounced "Zur-clay."

Never even thought about it being seen this way as I told her "no, like circle with a Z."

I just bought a new lens a couple of weeks ago and was out trying it in the fog when I took this shot of the trees and the other is at "Zur-clay!"

My work will be on display until the 27th of October so if you are on the island swing in and check it out.

wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

Getting Lucky

2009-10-01T10:41:00.003-04:00

10-01-2009

A friend of mine called the other day while I was being picked for the grand jury. I had left my phone in the car and saw the message on my phone when I got back to it. I returned his call and I could tell he was under stress when he said "I need your help."

"Sure Kevin, what do you need?"

"I'm in California at Yosemite Park on vacation and my camera will not work! Man its beautiful out here, what can I do to fix it?"

Good thing there was no pressure. I told him the first thing that popped into my head about what it could be and he said hold on let me try it. The next thing I heard was "it's working! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Man it's beautiful out here. I'll bring some pictures home and let you see them." I had just got lucky on that one.

I've taken close to 30 framed photos over to the AW Jones Heritage Center on St. Simons for a month long show. The reception will be Oct. 13 from 6-8pm. If you are in the area look for the lighthouse ( the Heritage Center is at the base of it) and check it out.

I finally got lucky again yesterday and caught a fox, something that I do not have very many photos of.

Will find out tonight how my pictures do in the Okefenokee Heritage Center contest.

wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

Busy Times

2009-09-10T15:28:00.005-04:00

09-09-09

The past month has been a blur and I've not done much in the writing department. Bonnie had a duplicate esophageal cyst removed from her esophagus and the doctors went in through the side, ribcage and deflated lung to get it. She is healing well and a couple of weeks ago her dad passed away in his sleep at 70 years of age. He was in the recycling business for the past 25 years and there is lots that has not been recycled yet! I am helping mom-in-law with the cleaning up process and it has been quite a job so far.

I had been planning for a while to do the Brunswick Hospital bottom floor for a show for the month of October but a mistake was made by double booking and that has changed. I have been moved back to March of 2010 and the lady was able to arrange me to do the Heritage Center on St. Simons for the month of October. I'm doing the Taste of Brantley this coming weekend at Schlatterville and the month of October is the photo contest at the Okefenokee Heritage Center. I've got to pick two for that show and have them ready by next week and I'm also doing a show at the OHC for the month of May 2010. With working at least 40 hours a week and usually more I stay pretty busy most of the time.

These are some of the ones I'm thinking about entering for the photo contest and I can only use two of them. Now to decide which two.

wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

(912)288-0810

Satilla RiverKeeper

2009-08-15T21:46:00.002-04:00

I just found out last week that the Satilla Riverkeeper is moving to a new job and will be the Flint Riverkeeper. Gordon with the hair of white that matches the snow white sands of the Satilla is someone that I consider a friend of mine and the Satilla.

He has sweet talked me into donating river pictures for fundraiser events and using my photos on the Riverkeeper brochures and has been instrumental in getting some of my river photos in the hands of Governor Perdue and former President Jimmy Carter with a thank you note from both men to prove it.

I've been on several picture taking boat rides on the Satilla with him and he knows and understands my love for this river.

Many of my contacts have come from being associated with the Satilla Riverkeeper organization and the many functions such as clean-ups, removal of the flathead catfish and just talking about the Little and Big Satilla.

Good luck Gordon to you and your family on your new adventure and don't forget I am always looking for places to take pictures and the Flint River is a place I've never been!

Georgia Backroads & Zirkle

2009-07-26T19:47:00.004-04:00

07-26-2009

The last couple of weeks I've done the least amount of photography than in several years. Bonnie had her major surgery and I've been back and forth to the hospital and working at the same time. She is still real weak so I've been hanging around close to home while she is going through this time and probably driving her crazy. I did send in a few photos and a short bit of history about Zirkle to Georgia Backroads magazine and they sent a reply that they are interested in maybe doing a story on it. I've found out a little more history on it and am going to see what other information I can find before I send in what I have on one of my all time favorite places to make pictures.

These two photos are:

Baptist Hospital at 3am looking out across the water. I decided to see if I could get a decent shot of the lights and buildings across the other side.

I took my daughter and son-in-law to their first trip to Zirkle a couple of evenings ago and the water is really, really low. Someone has been in the water digging up small logs and boards that I suppose came from the sawmill that was there in the early 1900's and laying them up on the bank. The water is barely coming over the dam now.

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

(912)288-0810

Twenty five years

2009-07-07T11:06:00.003-04:00

07-07-2009

Twenty five years ago today I was still a teenager, had hair (with some sexy sideburns), no kids, never had any type of surgeries and about to be married to my highschool sweetheart. I had just bought my one bedroom house on a south Georgia dirt road and acre of land for $1,500 and started my job at the sawmill making a whopping $5.38 per hour. The original house is still here but has expanded all the way around and we still live on the same dirt road even though the name has changed.

Fast forward to now and all of the other things have changed somewhat but I am still married to my highschool sweetheart. Bonnie has put up with me through a lot over the years with different projects (I can't stand to be bored) and I keep telling her that I am the best thing that has ever happened to her. Truthfully, it is the other way around but it still does not stop me from saying it.

Both of our kids are out of highschool now with Kristen being married and operating her own business and Kyle still looking for work before starting to college in the fall. I moved on from the sawmill job, started taking lots of photos and work on trains now. Bonnie has never been on a plane before and hopefully that will change very soon and we can start to travel, see more of the world and start on the next twenty five years.

These are a couple of photos I made in the fog a few days ago that I like.

wayne

www.waynemorganphotography.com

A Little Prick

2009-07-01T08:39:00.005-04:00

07-01-2009

For the past few months I've been hobbling around while working 12 hours almost every day on cement with pain in my right heel. I finally got an appointment yesterday to get it looked at and I have a heel spur. I figured that was it because five years ago I had the same pain in my left foot. The doc examined me and said he was going to inject something in the inflamed area and whipped out a little tiny needle and said there is going to be a little prick. Wham, straight into the side of my heel and it was a good thing he had a good grip on my foot at the time. After that he had to move it around and around until he hit juuuust the right spot. He knew it when he hit it and so did I. That was when the pain went from just hurting to hurting and burning. Now I've got a brace to where for a couple of days and I should be good to go.

This morning I was back at Zirkle wading around in my chest waders and walking on the soft river sands of the Little Satilla that felt so good I didn't even think about my foot.

The yellow flies are bad and I bet PETA would not have liked the way I killed one of them with my hat that was biting my ankles after getting my wading clothes back off. I knocked it to the ground, put my foot on it and did the twist. I already hurt enough around my ankles and don't need a yellow fly to add to it. Made me feel good that at least one of them didn't get away.

This set of trees is some I've enjoyed taking photos of that is near Herrin Lake and now the river is getting low enough I can get to them again.

wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

(912)288-0810

Brantley Magazine & a bluebird

2009-06-22T14:19:00.003-04:00

o6-22-2009

I was sitting at a table at the Brantley County High School cafeteria for an event honoring local people that had done good for our county this past year. Publisher of the Waycross Magazine, Dave Callaway was sitting across from me and I heard him tell the lady next to him about how when he first came to Ware and put out the magazine he had ticked off a certain photographer.

It took me a few seconds to think about what he was talking about and then it came to me. I was doing a show at the Okefenokee Heritage Center and he took a picture of me standing next to one of my photographs. I was sitting somewhere one day and happened to pick up this neat looking magazine that had Waycross across the top of it and was looking at it from the back to the front like I always do. There was the picture and I thought wow this is good to have my stuff in a nice magazine like this. Then I read the caption underneath.......... Wayne Morgan with his "painting" at the Heritage Center. I could feel my blood pressure rising.

I found his email address and sent him a quick note when I got home that said something to the effect of "I really do appreciate the exposure of having my picture in this nice magazine but I am "NOT" a painter. I wish I could paint but I cannot and I am a PHOTOGRAPHER. I work hard at what I do and it is always a struggle to just get recognized as a photographer and now this." He corrected the mistake in the next issue and I thought nothing else about it until this evening and we had a good laugh.

Now today Brantley has its own magazine that Dave has published and he also took my picture again with one of my photos on the front cover. I am extremely proud to be associated with it and think it is a breath of fresh air for our county. As long as he does not list me as a "painter" we won't have a problem.

After working graveyard shift last night and getting my sleep I looked out my back window to check on the bluebirds. They are nesting again and the male and female are bringing food back and forth to the nest. I grabbed my camera and caught this male bringing in his portion of a freshly picked cricket.

wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

(912)288-0810

Man on a bench

2009-06-12T13:52:00.005-04:00

06-12-2009

We rode back down to Jacksonville for more tests on Bonnie this week. Before leaving I checked out my camera and it appeared to have a full charge on the battery. They discovered she has a cyst on her esophagus so now we are waiting to talk with another doctor about the next step.

On the way home we were crossing over the road that had a sign pointing > Fernandina Beach when she said "I don't feel like going back to work today. I think I'd like to go to the beach." I am a river person and had not been to the beach as far as getting wet in a very long time so around I turned at the first chance I got and we headed to the coast. After stopping at a store to get a few beach things we drove straight to it. When I pulled up I saw this man sitting on a bench with head phones on and a bible laying next to him and I thought that would make a good photo. The parking lot was full and we had not had anything to eat since early this morning so we turned and went back to eat lunch. After eating and coming back about an hour later this man was still in the exact spot as before and I couldn't stand it any more. There was one parking spot right where I needed to be so I swung in and parked the car. I grabbed my camera and stepped out and took several photos of this man enjoying his time watching the birds and listening to his music. Normally I try to keep people out of my photos but this scene to me was something interesting and I was able to get a bird in it anyway.

We decided to ride on down to a less crowded area and get out to the water. It was a beautiful day and when we got to our spot I grabbed my camera and started taking pictures of the waves breaking when my camera died on me. For some reason the battery was completely dead and I did not bring a spare with me.

I put my camera back in its bag and normally I would have been frustrated but we had a really good time splashing around in the water like teenagers. Bonnie said with that one scene of the man on the bench the trip was worth it - plus we had fun.

wayne

www.waynemorganphotography.com

(912)288-0810

I WILL SURVIVE

2009-06-05T13:16:00.008-04:00

06-05-2009

I think some wondered if I would survive this past week on my own. My bunch should be back late tomorrow night from their cruise and I think I've done pretty well thank you very much. I sleep on one little section of the bed so it is not messed up and will be easy to make up just before everyone arrives. I've had very little dishes and most of that is just glasses where my sweet tea was in. I've worn my work clothes all week so all I have to do is take them in to work and that is taken care of. I have not even got one laundry basket of dirty clothes stacked up yet. I've heard that you can get by for three or four days on one pair of underwear by flipping them inside out. After a couple of hot, sweltering, grass cutting, weed eating days I would think that it is doable but........ I don't recommend it.

I've "conveniently" arrived at lunch and supper to kin folks homes a couple of times and been invited to eat which I would have felt bad turning it down. The to-go plates also helped me get by another day or two. I've also had a friend offer to buy me lunch on one occasion while I was in Brunswick and he was persuasive so again I would have felt bad not to oblige. I have watched very little tv as most everyday I've been either asleep or out taking pictures. I've been to Homerville, Okefenokee Swamp Park, Brunswick, Satilla River, Golden Isles Speedway and even stopped by at the recreation department and caught 9 & 10 year olds practicing softball.

There is a song from long ago called "I Will Survive" and I've always considered myself one. A suvivor on my own. At least one more day.

When I saw this gator at the Swamp Park my whole idea was to get down to eye level with it and get the tree root in the photo. Once again I brought no bug spray and the mosquitos are big and bad in the swamp. This other one was from my trip to a lake in Homerville.

The latest word is the Brantley Magazine with several of my photos in it will be out next Monday.

wayne

www.waynemorganphotography.com

I GET TO GO & Zirkle dam

2009-05-31T16:30:00.005-04:00

o5-31-2009

My bunch has all went on a cruise to Key West, Jamaica and Grand Cayman Islands while I stay at home and work this week. The first time Bonnie and Kyle has done anything like this so I hope they have a good time and know the next time I GET TO GO! Due to my hire date at my newest job with the railroad I don't have any vacation time built up but am looking forward to it happening so I can go somewhere to make some new photographs of other places.

I have switched a couple of framed pictures around at some of the local businesses where they are on display just to change the scenery. This one of Zirkle I hung at the Knox Hotel and when Blanche saw it she said "I've saw this one before." Apparently she thought she was interested in attending an art class in Waycross and met a lady that brought something to class with her. The other lady told the instructor she wanted to "paint this" and handed over a newspaper. The way Blanche jokes around I thought this was just another one but this time she was serious. It was this photo that the Blackshear paper had used on the front page last year of my photo and this was going to be her painting project. Blanche gave up her art career after a couple of classes and does not know who the other lady was or how her painting turned out. I've been asked before if it aggravates me when someone wants to paint one of the pictures that I've taken instead of buying one and my reply is always "shoot no. It makes me feel good to know some people like my work enough to want to paint a copy of it for themselves to hang on their wall."

wayne
http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

Got to have it

2009-05-26T08:50:00.005-04:00

05-26-2009

I was standing at the counter waiting to buy a newspaper when the man in front of me was buying a pack of cigarettes. His bill came up to $3.91 and when he opened up his wallet all he had was four one dollar bills. A slight hesitation, a grunt and "well - got to have it" and handed over the cash. I have never in my 44 years ever took a puff off of one of these cancer sticks so it was kind of hard for me to believe this man would spend his last dollar on what I consider a total waste of money. It has to be an addiction and I started thinking about something that has a similar effect with me. Photography. Every day I am pulling my camera out even if I am just riding to the store, going to work, walking down the road or even walking in the yard. Bonnie says I have two mistresses, ones name is Sony and the other is Nikon.

I've had a couple of requests in the past few days for some pictures of a lane in another county and cows so I've been seeing what I could come up with to satisfy my addiction.

This is a lane that has trees growing over the top of an old dirt road and a couple of cows in a field not too far from my house.

wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

While I am able

2009-05-19T15:47:00.004-04:00

05-19-2009

I met a man at my part-time Lowe's job the other day that gave me some advice. "Young man - never grow old. It's not what it's cut out to be." This man is not in good health I know because as cool as this store is the top of his head was wet with sweat and he was dragging his feet as he walked. He needed me to help him get things to water his tomato plants and started to talk. Many dreams he had when he was younger but now his health is so bad he knows he'll never get to do them plus he said he can't remember what half of them were anyway. "If you wait until you can afford it or wait until you have time you'll never do it. Do it while you are able." This man was making a lot of sense and as he thanked me for helping him and walked away I thought about how it is very possible I'll never see him again with his health being the way it is.

I went home and started checking on the costs of going out west and am in the planning stages now. I don't have any vacation time built up yet with my new CSX job but as soon as I get it I am pretty sure I'll be heading to Montana or maybe Colorado even if I have to borrow the money and work during the year to pay it back. After this trip I'll be focusing my lens on some other places - maybe Alaska. I don't want to get old and say I wished I would've done it while I was able.

My new website is up and running and am pleased with the way it looks.

This is the photo of mine that is going to be on the cover of the new Brantley Magazine.

Wayne

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

Chicken truck

2009-05-14T15:07:00.005-04:00

05-14-2009

I got behind a chicken truck from Georgia,

And the feathers were flyin' like snow out of the sky,

I couldn't get the speed enough to pass him,

And a funny smell was getting close to me,

And something keeps messin' up my windshield.......John Anderson

The last two nights going to work I've been looking for that very same truck. I know there is a chicken house or two between here and there and what they do helps the plants grow. If smell is any indication there should be some good plants agrowin' on that end of the county for there sure is plenty of it.

A couple of the places I've visited in the past two days is Zirkle and the Higginbotham House. Both are looking good right now. I noticed today when I pulled up to Zirkle the mosquitos are competing with the yellow and deer flies on which can be the most annoying. I was ready today as I soaked down with bug spray before getting out of the truck while they were beating on my window.
I have a new website that is up and running now. Check it out when you get the chance.

http://www.waynemorganphotography.com/

Joy that a bluebird brings

2009-05-11T15:03:00.008-04:00

05-11-2009

I was raised on country sunshine,

I'm happy with the simple things,

A Saturday night dance, a picture show and the joy that a bluebird brings...... Dottie West

I've watched the bluebirds out of my window from the time they were hatched until today when they left home. I started noticing them flapping their wings inside and knew they were getting ready to make their first flight. They have been nesting about twenty feet out of my back window and every day when I get home from work I'll set up and take their pictures. On this morning they started sticking their heads out and pushing then pulling back in. Finally the one on the top hole pushed and flew my way, made a left turn and was gone. The second one did the same and when it dove out it came my way and never made the turn. It flew right in my window, brushed my arm and landed on the floor beside me. I watched it a few seconds and turned my attention back to the other two as they each made their journey into the unknown. After the last two were gone I turned my attention back to number two bluebird that was still sitting in the same spot. I took a few photos of it, reached my hand under and scooped it up. I sat it on the window sill and as I reached for my camera it made a couple of short hops, chirped and away it went.

I felt like I had just witnessed a miracle to watch all four of these baby bluebirds make their first flight and I guess the number two bluebird will have some stories to tell of its own about its first flight.

Bruce and the skeeters

2009-05-06T10:31:00.005-04:00

05-06-2009

This morning while out on the banks of the Satilla River taking pictures and fighting more "skeeters" I saw a man in a boat fishing around the bend. He came nearby and asked if I had any bug spray and I told him "yea, I think I've got the flavor they like!" He pulled his boat over and grabbed hold on a limb and asked who I was and I told him. "You are Bruce's buddy right?"

"Bruce who?"

"Bruce Davis, he's my nephew."

"Sure am."

I've known Bruce since the first grade but Sammy told me things I'd never known about him. When he was born he had an enlarged liver along with his blindness. The doctors told the parents if he lived until he was six months old to bring him back and they would see what they could do to help him. He rode a bike when he was young and about 1983 Sammy passed a car on a dirt road that was driving fairly slow and saw it was Bruce behind the wheel with his dad sitting next to him. He was determined not to let a little thing like being blind stop him from doing things. Now he is the Brantley County dispatcher for the road department and I don't think you can find many people that can give you better directions in this county and most anywhere else. He is also a great musician and when we get through with our conversation he will always say "see you later!"

This is one of the photos I got this morning while feeding the skeeters and one of Bruce awhile back when he was "showing" me a pretty place on the river.

Skeeters and leaving the nest

2009-04-28T13:43:00.004-04:00

04-28-2009

The skeeters have been so bad lately. Yesterday when I was grilling pork chops one landed on the aluminum foil about the size of a small chicken. Probably could have flipped it a few times and had it for supper but instead flipped it into the coals. One co-worker said they were so bad where he was working that they buzzed around his neck and flipped his hood over his head. When moving locomotives the method of communication is hand signals and flashlight at night. Mitch and Derrick were making a move with Derrick receiving the signals. All of a sudden the light started going in directions that were just not right so he stopped to find out what all of that meant. Skeeters causing problems. The area where I work is called the drop pit (which is where we change the wheels and motors) and that is another place they seem to really love. Some of these stories may be stretching it a little but not much.

The bluebirds are raising in my backyard again and the parents are taking turns feeding and hauling off the waste of the little ones. I can see them flapping inside poking their heads out of the hole so I know they will be leaving the nest very soon. Graduation is just a few weeks away now so that is a lot like what us parents are soon to be experiencing. Young leaving the nest. These are a couple of my bluebird shots. The wing spreading one from a while back and the other is a new one.

wayne

Lead man & white egrets

2009-04-16T10:43:00.001-04:00

04-16-2009
My first day on the new job at the railroad I was told by my co-workers I’d be the lead man. I thought that was kind of nice of them being the lead man job I’ve been around in other places was right there with a supervisor position. When we got over to the locomotive one of them handed me a small tray with tools on it and pointed at a small opening behind the wheels and above the electric motor and said “There are four wire leads up there that has to be disconnected.” Seems the “lead” man job has very little to do with supervising and more to do with low man on the totem pole. Paper coveralls are provided and you work your way up into this small opening as you twist and turn in the right direction, then unhook these heavy duty wires that are a few inches from your face. All the while the others are unbolting parts and saying “making noise” followed by the bam of a rather large hammer on the outside getting ready to change the wheel assembly. Everyone that works this job knows how aggravating it can be and give all the moral support they can.
“If you need anything just let us know.” “Take your time.” “Don’t let it whip you.” “You’re doing a fine job.” “This is why I bid off of this job the first time.” “All of them are not this bad.” "Hang in there."
When I finally finish and come out I look like a raccoon from wearing the safety glasses and dirt everywhere else. Sometimes I come back out with the coveralls still in tact and sometimes not.
Yesterday was my day off from the “lead man” job so I went bird hunting and found these white egrets nesting.
wmailto:Wmorganphoto@hotmail.com
(912)288-0810

New pet(s)

2009-04-09T15:47:00.003-04:00

03-09-2009
A few days ago I saw an ad hanging on the bulletin board at work about Labrador retriever puppies with their website at www.stephenslabdepot.com. Being our long time pet bulldog Dagger was no longer with us I decided to ride over and check them out. Bonnie had already said she didn’t want another dog because it hurt so bad to lose a pet that we had raised from a little pup. After having a look-see I couldn’t resist picking one out. Then another. One is a totally white lab and the other is all black. She fell in love with them right off the bat and now it appears we are once again back in the pet business with these little rascals and I have me some new models to work with. We still are working on a name for them - Ace, Bandit, Noah, Moses & Max are some of the top ones so far.
wayne

Dagger - man

2009-04-03T16:35:00.001-04:00

04-03-2009
A couple of days ago I said good-bye to a dear old friend. When we got him as a puppy he had a white mark on the back of his neck that resembled a dagger and was just six weeks old so the name stuck. He has always been the most gentle pet anyone could ever have even though he was a red-nosed pit bulldog. I’ve watched him pick up baby kittens in his mouth and clean them off like they were his own. My ducks would eat out of the same bowl while he was eating and I’ve watched him lay down and let small kids and babies crawl all over him. Dagger had his way of laying his head down on his front leg and just watching you with his eyes, raising up his ears and dropping them back down. Sometimes he would fall asleep laying flat on his back and spread out without a care in the world. He would howl when a train came by and had his way of almost talking to Bonnie when she would get home from work and I used him as my model on many occasions when I first started with my photography. He has been sick for awhile it finally got to the point where he was starting to suffer, we said our goodbyes and I had to put him down.
We are all going to miss you Dagger-man.

80 in a 35

2009-04-01T09:08:00.003-04:00

04-01-2009
This morning I received a call from Bonnie. Kyle had been stopped by the Georgia State Patrol inside the city limits of Nahunta doing 80 in a 35 mph zone on the way to school. We’ve had about four inches of rain in the past twenty four hours, everything is wet and slick and he is seventeen years old! I was going down to pull him out of school and put a foot in his behind and tell him how wrong he was for doing this. After about five minutes of raising cane Bonnie calmly said “calm down it will be alright, we’ll handle it.” Another minute or two she let me go on about how it will not be alright and then “April fools…….. Bye” and hung up. She got me good. Apparently Kyle had just pulled it on her and she was so nice as to pass it on to me.

After my blood pressure settled down and I was coming back to the house I passed by a neighbors that had these flowers behind her mailbox that I really liked.

Spring is Here

2009-03-26T11:27:00.002-04:00

03-26-2009
This morning I rode to the Gibson Hole to check out the Satilla River. There was no wind at daylight and the “skeeters” greeted me as soon as I hit the edge of the woods. I started wearing my work pants to take pictures because they are thin and comfortable to do a lot of walking in but I soon found out they offer very little protection against these pesky insects.

The birds were active as I saw several ducks come flying around the bend, heard a turkey gobble down river, and watched as a white egret gracefully rounded the sandbar and changed directions back to where it came from. The woodpeckers were hammering and the squirrels were chattering their usual racket. The colors are changing to the refreshing greens of spring out of the dreary winter greys and the temperature is still in the comfortable mild range.

My next goal with my pictures is to get some real good shots of turkeys and have a few people at work interested in taking me along on one of their trips. I work the graveyard shift and the shop at night has the sounds of hammers, air guns, hoot owls and turkey calls echoing throughout the night.

This is one from this morning of a mouth of a slough to the Satilla.

The "n" word

2009-03-18T13:06:00.003-04:00

03-18-2009
I was told when I started at my new job with CSX to leave my feelings in the parking lot because the bunch around here will see what they can do to get your “goat” if you let them. There is one around here that has a slight stuttering problem and the more excited he gets the worse it appears. He takes it all in stride and we were all standing around talking the other day and somebody said “Danny, tell them about the drive thru at Taco Bell.” He started out by saying “just to let you know the words that start with the letter "n" can give me a fit sometime. Me and a buddy pulled up to the drive thru to order some tacos and I got hung up while placing the order. Finally was told to pull up to the window and my buddy tapped me on the shoulder and handed me his credit card and I said what is that for?”
“He said you’re probably going to need this because I think you just ordered 99 tacos!”

While out rambling this morning looking for something to shoot I found this tractor and old truck within a half mile of each other at two different locations on the south side of Brantley County.

Sunrise through the fog

2009-03-14T19:45:00.004-04:00

03-15-2009
I guess I am a glutton for punishment. With all of the layoff rumors going around I volunteered to go back to Lowe’s and work part-time while I’m working full time at CSX and still trying to get my fix of picture taking every chance I get. Both kids are almost out of school now and I’ve been ‘vestigatin’ the possibility of transferring to another Lowe’s store with Alaska and Montana being high on the priority list if I get my walking papers at the railroad.
I’ve always wanted to go to these places for my picture taking and that is one possibility I see of making it there to photograph other places than southeast Georgia.
The last couple of mornings have been really foggy and I love fog on the Satilla River. This is one I took with the sun coming up through the trees and over the Little Satilla.

My Super Model

2009-03-11T09:53:00.002-04:00

03-11-2009
I just found out Aunt Lois has passed away in Dublin, Ohio at the age of 99.
About a year ago I took a 16 hour ride to Ohio to take (Aunt) Lois Dixon back home from a visit to relatives here in Nahunta. She was really my great uncles aunt so I guess she was an aunt somewhere down the line. It was a ride of a lifetime as this lady at the time was 98 years young and full of one-liners. She called me her “famous photographer” and I called her my “super model.” Her and deceased husband Joe Dixon (who at one time was the mayor of Dublin) finished second place on America’s Funniest Home Videos many years ago and just recently she was featured on the cover of a book written by Bud Hearn from Sea Island, rightfully named “Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool.”
She was a quick witted lady and when I asked her to pose for me in an old bonnet, granny dress and corn husk broom she was more than willing to oblige. Aunt Lois was honored in Dublin at the 2008 St. Patrick Days Parade as the Grand Leprachan and told me after our ride to Ohio that I should consider myself lucky. Not everyone gets to spend 16 hours in the back seat with a Super Model plus stay at her home for three days afterwards. She enjoyed life and said when she hit the century mark they were going to shut down part of Dublin with her birthday party. I don’t doubt her one bit and she will be dearly missed.

Ducks in the House

2009-03-08T14:41:00.004-04:00

03-08-2009

After coming home from grocery shopping last night our mallard ducks and red-nosed pit bull dog were all standing by the back screen door under the carport waiting on food. They will all eat right along side each other and usually all three eat the dog food. I opened the door to bring in the stuff out of the trunk and the two waddlers followed me right on up to the back steps. Bonnie asked "you reckon they'll come in the house?" I walked back out to the car and left the door ajar and heard Bonnie yell "WAAAAYNE! They're in the BEDROOM!" I said "well, I guess that answers your question." Here they were following each other from room to room and then they started doing what ducks are notorious for doing. Squirting! The whole thing started out kind of funny but the humor was quickly desolving and n0w I had to herd them back out the door. With one final squirt they were back to the outside world.

This is a shot of the male trying to impress the female I guess when it picked up a leaf right between its eyes and started swimming around the pond.

wayne

Peeing in pants

2009-03-06T08:06:00.001-05:00

03-05-2009
Bonnie walked in to the post office to drop off some mail the other day and a friend of ours that was great friends with my granddaddy was standing with his back to her when she walked in. He always wears flannel shirts and was sorting through some mail when she walked up and stuck her finger in his back and said “give me all your money”. He turned and looked at her and it was not Gwendell! She starting laughing and apologizing all at the same time for what she had done by saying she thought it was someone else. He just said “its ok, I hear it all the time.” Bonnie laughed so hard she had to make a trip back to the house to change her wet pants.
I’ve been working on pictures of Elroys pond the last couple of mornings just after sunrise. This is a couple that I like.
Wayne Morgan
(912)288-0810