All of this is a gift.

#042

One of my favorite things in the world is driving around southern West Virginia looking for pictures. I’ve been working on a small project for West Virginia Public Broadcasting over the last few weeks, which has had me roaming around my neck of the woods a bit in a way that has felt unhurried and open-ended.

I’ve written about my love for place and for wandering (here and here), but it’s something I never grow tired of doing or talking about. I’ve always considered myself an introvert, but I’m starting to call that into question as I get older. I’m becoming more like my granddad who never met a stranger and had an ease about him that gave him access to people and places wherever he went.

Fundamentally, I believe everyone wants to be heard and seen. That doesn’t mean they want to be photographed, but it does mean they have something to say, to share and I believe we have a collective responsibility to listen and hear. I’ve been told “no” more in the last two weeks when I’ve asked folks if I could make their picture than in all my previous years as a photographer. Seriously. But, their words are powerful and I’ve found their willingness to share their time with me a gift. All of this is a gift.

Speaking of gifts, is there anything better than fall light? If you’ve been reading this newsletter for any length of time, you know I’ll turn around in a heartbeat to go back and make a picture. That was the case with this Stroh’s beer sign in Logan County. I can’ tell you how many times I’ve driven by this sign in my lifetime. A rush of memories were unlocked for me as I stood there with the warm sun at my back on the side of old US 119 looking through my viewfinder.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Dingess Tunnel, you should know about it. It’s in northern Mingo County close to the Logan County line. Several years ago, LED lights were added inside the tunnel, but as a kid, it was without a single light except that which was emitted from the other end over a half mile away. Also, if you go, know that it’s just wide enough for one vehicle at a time.

I found this impressive beaver handiwork on the banks of Laurel Lake, not far from the Dingess Tunnel, where my granddad, uncle, and I fished when I was a kid. Did you know the average lifespan of a beaver is 10-12 years and they’re considered North America’s largest rodent? You’re welcome.

A couple of days ago, while heading down to McDowell County, I saw this line of empty coal cars making its way south with me. I drove ahead a bit and saw the morning sun hitting the mountains across the Guyandotte River and thought I’d try to make a video of the train moving along the tracks.

What you can’t see in the video below is me pulling over on the side of the road, putting on my reflective safety vest, crossing four lanes of Route 10 with a four-foot concrete divider in between, and finally stepping over the guardrail to get an unobstructed view. You can hear the traffic behind me.

Where’s your favorite place to roam around and why?

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- Roger