Glistening Light™ Photography by Patrick Brown | Brookhaven, MS

The Foothills Parkway To Maggie Valley

Patrick Brown — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:38:10 +0000

If you've ever been to the Great Smoky Mountains, then I bet that you have never traveled the Foothills Parkway. That's because most people that do travel to the Great Smokies only go to the most popular destinations and don't tend to venture out into the country wilderness. Part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Foothills Parkway extends over the realm of the national park and travels the ridge of the mountains on the South side. Accessible from High 321 outside of Townsend, Foothills Parkway can give you a magnificent view from the east side of Cades Cove and overlooking the surrounding cities and towns such as Maryville, Tennessee and Sevierville in the distance. At night, you can see the glow of Knoxville, TN over the ridge. The photo provided here was taken during Fall Break in October 2009. I think it will be my plans to travel back to this location and take some night exposures on July 4th. The year to be determined.

Maggie Valley is also another wonder of the Great Smoky Mountains, as part of the Appalachian chain. Today, I was going through some of my unprocessed images that I had from last year and found this one. I color enhanced a little bit and this was the final result. In this scene, I drove to the top of Maggie Valley where there is also a horse ranch and ski lodge. This photo was taken at sunset. As a matter of fact, it was the same evening as the big Loyd Star vs Wesson football game in 2009. So, instead of being a part of the big crowd at Copiah-Lincoln's field, I was here taking some beautiful shots like these. You can view the rest of my shots in the gallery.

..and so, that ends yet another random post.

The Bubby Rushing Wipeout

Patrick Brown — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:45:53 +0000

Just as the title states, the Bubby Rushing Wipeout. During the Summer of 2010, we went to Lake Lincoln for water tubing. This is what happens when you don't hold on tight! I forgot that I had these photos, so I decided to post them now.

The Rainbow Barn. A Childhood Legacy. Gone.

Patrick Brown — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:00:21 +0000

Somewhere over the rainbow where dreams come true. Countless times have I driven past this icon built for kids; a barn in a cow pasture painted with colors that every child knew by heart. I can remember traveling to visit family in Brookhaven, Mississippi and riding by the Rainbow Barn on Interstate 55 and staring at it the entire time as its red walls gleamed in the sunlight. For over 30 years, this barn provided a symbol of change for Mississippi. It was a symbol of hope for dreams to come true. Not only that, but for God's continued promise that the world would never be destroyed by water again.

Originally painted by John Huntington, a Copiah-Lincoln Community College's non-credit art class in the late 1970's, the barn has been featured in numerous magazines and a calendar that I have personally seen. John was the son of the owner's barn, located on Dixie Garden's property on Dixie Gardens Road.

Well, it's gone now. Yes, gone. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, there was significant damage done to the barn and you can see the patchwork of the tin roof in the photo above from a Flikr stream. On Sunday, August 22, 2010, several severe storms tore through the area in Copiah County and eventually ruptured the barn. Now, after so many years of NOT taking photos, I regret it.

I conducted a Google search regarding the Rainbow Barn and came up with some interesting results. One result happened to be from the owner's son-in-law. "The Old Man and the Tennis Court.", posted by John Branston on Wed, Dec 23, 2009 by the Memphis Flyer.

We buried the old man last week. My father-in-law was 77 years old. He was a lifelong hunter, cattleman, and athlete in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, 30 miles south of Jackson on Interstate 55. You might have seen his "rainbow barn" when you were driving to New Orleans.

"Landmark lost during Sunday storm", by Therese Apel of the Daily Leader on Tuesday, August 24, 2010:

Many Brookhavenites knew about the "Rainbow Barn," which sat on Interstate 55 and brightened the way for passing motorists with the rainbow painted on the side.

And after Sunday night's storm, it's gone. Blythe Reid said she grew up making a wish on the rainbow every time she drove past.

"As kids our parents taught us to wave and make a wish on the barn each time you passed it," she said. "To this day I still waved! I taught my kids to wave at it."

"Copiah's Americana icon falls victim to storm", by Copiah County Courier on Tuesday, August 24, 2010:

It was a popular cultural attraction along I-55 North halfway between Exits 51 and 56, neatly tucked between a hay field and horse pasture out of the passenger side’s window. It was most spectacular in the evenings, just as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon–bathed in a picturesque sepia. An untold number of Americans–and folks from around the world–had viewed it and even photographed it over the past four decades. And, on Sunday evening, its ever-so crippled self finally gave in to a wind gust that accompanied a late-summer thunderstorm, closing the book on a Copiah County icon.

What Makes A Pretty Picture?

Patrick Brown — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:41:26 +0000

What makes a pretty picture? Your answer may differ from mine. Perhaps it's of family members enjoying precious moments in time. Perhaps it's a rainbow of colors after a severe thunderstorm. Perhaps it's the morning sunshine in Cades Cove of the Great Smoky Mountains that I shot during my first trip in July of 2008.

Perhaps the fall scenery surrounding this historic church in Union Church, Mississippi, taken in the Fall of 2009.

A pretty picture can be whatever your mind has set it to be. We all see things differently and not everything that we see will coincide with our true thoughts if we are in such a fast pace of life.

Take for instance the above photo, taken in June, 2009, on West Lincoln Drive in Brookhaven near Sherrill Wallace's house after a rainstorm; Actually, it's a myrtle tree that he planted nearly a decade ago. As many times that I have traveled down this country road and seen the myrtle trees in full bloom, this one day I decided to stop and capture sunset over the flower petals. To you driving by, it's just another tree. To me, it's a setting; something different. Actually during this photoshoot, there were 5 or 6 cars that stopped to see if something was wrong. Did they not see the pretty picture? A pretty picture can be all around us. Most importantly, though, it has to conform to the guidelines placed before us, God's Holy and divine Word. Because, through his eyes, everything that is Just (right) is a pretty picture.

... and that's your inspirational note for today! Not much, but just needed to write the blog since I haven't in quite a while.

“SLCC” Sardis Lake Christian Camp – The Point

Patrick Brown — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:00:27 +0000

Sardis Lake Christian Camp; a week long of spiritual fellowship and fun with 140 campers and a host of daytime visitors. I decided to go with the youth group to Sardis Lake Christian Camp this year instead of Gatlinburg, Tennessee as I was normally doing during the Summer months. Anyway, during the week-long camp at Session 5, the camp's teen groups walked 1.5 miles to what is called "The Point". Basically, it's a quiet cove on the south side of Sardis Lake. Being that Sardis Lake is the second largest in Mississippi, it was quite amazing to be in such a place. The surrounding shore was lined with sandstone rocks of natural elements. It was a scene that you expected to see in East Tenneesee, at the foot of the mountains. As we all gathered there (over 90 people) and sat on the rocks, we began to sing hymns and listened to a devotional message while watching the sun go down. I was able to capture a couple of scenes with the camera. With respect, photos cannot provide adequate justice. The cove of the lake is much larger than it looks.

A Hay Barn Fire. Spontaneous Combustion?

Patrick Brown — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:23:09 +0000

On Thursday evening of July 1, 2010, I was on the way to Brookway Church of Christ in Brookhaven for Vacation Bible School when our fire department received a call of a hay barn on fire on Bogue Chitto Road. Upon arrival, the stacked hay under a metal canopy was flaming high. With three volunteer fire departments on scene (Bogue Chitto, Hog Chain, and Zetus VFD) there was no way that we could extinguish the hay as we would have been there all night. On a positive note of such a bad occasion, I captured this interesting shot and added a few effects. Cows in the meadow are not phased by the events taking place in real-time.

Fire Department in Editorial Art Gallery

Here is some interesting information on how this fire may have started and you'd be surprised at how many people don't know this. Although I could not say that this was the exact cause without an investigation, it has a lot of credibility. This excerpt was taken from Dr. Don Ball of Auburn University -- Prevention of Hay Fires:

Spontaneous Combustion

Spontaneous combustion can occur in hay if it is baled at too high a moisture level. The general recommendation is that small rectangular bales should be baled at 20% moisture or less and that large round bales should be baled at 18% moisture or less The exception to this is when a hay preservative such as proprionic acid is applied to the hay prior to bailing. When this is done, hay may be safely baled at 25 percent moisture or higher.

Heating of hay is caused by the activity of microorganisms. Dry hay does not heat excessively because it lacks the necessary moisture to support any significant microbial growth. The microorganisms that cause heating are naturally present on forage and they will become active if conditions are suitable.

Spontaneous combustion is more likely to occur in tightly baled hay as opposed to loosely baled hay, and packing newly made bales tightly together in a barn also makes it more difficult for heat to escape. However, there could be danger anytime the recommended moisture levels for baling are exceeded, although if the moisture level is no more than a few percent higher than recommended it is likely that the main negative result will be moldy hay. The higher above recommended levels that the moisture level goes, the greater the likelihood of extreme heating and fire.

See more by clicking here

FREE Great Smoky Mountains Screen Saver

Patrick Brown — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:26 +0000

Have you ever been to the Great Smoky Mountains? If so, then you know how beautiful of a place it actually is. If not, then you're missing out on a great part of life. From hiking along the Middle Prong in Tremont, touring the 11-mile loop road in Cades Cove and driving over the mountain range into Cherokee, North Carolina, the Great Smokies contain some of the richest natural resources in the United States.

Offered now is a FREE screen saver featuring the Great Smoky Mountains, which contains photos taken in the Summer of 2009, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the national park from 1934-2009.

Get The Screen Saver Now - Continue to the FREE screen saver download.

View The Photo Gallery - See Smoky Mountain photos where you can also purchase prints.

Before Father’s Day – Ross Barnett Reservoir

Patrick Brown — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:49:18 +0000

On Saturday, June 19th, I set out to view the sunset from the north shore of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. Severe weather alerts had already interrupted programming on the local FM radio station, so I was quite hesitant in staying long. Fortunately, the severe thunderstorms that pounded Brandon never made it to the north shore of the reservoir.

While waiting on the sun to set, I decided to park near the Wildlife Reserve to read a magazine. Twenty minutes later, an elderly gentleman drove up in what seemed to be a 1980's model car. It was terribly worn, but in his eyes it was probably a treasure worth keeping.

After parking, he got out of the car and walked onto the pier. It caught my attention, simply for the fact that he was alone. There he stood on the fishing pier, gazing out into the harbor. One could only image what plagued his mind. Perhaps this was an everyday routine. Perhaps he wanted to watch the nearby wildlife. Perhaps he knew that the next day would be Father's Day and his time to reflect back on life was now. Whatever the case may have been, I could not resist capturing his moment of solitude. An emotional setting for anyone whose dad is or was an inspirational part of their life. Happy Father's Day..

While at the entrance of the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area, I noticed severe thunderstorms traveling the east side of the reservoir. The sun was still shining bright and I just knew there would be a rainbow soon. I was able to capture this rainbow over the marina and boat landing.

An interesting shot of protected wildlife in the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area.

Pearl River Wildlife Management Area.

Lilypad flowers are ready to bloom on the Ross Barnett Reservoir

As I was driving into the management area, I spotted this interesting scene. Two tall tree trunks in the middle of the reserve area. The dark clouds provided contrast and color for the background. At this point, the windspeed shifted and the storms were approaching closely from the east.

As the sun was setting, I was able to capture this shot over the reservoir.

An amazing sunset over the Ross Barnett Reservoir

A super amazing capture of sunset; the last light.

View All Reservoir Photos In Gallery

Prints are available by using the Buy option in the gallery

Destin Florida Beach Photo Prints

Patrick Brown — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:30:42 +0000

The following are samples of prints for sale through the Glistening Light Gallery. With custom framing options, you can have an extraordinary print for your home or office. These prints feature scenes from Walton County's beaches in Destin, Florida.

Glistening Light Photography watermark is removed at the time of purchase

Crossing The East Pass Bridge in Destin, Florida
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Aly's Beach, Florida Welcome Sign
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Beached Sailboat in Destin, Florida
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Destin, Florida Wildlife
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A Destin, Florida Sunset
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Elderly Woman & Beached Sailboat in Destin, Florida
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Gulf Islands National Seashore in Destin, Florida
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Dreamy Evening in Destin, Florida
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The Beaches of Destin, Florida
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Click Here For More Destin Photos

View Glistening Light Print Prices

Want to order your own custom frame? Try Craig's Frames Online Store

The Story Behind The Destin, FL Beached Sailboat

Patrick Brown — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:00:03 +0000

Being able to stumble upon such a scene in paradise was exciting, but I just couldn't seem to figure out how or why there was a beached sailboat on the Gulf Islands National Seashore. So, I decided to check into it a little.

To get you set on the story, I took a trip to Destin, Florida for spring break. While I was crossing the bay bridge, I noticed a sail over the sand dune's horizon on the west coastline of Destin. So, later I decided to go check it out. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in Florida when I stumbled upon this scene. Although known with the locals, I thought for sure that someone put this here just so I could take photos.

After taking day shots, I came back that evening to capture it in the sunset, but unfortunately I found some idiot guys stealing and destroying the boat.

On brighter terms, I was able to capture shots like these after patiently waiting on them to leave.

The Destin Log.com posted the following about this sailboat:

LAND, WHOA! Crews try to save luxury sailboat from pounding waves

October, 2009

Gulf resident Russ Day became a temporary land-dweller Thursday when his 41-foot Morgan Out Island sailboat was beached on the Air Force side of the East Pass jetties.

While attempting to sail into the harbor late Thursday night, stiff winds and rough seas disoriented Day. Fighting the helm, he didn’t see the jetties, which he said are jet black and blend in with the open sea at night. He ended up veering off course and landing on the beach.

See Full Article

MOTHER NATURE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD HELP ME NOW': Menaced by Ida, stranded boater is now banking on a strong south wind

December, 2009

New England native Russ Day said his 41-foot Morgan Out Island sailboat has become a Destin attraction, as it has been beached on the Air Force side of the East Pass jetties for more than a month.

Day ran ashore in late October while trying to sail into the harbor at night. Rough winds and seas disoriented the sailor, who said he couldn’t see the jetties in the dark and ended up veering off course and landing on the beach.

Without the money to hire a salvage company, Day thought his plan to spend the next five years on the sea would have to be changed until Destin charter boat Capt. Bill Waitzman offered up his boat and crew to help out the sailor. But the extraction attempt failed, and Day’s $400,000 sailboat continues to be battered by waves on the beach.

See Full Article

DESTINED TO BE DERELICT? Beached sailboat finally succumbs to the Gulf as ghost boats rear their ugly head

February, 2010

After running aground in late October and three months of battery from Gulf waves, the 41-foot Morgan Out Island Sailboat surrendered and rested on the ocean floor, a few dozen yards off shore just west of the West Jetty.

The vessel’s owner, Russ Day, of Massachusetts had purchased the boat with the intention of sailing it for the next five years. This plan was scuttled when he ran the ship aground, trying to navigate the East Pass at night.

Without enough money to remove the boat by hire, Day had hoped to call-to-action the members of Destin’s fishing fleet to rescue the yacht. A number of attempts were made, but none, obviously, were successful.

See Full Article | Photos

To the expense of Russ Day's $400,000 disadvantage, his sailboat has captured the attention of many in the Destin area. Although resident opinions would be to discard of the sailboat, it has become a part of marine life and of photogenic proportion. How much longer will this boat be visible? Probably not too much longer.

Framed Print of the Beached Sailboat in Destin, FL
Click Here Order This Print | View The Gallery

The Evening Sunset. A Sign Of Hope; A God Of Wonder

Patrick Brown — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:20:11 +0000

The day was growing old on Wednesday, April 14th. As I arrived at church, I got out of my vehicle, turned around and saw this amazing Spring sunset shining through the trees. This shot was taken in the parking area of the Youth Center at Johnson Grove Church of Christ, looking towards the west in the pasture at Auburn Drive and Johnson Grove Road in Bogue Chitto / Lincoln County, Mississippi. (see map)

If you were anywhere in our area at approximately 5:30pm, then you should know that there was an extremely heavy downpour of rain. It was nice to see this after the storm. This is the kind of scene where you could definitely say [Insert Inspirational Quote Here]. This area is notorious for beautiful sunsets, especially when it hits the front of the church building as you may remember when I captured a rainbow shot after an intense storm.

Evening Sunset After The Storm
Auburn Drive in Bogue Chitto, MS (April 2010) Canon Rebel T1i 500D

Note: The above photo has been oil brush enhanced

Old Barn On Bogue Chitto Road Catches Attention

Patrick Brown — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:00:51 +0000

So a couple of weeks ago I was out in the county on a few service calls. While traveling Bogue Chitto Road, between Bogue Chitto and Highway 583, I came across this old barn beside the road at approximately 10ft from the edge. Although I've passed it many times, this time it caught my attention with floral decorations in the background highlighting a landscape of Spring weather.

Old barn on Bogue Chitto Rd.
Bogue Chitto, MS (March 2010)

One of my favorite things to do with a photo is to turn it into an oil brush painting effect. Given that you have a great landscape photo and some creativity for a great shot, you can turn it into a place that doesn't exist in the real world.

Old barn on Bogue Chitto Rd with oil brush effect
Bogue Chitto, MS (March 2010)

A Random Drive Means Random Photo Opportunities

Patrick Brown — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:10:28 +0000

During Easter weekend, I decided to take a drive to see what random photos I could come up with. After visiting Clear Springs in the Homochitto National Forest, I made my way to Windsor Ruins and finally back down the Natchez Trace towards the Mississippi River.

Canadian Goose in Natchez State Park
Natchez, Mississippi (April 2010)

Fising in a cove at Natchez State Park
Natchez, Mississippi (April 2010)

Fishing on the lake in Natchez State Park
Natchez, Mississippi (April 2010)

Fishing Pier in Natchez State Park
Natchez, Mississippi (April 2010)

See Natchez State Park In The Gallery

Windsor Ruins

Windsor Ruins is a place of its own. Once a large plantation home with over 20 bedrooms, it was a legacy during the Civil War. Once the Union troops occupied this home, they used it as a hospital and was not burned down. Its fatal burn was committed after the war when a guest's cigarette caught it on fire. The columns are the only things left of this once-magnificent plantation home.

The Windsor Ruins
Port Gibson, Mississippi (April 2010)

A lone Dogwood tree in the midst of Pines
The Natchez Trace Parkway (April 2010)

Spring on the Natchez Trace
The Natchez Trace Parkway (April 2010)

A Dogwood Tree with Hanging Moss
The Natchez Trace Parkway (April 2010)

See Natchez Trace Parkway In The Gallery

Pink Dogwood Tree in Natchez
Natchez, Mississippi (April 2010)

See Natchez In The Gallery | See Dogwood Trees In The Gallery

Natchez: The Houses and History of the Jewel of the Misissippi
List Price: $39.95
Sale Price: $26.44
Used From: $21.00
Average Rating:

Description

Boasting over 500 houses, churches, and other buildings pre-dating the Civil War, Natchez, Mississippi, is one of a few Southern towns that has produced and preserved such a rich architectural heritage.With its uncompromised attention to architecture and style, Natchez follows in the tradition of Cottages by the Sea and Charleston Style. It is a sumptuous entrée to the houses and gardens that abound in this richly historic, deeply Southern town that draws thousands of visitors each year. The houses captured in all their glory and charm include Auburn, Longwood, Magnolia Hall, Landsdowne, and more. A unique celebration of architecture, style, history, and some "good old-fashioned Southern hospitality," Natchez is an illustrious and splendid look at the "jewel by the river" and a must-have for both the residents and the tourists who make Natchez a popular destination year after year.

From Pensacola to Panama City, Let The Waters Glow

Patrick Brown — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:00:23 +0000

Many visitors to the Emerald Coast of Florida often miss the opportunity to see a natural phenomenon take place. During the night hours, the waves of Florida glow as they crash the white sand beaches. So, you're now thinking.... glow?? See for yourself! While traveling through the beautiful and peaceful communities of Seaside, Florida and Rosemary Beach one night during Spring Break 2010, I stopped at a beach area and went to the shoreline with my camera. Hoping to catch some night shots of Panama City Beach lights, I noticed something else that caught my eye, which were the waves of the Gulf glowing the green Emerald color . I'm not exactly sure what it was and the only explanation that I could think of is plankton or micro-organisms. I was able to take a long exposure shot of this effect.

The photo above is the original
Rosemary Beach, Florida (March 2010)

This photo is an enhanced version
Rosemary Beach, Florida (March 2010)

A night view of Panama City Beach
Shot from Rosemary Beach, Florida (March 2010)

**For the record, I didn't stay in Panama City for Spring Break :)

Alys Beach in Florida between Seaside & Rosemary Beach
Alys Beach, Florida (March 2010)

I told a friend of mine, Alyson Huey, that they named a beach after her. She didn't believe me. So, here's the photo to prove it! She'll eventually read this. Anyway, I promise I will be going back to those communities. After eating my first meal at Bud & Alleys in Seaside, Florida, I basically want to live there now! Check out these books below and you'll see why. It's now a toss up between the mountains and the beach! By the way, real estate ownerships are in the millions :/

Seaside, Florida web site | Rosemary Beach, Florida web site

Rosemary Beach
List Price: $35.00
Sale Price: $26.60
Used From: $22.00
Average Rating:

Description

Designed by planning pioneers Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk--the same husband and wife team who rose to prominence for their design of Seaside--Rosemary Beach is a decidedly different community. Whereas Seaside evokes small-town America, Rosemary Beach evokes the ambiance of a preindustrial city, featuring a more urban landscape than previous New Urbanism developments. Three concepts are integral to the design of Rosemary Beach homes. First, the incorporation of the European Colonial architecture of the West Indies and New Orleans, ideal for tropical climates, became the prototypical house design, including façade-length porches, large windows and doorways, and steep roofs. This design also mandates that the structure be raised on a masonry base so that the main living level is sufficiently elevated to catch the ocean breeze. Second, the building of a wooden frame above a masonry base, providing an enclosure for off-street parking as well as a guest unit, is an ingenious design that also makes the houses more private and secure. Rosemary Beach incorporates additional architecture and city planning designs from around the world: the public park layout evokes medieval Prague with its angular intersections balanced by small open spaces; the parapet walls on the community swimming pool exude the designs of Morocco and Spain; the boardwalks were inspired by Rockport, Maine; and the town hall proclaims a Dutch Colonial influence. Third, it was decided that cars should not be a dominant part of the Rosemary Beach streetscape, as they are in Seaside. This aesthetic evolved into the creation of alleyways interspersed between the major streets, providing vehicular access to the rear of the houses. Renowned photographer Richard Sexton became an advocate of Rosemary Beach, finding it a positive example of how future communities can become better and more stimulating places. His admiration is palpable throughout this thoroughly descriptive and artful photo essay, which features a vicarious stroll through residential and civic buildings and public spaces, and details the prescribed house types that define the community. A secondary photo essay focuses on an intimate view of how residents live in Rosemary Beach. The final section provides a walking tour experience.

Seaside Style
List Price: $45.00
Sale Price: $20.99
Used From: $14.00
Average Rating:

Description

Seaside, Florida is a town designed as an "ideal" community in the Southern vernacular style, where houses have front porches and verandahs, picket fences and sleeping porches, and pitched tin roofs with ample overhangs. Seaside, along with other new planned towns and communities, sets an important precedent for all new small towns and will long be looked to as a model for those living in tropical climes, on the water, or in coastal communities.Now, for the very first time, the reader is given a privileged view of the inside of this extraordinary community-how people actually live in it-how they have arranged their spaces, furnished their homes, and planted their gardens to take advantage of the beauty by which they are surrounded. This book, as the title suggests, lays out a vision of coastal living based on this ideal community.

Seaside
List Price: $19.95
Sale Price: $14.49
Used From: $2.79
Average Rating:

Description

This completely revised second edition of Seaside is the guide to the famous Florida resort town, complete with maps, walking tours, updated addresses, aerial views, and a look inside some of Seaside’s most beautifully decorated homes. For the first time, a complete list of every town structure and its designer is included. Tourists from every continent travel to Seaside to enjoy its beautiful beaches, award-winning architecture, diverse restaurants, and array of cultural and sports events. Designed by small-town planning pioneers Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Seaside boasts work from renowned architects such as Leon Krier and Walter Chatham. Even England’s Prince of Wales has called Seaside a model of humane urban planning. This small community was founded in 1980 on a remote eighty acres near the town of Seagrove Beach along Florida’s northwest Gulf coast. Through his close friendship with Seaside founder Robert Davis, writer and photographer Steven Brooke gained unique insight into the thinking and planning that gave birth to Seaside, a community constructed on the belief that "our lives are unalterably affected by our architectural surroundings." With nearly two hundred lush color photographs, Brooke takes the reader from the earliest pioneer stages of the town, with its dirt streets and scrub landscape, to its development as an emerging cultural and intellectual center. In Seaside, we view the town from the first tin-roofed cottages to streets and boulevards of award-winning houses and public buildings. Brooke’s text includes a discussion of the architectural elements that compose the Florida style and elaborates on the widely hailed urban design principles in effect at Seaside. This is the guide to the town of Seaside, complete with maps, walking tours, aerial views, and a look inside some of Seaside’s most beautifully decorated homes. Brooke’s images, which celebrate both the town’s architecture and spirit, have contributed to Seaside’s fame--the small town that influenced architecture throughout the world.

Destined For Destin… Welcome To The Emerald Coast

Patrick Brown — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:00:35 +0000

So, for Spring Break, I decided to take a trip to Destin, Florida for the first time. Setting up my reservations for Destin was a breeze, but can you say LAST MINUTE?? ha. I booked my room at Sleep Inn located just east of the Destin city limits. Being near the parkway made it really convenient for travel and plus you were just minutes away from the beach. After mapping my journey on Google Maps, I saved everything and went home. Reservations were set for check-in Tuesday, March 16th and check-out Friday, March 19th. Total cost? $300.00. You're talking about spring break and it's that cheap?? Well apparently I got it at a good deal online, because the hotel clerk soon told me it was supposed to be higher than that... like near $500, but they had to honor the online price.

Tuesday morning around 8:30am, I left Brookhaven, MS and headed towards Destin, Florida. Traveling through Louisiana on Interstate 12 and eventually I-10 through Mobile. Afterwhich, I was soon to be on Highway 98 and into Florida. The day was gorgeous. The sun was shining bright and the air was slightly cool. Great day for the sunroof to be open! and it was.

If you've ever traveled the GPS route to Destin, then you know how long of a trip that can be. Although only 6 hours, it doesn't necessarily give you the most scenic route. Anyhow, I made it to Fort Walton Beach, stopping to fuel up on the other side of the port bridge. Back on the Emerald Coast Parkway (Highway 98) I was on the way to Destin!....wait... 6 miles?? I was only 6 miles from Destin??? Is that hotel I see in the distance in Destin??? Quite frankly, yes. Crossing the path of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and over the Bay Bridge, finally entering Destin.

What a nice city! resorts everywhere! Nice Bass Pro Shop!! (gotta love it). Outlet stores in a convenient location. The hotel? nice room. Full king bed, refrigerator, microwave, Internet access and all for only $89.00 a night minus the crazy tax rate.

So, as you probably have now figured out that it was my first time ever to see the Destin, Florida area. As a matter of fact, I've only been to Florida maybe twice and it was through Jacksonville. Now, I'm touring the Emerald Coast for vacation!!... and for a few photos of course.

Sunny Day in Destin - While in Destin, and trying to dodge the overcast and rainy skies, I captured the above photo. It's an old sailboat that someone abandoned just west of the bay area. Apparently it has been there for a long time, because it was nested in the waterhole.

Evening Skies in Destin - So the next day I went back to this same spot. Taking 15 minutes to walk from the bay bridge, I spent about 40 minutes here watching the sun go down. From a distance, I captured this shot of the same sailboat, except with the pink glow of the sky reflecting off the sugar white sands.

Sunset Over The Dunes - A gorgeous shot of sunset over the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Check out the colors that are represened by the sunset!

A Romantic Sunset - Here I am again! So, this couple were walking behind me and as they approached, they stopped. I told them that they didn't have to wait and I would practice the shots while they clear the scene. I'm glad I was able to go back through and see this on the memory card.

Wildlife in Destin, Florida - Endangered species habitat in the Gulf Islands National Seashore. What an amazing opportunity to capture a charming scene.

A Night in Destin - A long shutter speed with the lens open. Here's the bay bridge and Destin on the other side.

Rough Seas On The Emerald Coast - An afternoon in Destin, although overcast skies.

All photos taken with Canon Rebel T1i 500D
Want a T1i 500D? Click here to view live auctions

See All Destin Photos In Glistening Light Gallery

Sand in the floorboard of your SUV is a good feeling when you live in Southwest Mississippi. The closest beach is Lake Lincoln---which is NOT a beach...ha. I hope you enjoyed the shots. I've got some more to post, but that's another blog entry soon.

For the sailboat shots, I utilized a 58mm circular light polarization filter for the Canon EOS Rebel T1i to give the image more High Definition blues and greens. If you have glares from sunlight in your pics, then try a polarizer, but don't settle for the cheapest one. You"ll get what you paid for. Tiffen makes a great polarizer filter for a decent price

Click here to see Tiffen filters on eBay

Spring Is Here! What Will You Make Of It?

Patrick Brown — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:48:31 +0000

Spring is here in Southwest Mississippi. The flowers are blooming on the side of the county roads and Bradford Pear trees are shedding petals of white. Next up are the Dogwood trees to further mark the arrival of warm weather.

It's currently Spring Break for the Brookhaven area and I don't have to report to work for a week! So, I'm going to jump in the Mountaineer and make a trip here and there to see what I can come up with inside the camera's lens. Who knows where I will end up. Just watch the gallery over the next week or so!

The above shot was taken a couple of days ago during sunset. I was able to capture low-level light through the trees while aiming for focal depth within the foreground.

Photo Touring On The Ross Barnett Reservoir

Patrick Brown — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:05 +0000

The Ross Barnett Reservoir is quite an interesting place. Its 50 square miles of fresh water supplies water to the capital city of Jackson, MS. During the morning and evening hours, the reservoir can become an interesting place to shoot photos. Given that the sky is free of cloud cover, the reds, yellows and blues create an artistic scene. Sometimes, you are lucky to catch wildlife such as Canadian Geese who are visiting during the Northern Hemisphere's Winter months. On Monday, January 18th, 2010, I decided to get in the SUV and take a random trip 80 miles to the reservoir to see what I could come up with. Here are some of the results!

Canadian Geese preparing to take off.

Evening sunset over the reservoir shore.

See more in the gallery!

A Random Drive Yields A Showroom Of Autumn Colors

Patrick Brown — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:36:36 +0000

After church on Sunday, I decided to travel to the Homochitto National Forest and take some afternoon photos. The sky was overcast and temperature was comfortable. I had already been at Okhissa Lake taking photos the day before, so I sort of knew what to expect. After arriving at Clear Springs, which is a small lake hidden in the National Forest, I was surprised at the colorful display that it presented before me. Here are some shots of this location on November 22nd, 2009. So, if you want to take a great fall color tour, go to your nearest National Forest. Beware of hunters and wear orange! Click Here to view the gallery or order prints.

Okhissa Lake, The First “Bill Dance Signature Lake”

Patrick Brown — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:04:30 +0000

On Saturday, I decided to get outdoors and go on a couple of adventures. By mid-afternoon, I found myself at Okhissa Lake in Franklin County. It's a new 1,100 acre lake that rests in the Homochitto National Forest. The lake property is still being developed, but most of the access points are available. During its' planning stages, the lake was sanctioned by Bill Dance as a "Bill Dance Signature Lake". If you're not familiar with Bill Dance, he is a retired tournament angler bass fisherman and has hosted many shows. See http://www.billdanceoutdoors.com. Here is an Autumn shot at the lake, but I expect to go back for more soon.

Your Digital Camera. Don’t Leave Home Without It!

Patrick Brown — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:18:11 +0000

I was headed north towards Wesson, MS on US Highway 51 to watch junior high and high school basketball games. After concluding the day visiting Red Bluffs in southern Lawrence/Marion county, I thought for sure the day was over since I was already late for game one. Anyway, When I approached the lake between Brookhaven and Wesson, I looked to the left and WHOA! -- I said... a great photo opportunity. Although I just can't seem to recall the actual name of the lake, it is well known as "Williams Lake"; a private lake where my dad also has key access to it.... hmm... ideas rolling now.

It's near peak Autumn here in southwest Mississippi and I just happened to catch some fishermen in a boat on the still waters. While standing on the side of the road from the bridge and being careful of cars crossing by, I was able to capture the still photo of a seasonal change on the lake. Many cars passed and many horns blew, "Hey that's Patrick!...what his he doing?" --- Well, here is what I was doing!

Photo Calendars Now Available For Any Selected Image

Patrick Brown — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:49:58 +0000

It's almost Christmas and you've got to start buying gifts. What would Aunt Bonnie want? With photo calendars from Glistening Light, make your gift more than just a stocking stuffer. Glistening Light.com is proud to announce the availability of our new photo calendars which can be custom created by you with any available image in our Gallery Collection.

Photo calendar prints feature a gallery image with a twelve-month calendar. The calendar is printed on 8x10 Kodak E-Surface print paper for archival quality. Calendars can be easily framed to 8x10 and used as home or office decor.

Lighting Effects Make Historic Brookhaven Glow

Patrick Brown — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:16:30 +0000

Brookhaven is a small town in Mississippi along the I-55 corridor. Often mistaken for Brookhaven, New York, it was said that the original name was taken after that of New York. Brookhaven has rich history, which included one of the first historic women-only colleges in the United States that is now the state's arts school; Whitworth College -- Mississippi School of the Arts. Brookhaven is enriched by historic architecture which includes the area plantation and antebellum homes. With a new quest for photographic opportunities, I toured downtown a couple of nights ago at approximately 11:30pm to capture some neat lighting effects of the downtown area. After reviewing the photos of a law office and the old train depot, I then realized that maybe I should come out and shoot some more! So, expect the album to grow over time!

Exclusive Photos Used In New Church Directory

Patrick Brown — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:53:23 +0000

When the decision was made to utilize two special photos in the new church directory, it was never dreamed that the directory would turn out to be such an awesome work of art. The Johnson Grove Church of Christ--Bogue Chitto, MS, the congregation that I attend, decided to use the photos as a seasonal change for the front and back cover of the new directory. The last pictoral directory was printed in 1996. On the front cover of the new directory, the sunset photo with rainbow was used. This provided a great display for the inside contents. The photo was taken while I was enroute to a girls softball game.

On the back cover of the new directory, an exclusive photo of the church during a Winter snow was used. The photo, taken in 2008, highlights the front of the building with the fallen snow untouched. I am very proud to have these two original and exclusive photos as part of the Church membership directory.

Fall Colors Are Visible In The Mountains

Patrick Brown — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:03:32 +0000

My Fall Break trip in Gatlinburg, Tennessee yielded some great Autumn sightings. Fall colors filled the mountainsides of the national park from every angle. Truly, I think it's amazing to see the colors change at such a dramatic level from the highest peak to the lowest valley. During my first visit to Cades Cove of the trip, I took Parson's Brach road which is an old one-way mountain road that trails 8 miles through thick forest. The '04 Mountaineer made its' trek through the mountain terrain in All-Wheel-Drive. A few shots were taken of the canopy forest colors. Clingman's Dome was also a spectacular sight. Every color of Autumn stretched across the national park. Bears weren't so plentiful this time as I only seen one cub in a tree that caused a 1.5 mile traffic jam on the parkway. Otherwise, over 50 deer were seen feeding in Cades Cove during the morning and evening hours.

The ride to Cherokee, North Carolina was enchanting. Almost imediately did the leaf colors change when passing Newfound Gap. I guess there aren't as many Spruce trees in that direction??.. I was able to capture several streams with water flowing and Autumn colors in the background. Check out the addional photos in the Glistening Light.com Gallery

Reservations are set! Gatlinburg here I come!!

Patrick Brown — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:11:12 +0000

So, it's late now and I'm just getting back from helping to shoot this WiLd video with our church youth group. Labor Day is tomorrow, so everything's cool! Well, the plans have been activated and I'm officially reserved to be in Gatlinburg, Tennessee during our school district's fall break on October 7th through the 11th. I'm hoping to get some foliage shots in the upper elevations of the smoky mountains, but we'll see. Cades Cove will always be the hotspot, though. I'm ready to be there and in the cozy single hotel bedroom. Certainly I'll be wearing my Columbia jacket and possibly the ski jacket when I make the trip to Clingman's Dome ha..

I'll be trying out the new camera! It's a Canon Rebel T1i 15 megapixel with HD video. I've got a load of attachments and stuff, so it will be a great shooting experience. So, Fall Break + Smoky Mountains + 15 megapixel camera = GREAT ADVENTURE!!

Building websites? Not necessarily what I call fun…

Patrick Brown — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:03:28 +0000

So, as a freelance photographer, it's a great idea to have a web site showcasing your work. Of course you could hire some off-the-wall brand company to create a 2-page site with a bunch of photos, but since one of my primary jobs for the school district is designing and maintaining the web site, I thought it would be a great idea to build my own!

Consequence 1. - You'll stay up really late and get no sleep.

Consequence 2. - You'll make tons of changes, because you won't like it the first time and will contribute to no sleep.

Consequence 3. - You'll go along and something will break, all because you made tons of changes, which will continue to contribute to no sleep.

Wow, all of that? Quite frankly, yes. It's a lot of hard work; more than I realized it would be. It will pay off, though, because then I know I will have accomplished a great thing. So, as you continue to browse around the site, I'm sure you'll notice a few broken links or two, but it's all a work in progress.

Sometimes, God tends to give signs to remind us…

Patrick Brown — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:35:30 +0000

This photo has become one of my most prized possessions. It happened one evening when I was on the way to a high school girl's softball game. As I crossed an intersection, this view caught my immediate attention. Before long, I was eagerly taking photos on the side of the road while many passing the same route were thinking I was crazy for roaming the roadside with a Canon Digital. It isn't every day that you catch such a magnificent shot like this. The evening sunlight was gleaming upon the doorsteps of the church while a powerful rainbow prevailed over the bluish-gray sky; all after a storm. At that very moment I thought, God will never break his promises. Unfortunately, photos will never provide justice.

My intentions for this photo are unknown at this time, although a few ideas are churning. The outcome, whatever the case may be, will be exceedingly great.

Photo taken with Canon EOS Rebel XSi, 18-55mm, in April, 2008

Great Smoky Mountains Screensaver Released

Patrick Brown — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:00:13 +0000

We're happy to annouce the launch of the new Great Smoky Mountains National Park slide show screen saver. The photos gathered from the summer trip are now included into a Microsoft Windows screen saver for your enjoyment. Not only can you view the gorgeous photographic landscape, but the screen saver commemorates the 75th anniversary celebration of the national park 1934-2009. See details

My first entry at Glistening Light

Patrick Brown — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:58:53 +0000

So, welcome to my first blog entry at Glistening Light.com. I'm really excited to get this web site going and hope it produces some outstanding results. My first production is a slide show screen saver, compiled of photos that I took while on a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. Incidently while I was there, I found out that it was the 75th anniversary of the park! It was a great time to be there. Out of the 8 days that I was there, my Mountaineer was on the road many mornings trying to catch sunrise photos throughout the forest and mountain ridges. I believe the results were quite successful and astonishing.

If you're a nature photographer, then you're certainly aware of all the expenses involved in equipment and traveling. So, look around and purchase something. You'll help support a work in progress! Nevertheless, thank you very much for touring the web site and come back often! Never know what will show up in the gallery!