This week’s host for Monochrome Madness is Stupidity Holewith a theme of The Space Between. Looking forward to exploring the various interpretations on The Space Between.
Monochrome Madness
Here are a few I came up with for this week’s challenge …
The Road Between leading to Hearst Castle
The Boy (Coleman) Between the Railings on the Bridge at Anne Springs Close Greenway
The Feathers Between Coleman’s Fingers
The South Fork Catawba River Between the Grounds of Goat Island
Location: Lake Norman; Pier at Ramsey Creek Park; Ramsey Creek Park; Cornelius, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic rest of your week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Dawn from The Day Afteris hosting this week’s Monochrome Madness; she has chosen a theme of Leaves and Petals. A few of the leaves are from here in Cramerton and the rest are from an outing we took on Thanksgiving Day to do a little bit of hiking.
“There’s nothing better than watching your cows enjoy the life you gave them.”
Falling Sun Ranch
Cows in the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina. This is a wonderful place to visit with children of all ages.
“Pigs are not a symbol of dirt, laziness or clumsiness, but a mirror to view our relationship with nature.”
Yi-Fu Tuan
The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina
“Alpacas represent all that is good in this world.”
~ National Alpaca Association
Young Alpacas in the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
“To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi tryst
The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
“Most of us are here to make the world happier and better. Even the goats.”
Lisa Kaplin
The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
“There’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
~ Winston Churchill
Working Horses on an Amish Farm in Millersburg, Ohio
Horses in the pasture at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
This week is a no theme week for Monochrome Madness, so I thought I’d share some from Standing on the Corner. Shots taken while waiting on the school bus watching the Train rolling slowly down the track. It was going slow … slower … slowly creeping to a stop not having enough power to complete its journey.
Brian from Bushboys World is this week’s host for Monochrome Madness he has given us a wide range of options to explore and choose from to select our own interpretations forhis theme of Ceramics.
Here are my entries for this week’s challenge …
A glimpse into depicting Early American Pottery in the Graham Cabin at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Early American Pottery
Let’s look next at a display of Native American Indian Pottery in the Catawba Cultural Center at the Catawba Reservation in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Catawba Indian Pottery
And now for discovering Early Native American Catawba Indian Pottery inside and outside The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Walking through Goat Island Park and Greenway was/is a fantastic way to unwind and reflect on the goodnesses I have been blessed with throughout my life and in the environment I currently dwell. God is so good, He’s so good to me. His artistic creations and colour palette are displayed in all the different places we meander through here on earth. The changing colour scheme with every season keeps me in awe of his mighty power to make all things new and beautiful in His time.
This season of change from Summer to Autumn the colours have become more subdued and neutral bringing out the amazing shades of brown, tan, red, and orange. Today, however, I am picturing signs of Autumn as seen through a black and white colour palette.
Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Capture the beautiful Autumn colours. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
These ruin images were captured by my dad when he and my mom visited my brother stationed in Germany while serving in the United States Air Force. These are various perspectives of the Heidelberg Castle Ruins they saw during their visit.
Elke from pictures imperfect blogis the host for this week’s Monochrome Madness. She has chosen a theme of Pets. I personally do not have any Pets. Most of the places I have lived over the years have not allowed for Pets. My family did have a few different dogs over the years. Unfortunately I do not have any photos of them. The one I remember the most was a Chihuahua Dachshund, that I would walk around our neighborhood.
Now to show you an array of Pets owned by family members, neighbours, strangers, or stray animals.
My Elder Son’s Dachshund My Aunt’s Chiweenie (cross between a Chihuahua and a Dachshund), MistyA Feral Cat born under our mobile home A neighbour’s Cat; Cat Home Outside her home Rabbits at The Schiele Museum Dogs playing in Dog Park at Goat Island Park and Greenway
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Capture the beauty all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Coleman’s favourite things are Trains of any kind. He can play with or watch trains go by all day long if he could. When we are at the bus stop very early in the mornings we are able to watch the trains go down the track, not every day, but most mornings and quite often in the afternoons as well.
This morning Coleman noticed the Train was not moving …
… it was merely standing still …
… Not moving at all … Coleman decided there was something wrong …
… then he noticed a light shining on the train … The Railway workers were inspecting the Train.
Note: They got it rolling again before he arrived back after school.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Capture the beauty all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week Leanne is hosting the Monochrome Madness challenge. She has chosen a theme of Movementto spark our interest and inspire our creativity.
Here are my selections for the challenge …
We arrive at the Town’s concert early not just to obtain our choice seats, but also to allow Coleman to run around with friends and burn off excess excitement and energy prior to the start of the concert events.
Coleman Rolling on the Grass SS 1/800s
Coleman enjoys rolling down the slight hill in our Centennial Center Park.
Coleman hopping on One Foot SS 1/320s
He was challenging a friend to hop on one foot and she was trying to show him how to do cartwheels. They had a fun time playing together last Friday evening.
SS 1/250sSS 1/1100sColeman and his friend Running around before the Concert SS 1070s
Before long it was time for the Rick Hubbard’s Kazoobie Kazoo Kids Show. Rick was an outstanding guest musician entertaining the audience and involving the kids in attendance in his show. Here he is playing both a banjo and a Kazoo while entertaining everyone in attendance.
Rick Hubbard Kazoobie Kazoo Kids Show SS 1/320s
The second event for the evening was a Concert by the Caleb Davis Band. Prior to any show the band warms up making sure their sound system is working properly and their instruments are properly tuned and ready for the show.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.
Location: Centennial Center; Downtown Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature. Capture the beauty all around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Good Day! This being an off week for Monochrome Madness I am doing my own thing, not following with Sand patterns or fence posts like Leanne or Brian. Hope you will not tire of seeing my grandson, Coleman.
Today I am continuing the Coleman’s adventures in the Greenway from his birthday adventures. After cooling off in the Spillway, it was drying off time which (for Coleman) meant playtime in Schroering Forest Playground.
The Schroering Forest Playground is nestled amongst trees a short distance from the Domtar Forest Porch (featured here) where we relaxed sipping cool refreshing water.
Climbing Structure for ages 5 and Up
The climbing structure is Coleman’s favourite area to play in the Schroering Forest Playground. He has always loved to climb and is not afraid to climb anything (even though, I think his mom is sceptical). She’s probably worried he’ll fall, however, I’m not worried he climbs anything and everything anytime anywhere.
The Schroering Forest Playground was constructed in the Lake Haigler Entrance to Anne Springs Close Greenway in 2024. The intention of this unique playground is to reteach children how to play in the woods.
A mom (aka Coleman’s mom) watching her son enjoying the Playground.
The playscape and structures are specially crafted to help activate sensory skills, foster creativity and problem-solving through free play, reduce stress, increase physical activity, develop confidence in the outdoors, improve cognitive abilities and facilitate outdoor learning. Key features of the Schroering Forest Playground include a central climbing structure for older children and a corresponding structure for younger guests.
Coleman
I’ve been taking Coleman to play in the woods and interact with nature since he could walk. He prefers being outdoors and in the woods over being in the house any day. He enjoys hiking all the trails in Anne Springs Close Greenway and if he can combine hiking with playing all the better as far as he is concerned.
H’s were not hard for me to locate for this week’s MM challenge. Why was it so easy? We just recently took Coleman to visit the Horses at Anne Springs Close Greenway. He loves to visit and spend time loving on the Horses.
H is for Horses, Horse Stables and Hay …
Horses at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Naturally, where you find Horses you’re sure to find plenty of Hay and Hay bales when you visit the Greenway Stables.
H is for Hay and Hay Bales …
Round Hay Bales at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Now for a visit to one of the other four entrances to the Greenway. What’s a visit to the Lake Haigler entrance without a hike down to gaze over Lake Haigler.
H is for Lake Haigler …
Lake Haigler Anne Springs Close Greenway
However, to visit all of Lake Haigler you’ll need to go on a Hike on Haigler Loop.
Location: Greenway Farm and Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have Fun. Enjoy Nature’s beauty in the great outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
North Carolina Public School BusWienermobile Little Tikes Garbage Truck Tour Buses Indianapolis 500Julian Stage LineDeason Irrigation Truck3615 Railway EngineFishing Boats at Murrells Inlet, SCColeman on a Farmall Tractor at The Schiele Museum Airplane at Gastonia Municipal Airport Monochrome Madness
This week’s host Elke from pictures imperfect blogis askingus to select images that are naturally monochrome. I searched my photos and think I came up with a few that might work for this week’s challenge.
DSBG Dog Park Entrance Daniel Stowe Conservancy Belmont, NC
Garden Metal Wind Spinner The Farmhouse Garden Center The Daniel Stowe Conservancy Belmont, NC
Airplane Overhead in Grey Cloudy Skies Riverside Park and Greenway Cramerton, NC
South Fork Catawba River Riverside Park and Greenway Cramerton, NC
Cameras: 1) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 2-5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Locations: 1-2 & 5) The Farmhouse Garden Center, Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont, North Carolina, USA; 3-4) Riverside Park and Greenway, Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
While Coleman was enjoying playing in the sand near the South Fork Catawba River, I changed the setting my iPhone to Muted B & W for some shots and Stage Light Mono for taking Portraits of Coleman at play. Enjoy watching Coleman in his element.
Coleman South Fork Catawba River Riverside Park and Greenway
Location: The Big Sand Pit; By the South Fork Catawba River; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have Fun. Enjoy Nature’s beauty in the great outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Leanne Cole has chosen the theme of Woods, Rainforests, and Bushland for this week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge. For Coleman and I, every time we go hiking we are hiking through the woods along one trail or another. These are from our hike on Saturday at Riverside Park and Greenway.
There is a dirt trail a few feet away from the main fishing pier which Coleman loves to hike. A few yards down the trail is a large sand area close to the South Fork Catawba River. It has been raining quite a bit here lately, so the trail was muddy but still doable.
Here you can see Coleman hiking along the muddy dirt trail through the Woods pulling his Little Tike Dump Truck/Excavator. He enjoys playing the sand and this trail and sand pit is conveniently close to our home.
Coleman Hiking through the Woods beside the South Fork Catawba River
As I was sitting on the swing on the front porch keeping an eye on Coleman playing in the yard, I noticed the picturesque skyline filled with amazing cloudscapes. I grabbed my iPhone, changed the settings to muted black and white using the camera’s fusion mode I captured the view I was seeing .
Host this week for Monochrome Madness is Dawn from The Day After. She has chosen a theme of Everything Spring.
Springtime in the Carolinas entails anything and everything from Spring sports like T-Ball for Coleman, to Kayaking through the Catawba River, to simply rolling in the grass at an outdoor concert, to the beauty of Spring flowers. And who can’t forget about the Spring festivities surrounding the Easter Egg Scramble. Let us not forget what this Holiday Season is all about. It is not about the Easter eggs hunts, even though the children enjoy them, it’s about the Crucifixion of Jesus and his Resurrection. We celebrate that “He is Risen!”.
Coleman running to home plateOsteospermum African Daisy ‘Blue-Eyed Beauty’ YellowA variety of Spring Flowers Coleman finding Easter EggsColeman with a “brown” Easter BunnyPetunias Flowering Dogwood Kayaking in the South Fork Catawba River Coleman ready to catch a grounderGarden Tulips Gerbera Daisy Coleman rolling in the grass Centennial Center Park Coleman swinging from a rope Goat Island Park & Greenway Seasonal Annuals in a VaseColeman hiking Rocky Branch Trail Seder Supper
“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”
Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Location: Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May God bless you at Easter and keep you all year through. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I’m not usually out at early evening or night time. I have trouble seeing in the dark so Coleman and I are usually always back home before it turns dark. This past Friday, The Town of Cramerton was having a Concert in Centennial Center Park. The Concert did not start until six in the evening, which is still light due to the time change to Daylight Saving Time.
I wanted Coleman to experience the Concert in the park, so we went. We arrived early and found a suitable spot to lay our blanket and sit in the grassy area.
While waiting for the Concert to begin, I snapped shots of the area both with my camera and my iPhone. I shot all these using my iPhone’s fusion camera and captured the area in black and white. Other Special Events will take place the last Friday of each month through the end of Summer. I’ll think about us attending those events when the time comes nearer.
Last weekend was a fairly warm sunny day, therefore, Coleman and I walked over to Goat Island Park and Greenway for him to run around a play outdoors awhile. He enjoys going to Greenways to hike and play.
While Coleman was playing a snapped a few shots of the various sections of the Playground using a couple of different lenses and attachments. I used Google monochrome filters to alter the images into black and white.
Canon EF-S18-55mm with Altura Wide-Angle Fish-eye lensCanon EF-S55-250mm with Altura UV Filter attachment Canon EF-S18-55mm with Altura Wide-Angle Fish-eye lensApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina , USA
God Bless. Get outside and enjoy the beauty in nature. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The host this week for Monochrome Madness is Brian from bushboy.blog. Brian has chosen a theme of Chair or Chairs for this week’s challenge. Let’s play along and discover what Chairs we can find.
Everywhere Coleman and I go there’s always someplace Coleman can find to Pull Up a Seat …
We might find a Chair to Pull Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden …
Belmont, North Carolina
Or we might find a Chair to relax in The Center …
Downtown Cramerton, North Carolina
We could locate a table and Chairs to Pull Up a Seatand enjoy a refreshing drink and snack before continuing on a hike …
Lake Haigler Entrance Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina
Then there’s a chance we could spot a couple of Chairs on display in an office setting at a museum …
The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina
Coleman and I enjoy Pulling Up a Seat in a camping Chair at a State Park after a long hike around the lake …
Andrew Jackson State Park Lancaster, South Carolina
But a fond memory of a place of comfort was the opportunity to Pull Up a Seaton my paternal grandparents front porch.
My dad and Paternal Grandfather Great Falls, South Carolina
Now over to y’all to show us some Chairsby clicking here.
Cameras: 1-4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; 5) Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max; 6) Minolta XG-7 35mm (my dad’s).
God Bless. Pull Up a Seat for a spell. Enjoy the peace and comfort of a day’s journeys ending. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This being a non-theme week, I have decided to post a random variety of Monochrome images. I am linking to Leanne’s Monochrome Madnesshere.
Front Door; Cramerton, North CarolinaColeman; Cramerton, North CarolinaCramerton, North Carolina Goat Island Park & Greenway; Cramerton, North CarolinaGoat Island Park & Greenway; Cramerton, North CarolinaGoat Island Park & Greenway; Cramerton, North CarolinaGoat Island Park & Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina Old Abandoned House; Watauga, North Carolina See the Doors )
God Bless. Black & White or Colour; the World is a beautiful convas for artistic expression. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I have recently upgraded my smartphone from the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max to the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. It has features which the iPhone 14 Pro Max did not have.
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has in addition to the main camera, ultra-wide camera, and the telephoto camera it also has a Fusion camera. The Fusion camera has ten (10) different modes to choose from ranging from standard to Dramatic to Mute or Stark Black and White with several different options in between. In the Fusion Square you can slide between lighter or darker and control the amount of light desired for an image.
This Fusion Camera feature is all new and different to me. I have only had my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max since last Monday and have not figured out all its new “bells and whistles” (new upgraded features). Today it was in the high 70’s here, warm enough to allow Coleman to play outside. Instead of going on a hike like we’d normally do, I decided to let him try out his T-ball set up. He will be playing T-Ball through our local Recreational Center and figured it wouldn’t hurt to let him try to practice hitting a ball.
The first eight (8) of these photos were taken using the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Mac’s Fusion camera with the Mute Black and White setting. The last seven (7) were taken using its Stark Black and White settings.
The Cosmic Photo Challenge prompt for this week is Black and White. Looking through this past week’s photos from Coleman and my visit to Goat Island Park and Greenway, I found few that I think would work for this challenge.
Here is what I have chosen for this week’s CPC prompt.
Tunnel with Car passing through under the Train. South Fork Catawba River Coleman Coleman Goat in Neighboring Yard
Now to show some of what I took today of Coleman using my new iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Coleman at the AT&T store patiently waiting for us to go.
These Throwback images are from my maternal grandfather’s collection of photos I was given from my maternal grandmother after his passing back in 1968. The photo images were originally on personal post cards.
Old Coal Trucks in early 1900’s.
Not sure, but I think this is my maternal grandfather next to the truck.
Original image
I have always thought these were taken in Deep Gap, North Carolina, but I am not one hundred percent (100%) sure. My maternal grandfather did work for a time for a coal mining company.
Remember for enhanced viewing click on each image.
This week’s Monochrome Madness is hosted by Dawn from The Day After Blog. She has given us challenge theme of Places of Worship. For this challenge I selected a few from current and archived photos to use this week.
Here are my selections:
The first three were taken in 2020 when I went walking around my Aunt’s town while I was visiting her in Abilene, Texas.
Church of Christ 5th and Grape St Abilene, Texas
The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest Abilene, Texas
The Galilee Baptist Church was built in 1963. Galilee Baptist Church 1011 Briarwood St Abilene TX 79603
The Westfield Presbyterian Church Westfield, New Jersey
Cramerton Independent Presbyterian Church 51 8th Ave, Cramerton, NC 28032, USA
This last church is the church I attended all through my growing up years (from Kindergarten through College). It is currently known as Grace Church San Diego. When I attended this church it was known as Scott Memorial Baptist Church and was pastored by Dr. Tim F. LaHaye, co-author of the Left Behind series of books.
Grace Church San Diego Formerly Known as Scott Memorial Baptist Church 4637 Oregon Street San Diego, CA 92116
Let’s first take a look at a couple of image comparisons between an original color versus the converted black and white version of photo imageries of clouds.
The first three black and white photos in the left-hand column are from my archives and the other four phots are from my outlook in Apple iPhone’s Silverstone black and white feature of today’s cloudy skies.
Margaret from From Pyrenees to Pennines is hosting the Monochrome Madness Challenge this week. She has chosen a theme of Music. Looking forward to seeing what everyone decides to post regarding this theme. Luckily, Coleman and I attended a Children’s Concert last week in downtown Cramerton’s Confluence. Some words to think about before I add my photos …
“Music speaks what cannot be expressed. It soothes the mind and gives it rest. It heals the heart and makes it whole. It flows from heaven to heal the soul.”
When I first decided to take Coleman to the Children’s concert last Saturday, I thought it was going to be a concert especially designed to appeal to children. I did not expect it to be a children’s karaoke show. Most of the children were hesitant to participate; a few banged on the drums and one brave girl sang a couple of songs for the audience while her proud grandfather filmed her singing. Coleman did enjoy listening to the music, however, he enjoyed playing in the playground at Goat Island Park and Greenway better.
Location: Confluence; Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a funtastic weekend. I appreciate y’all very much.
Always trying for a few interesting shots as I walk up and wait for the bus to arrive bringing Coleman back from school. On this day i decided to use the monochrome feature on my iPhone to see what I could capture in Black and White around the neighbourhood. Looking up the road I spotted a train coming down the tracks, later I took a photo of the tracks from below looking upward; trying different angles and viewpoints than my normal viewpoint.
I’ve been missing Cee’s posts this week. I pray she is doing alright. This week I am again posting a Which Way My Wayshowing Which Ways in Monochrome. My grandson, Coleman and I had the privilege of hiking in our favorite Greenway on Tuesday. I only had my smartphone with me; I chose to take some of our adventures in monochrome and silvertone via my smartphone features. I hope you’ll enjoy them.
Coleman Enjoying Lake Haigler Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 