Architecture – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

A Brief Layover At The Old Bus Stop

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Forgotten Destination 112821” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The stone pillars have been there ever since I can remember. Now they’re adorned with ancient vines that twist and flow across hewn stone in a dance that has been going on for decades. Within the threshold of the twin pillars lies forgotten stairs and the old foundation of the bus station. This was once the gateway to adventures untold for those traveling in and out of the mountains. I’ve often thought it was a little odd that there was a bus station in this particular spot since there’s no tourist destination within walking distance of the spot and only homesteads in this area in general. Another ten or fifteen minutes drive would have placed the station in town where there was banks and stores and such. I’m told that it was a greyhound station which brings to mind grand architecture even if was on a smaller scale. Since the pillars are cut stone I imagine that the station itself was built to match with rustic furnishings inside. Perhaps a good radio for travelers to relax to and a two way radio for the attendant to communicate with the bus. As I stand where I imagine that an awning protected travelers from the weather I get the feeling that something there was made of green glass and that the room had that echoing sound that a bus station should have. But now most of the stonework is gone and entrance nothing but a set of empty stairs where a local can pull over and transfer his coffee from the thermos to the tumbler and imagine what used to be. Or on special days perhaps he’ll dream of what may come. Crossroads tend not to be abandoned forever and the secret of the future is in the manifested dreams of those who hold onto hope.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.

We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY.

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️

Stonework

Architecture, Color Photography, Thoughts and Musing

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Old Stone Chimney 122920a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

I’ve always had a deep appreciation for cut stone. It’s not just the rich texture and earth tone colors or even the solid strength of something built to last hundreds if not thousands of years. Working with stone is an art and a science. In fact I’d say that stonework is probably the oldest science. Even the most primitive stone arrowhead requires an understanding of the nature of the stone. A person may not have the mathematics of physics or chemistry but they must be able to look at a stone on the ground and understand how to strike it so that it breaks in just the right way.

Image Titled “Old Stone Chimney 122920b” showing a tighter view of the large stone at the top.

Some years ago I became so interested in stone masonry that I spent days in a library reviewing VHS tapes of old techniques. (yes I’m that old.) I went out and bought a two pound sledgehammer and a variety of chisels. I experimented with stones out of the creek and got some advice from my wife’s grandfather who had worked with some stone masons at one point in his life. I by no means achieved a mastery over all of knowledge but one thing that stuck with me was that it takes a bit of patience to cut stone. It’s not the mighty blow of the hammer that’s needed but the consistent gentle tapping on the chisels. A powerful blow will definitely break the rocks but unless you’re making gravel the prize of that perfectly shaped block will be lost. It’s all about lifting the hammer and controlling the fall. Making sure that the chisels are directing the shock in the right ways and listening to stone. When the sound of the blow goes from a sharp “tink” to a dull thud the fracture is formed. If you remove the hammer and chisel you can often give a bump with the palm of your hand and separate the pieces.

We often use the term “heart of stone” when we describe someone who is hard to convince of any point. And I’m guilty of trying to use “a mighty blow of my hammer ” to try and change that heart. But that’s the wrong technique. We need to use the gentle taps and listen to that heart to tell us when it’s ready to cleave. And stop when it’s time to stop.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The Old Main Building 2021

Architecture, Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Upon The Hilltop 10521a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

I was asked several days ago if I had pictures of the Old Main Building in Summersville West Virginia. I do but I wanted to provide some new ones.

For a lot of us this was the junior high school. Up until this point we were used to spending most of the day with one teacher but junior high was a multiple building campus. Some of the busses stopped at the top of the but the majority lined up at the bottom. Which meant a climb up that ice covered road if your homeroom was in the Old Main like mine was. There was a science building and a vocational building ( now gone ) as well as the new building, a large gym and at the bottom of the hill the Red Brick Building. ( Also now gone. But the Old Main was special and it still is.

The Old Main Cornerstone 10521 — The Cornerstone of the Old Main Building.

The Cornerstone was laid July 4th, 1913. The beautiful Renaissance architecture was the work of H. Rus Warne who seemed share my affinity for cut stone in place of bricks. By the early 80s the building seemed to have a few problems. It was damp and cold just like a proper castle. In fact, when I was there certain parts of the building was blocked off. The 3rd floor was a no go zone but that was because the board of education had some offices up there. The steam heating system seemed to always freeze up on the coldest days but high energy kids did pretty well with our padded coats.

Image Titled “Old Main Building 10521b” showing the front entrance.

The majestic old stone building had plenty of places to enjoy your lunch if you were a “brown bag” enthusiast. On warm days there were a few benches along this walk where I could sit quietly and watch my beloved nature. The one time I got in trouble though was when it was cold and a hibernating bat had slipped from its roost and lay in the snow unable to move. Always the prankster I collected said bat in my empty brown bag and carried it into class. That would have been bad enough but I was the first person back from lunch and my teacher’s desk was unguarded. How funny would it be if she opened her drawer to find the sleeping bat? Only by the time she opened the drawer the bat was warm enough to wake up and fly! It almost flew up her nose and began circling her head. I got away with that one until now.

Image Titled “Old Main Building 10521c”.

The back of the building was oriented towards most of the campus and this is angle I most associate with. The kids in my clique all hung out on the steps to right between classes and with most of us being farm kids discussed important matters like fishing and hunting.

Image Titled “Old Main Building 10521d”.

Today it’s a historic landmark which is awesome. As I understand it the Old Main now hosts senior services and an art center which I should probably look into. But the great thing is that it’s being maintained so that we’ll have it around for a long time.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.