railroad tracks – Page 2 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Forage Friday #85 Nostoc (Cyanobacteria)

Color Photography, Forage Friday, Landscapes, Uncategorized

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Eastbound 112420a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Warning: Some types of Cyanobacteria are considered toxic by some sources.

Please remember that Forage Friday is presented as trivia and not to be mistaken for medical advice.

The rails stretch out eastward drawing my lens towards the quiet tipple in the distance. It’s one of my favorite scenes and I occasionally stop by to enjoy it. However, on this trip something caught my eye that wasn’t quite so picturesque. The lumps of green goo look like something that escaped from a B grade science fiction movie.

But what we’re looking at isn’t something from the nightmares of Irvine Millgate. Instead it’s right out of nightmares of an 8th grade student in a biology class. In my day it was called Blue-green alga but it’s not an alga. It’s Cyanobacteria but not bacteria. You’ll find it listed as “Nostoc” or a variation there of.

But why did I include this green goo in Forage Friday? Well for one thing it’s listed as being edible. Nostoc commune is pretty much found worldwide and is eaten as a salad, stir fry and stew in Asia. Personally I can’t get past the looks of it. I suppose that if I was desperate for nutrition that I could but I’ve never been that hungry. There’s also the fact that I’m not 100% positive about the ID of this colony. It appears to be Nostoc commune but I’m not sure yet. There is also a question about purity. While it’s obvious that anything growing in an industrial area could be contaminated with industrial chemicals Nostoc is known to assimilate lichens. And while the Nostoc itself is non-toxic some of the lichens are. Now if I really wanted to give it a try I could try to find an Asian market and ask for “Fat-Choy”.

Believe it or not I used to see it powder and capsule form as Walmart as a vitamin.

Medically it was used as an anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and cancer treatment.

The last market where Nostoc comes into it’s own as a living fertilizer. It doesn’t really poison your plants and it’s a nitrogen fixing lifeform.

That’s it for tonight friends. Be blessed throughout your days.

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The Days Of Transition And Looking Forward To The New Light

Color Photography, Landscapes

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Trestle Bridge 112420a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The late Fall sun hangs low in the sky and hovers just above the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. I find myself returning from a day of running errands and on the way home I’m drawn to the wonderful old railway bridge at Gauley Bridge. The small town bosts a population of around 600 people now that the mines are shut down and all the tourists are gone. With the exception of the occasional passersby like myself the streets are quite and it would be easy to think of yourself as having the world all to yourself. At the base of the bridge the illusion of solitude is enhanced by the vegetation that hides the homes which are nestled comfortably at the base of the mountain on the far side of river. Occasionally I can hear music or smell the smoke from a well tended hearth. But, for the most part the world consists only of the bridge and the quiet river. The small birds fluster about in the bushes collecting the bits and pieces that will thicken their nest against the oncoming winter. Bridges symbolize transition and we stand on the edge of of the change in seasons. In just 21 days Fall will end and winter will begin. The shadows start to grow short again and old Sol will slowly climb to his rightful place in the sky. In 21 days the new light will come. This is the transition that I look forward to as I stand beneath the bridge.

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.

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A Tale Of The Iron Dragon

Back and White Photography, Railroad

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Drennen Line 102020bw” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The cold wind swirls around my head whispering memories of days gone by. Times when the voice of the horn rang out through the mountains and the ground shook with the thunder of iron wheels. Will we ever again see that steel dragon twist it’s way through the hills and valleys? Will fly over the rivers and streams on forged rails? Do I hear a long lonesome call above the rumble? Or is it just the echoes of what once was? The men of these mountains once pulled light from deep darkness and sent it to lands unseen. They defied the night overcame it’s cold grasp in the belly of the mountain itself to light the world.

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

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https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

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A Quick Stop At Gauley Bridge And Morning Memories

Color Photography

Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Morning Run” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The fog gently floats on the surface of the river as the Sun breaks through the gap between two mountains. The small birds below the bridge quickly scatter into what’s left of the high weeds along the banks of the river. They get quiet but the still flit around a bit rustling the dead leaves. Sometimes there’s a heron in the shallow edges but today it’s decided to stay on the roost until it warms up a bit. I rolled down the window for a better view of the outside world and when I do the cold air spills in and causes the steam from my coffee to show. I listened for the geese calls but they’re on the ground today and not giving away their position. I can smell the wood smoke from a nearby chimney and it always takes me back to random memories of stoking the fire in that old Fisher stove on cold mornings. In my mind I can hear the squeaky iron hinges on the stove and feel the heat of the hot coals as I rake back the ashes and lay a fresh piece of cured oak on the grate and breath new life into the fire. As the flames spring to life and catch on the fresh wood I’d close the door of the stove and open the draught. Soon the crackling sound of a strong fire would prompt me to close the draught again.

A gust of wind invades the cab of my big blue truck and I’m pulled into the present by the sudden chill. The sooner my morning errands are finished the sooner I can go home. I carefully back up the truck and head back on the road.

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Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Autumn Journey

Color Photography

The wind carries the fallen leaves to the tracks that cross the Kanawha River. The peak color was just starting to wane as I gaze across the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. The hills seem to rejoice in their beautiful celebrationlebration of the season. The tracks call to me with an invitation to come and explore the seldom seen wonders that are hidden beneath a vibrant canopy of warm colors. Beyond the river and behind the houses a moss laden forest houses thick clumps of ferns, old stumps that full of mushrooms and twisted vines wrapped around old growth oaks. The mists hang around the grove like a curtain and provide a perfect sanctuary. That’s where the big buck lives. His crown bares 12 tines and his hot breath billows like the stack on and old train. Silently he patrols the grove warding off all rivals. He charges up and stops just short of the tracks that mark the edge of his realm. The big buck gives a defiant snort and us soon off into the misty woods. What wonders these hills hold indeed.

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https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

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 message me on Facebook oruse 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.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤