JNeel  Photography

Kady

Izmir Turkey, December 1985

During my first tour of Turkey, The Girl flew over to spend Christmas and New Year with me.  I took the opportunity to photograph her, perhaps the best work I have ever done.  Yeah, my photography is all about the girl.  She's my Muse.

I took this in Kodak Plus-X Pan 125, with a Canon AE-1 Program, and developed it with Kodak Microdol-X.

Old School!

I printed it on Kodak Professional Satin paper.  It's Beautiful.

This was taken in the Summer of 1985 when this young hero traveled to Turkiye with Jay, a toddler, and CE, a newborn, to visit me for three months.

I took it with my Canon AE-1 Program with FD 70-210mm f/4 (set at about 100mm), using Kodak Tri-X 400.

I developed it in the NATO darkroom after she returned to the States.

I scanned them a while back and filed them in a folder with other scans from that day.  I rediscovered it and fell in love all over again.

My newest shot of Kady was taken on her birthday, with my new 85mm lens.

Yes, I know that I am a lucky old man.

Mitch

I've known this guy longer than I have known Kady.  We were in the 82nd together.  If you read my stories, many of them include him.

Yeah, This is Pigg!

Mitch is the finest soldier I have ever known.  He is the fittest, strongest, and the best navigator, shot, and trainer.  He is the second-best Jumpmaster.

He and I talk often and he came up for a visit not long ago.  I took him to Battlefields.

I am honored to know him.

He is an Alabama Fan.  I hate that.

LR

My firstborn, by my first wife, is happily back in my life, thanks to her efforts and those of my other two.  I love how she has taken on her Big Sister and Godmother roles.

Below is LR with my eldest granddaughter, ST, at SGM's second birthday party,

I hope to take more of her entire family, soon.

Eddie

Ed is my oldest friend.  We met in 1974 through The Cult.

Though we never served together, we went into the Army about the same time.  He spent time in the Rangers and Special Forces, leaving as a Major.

During SF Training, he lived with Kady, the Kids, and me.  He always comes to Virginia for big family events.  Eddie is family.

I took this on Post while he was in town for Jay's wedding.

Jay

An Iraq veteran, Jay used his GI Bill wisely, earning a master's degree in information security from Carnegie Mellon.

It's ridiculous how few photos I have of him as an adult.

CE

My Daughter never lets me take her photo.  What a shame.  She's adorable.

I took the shot below in Winston-Salem when we attended my brother's art show at Renalda House. 

My attempts at taking Engagement Photos were not well received.  I like this one . . . a bit.

Approach

Antelope Canyon, AZ, 2 November 2018 1430hrs

Our Native American guide pointed out shapes and forms, mostly animals.  People handed her their cell phones to get the "perfect photograph" of eagles, bears, and horses.

I saw color, light, and changes.  I saw shades of gray.

Zone Metering in Antelope Canyon is difficult but not impossible.  I bracketed instead, checking out each setting until I found the best one for each location.  The light changed as I moved.

I knew my photos would be unique; the wind, rain, and floods constantly change the canyon.  Where I stood, my camera angle and settings, and the time of day determined what I recorded.  No one will ever duplicate my photos.

I liked that.  It made the place even more beautiful.

Nikon D5100, 22mm, f4, 1/30, ISO2800

Little Aspens

Nothing calls for Monochrome Photography like an Aspen Tree.  Seeing them in person for the first time a few years ago, I finally understand.

The way they shine in any light and contrast against even the brightest sky makes for perfect cold black-and-white photos, my favorite.

What I want now is a large stand of big trees.  I'm talking Pando, of course.

I shot these young trees in the late November afternoon.  Perfect timing.

JK

My Grandson is most likely the most photographed young man in the world.  The family took thousands of photos of him growing up.  Even the VMI Public Affairs Office got in the act.

He is an amazing young man - smart, funny, quick-witted, and great at everything he does.

ES

I try to spend as much time with my ES as I can.  She's super intelligent, with a near photographic memory, and into science like I am.

I enjoy taking photographs of her and she enjoys posing.  She knows what she wants and must approve every shot.

SGM

This baby and I are great collaborators.  She is usually ready anytime Granddaddy wants to take photos, as long as she gets to review each shot and then push all of the buttons on the camera.

When she has had enough of my camera and me, she gives me an emphatic "All Done!"  This also means, "Let me have a go with that camera."

I took a load of her out in her backyard using my new Nikon 200-500mm lens.  This lens is amazing.  I shot this hand-held at 200mm, f/8, 1/800, ISO 400.

CFN

I've taken photos of this beautiful woman, twice, once for her Father's birthday, and once in Charleston when I was there for a VMI - Citadel game.

Both sessions produced some of my favorite portraits of one of my favorite people.

She recently told me that her father had one of my photos of her printed wall-sized, on canvas for his home.  You're welcome CFN's dad.

The shot below was taken at Battery Park at sunset. 

Wren

Hudson Trail, Manhattan Kansas

Cooper and I were out walking.  I took a quick photo of this little birdhouse and we kept moving.  It wasn't until I reviewed my photos that I noticed the little House Wren checking me out.

Lucky Shot!

SS

The day after Christmas, 2017, I took a few shots of SS to test my new, fast, 50mm lens.  I was happy he agreed.  The man has such an interesting face.

I took it in Available Light, which worked nicely.  I should have shot from a little farther back.  The tree lights are a little distracting, though I like them.

We met him on the Internet way back in 1999 or 2000.  He has become a member of the family.  We enjoy time down in Tennessee on his farm.

Sally

There are few people I love as much as this lady; I consider her one of my best friends. 

I took these photos when she visited us in Church Crookham, England in 1988 or 89.  I shot about three rolls of Tri-X and destroyed two by turning on the wrong tap, rinsing in hot water.  

These two shots are from the few I managed to salvage. They took all of my Photoshop skills.

The Old Truck

I learned a lesson on this day - when walking somewhere new, take your camera.  I ran across this old workhorse while walking on a new neighborhood path.  All I had with me was my cell phone.

Luckily, the path and the truck were close enough to return that afternoon.  I've been back many times.

A developer is about to turn the area into townhomes, so I expect the old truck will be gone soon.  That will be a sad day for me.

Coastlines

Look at this!  It's cold, foggy, overcast, and windy, and I'm walking on the beach.  I love it, year-round.  It has been a big part of my life since I was a little tyke.

I prefer the Gulf Coast's white sandy beaches but still enjoy those on the Outer Banks and Atlantic Coast.  The Turquoise Coast of Turkey and the Southern coast of Cyprus are amazing.

The California Coast is wasted on me.  Maybe it's because I've only visited there in January.

Virginia Military Institute

I worked at VMI for seventeen years, retiring in 2018. I miss the Staff, Cadets, and the great Southern Military College it once aspired to be, but I don't miss the workload or the politics.  The place wore me out.

Over the years, I took thousands of photos.  I have deleted most of them.  I took this on my last day at VMI.  Bye.  Mamiya RZ-67, 50mm, with Ilford FP-4

Humpback Bridge

I love bridges.  I'll stop in the middle of the road for a good Bridge.

The most beautiful and unique covered bridge in Virginia is the Humpback Bridge, at Exit 10, off I-64 West, just before West Virginia.  It is also the oldest.  The wayside there is the perfect place to picnic.  It is well worth the stop and is only seconds off the Interstate.  

Boyce

I've known this guy since high school.  Though he attended a different school, we sang and toured together in a Baptist church youth choir.

Later, we attended the same church and almost went into the Army together.

I owe him a lot - he and his wonderful wife, Millie, helped me through a divorce and introduced me to Kady.

I looked him up in Arizona, where I took this shot.

Nights

My shot of Comet Neowise was taken in Manhattan, Kansas.

Astronomy became my hobby through my father, the scientist; he taught his boys the stars.

I'm working on my astrophotography.  It's not there yet but I've been lucky a few times.

While in Arizona, I repaired my sister-in-law's telescope, destroyed by a horde of her great-grandchildren running willy-nilly about the house.  Finished, I aimed it at the daytime Moon and used its cellphone mount and my Pixel 6 to take this shot.

Yet Gentle Will The Griffin Be (What Grandpa Told The Children) is my favorite childhood poem.  I hope I'm that kind of grandpa.

Sokak

Izmir, Turkiye, Spring 1985

Photos tell stories.  They remind you.  They become a part of your history.

This photo is a great memory.

When I arrived in Turkey, my room was on the backside of the Kordon Otel, facing the inner city.  There were millions of small twinkling lights.  It looked like Christmas.   I thought, “What a Magical Place This Is.”

The lights were the homes of thousands of poor Turk people, living in poorly constructed houses and shacks, some thrown up overnight.  They were some of the nicest people I have ever met.

When I talk to people about my travels in Turkey, I tell the story of this walk.

Be Prepared

I met Ayşe and her family at Kultur Park in Izmir, while with two friends, Ellen and Vern taking photos of the city.  I stepped away, put on my 55- 200 mm zoom, and took shots of them all. 

I was still deep in the training process run by my three Army Photographers.   This young lady had striking jade-green eyes. and beautiful chestnut hair, and my camera was loaded with Black and White film.  Too Bad!  Those eyes deserved color film.

Not long after, I bought a second Canon Body, a Canon A-1, to pair with my AE-1 Program and FD Lenses.  I kept one loaded with color and the other monochrome.

Digital is so much simpler.  I have assigned buttons on my Nikon D850 to change rapidly between color modes.

If I took this photo today, I'd use my 85mm lens, open my aperture, and set the mode to "Vivid." 

This day was also pivotal in creating a sideline hobby.  I had Ayşe give me her address (that's my pencil in her hand) and I sent the family copies of the photos I took of them.  That was a fun endeavor but expensive . . . until I began sending digital files via email or text.

Before the Storm

The Keys. June 2018

The Sugarloaf Key Bat Tower was built in 1929 to control the mosquitos.  The bats initially housed there flew away, never to return.  Oh Well.  Nice Try.

I photographed it just three months before it was destroyed by Hurricane Irma, on 10 September 2017. 

It was in pretty sad shape when we were there, with loads of trash, graffiti, and needing repair.

It has been on the National Registry of Historical Places since 1982, but I haven't heard if it will be rebuilt.  Now, it is, probably, too late.

Boats

I took this when Kady, the kids, and I visited a friend's summer house in Kaynarpinar in 1985.

It wasn't a good time, but the little town was pretty.  I used my Canon AE-1 Program with TX 400. 

This shot was taken at Foca, thirty-nine years later, in digital.

Bess

This was my 2005 Mustang.  I set up this photo, my camera on a tripod, and told my daughter what I wanted,   She pressed the shutter; I'm driving.  Perfect Photo by CE Neel and her dad.

I bought Bess off the lot at Town and Country Ford in Bessemer, Alabama.  I drove her for seventeen years and enjoyed every minute.

I sold her in 2022 when the clutch began hurting my left knee and the Stage-2 Suspension began hurting my entire body.  It was time.  Now, it is my heart that hurts.  I miss my car.

Bee once said, "I think you must have a thousand photos of your car form every angle."  That may be true.

Monuments

The only Southern monument remaining in Charlottesville is the one in the UVA Cemetery and its days are probably numbered.  Hell, they even removed the Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea monument.

I spent the better part of a day photographing all of the monuments in the city before they were removed.  I love this town, but it is filled with some of the biggest bozos on this planet.

This is the statue over the grave of Stonewall Jackson, in Lexington, Virginia.  This one seems to be safe but who knows?

Photograph your history before it's gone forever.

Virginia Military Institute 31 January 2018

There stood Jackson like a Stone Wall.  The state, board of visitors, school administration, alumni, and cadets failed to Stand Behind the Virginian.  I left just in time.

This was taken on my last day as the Corps and Institute Sergeant Major with a Mamiya RZ-67, loaded with Ilford FP4.

In Situ

Ephesus 1985

I studied Ancient History in school, which is why this column has such a hold on me.  I found it on a side street close to the theater at Ephesus, still leaning on the rubble from an earthquake, probably the one in 262CE.

Excavators wisely left this beauty sitting as they found it.

Agora

Izmir, Turkiye, Winter 1985

I took Bob and Ellen to a little site that I found deep in the city.  I spotted it from the castle, found it on my city map, and walked right to it.  It turned out to be the old Agora

I took them back a few weeks later.  The place is beautiful.  The ruins, including a stand of columns, are a must-see. 

This was the first and only place I had time to visit during my third tour before I was deployed to Kosovo.  Thanks, NATO.

The Regimental Drummer

New Market, Virginia

I shot this as a much larger photo.  Back home, after the day shooting, I realized how powerful this could be, cropped to show just the drummer boy.  I think it illustrates the weariness and sadness in all soldiers.

I took this at New Market Battlefield during a reenactment.

TS

While Kady's niece lived with her grandparents, I asked her to sit for me.  She was about twenty-two at the time and one of the prettiest young women I had ever known. Still is.

It was a very bright Alabama summer day and the light was far too harsh.  I underexposed.

I never made a decent print in my darkroom but kept the film.

Technology Improved.

I found the negatives not long ago, scanned them one at a time to give me the best file from which to work, and then worked on them in Photoshop.

Finally.   Amazing!

Never give up on those old negatives!

The High Desert

I have spent plenty of time in the desert, training, guarding the border, at the Sergeant's Major Academy, and while traveling.  There's something about it.  At first glance, it looks dead and forbidding, but with the slightest bit of moisture and a few days of warm weather, it turns green, sprouts grass, and the plants begin to bud.

I like the desert in short spurts.  I have to return to trees and water and that means East.

Colonel John

John was the Band director at VMI.  I traveled with him and the band to Savannah, New Orleans, and Passadina for parades.  He learned to take me along as his enforcer.

This is the man who got me into Hockey.

He is also my Battlefield traveling partner.  We've been as far west as Shiloh and as far north as Gettysburg and many battlefields in between.

He is very knowledgeable and talks about battles in his best Shelby Foote voice.  Not bad for a kid from Philly.

The man is the consummate musician and plays a mean trumpet.

Savannah Facades

I love Savannah.  It is a photographer's paradise.

I took these for a Charlottesville Photographer's Group photo contest.  The theme was "Filthy Facades."  'I was in Savannah so I went looking for theme-worthy things to photograph.  I submitted these.  The competition winner was a shot of a bench with flower pots filled with red flowers.  The judge said she chose it because she liked the blue bench and the red flowers.

That was my last day in the group and my final photo contest.  How ridiculous.

No Pets, Please

A few years after her graduation Erica visited me in Lexington. We took the photos we had talked about, forever.

She brought her dogs.  This was the first time I had worked with animals.

I took some good photos of Erica that day but the dogs made it difficult. She was focused on wrangling her pups while I tried to shoot three moving targets.

I liked this one the best.

Trees

Trees have recently become a favorite photo subject because I'm aging and I envy their longevity.

I love this old tree, photographed on a Clay Target range in Kentucky.  Though struck by lightning, damaged by winds, and suffering from what looks like heart disease, it won't give up.  It looks like it is flipping off the elements as it grows new limbs to fight another day.

"old age should burn and rave at close of day." ~ Dylan Thomas

Consider These

I spent the Spring after shoulder surgery in Manhattan Kansas, puppy-sitting, doing physical therapy, and hiking in the Prairie.

At first glance, the Prairie looks like a never-ending sea of green and brown, but if you look deeper into the tall grass, you'll see small flecks of color.

The little flowers (and Cooper) kept me from going bonkers that Spring.

Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." ~ Matthew 6:29 NASV

Bones

Nothing calls for black-and-white photography like a good old piece of farm equipment.

I found this old rake while walking through the woods.  I took it in color and converted it to black and white.  

Now, I set my camera on monochrome when something needs B&W.  Somedays, I'll start with it set that way, to remind myself of the first days when I had one camera loaded with Tri-X or Plus-X.

Fun Fungi

Lately, Mushrooms are my Thing.  

It started as I began researching Psilocybes.  When I began looking for them, I realized that there are Mushrooms EVERYWHERE, you only have to look.  They make interesting photos! 

I'm terrible at Identifying them, so I don't try, but I can't walk by one without taking its photo.

I shot these with my camera set on "Vivid."  It's like the Kodachrome of digital photography.

Sarah

I miss this young woman.  One of my daughter's college friends, Sarah was a constant visitor in our house and even worked in the Commandant's office at VMI for a while.  Now she's married with two children, and living in California.

We took this shot on the Blue Ridge while we skipped out on work.  She was easy to photograph, a natural.

I took the photo below two weeks later when her sister came to town.

Bugs

This nonsense began when Kady asked me if I wanted to go on a butterfly tour with a "certified naturalist."  The lady really knew her stuff.  Now, I'm on a hunt for all the bugs.

I ordered some Micro Extension Tubes and am trying that, though I find it difficult.  Bugs move or take exception to my encroachment of their space (like the murder hornet in the photo below).  I refuse to kill anything to take its photograph.

I just ordered a bee book.  They are next.

Ken

There are few people I respect as much as this guy.  I met him when his son was a cadet.  He once recruited cadets from his adopted state of North Carolina, supported by scholarship money gifted by a prominent alumni family.

His cadets were a quality group of young people, most going into the service, all becoming shakers and movers within the Corps of Cadets.

He kept up with each one, encouraging them, speaking on their behalf, helping them solve their problems, and insisting on academic excellence.

For my part, I made sure he had unfettered access to his cadets during their important milestones.

He is the only person with whom I will discuss VMI.

Rails

Harper's Ferry, West Virginia

I'm a Southern Railways kid.  My dad was the Supervisor of Communications.  We rode the train a lot when I was growing up.  Nothing relaxes me like the sound of a train whistle in the distance.

I enjoy visiting old train stations and rail museums and have been known to pull off the road to get a good shot of a passing train.

Southern Serves The South!