This post is part of a series from Rick Braveheart. our wonderful resident photographer. Please see more of his work here.
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” ~ Meister Eckhardt (German Philosopher, 1260-1327)
While my work is about photographing the land, it’s often through the help of others that I find the locations to photograph. During the last month I’ve met many kind, generous and open-hearted people who’ve spent much time orienting me, offering suggestions and helping me better adjust to life in the mountains. The photography I created here is better because them and might never have existed without their suggestions. Below are a few of these individuals and for each, one of several images that exist because of their help.
NICHOLAS SEYMOUR: The day after I arrived, I met Nicholas, a local artist, who lived several miles down the road. That day I’d pulled the car off the road to make a photograph when the rear wheel sank in wet soil leaving the car teetering over an embankment. Like the Lone Ranger, Nicholas magically appeared and towed the car to safety. Since then, he shared many hours with me together talking about the mountains, history, art and photography. His love, knowledge and enthusiasm about these are addictive and his many suggestions for photographic locations took me to areas I would have easily missed.
SCOTTY RAWLINGS: I met Scotty the day I arrived and he immediately took my wife and I under his wing helping familiarize us with the area, offering suggestions and checking up on us regularly to see if there was anything we might need. Scotty was born in the area, left in his early adult years to work and live in several cities around the world and now, with an even deeper appreciation for these mountains and its people, returned to stay. With his warm and helpful personality, knowledge of the community and ability to locate any needed service, he is the ideal ambasador of good will and Chamber of Commerce rolled into one.
CHARLIE & TROY BALL: These visionaries have invested years of their lives working to build an eco-friendly green community called Whisper Mountain with a mission that honor the land, its history and the environment. I first met Charlie on a visit here several years ago and knew immediately that we shared a strong passion and love for nature and the land. Charlie spent many hours helping introduce me to the mountains, plants and animals of Western North Carolina, and several times as a hiking partner, pointed out some extraordinary works of nature I might consider photographing.
A FEW OTHERS: There are others who made a difference in my stay and who also make a difference in their community. Charles staffs the county recycling center that I visited each week. Regardless of the weather or his work load, he always found time to greet me with a smile and ask how I was doing. There’s also Elizabeth Jones who runs The Trust General Store & Cafe. Elizabeth, April Phillips and their staff stock essential items needed in a rural community like nuts, bolts, and motor oil as well as food goods like eggs, milk and coffee. By saving people a 20 mile trip into town for these essential goods, they provide a valuable and much appreciated service to the area. And now, with the addition of chef Cliff Phillips, they’ve brought five-star meals and fabulous pastries to this community.
To all of you I extend my most sincere thanks.