At the turn of the other century (the 1900s) there were a number of Italian immigrants who settled in Whitesburg to work in the coal mines and on the railroads that first opened a very isolated Eastern Kentucky. Although they were there for other reasons, they left their mark on the city’s architecture. Many of the old houses and buildings look as if they were lifted out of Italy. One building in particular was built right on the river, reminiscent of Venice.

Along the way (no pun intended) yesterday, I found a city that has come and gone with coal, but is still working hard to maintain its identity.

A barbershop in downtown Whitesburg

I even found a sign with name on it.

The North Fork of the Kentucky River is in the heart of Whitesburg

Italian stone workers who came with the railroad in the early 1900s left their mark on Whitesburg's architecture.

 

A duck flies up stream over the headwaters of the Kentucky River.

It’s Sunday night and I’m just now getting around to editing my Kentucky Derby and Oaks images. Keep in mind I’m not lazy. I was working for Saint Joseph and their new hospital in Mt. Sterling at the first of the week, and then UK and their new hospital the rest of the week, through today. And oh yea, throw in a late night trip to Maysville for time exposures of  Spurlock Power Station. Plus, tackling 1,600 + photos takes time. I’ll post a Derby gallery sometime this week, but until then, here is a shot that I had forgotten about until I found it tonight. This was an accidental self-portrait of sorts. I was in the infield, fulfilling my 2:00 Courier-Journal deadline on Derby Hats. This young lady was very happy to see me and my camera, although I doubt her enthusiasm had anything to do with her amount of beer consumption. It was her birthday and she was looking to party with anyone willing! The thing I love most about the Kentucky Derby is the Social Contrast between those in the grand stands and those (crazies) in the infield.

It’s been a long time since I stayed all night at Mom and Dad’s without Natalie  and the kids. I stayed there a couple of nights this week, while I was working on some late night assignments nearby. I got in one night about one o’clock, and just sat on the back porch for a while. My mind was  instantly flooded with sights and sounds of growing up on Blackcreek in Clay City. The House Band that night was a group of deep-bar-atoned frogs and other assorted insects. You talk about a great stress reliever! I just sat there and soaked it all in.

The assignment that I was working on was photographing power plants at night for Kentucky Living (coming out in July…I think). I already had my tripod set up for time exposures, so I tried to capture a little bit of the Blackcreek Night. This is a 30 second exposure with the neighbors lights illuminating the hill behind Mom and Dad’s house. It really isn’t all that dark at night.