Bamboo Tunnel

If bamboo wasn't so difficult to keep under control, I would totally line my yard with rows of it and pretend I was off on a distant island somewhere. I guess when you are George Vanderbilt and you hire Fredrick Law Olmsted (the same guy who designed Central Park), you aren't so worried about maintenance. This bamboo stand lines the road as you enter the Biltmore Estate. It adds a whimsical effect to the entrance as though you are visiting a castle in a far-off land. And you sort of are. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

Comicon Jawa

There were a ton of great costumes at the Heros Convention in Charlotte this year but this little Jawa was my favorite. Here he/she is posing with Simon, our 6 year-old fan of Iron Man and matching outfits. Seriously, the kid can really dress!

Back to the Jawa, though. The costume was really on-point and he/she even had a bag of little bells to trade with other convention goers. Whoever you are, Jawa friend, you really impressed Simon (and his sister and parents)! 

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7. 

South of Broad in Charleston

These are the magnificent homes of Charleston's White Point Garden Park on the Battery. Rumor has it that during Hurricane Hugo, the first floor of most of these homes was underwater and dolphin were exploring the interior of these houses. 

This video was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 professional drone, which is super cheap right now since the Mavic Pro release is right around the corner. 

L-I-V-I-N

Those Vanderbilts sure lived large! This is the 135,000 square foot Biltmore House. It was built in 1895 and is the largest private home in America by a considerable margin. If you ever visit Asheville, the Biltmore Estate is definitely worth a visit. In addition to the house, you can also visit the winery, Antler Hill Village, the farm and even go on an adventure with Land Rover!

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.

Smooth Sailing

This is the dock at the Isle of Palms Marina. He's either an ice hockey player or he's done this a few times before. Either way, it was a smooth move that I wish I had captured in video... although the photograph does capture a sense of the motion.

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone, which is super cheap on Amazon these days with the release of the new Mavic Pro right around the corner. 

Hints of Fall

This gravel road traverses across the backside of Beech Mountain, just on the other side of Oz Run. It looks flat until you notice that the "dirt" between the trees is actually giant rocks. I took this aerial photograph a few weeks ago just as the trees were starting to change color. This weekend, this same view should be tremendous! If we didn't have guests staying at Slopeside this weekend, I'd be there with a bag full of Phantom batteries!

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone. 

Land Rover Series IIA Badge

Despite camping in the middle of Hurricane Matthew, we had a tremendous time at Overland Expo East this year. The new venue on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate could not be beat. As always, the overland vehicles on display were tremendous. It rained for half of the event and the winds really put the tents to the test but I think it made for some interesting photography opportunities... Like this grille detail of a Land Rover Series IIA. Stay tuned for many more photos from the event in the coming weeks! 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Fleet Landing and the Custom House

There's a reason Fleet Landing is always packed with both tourists and locals on any given day. The haute-design, yet no-frills decor, wide open spaces and view of the harbor from any seat in the house make it clear that 1) you are in a decommissioned Navy building and 2) you will be enjoying delicious seafood and most likely an adult beverage or two.

Order the crab dip to get things started.

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Hudson's Market

We always have a great time when we visit Wild Dunes. I've been going there at least once a year since I was five years old and it's great to be able to take my kids now. It's amazing how it has changed since the early days. Back in those days, we never would have believed there would be a full-fledged hotel and village, complete with market, spa and restaurant where the old beach pavilion once stood. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Biltmore Guardian

We visited the Biltmore Estate with the kids last week. They were amazed by the house as they ran through it with my wife like it was their own. We had been camping on the property down by the French Broad river at Overland Expo (during Hurricane Matthew and it was still amazing!).

I had to get back to camp to break everything down so this guardian lion is as close as I got to actually going in to the house. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.