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Posts Tagged ‘Photography’

Breakfast Photos Before and After The Bug

February 4th, 2012 by carriagehouse

Breakfast

Before

Breakfast

After

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like everyone else, we have a project list about a mile long.

One of our many projects is to get some awesome breakfast photos for our website.  So I commissioned my favorite photographer, Tom, and we had a photo shoot this morning right after breakfast.  The Pasta Frittata was colorful and really did photograph well!  As is not unusual for us, we were  quickly distracted by cleaning and giving directions to the guests.  When we walked back into the kitchen we had a surprise.  The plate had been licked clean and The Bug was looking very guilty!!

Deadline for Jefferson Fall Photography Weekend Fast Approaching

October 10th, 2011 by carriagehouse


Please Join Us! Fall Photography Weekend
Date: November 11-13 2011
For Info: 903-665-9511
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Jefferson Photography Weekend
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Carriage House Bed and Breakfast Painting w/ Light Demo
2010 Fall Photography Weekend at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast in Jefferson, Texas
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You are cordially invited to the 2011 Fall Photography Weekend at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast in charming Jefferson, Texas. Come spend a glorious autumn weekendwhere the focus is on photography, fun and fellowship.

Autumn is a fantastic time to visit historic Jefferson and the Caddo Lake area. Jefferson is renowned for its beautiful antebellum architecture and its New Orleans Southern charm. This historic steamboat riverport town is a target rich photo environment with opportunities for a one of a kind “money shot” around every corner.

For info or reservations, please call us at 903-665-9511

Caddo Lake is the most photographed lake in Texas. With its dripping spanish moss and swamp like environment, you will capture many unique and interesting images. Caddo Lake is a birders paradise and is home to alligators, turtles, beavers, nutria, and many other water loving critters.
Since a trip to a Southern town is not complete without a visit to an antebellum home you will have the opportunity to tour and photograph some of the most beautiful houses and gardens in Jefferson. In fact, several of the homeowners will greet you in traditional Victorian period dress.  How’s that for a photo opp?
Fall Photography Weekend

November 11, 2011 – Friday

3pm to 6pm – Event Registration

3pm to 7pm – Dinner on your own

7pm to 9pm – Wine tasting Social Hour
9pm – ? – Painting with Light Demonstration

November 12, 2011 – Saturday

6.30am to 8.30am – Sunrise Photo Walk
9.00am to 10am – Breakfast at your B&B
10.00am to 11am -Presentation by Arlington Camera

11:00am to 1pm – On Your Own
1pm to 3pm – Historic Home Photo Walk

3.00pm to 3.30pm – Drive to Caddo Lake
3.30pm to 5pm – Sunset photo boat tour on Caddo Lake
7.00pm to 8.30 pm – Group Dinner

November 13, 2011 – Sunday

9am to 10am – Breakfast at your B&B
11am – Check out

November 14, 2011 – Monday             

Photo Contest begins

To reserve your spot, please call us at 903-665-9511

For the first time ever, this weekend is available as a land package for $99 a person!  The price for the weekend includes all planned tour costs, photography demonstrations, wine tasting and Hors D’oeuvres, group dinner, and photo contest. Gratuities are not includedYou will need to make lodging arrangements on your own. For recommendations on local B& B’s or hotels, please call us at 903-665-9511. Rooms are available here at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast as well.For more information or for reservations, please go to our website or call us at 903-665-9511Tom and Stephanie Lester, InnkeepersThe Carriage House Bed & Breakfast

Painting With Light Demonstration at the 2011 Fall Photography Weekend

August 17th, 2011 by carriagehouse

Plans are well underway for the 2011 Fall Photography Weekend coming up on November 11-13 here at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast in Jefferson Texas.  After our wine tasting social hour, our resident photographer, Tom, and photographer, Craig Swancy from Weatherford TX will be taking all of the participants out for a Painting With Light Demonstration.

Craig told me this morning, “I’m ordering my goodies today to build some fun things for the Fall Photography Weekend at The Carriage House in Jefferson.  We’ll bring some color to your night time exposures.  Tom and I will present a few new and interesting tools to those who plan to attend.  I can promise that we’ll keep it it simple and certainly show you how to make these fun tools on a really small budget.”

To see a sample of their work, check out this video.  If you would like more information on the Fall Photography Weekend, please give me a call at 903-665-9511.

New Gator Park in Uncertain Texas

August 8th, 2011 by carriagehouse

Gator (1)

 

Gator (2)

 

This past weekend, we had the honor of hosting my mom and niece here at the Carriage House B&B.  It is always nice to have family come visit us.  We love getting the chance to catch up with them and the chance to play tourist here in Jefferson.

I think the biggest thrill for us all this weekend was going to Captain Ron’s Gator Park in Uncertain, Texas.  Captain Ron is a dear friend of ours and he gave us a grand tour of his new gator park and petting zoo Friday afternoon.  If you are thinking that you don’t remember this place last time you were here, it is because it just  opened a few weeks ago.  We will be recommending this place from this point on.  This is one of those experiences that you can only get here in the swamps.

The petting zoo is full of unusual and unique varieties of chickens, goats, turtles, pigs, and birds.  But the biggest thrill of all is the gigantic pond teaming with alligators.

Captain Ron held off on feeding them until we got there.  As soon as these primitive beasts saw the chicken on the bamboo pole, the water came alive.  It was obvious that the large gator was the alpha male of the pond.  He tried his best to keep the others away from the feeding area and only a few of the brave and nearly as large gators even dared to come close.  We all stood in awe as these large beasts jumped straight up and out of the water to snatch the chicken right off of the pole.

Since the show, Swamp People, started airing on TV, we have had several people come out to Jefferson and want the “Swamp People” experience.    You do not have to run all the way down to Louisiana’s bayou country to have a Swamp People vacation.  Caddo Lake is a one tank getaway from most of Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.  

I will get everything set up for you.  We will send you deep into the dark and mystical swamps in a go devil in search of gators in the wild and get you up close, and personal to a gator feeding on chickens.  At the end of the day, we will send you to a restaurant where you can sit under Bald Cypress trees draped in Spanish Moss and eat some fried gator.  By the end of the weekend, you will be able to say “Choot ’em,Liz”, and smile at the memories.

Give me a call at 903-665-9511 to book your Swamp People vacation.

 

Having Fun Playing with the Photographer’s Camera

July 2nd, 2011 by carriagehouse

   Tom the Photographer

So while we were in Natchez, Mississippi, I grabbed Tom’s camera and played photographer for a while.  I had been toying with the idea of taking up photography for sometime and wanted to see what it was like being on the other side of the lens. 

It is a lot harder then it looks.

My college sweetheart was a photographer whose name was also Tom.  Apparently today, he is on the Dallas Morning News photography staff and his work has earned him a Pulitzer Prize amongst manyother awards.  I obviously didn’t marry that Tom but later met a different photographer by the name of Tom and married him.  It is clear that I have a type that I am attracted.  Tom’s who carry cameras.  I have spent my entire adult life around photography and can compose a shot as good as any one but I can’t shoot the picture.  I don’t know the mechanics of a camera. 

So this week while in Natchez, I picked up Tom’s camera and took my first photo.  I would love your honest feedback.  How did I do?  Let me know on our Facebook page

Crepe MyrtleWater TowerWater Tower

There is no place like home…or the BnB

July 1st, 2011 by carriagehouse

The Bug

Tom and I ran away for a few days to Natchez, Miss to celebrate our anniversary.  Technically, our wedding anniversary is this Sunday (July 3rd) but this is a busy holiday weekend in BnB land so we took off a few days early.  We are back in Jefferson now and although it is great to go off for vacation.  It is even better to be home.

Already my phone is lighting up with texts from friends checking to make sure we are back.  We will get together this weekend with everyone to catch up on the news of the town and here all of the latest goings on.  It seems that it was a very active week for Jefferson this week.  I can’t wait to hear all of the details.

Dixie and The Bug are both back home as well.  They loved their new boarding place in Marshall but were overjoyed to see us come and pick them up this afternoon.  The Bug literally jumped for joy, she was so happy to see us.  They both got baths and had a lot of play time in the yard.  They were so cute sporting their July 4th bandannas at pick up.  All of the proper dogs will be wearing one this weekend.  

As I write, they are both fast asleep at my feet but if I get up to go anywhere they follow me.  It will take a few days before they let me out of their sight again.

I will post some pictures and musings on the trip over the next few days.  My favorite photographer, Tom, is still post processing all of the photos from our vacation.  He took some really awesome ones and even I dabbled with the camera a little bit. 

The photo above was not one of his.  That one was taken in the car on my phone of a very happy Bug who wanted to climb over the seat and get into my lap for the ride home.  It is a bit blurry but the car was bumping along a country road.

Stay tuned.  More to come.

A Bed and Breakfast for All…Even the Hummingbirds

May 11th, 2011 by carriagehouse

   Hummingbird at Feeders   

The Carriage House Bed and Breakfast’s very own crazy Italian Chef Tom, also known as our crazy photographer Tom, spent hours over the last few days trying to capture a hummingbird at one of our five feeders.  It was quite a spectacle to see the big guy dressed all in red (hummers like the color red) trying to sit perfectly still to get the money shot. What do you think?  I think he did pretty good!

Hummingbird at Feeders

Hummingbird at Feeders

Hummingbird at Feeders

 

If you love photography as much as Tom does, then check out our upcoming Photography Weekend, June 10th through 12th held here at the Carriage House B&B in Jefferson Texas.  This weekend is geared for photographers of all skill levels and for photographers interested in outdoors/ nature photography and architectural photography.  For more information check out our website or call us at 903-665-9511.  We have only a few spots left!

Photo Contest Winner Announced

April 4th, 2011 by carriagehouse

 

 

Congratulations to Sam Wilson!

Sam is our 2011 Spring Photography Weekend Photo Contest winner.  Diana Check’s photo took second place and Marie Hansen-Lai’s photo took 3rd place.  A great big round of applause to all three of these fine photographers and to all of the photographers who entered the contest.  You are all winners to us!

Once a quarter, the award winning Carriage House Bed and Breakfast in Jefferson Texas hosts photographers of all skill levels and all equipment types for a weekend of photography demonstrations, photo walks, and tours with plenty of time in the schedule for sight seeing and exploring.  Our  June Photography Weekend is scheduled for 06/10/11 through 06/12/11 . We will be posting the agenda for the June 2011 Photography Weekend in a few weeks.  So that we can take advantage of the longer days and the magnificent summer light, we will have a brand new agenda for both the June and September events.  We will post these agendas on our Photography Weekend website page as well as send them out by email.  If you are interested in being added to our email list, please click here.

Voting for Photo Contest Started – Vote Now on Your Favorite

March 29th, 2011 by carriagehouse

Photo Contest Award

 

Voting for the 2011 Spring Photography Weekend Photo Contest at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast in Jefferson Texas has started!   These photos were taken during the 2011 Spring Photography Weekend that took place March 18 -20 2011 here in Jefferson Texas and the Caddo Lake area.  Each photographer was allowed to submit one photo to the contest and our winner will be based on popular vote.  So if you have not voted yet, please do.  The pictures can be found at https://carriagehousejefferson.com/blog/2011-spring-photography/

Each quarter, the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast in Jefferson brings together photographers of all skill levels and equipment types for a fun filled weekend full of photographic technique demonstrations, photo walks and opportunities for networking.  Jefferson is a beautiful old antebellum Southern town preserved to a period in the late 1800s.  The brick lined streets, buildings and Greek Revival homes are conserved from the town’s rich steamboat days.  Caddo Lake is the most photographed lake in Texas and is a collection of swamps, bayous and sloughs.  The entire area is a protected wetland under the U.N. Ramsar Treaty and is filled with birds and critters of all types.  Our photographers are always amazed by this target rich environment.  The Photography Weekend is kicked off with a wine tasting and finishes with a photo contest.

We will be hosting our next Photography Weekend June 10 -13, 2011.  Please check back often for our sumemr agenda.

A Better Way to Stay for a Photography Weekend

March 22nd, 2011 by carriagehouse

The 2011 Spring Photography Weekend has come and it has gone.  It is a little bittersweet to tell the truth.  I made some new friends and enjoyed the company of some old acquaintances (thinking of you Craig).  I also had the opportunity to visit with just some of the most amazing photographers. We broke bread together, drank wine together, and plied the waters of Caddo Lake together.  Now I feel a little like Dixie and The Bug standing and whimpering at the gate.  Where have all of my friends and the weekend gone?

The air Friday afternoon was super charged with excitement while we waited for the photographers and their grips (think significant others) to arrive.  One by one, cars began to pull into our parking lot, and the weekend participants began to arrive.  The weather was perfect and no sooner then people got here and dumped their bags, then they scattered to go and explore the sights of Jefferson Texas.  I don’t blame them.  The town was blooming with brightly colored Redbuds, Dogwoods and Wisteria.  It is safe to say  that Mother Nature was showing off for our folks.

The Photography Weekend kicked off with a wine tasting sponsored by Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards at the Museum of Time and Measurement.  It feels very appropriate to have this group of intrepid explorer’s social hour in a place that is full of maps.  Gerald Jones from Los Pinos always does a nice job talking about the Texas wine industry and everyone got a giggle out of some of the names of the wine.  One of our gentleman kept confusing the name of the wine called All My Exes with All My Ex Wives.  Hmmm.  Inquiring minds want to know the story there.  Another one of the gentleman kept licking the glass.  Sam, We would have gotten you seconds.

This weekend was the Super Moon.  The moon was the closest and the biggest that it has been in 18 years.  That was the reason why we picked this weekend out of all of the weekends of March.  Tom took everyone out after the wine tasting and demonstrated a type of night photography called Painting with Light.  The photographers lit up the historic steam train and the city of Jefferson had turned the lights on the old railroad trestle for our group.  I can’t wait to see some of these pictures!

Saturday morning, we got the photographers up for a sunrise photo walk of the Historic Riverfront District.  Jefferson is so beautiful when the morning sun kisses the old historic structures.  The spring light is so soft and it falls lightly as dappled sun rays through our East Texas canopy of trees.

After breakfast, the day belongs to the photographers and their traveling companions to do as they please.  We had several people who took the old steam train, and others went shopping.  We had a couple of romantics that took the horse drawn carriage ride through the Historic Riverfront District, and of course several went out to shoot more pictures.

The climax of any trip to Jefferson is a boat ride on Caddo Lake to see all of the critters and birds.  Unfortunately, the lake (swamps) had been full of bass boats and spring breakers all weekend and they had scared many of the animals and birds back into the woods.  It is a shame!  Many of the gators, turtles and other critters are up from the winter nap and are both hungry and frisky.  In other words, they are busy and active.  I was so hopeful that we were going to get some great action shots of the lake.  A few of our folks did get some nice shots of Egrets and Herons in flight.  You can always count on those birds being out there no matter how busy the lake gets.

We closed out the weekend with another big social event.  Glory Dayz restaurant held over the play “Gangster Apparel” for one performance for us.  It was a funny, funny play.  Several of our guests the prior weekends went to see it and had given the play rave reviews.  I was very anxious to see it and was not disappointed!

As an industry, we talk a lot about the differences between hotels, motels and B&Bs.  In fact, our industry trade group has a campaign going on right now called a Better Way to Stay.  The hope is to educate the public about the differences between all these different types of lodging and accommodations.  The truth is at a Bed & Breakfast, it is about the experience.  Most innkeepers go out of their way to create amazing experiences for their guests.  Each person that walks through our door comes to us with a different need.  Maybe it is a new bride and groom celebrating their honeymoon.  We will try and make their stay as comfortable and romantic as possible.  It could be that a couple of girlfriends or sisters have come to stay with us.  We will make sure they have plenty of places to sit and visit and help them plan fun activities that they can do as a group (Paraffin Wax Foot Massage Party anyone?).  No matter why you travel, we will do what we can to make sure that you find that a Bed & Breakfast is a Better Way to Stay.

These Photography Weekends that we put on are an example of this.  Here at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast, we try and create a perfect environment for photographers to learn, network and explore East Texas.  The Photography Weekends are all about building an amazing experience not only for our photographers but for their traveling companions.  Believe you me when I tell you that this is not something you would ever find at a hotel.  Frankly, a hotel provides you with a room.  That is it.  At a B&B, you get a room but also an incredible breakfast and an experience that you won’t forget.

As for our photographers that came to Jefferson this weekend to experience spring in East Texas. Well if you will excuse the cliche, a good time was had by all.

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