Ready for a Piney Point Spring!

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A Lake Tillery gift...

Available at:


The Cottage at Tillery

4601NC Hwy 24/27 W and River Road (behind The Uwharrie Sportsman) 

Mount Gilead, NC 27306 

(910) 439-1500 

Reflections on Main

1631 East Main Street
Albemarle, NC 28001
(704) 986-4438

Falling Rivers Gallery 
 (Just above Starnes Jewelers)

119 West Main St.

Albemarle, NC


I also have a few copies on hand - call or email me.
  Email me
 910-439-4496

September Sunset from Timberlake

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The 4th of July on Tillery

I was out for a good walk first thing this morning, deciding the Woodrun docks would be a nice detour for the morning of the 4th.  Striding at a fast pace along the docks, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the latest addition to the lines of boats.  What has come to be a bit of a signature image of mine, the hand-crafted sailboat, "Sailing into Morning", flashed in my mind as I was standing by its replacement - another hand-crafted motorized, "tugboat/shrimpboat-like" vintage-looking and gorgeous wooden boat.

The owner and I immediately recognized one another and he (Steve Cycotte) began to tell me about his new beauty.  His brother, Tim, mostly constructed the boat by hand, using mahogany, white oak, teak and cherry. The Smilebox here, are are few shots I grabbed this morning, but Steve offered to let me take more in better lighting on a weekday late afternnoon.   When I happened back down on the docks later in the morning, Steve and his two brothers were just getting back from a cruise up past the Uwharrie River into about 3 feet of water and rocks.  The other shots are ones I took while goofing around later on the docks.

So, the Smilebox is 2 little vignettes of a 4th of July morning at Woodrun on Tillery.  Enjoy.

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"Never Caught Up" LILLY'S BRIDGE SAGE

A couple of weeks ago I enjoyed shooting at the Lilly's Bridge end of my old nook, the one that holds so many memories for me, and will probably be back to discover different angles, composition and light.

In the introduction to the Smilebox, I mentioned "a bridge sage".  Near the end of my morning (a weekday) of shooting on my last trip to the bridge, I stopped near one of the folks fishing off the bridge.

Adjusting my tripod for just a few last shots, an old fellow, probably retired and enjoying a slow pace (sitting on left here) turned around to me and posed the question, "are ya 'bout caught up?".   Finally feeling my 4th shoot there had given me what I wanted for your project, I replied, "well, yes, as a matter of fact I do feel about caught up...yes, I do." I thought my reply was a positve and cheery one, and a very true one. 

A few seconds passed and I asked the same question of him.   His reply surprised and enlightened me.  With a happy twinkle in his voice, he said, "ohhh no, I'm never caught up...I've always got plenty to do...I always want it that way".  I hadn't thought he was "doin' much" before that, but in an instant, he conveyed the philosophy of thoroughly savoring each moment and anticipating all those moments to come.

...And that is way plenty to do

The Cottage at Tillery - great new spot for browsing gifts, produce, art

The Cottage is open Thursday - Sunday...it's right behind The Uwharrie Sportsman ("log cabin store") on Hwy 24/27 at River Road.

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Sunrise Service for Scout and Me

By the steel bridge...then on the Cuddy farm on Shore Farm Road...

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Sunrise Service Monday - Shore Farm on Tillery

Out to catch a glimpse of the space shuttle launching across the eastern seaboard, I caught this instead.

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March Morning, from sunrise to fishing to golf...

Following the morning from the smooth tones of a calm Tranquil Bay sunrise, to the request of a bass fisherman to "take my picture", to the bright, blooming pear trees along Piney Point Golf Club's 10th
hole...a good morning on the Stanly side.

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Reflections, Clouds and Tranquil Bay

Thanks go to Emma and Jerry Rogers for access to their views...again

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Enjoy "Day at the Dock Day"

I enjoyed some serene dock time by Lilly's Bridge and the new Uwharrie Haven/Lilly's Bridge Marina last week.  With the exception of two, all images are of this area.  Floating docks stretching well out into the nook provide a unique perspective and feeling.   I grew up spending weekends at the family's river cabin in this nook when there were very few houses on either side of this part of Lake Tillery.  You can still get that nostalgic feel early in the morning or during the week before the summer rush begins.

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SnowShower TwentyTen

Falling beautifully and lightly Friday night, we awakened to a delightful blanket of white Saturday morning, The sun got up early with us and provided some interesting lighting, the wind slept late, freezing the frosty scenes for the camera.

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For February...Art by Giana

The artist, Giana Garcia, surprised me with this very fine original drawing.  I love the way she found a perfect way to incorporate my favorite theme into the heart. To me, the diverse, multi-colored strokes convey
the simple and the profound. Very cool, indeed.

GIANA

The Gift of the Lake - Thank You's

GREATGIFT  ....coupon code for Blurb.com good til Dec. 31,2009

Thanks to all who have viewed my book online and to those who have purchased a copy.  Special thanks to Sonja Simmons of Reflections on Main in Albemarle, NC for her support and willingness to display not only my books, but selected large prints from the book.  I also want to thank Dorothea Theus, Jackie Smith, LaDonna Greene and Jean Thompson for their permission to publish their very kind and thoughtful comments.   I also thank neighbors in Woodrun who allowed me access to their beautiful views, and to the Woodrun board members and office staff who supported a joint sales venture to benefit our quiet and special subdivision by the lake.  I can't fail to mention Don Bullock of Bullock Pro Labs, who is one of my "unofficial business managers and marketing directors".  I say "one" because I've received so many marketing ideas and so much support in general from old friends and new friends,and I want to acknowledge them. Being a self-described "hermit", much of the promotional aspects of the book have been challenging, so I am most appreciative of all the help.

I will also be taking into consideration those suggestions from residents of other lakes along the Yadkin-Pee Dee River system that I make "their" special lake the focus, or at least part, of my next book.  When I commented to Sonja that "would be a very big project", she shot back, "well, you better get busy!" 

My Lake Tillery landscape book is done ...the lake's gift to us

GREATGIFT    $ 10.00 off coupon code

Use this coupon code for $10.00 off  -   GREATGIFT

Order by Dec. 16th, Ship 2nd Day or Next Day to receive by the 24th

 Order by Dec.10th to receive by Dec. 24th

Last week, I finished the project I most wanted to complete and share - LAKE TILLERY - Our River, Our Beauty. A collection of landscapes shot during winter, spring, summer and fall, along with sunrises and sunsets, it represents much of what I feel about our lake.

From 2007 thru early fall of 2009, I have enjoyed the hunt for the likes of dramatic, misty sunrises, the glorious color of fall maples and sunsets and the first pops of yellow-green spring buds twinkling along the lake's edge. Checking the local radar for cloud cover and movement, deciding on a couple of target locations, leaving the house with my tripod and camera before dawn and driving along the pre-dawn country roads simply makes me happy. It also makes me happy to show Tillery enthusiasts how beautiful and precious "the river", "their river", "our river" remains.

Of course the lake and it's surrounding rural landscape are also full of interesting photographic opportunities at all times of the day. Sometimes, I just walk across the street to one of my neighbor's docks to check the setting sun, or the morning light hitting the River Haven lakeside cottages and homes. Planning a vacation day and hoping for a misty daybreak or interesting light or clouds is exciting in it's own way. Not unlike a fisherman hoping for the fish or the hunter hoping for deer, I am alway looking for a unique capture of light and color. Showing up lots of times at the same place increases the odds of being in the "right place at the right time" every now and then. I admit to being lucky more than once and I admit to having another day job that makes the whole process even more randomly successful.

Creating this book has been Tillery's gift to me, and I hope you find it one, too.

LAKE TILLERY - Our River, Our Beauty can be previewed and purchased on blurb.com.

Special holiday pricing applies until Dec.10th and you'll receive your book by Dec. 24th if ordered by the 10th.

120 pages - 10x8" landscape format

Premium paper

Available in softcover, hardcover with jacket, or hardcover image wrap

Finally, feel free to "comment" in the section below the book's description after looking through the preview on blurb.com. Here's my first such comment....

"This book is gorgeous! An inspirational and heartening book for anyone who values the beauty of the land and water we have left. For those fortunate enough to live in the Lake Tillery area, it is a beautiful record of the gems that are just outside their door and down the road."   ~DorotheaT

"Wow!!!!! You capture the magic of Tillery....the essence of why we are at

peace while there! "  ~ Ladonna.Greene

"Deb Russell has brilliantly shared her photographs of Lake Tillery with such passion and appreciation of the beauty of this body of water we call our playground, our vacation spot, our place of inspiration, our home".

J. Smith

"Deb, this book is such a wonderful display of "The Lake" in all it's fine natural glory! Thank you for all the work you've done to give us more insight to God's spectacular inspiration and beauty!!"

~Jean T.

Capturing the feeling of a home

Touring a home for sale - the PAM BREWER HOMES way
A couple of local realtors asked me to shoot some of their listings to see what my perspective might be. My main goal was to capture the feeling of the home and especially the feeling of its view, if it's on the lake. I was able to be at the Carolina Forest location on an August evening at sunset and into the evening for a few night shots of the home on its wooded lot.

For Tranquil Bay, Emma Rogers, a Century 21 realtor was instrumental in getting me to just the right location and angle to shoot the night shot. It turned out to be from inside a friend/neighbor's very hot and steamy boathouse.



Although not on the water, this home is near Piney Point Golf Club in rural South Stanly near Norwood, NC. Pam Brewer, the realtor with REMAX and the homeowners allowed me to shoot on 2 different days, as the power was out in the neighborhood on the first day's shoot.