Monty Chandler Photography

This blog is dedicated to sharing my thoughts and photographic works of the things I choose to shoot. Sharing my views of what I see, capturing them in photography and converting them into art.

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Location: Charlotte, NC, United States

Monty is a freelance photographer and avid music fan located in Charlotte, NC. He has been documenting the world through still photography for over 30 years. Monty's website is meant to both share online images and support the acquisition of prints/merchandise of those images by those whom desire to do so. Monty's travels have brought him to several corners of the world. "The ability to share these travels and my personal interests with friends and family has proven to be both an inspiration and a great source of personal satisfaction for me. Inspiration and satisfaction tend to sum up to balance which is something I treasure greatly."

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Blue Ridge Mountains


The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina are filled with beautiful sights from majestic mountain views, to waterfalls, streams, and a myriad of wildlife like bears, eagles and deer. There are numerous camping opportunities with hiking trails that allow one to see all of this up close.

As a resident of this area of the country I try to get up into the mountains several times a year to add photographs to this portfolio. On one of my last trips I was able to capture a cougar catching a rabbit. That was truly a unique experience for me. One that had my adrenalaine pumping to be sure.
As part of my USA Gallery, I'll add more images to the Blue Ridge Mountains Gallery as the summer/fall progresses, but in the meantime, please enjoy these images.

Cheers,

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Sunday, July 06, 2008

Charlotte Pop Festival


I dropped by the Charlotte Pop Festival on Friday July 4th to listen to a bit of music. The format ensured a fast pace as each band performed for roughly 30 minutes with an MC doing a song with each transition. The bands I got a chance to see and take a few photos of were: The Sammies, Finnegan Bell, U-Phonik, The Young Sons, The Dukes of Stratford and Analog Daze.

The photos can be seen via this link. Hope you enjoy.

Cheers,


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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Bonaire


Bonaire - a primary vacation destination for scuba divers. I'm no exception as I'd gone to Bonaire in June with the long anticipated expectation of getting some incredible underwater photographs. Short story - no underwater photographs....

On my first dive I discovered that my underwater housing for my Canon 20D had sprung a leak. Good thing I ALWAYS check my housing before I start heading down for my dive. For the very first time this routine check showed a little water in the housing. After getting out of the water rather quickly I discovered some very good news and some very bad news. Good news, no water had gotten to my camera or my lens. Bad news is that the housing had a major crack in it.

I tried to find another housing on the island - but to no avail. There is an Ikelite distributor on the island, but they did not have the 20D housing. I looked into renting a camera from the onsite photography shop, but all they had was point and shoot types. Not to be snooty or anything, but I don't need snapshops of underwater critters. They just didn't have the gear that I need to obtain the photographs I want. Guess I'll need to make another trip to Bonaire.

I did take a drive around with my topside camera and took a few shots of a lighthouse at the south end of the island, some people windsurfing, some historic slave huts, a coastline shot and a few shots of a salt mining operation with I thought was stunning. Those photos can be gotten to via my Caribbean link here. Click on Bonaire - June 2008.

Diving in Bonaire was fabulous - and about as easy as diving gets. Only thing easier would be a swimming pool. Crystal clear and very warm water, no current or surge, easy shore diving access and buoy markers to navigate entrance/exit points. The beauty of it is that the boats and the shore divers all go to exactly the same spots. Only thing is the shore diver gets to choose how many people are in the water with them at the same time!

Next trip I'll have some photos to share.

Cheers,