Little Sugar Creek Greenway—Day 2 — Shutter Sights Photography

If you haven’t already seen Little Sugar Creek Greenway—Day 1, I recommend that you do that first….

So today I turned up at the right place and time. ;-)

This part of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway was VERY different from the part I visited yesterday. It was much less busy, more wooded, and…grittier. This section is surrounded by neighborhoods that have seen better days—and the entrance into the greenway, while meant to keep cars out of it, sends a message very different from the beautiful fountains and plazas on the section I visited yesterday. (I didn’t photograph it, but just on the other side of this barrier was a sign that encouraged visitors to be sure they were walking with another person…)

Here there be dragons ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — Here there be dragons
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*

On our way into the greenway, we passed this poor creature. The caption on the photo reflects the fact that opossums are voracious eaters of ticks. You know—the ones that cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and a host of other vector-borne diseases. Researchers say that one opposum can eat 5,000 ticks in a season. Sadly, these misunderstood and often-maligned creatures generally live only 1-2 years.

And 5,000 ticks rejoiced… ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — And 5,000 ticks rejoiced…
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*

The underside of this bridge was much more interesting than the topside….

The only things keeping you out of the creek… ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — The only things keeping you out of the creek…
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*

There were many concrete structures with these metal fixtures on them. I have no idea what they do….

I don’t want to give the impression that the greenway was somehow devoid of beauty. You can find that anywhere, if you look for it. I am always drawn to lichen….

Nature’s lace 1 ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — Nature’s lace 1
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*

Nature’s lace 2 ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — Nature’s lace 2
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*

In fact, my favorite subject turned out to be the glass conductors on the huge power-line towers that loom over this section of the greenway. As I was importing these photos into Lightroom, I was struck by how the conductors, wires, and metal girders looked like modern sculptures. So I took some liberties with the post-processing to try to show you just how beautiful these utilitarian objects can be.

Un…. ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — Un….
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*

Deux… ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — Deux…
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*

Trois…. ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — Trois….
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*

A Different View of the City

From this part of the greenway, we were able to watch the sun set behind downtown. The sky was pretty blown out, but I got this one photo of the Bank of America and Hearst buildings that I liked:

Apropos of nothing, the Hearst building always makes me think of an Etruscan helmet….

British Museum / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

A different view of The Neon City….

Downtown Charlotte at dusk ©A Paige Baker, 2020 — Downtown Charlotte at dusk
*©A Paige Baker, 2020*