Carolina Living

Carolina Country Scenes 2015

A gallery of your favorite photos

February 2015

Thanks to everyone who submitted pictures to our annual photo contest. The judges had the enjoyable but difficult task of choosing among about 600 photos of people and places throughout North Carolina. In addition to the images published this month, we’ll run more of the pictures in a “Photo of the Month” feature beginning in the March magazine. More selections will appear as the “Photo of the Week“. And our Facebook page is a place where we show even more pictures, including those you can post there yourself.

—The editors

One day last spring my little sister told me to grab the camera and come outside with her. She showed me this bird that was sitting on some twigs, looking around. —Ariel Mahoney, Hillsborough, Piedmont EMC

My sister and I enjoying the sunset at Ocean Isle beach. — Bailey Martin, HuntersvilleE, Blue Ridge Electric.

I took this photo while visiting Dillsboro for a weekend. We started the day early one morning by stacking these river rocks on the shore of the Tuckasegee River. In the ancient tradition of the Inuits, stacked rocks were used to show travelers that they were on the right path. —Ben Wester, Wake Forest, Wake Electric

This was in the fall along the Sanford Creek Greenway in Wake Forest. I feel blessed to live in a beautiful state where we don’t have to travel very far to enjoy such beauty. —Mike Bitzenhofer, Wake Forest, Wake Electric

While traveling down N.C. Hwy 16 towards Lincolnton, I saw the sun rising over the hill behind a barn, just outside Conover. — Bob Belcher, Hope Mills, Lumbee River EMC

I took this photo of family members at a farm in southern Davidson County near Denton. It was used for the front cover of a novel I wrote. —Bobby Scarlett, Denton, EnergyUnited

A stream near Looking Glass Falls, Transylvania County. —Casey Skora, Hope Mills, Lumbee River EMC

As the sun sets at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the deer emerge to eat the tender grass in the parking area. I have been able to photograph them from the beach as they make their way to the top of the dunes. —Christine Ambrose, Camden, Albemarle EMC

I am attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and have recently fallen in love with photography. Here is one of my favorite images, taken in Wrightsville Beach. It’s early morning and the fishermen were out. —Andy Conner, Wilmington, Rutherford EMC

I love spiders, so when I saw this jumping spider with his bright green, iridescent chelicerae against the red mulch in our yard, I had to get my camera. He seemed to pose for each picture, even as close as I had to get with my macro lens. —Erika Young, Shannon, Lumbee River EMC

My great-nephew Aidan was thrilled when a shiny ladybug landed on his finger at my daughter Arden’s 15th birthday party. We seem to have an infestation in early November at our house, especially on warm, sunny afternoons. —Janelle Lambert-Tally, Goldston, Randolph EMC

My wife (seated in the middle of the photo) and I were at this spot near the Moses Cone House at Blowing Rock to watch a fall sunset. As darkness approached, so did cows who had been grazing in the valley below. They were unconcerned by our presence. The golden light lasted about a minute. —Jerry Cotten, Chapel Hill, Blue Ridge Electric

In Frisco, Hatteras Island, during a Thanksgiving vacation. —Linette Williams, Stoneville, EnergyUnited

Fishing is a way of life to many that live here on the Outer Banks just as it has been since long ago. Another thing that is just as it was long ago are the absolutely amazing sunrises and sunsets that you can see here on the island. Imagine coming home after a long day of work, surrounded by this. —Lisa Groetsch, Avon, Cape Hatteras Electric

After the last swim at our favorite swimming hole, my husband took this picture while we were tailgating it back to our friends’ house up the road for our end-of-summer BBQ. We had spent the day jumping rope with our kids and best friends. —Liz Drake, Dunn, South River EMC

Two of my great-grandchildren: Macy Mathis, age 5, and her brother Braden, age 2. —Janet Mathis, North Wilkesboro, Blue Ridge Electric

This is our Scottish Highland bull, Victor. We had just moved him into this field away from the cows and he looked so sad, but so majestic. —Kimberly Maho, Seagrove, Randolph EMC

Taking the dog out on a very foggy morning, I noticed a beautiful spider web in the corner of our deck. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the web, a reminder of how precious the simple things in life really are. —Kim Miller, Youngsville, Wake Electric

I stopped at the Southport Salt Marsh Walkway on a chilly December morning to watch the sun rise over Southport. I love the orange colors of the lights the boardwalk, the lights in town and the rising sun glow. —Nick Noble, Southport, Brunswick EMC

At the beginning of each summer my children, along with their cousins and their moms (my sisters), visit this beautiful neighborhood creek in the woods. The kids all make small boats out of recycled items to make our own mini regatta. We attach strings so we don’t lose the creations down the stream. This year my children and I visited again in the fall. —Lisa O’Donnell,Charlotte

At first I thought they were just fussing at each other, but then I realized the younger bird just wanted the worm. —Eleanor Roberts, Asheboro, Randolph EMC

This is at Badin Lake when my buddy and I were fishing on my uncle’s boat. —Casey Simmons, Sophia, Randoph EMC

My “grand-dog” Homer came to live with me right before Christmas last year. He was mesmerized by the tree and would sit and stare at the lights completely fascinated.—Cheryl Stewart, Polkton, Pee Dee Electric