Renee Brock Photojournalist

Sometimes you need a day to relax, getaway from your daily routine, and forget about the troubles of the world. In mid October, during the middle of the week, four of my girl friends and I loaded up into a red mustangcovertableand headed for the North Georgia mountains, our destinationWolf Mountain Winery. It was our time to enjoy the beautiful early fall weather just as yellow and red started to stain the tips of the tree tops. For one perfect day we forgot about editing photos and all the negativity in the news and focused on friendship and laughter. Wegossiped, we talked, laughed, drank wine, we sang and cried a few silly tears. And along the way we took a few photos….

red heals + red mustang = fun

We all wore scarves or hats and big sunglasses and felt fabulous!

I love these shots of us at the gas station all dressed up being silly and eating cookies.

Jodi, my favorite cookie monster

When you’re all dressed up and having a girls trip there is always time for fun and an impromptu photo shoot… even in the parking lot of a gas station.

Renee,Laura, Jodi and Erin (Shahrzad is on the other side of the lens)

After a long ride with the top downwe stop to freshen up.

We arrive to Wolf Mountain too early for our lunch time reservation at the cafe… but being the well prepared girls that we are, we head to a gazebo in the vineyards to make mimosas and snacks.

Laura demonstrates how to pop a champagne bottle. There is always time to learn.

After snacks and few mimosas we head to the vineyard’s cafe for lunch. It’s open Thursday through Sunday if any one’s interested.

The wine was surprisingly good.

I try on Shahrzad’s hat… too cute.

Since the two professional photographers (Laura and I) had the day off Shahrzad assists a nearby couple with a photo.

Beauty pit stop.
“Persian girls are born with a bottle of eye liner in their hands,” Shahrzad.

Our view of the beautiful north Georgia mountains.

After lunch we headed back to the vineyard for a nap… and dessert. If you haven’t noticed the trend yet… we love to eat!

We were told that the netting over the vines are to protect the fruit from birds.

sexy!!

We don’t often enough lay down to look at the sky

I love this photo of Erin napping next to the baguette.

Heading home…

The wildflowers between the lanes of 400 were too good to pass up… so we stopped for a photo shoot.

… our best goofy model poses.

I love this image of Jodi.

The evening sky as we enter Atlanta. I love the lone set of headlights on the lower left corner of the image.

Looking forward to the next trip. Thanks for a beautiful day girls!!!
(All of the images from this entry were taken by myself andLaura Stone)

There is nothing better than a beautiful spring day in north Georgia complete with beautiful hats and horses. Last saturday 3 of my girlfriends and I drove to Kingston Downs to enjoy the 43rd annual Atlanta Steeplechase. The sprawling property nestled along the Etowah River is awash in a meadow of silvery green grass and stoic oak trees which is enough for my senses alone. Add in the 70+ degree weather and cool breeze along with a picnic and more hats than my eyes can count and of course the amazing horses and you have one of my perfect days of 2008.

I first went to the event several years ago covering it for a local newspaper I was working for and ever sense I have been eager to return. This year three of my fabulous girlfriends went to the event with me, one of which is another photographer, Laura Stone. Laura and I decided to bring one camera and take turns shooting which was a great adventure. I love having another photographer around because while I love being behind the lens I must admit that it’s a great feeling to be in front of it as well. Especially when a talented peer and friend has the reigns.

One of the first things you notice at Kingston Downs are the tents that circle the track.

Everyone at the event has a great time dressing. Women wear beautiful outfits and often outrageous hats and many of the men are decked out in sear sucker suits. Below are some of the wackiest pants we noticed. Where exactly does a grown man go to buy green and blue pants with horses parading all over the cloth? I truly love it though!

My childhood friend, Shahrzad, and I pause to take in a race. Aren’t we fabulous!

I love the grass when it is caught in a breeze. Laura shows us here trudging through it on the way to our perch to view the races.

I love this image Laura captured of a little girl eating a BBQ sandwich. I love how the sandwich covers her face and her little pink fingernails. She looks very girlie and at the same time tom boyish with the cowboy hat.

Laura awaits the next race.

I love that women will wear high heals even with mudd everywhere! Anything to stay fabulous!

Dogs enjoy the race to.

Who says men can’t wear feather hats at horse races.

Jodi is always elegant. And day dreaming here.

It’s Shahrzad’s nap time.

I really enjoyed shooting the woman in the next few photos. She really got into the races and I love how the sash on her hat is swept up into the breeze.
The first shot shows her holding onto her hat as the horses pass in the first leg of the race while the next few show her anticipating the horses rounding the final stretch.

For some reason Shahrzad loves little petting zoos. And it was her lucky day. I loved her reaction when she saw the camel, “My people.” What a goof ball.

When we were leaving we saw this fantastic old car parked near us. I couldn’t resist snapping a few shots of Shahrzad since her dress matched the color so well.

I love this final shot Laura took of the car pulling away.

Looking forward to the second Saturday of April 2009!