Author Archives: Phill Gibson

Unknown's avatar

About Phill Gibson

I’m from Huntsville, Alabama where I work as a Hospice Chaplain and part-time banjo instructor. My former careers were in Research Biology and Software/Systems Engineering. My wife Miiko and I worship at Rivertree Downtown. I’ve been playing various instruments since my teen years. I started mandolin and dulcimer at about age 17 and banjo at 20. I love just about all kinds of music. In terms of banjo styles, I play and teach Scruggs, melodic, clawhammer, and 2-finger styles. I’m also very keen on theology, being a Trail Care Partner with the Land Trust of North Alabama, photography, urban planning, astronomy, ATM (amateur telescope making), birding, and about 30 other distracting hobbies to a (mercifully) lesser extent.

Limestone Rock Patterns

Posted on April 19, 2021 by Phill Gibson

Doesn’t this look like ribs? Or shark gills? No, I’m pretty sure it isn’t a petrified shark! But still, I wonder how these patterns could have come about? It also bears a resemblance to the cave formations know as bacon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Photoblog, Trails, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Along the Singing River Trail

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Phill Gibson

Backwaters of the Tennessee River along the first section of the new Singing River Trail. As stated on their website: “The Singing River Trail is a vision for a long-distance trail in North Alabama that connects our communities, provides active-living … Continue reading →

Posted in Photoblog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Standing Out Amongst Crimson Clover

Posted on April 17, 2021 by Phill Gibson

Seen along the first section of the new Singing River Trail in North Alabama. Is this pink/lavender bloom also Crimson Clover, or an interloper?

Posted in Photoblog | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Awaiting another game

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Phill Gibson
Posted in Photoblog | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Should I Always Wear My Finger Picks When Playing the 5-String Banjo?

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Phill Gibson

When I first learned to play the five-string banjo (not the second time), I read the admonitions to always wear your finger picks. I kept to this rather faithfully, but there were a few occasions when I would just pick … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginning Banjo, Teaching, Tips & Techniques | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Early Home Defense

Posted on April 14, 2021 by Phill Gibson

Trail Art along the Tennessee River at Ditto Landing, Huntsville, Alabama. “Early Home Defense” is indeed the name on the small plate at the base of this piece.

Posted in Photoblog | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Great Blue Heron

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Phill Gibson
Posted in Photoblog | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Fossils in Limestone

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Phill Gibson

These fossils are fairly common around the Cumberland Plateau of the southern U.S. This photo spans about 2 inches across. If you look closely, you’ll see almost everything in the photo is a fossil!

Posted in Photoblog | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Which is it?

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Phill Gibson

I did this photo some time back. I can’t remember, though – is this a pine bark beetle larvae eating its way through a fallen pine tree, or is it an ancient etching of a large flightless bird? Hmm…

Posted in Photoblog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Sedge Field at Goldsmith-Schiffman Nature Preserve

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Phill Gibson

I’ve not done much with the interplay of sun and lens, but I think this turned out well. This photo was taken in winter, 2020. Most of the sedge field is actually around the bend to the right and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Photoblog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment