Sometimes the challenge in photography isn't in remembering what your shutter speed needs to be or what time of day the light is best or what line would lead the eye best, but sometimes it is in the going out and interacting with people or in this case not interacting.
       I have always enjoyed the wondering around town and shooting any friendly person who would alow it. Clare Dibble, my old spanish teacher, said this in China "Having this camera has forced me to interact with people in a way that I never would have", and I agree completly.China and Chile were always fun places to shoot because of this.  
        It is a diffrent case her in Wet Virgina. Most houses or trailers heve "No Truspasing" posted all around them or "Beware of Dog" and other than the shope keepers the locals are pretty antisocal. So when Kyle told us to go out and shoot some of the yard art down the road in black and white we decided to be a little more sneaky that social. Luckily we got our early in the morning with the good light before everybody woke up and we brought our zoom lenses. 
        I started out whith shooting from a distance, but those photos didn' t turn out so well so I was forced to move in closer and just hope I didn't make anyone mad. I developed a nice shoot and scoot tequnique where I would just take on photo and move out quickly. There was plenty of West Virgina "yard art"(junk) to shoot so this worked out well. Other than startling about a dozen angry dogs and a few agressive questions from one man, we avoided making the locals mad alltogether.
(c)Matthew West
(c)Matthew West
(c)Matthew West
(c)Matthew West
(c)Matthew West

    The Upper Gauly is one of the best known and paddled sections of river, its fame only surpassed by the rapids on it. One of the most famous rapids in the world and the most famous on the Upper Gauly is Pillow Rock. This rapid's steep gradient and big water makes it the amazing rapid that it is, but it is the lack of hazards that make it a playground for kayakers,rafters, and everyone else on the river. It has a big safe line, deep channels and it leads out to a calmer pool. There are a million things to do on this world class rapid.

(c) Matthew West

Brian slips by pillow rock.

For those who are new to whitewater kayaking or running Pillow Rock for the first time there is a wide line on the left side of the river. At the beggining of Pillow Rock the river narrows and deepens to the left side of of the river and a wave train starts. At the end of this wave train there is pillow rock. This is a rock jutting out from the left side of the river that creates a pillow of water and the 'Room of Doom". This will push you to the right unless you catch the room. Lastly, the river floods to either side of a rock called Volkswagon and drops into the pool at the bottom. If you missed all this because you were upside down, its ok, it happens to everyone just hike up and do it again.

     For those who are looking for some surf, there is a play wave at the top to start off your pillow ride along with a rock to spin. That is followed by a line of waves that are primo for down river tricks. After this, there is the legendary "Room of Doom". If you so desire to catch the room, be perpared to comit early and stay left.

 (c) Matthew West

Tino catches a room ride.

   It takes speed and being in the right place to get a ride in the room, and if you don't manige to catch it or you catch it and flip its all good because you will just flush out to the bottom of the rapid all you need to do is hold on. You can also splat the pillow rock if you are a big splater. It is a world class splat. The right line is more daring. One would start right and drive left dodging a hole that could deliver a beat down.

  (c) Matthew West

Chillin on the rock.

    After you have run this masterpice of the Upper Gauly you should at least hike up and stand on pillow rock. Sitting on pillow rock is like sitting on a throne of white water with endless entertainment. Watching the river goers run this rapid is better than any TV program. There are rafters, kayakers, canoers, shredders, squirt boaters and pretty much any floating rivercraft. Some people play it safe and stay upright in the wide open line; however, some dare to take the more difficult lines. The people who play it safe don't always have a good ride, for if the river thinks you should get wet then you have no choice. Those who choose to take the hard lines may get rejected by the room, window shaded by the wave, worked in the hole, dropped by the failed splat or swirled by Volkswagon, but when somone hits their line it looks good, really good. Just make sure and cheer if you see somone catch a room ride

   If you do happen to spend some time on pillow make sure to jump off into the deep channel and swim the rest of the rapid. it is safe and you can get some down time. Aftern swimming top to bottom you can start the rest of the river.

  (c) Matthew West

Tyson and Eli jump off pillow rock in style.

Matt West is a student leader at the New River Academy. Matt's sponsors: Mion, Snapdragon, and Shred Ready.

 The Upper Gauly is one of the best known and paddled sections of river, its fame only surpassed by the rapids on it. One of the most famous rapids in the world and the most

famous on the Upper Gauly is Pillow Rock. This rapids steep gradient and big water makes it

the amazing rapid that it is, but it is the lack of hazards that make it a playground for kayakers,

rafters, and everyone else on the river. It has a big safe line, deep channels and it leads out

to a calmer pool. There are a million things to do on this world class rapid.

Foe those who are new to whitewater kayaking or running Pillow Rock for the first time

there is a wide line on the left side of the river. At the beggining of Pillow Rock the river narrows and

deepens to the left side of of the river and a wave train starts. At the end of this wave train there is

pillow rock. This is a rock jutting out from the left side of the river that creates a pillow of water

and the 'Room of Doom". This will push you to the right unless you catch the room. Lastly, the

river floods to either side of a rock called Volkswagon and drops into the pool at the bottom. If you

missed all this because you were upside down, its ok it happens to everyone just hike up and do it

again.

For those who are looking for some surf, there is a play wave at the top to start

off your pillow ride along with a rock to spin. That is followed by a line of waves that are

primo for down river tricks. After this, there is the legendary "Room of Doom". If you so

desire to catch the room be perpared to comit early and stay left. It takes speed and being

in the right place to get a ride in the room, and if you don't manige to catch it or you catch it

and flip its all good because you will just flush out to the bottom of the rapid all you need to do

is hold on. You can also splat the pillow rock if you are a big splater. It is a world class splat.

The right line is more daring. One would start right and drive left dodging a hole that

could deliver a beat down.

After you have run this masterpice of the Upper Gauly you should at least hike up and

stand on pillow rock. Sitting on pillow rock is like sitting on a throne of white

water with endless entertainment. Watching the river goers run this rapid is better

than any TV program. There are rafters, kayakers, canoers, shredders, squirt boaters and pretty

much anny floating rivercraft. Some people play it safe and stay upright in the wide open line; however,

some dare to take the more difficult lines. The people who play it safe don't always have a good ride,

for if the river thinks you should get wet then you have no choice. Those who choose to take the hard

lines may get rejected by the room, window shaded by the wave, worked in the hole, dropped by the

failed splat or swirled by Volkswagon, but when somone hits their line it looks good, really good.

Just make sure to cheer if you see somone catch a room ride. If you do happen to spend some time on pillow

make sure to jump off into th deep channel and swim the rest of the rapid. it is safe and you can get

some down time. Aftern swimming top to bottom you can start the rest of the river.

Matt West is a student leader at the New River Academy. Matt's sponsors: Mion, Snapdragon, Shredready.

Tino catches a nice room ride.

Brian slips by pillow rock after missing the room.

Tyson jumps off the rock in style.

All pictures by Matthew West