Welcome to GrayOwl
Celebrating Forty Years on the Web
Grayowl has been the business home for Charles Garratt for about forty years. Back then, when the Web was first being opened to common folk, there were only six top level domains, and only a couple of those were available for registration to us regular folks. And they weren't cheap. I registered grayowl.com because I had named my software company after the Great Gray Owl, based on a beautiful photo of the owl on a poster I had hanging in my office. So, Grayowl Software became grayowl.com. Over the years, I expandd into website development and hosting, and added my interest in native orchids and photography to my website. Now, as I'm about to turn 75, I'm updating my site to remove business (I'm retired) and update my interest in photography and native wildflowers.
Photography. From stock photos to event coverage to contract photography for personal use, products or publication, Charles Garratt has the equipment and experience to produce the images you need. Garratt's photos have been published in many newspapers and magazines. He has won awards for both his newspaper photography and fine art. Click on the galleries link to see a wide range of photographs available for stock usage. Some are also available in fine art prints. If you have a specific photographic need, the contract photography link gives details on the equipment, experience and type of projects Grayowl can tackle. .
Writing. When spell check was invented, a writer was born. Not really, but spelling has always been a challenge for me, while writing has always been something I liked to do. In high school (back in the dark ages of stone tablets and walking up hill in the snow to school) I won first place in an international essay contest. In the decades before I made the leap into writing as a journalist, I enjoyed writing instruction manuals, documentation, grants, and other materials related to my various jobs. My wide ranging experience is still an asset when it comes to technical writing and reporting. In recent years, my writing won awards from the Virginia Press Association. On the writing page you can find more information on current projects, links to some of my work and information about contract assignments.
Other Passions, Native orchids and nature. Want to keep up with the wildflowers in the Virginia Highlands and Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia? Check the What's blooming blog for updates and beautiful photos. Post are infrequent in winter, but are updated at least weekly come early spring. But don't let the cold weather keep you away from the blog and indoors, don't miss information on native orchids to find in the winter and a wildflower that actually blooms when there is still snow on the ground. On July 9, 2009 at 10 a.m., Garratt will be providing a program and guide hike on native orchids at the Cranberry Glades in WV. The program begins at the Nature and is free and open to the public. Check back here and on the blog for more information. Garratt is also available (along with his digital projector) to speak to garden clubs, schools or other groups interested in the fascinating world of native orchids. There are many more orchid species in these mountains than most people think.