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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

90 - Torpedo Factory

From 365 Project
The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria Virginia has been restored and today houses an art center. The U.S. Navy began construction of the building a day after Armistice Day, November 12, 1918. It served as the navy's torpedo center for five years before becoming a munitions storage facility. During WWII the building reverted to its original use and produced almost 10,000 torpedoes. It was used for storage for a number of years before opening as an art education center, artist studios and gallery in 1974. Canon 40D 1/125s at f/16.0, ISO 200, 34mm effective focal length.

Monday, March 30, 2009

89.1 - Joe Bonamassa

From Joe Bonamassa Birchmere
My first two posts in one day. The purpose of our trip to Alexandria was to see Joe Bonamassa at the Birchmere. The concert was amazing. This is one of the photos I took and some others are posted here. Canon G10, 1/20s at f/3.2, ISO 800, 18mm equivalent focal length.

89 - Clerestory Colors

From 365 Project
Colors stream from the clerestory windows at the National Cathedral in Washington DC. The massive vaults support a ceiling 100 feet over the isle of the naive. Canon 40D, 1/25s at f/2.8, ISO 800, 57mm effective focal length. View more of the pictures from our visit to the National Cathedral.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

88 - The Usonian House

From 365 Project
A silhouette view of the cutouts from the Pope-Leighy House designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright for Loren Pope in winter 1940-41. Each Wright house had a unique design repeated throughout. This cutout is featured on clerestory windows all round the structure. The Usonian houses were designed to bring organic architecture to "every man". This 1200 square foot home was built for $7000. Canon 40D, 1/125s at f/6.4, ISO 400 with a 36mm equivalent focal length.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

87 - Air Force Memorial

From 365 Project
The Air Force Memorial in glows against low hanging clouds and mist. Located on a promontory in Arlington, Virginia, overlooking the Pentagon and adjacent to Arlington Cemetery, the memorial's three 270 feet tall stainless arcs evoke the spirit of flight. Taken with a Canon 40D, 5.0s exposure at f/8.0, ISO 200, 28mm equivalent focal length, mounted on a tripod.

Friday, March 27, 2009

86 - Sleeping Lions

From 365 Project
One of a pair of sleeping lions guarding a tomb in Norfolk's Elmwood Cemetery. In Victorian funerary arts the lion symbolizes the power of God and guards the tomb against evil spirits. Like other guardians, the lion's watch is as eternal as the stone of which it is depicted. The lion also recalls the courage and determination of the souls which they guard, they manifest the spirit of the departed. Canon G10 1/250s at f/8.0, ISO 200, 44mm equivalent focal length. Image converted to B&W in Photoshop Elements using Silver Effects Pro.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

85 - Freethinkers

From 365 Project
The name pansy is derived from the French word pensée meaning "thought", and was so named because the flower resembles a human face; it nods forward as if deep in thought. Because of this the pansy has long been a symbol of Freethought. Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that beliefs should be formed on the basis of science and logic, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or any other dogma. The cognitive application of freethought is known as freethinking, and practitioners of freethought are known as freethinkers. From Wikipedia. Photo made with a Canon G10, 1/800s at f/4.5, ISO 400, 30mm effective focal length.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

84 - Golden Bells

From 365 Project
One of the first signs of spring is the gorgeous yellow flowers of the forsythia. The shrub is often called Golden Bells because of the hanging yellow blossoms. This macro close-up was made with a Canon 40D and 50mm f/2.5 compact macro lens, exposure 1/15s at f/3.5, ISO 100. The subject was lit with a Canon 430EX Speedlite in an Orbis ringflash adapter.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

83 - The Bright Light

From 365 Project
There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. This picture was taken while I was approaching the exit of the westbound tunnel of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Notice the ceiling is white over the left lane and black over the right lane where the large trucks are confined. My Canon G10 was mounted on "The Pod", a beanbag camera mount, and placed on the passenger side dash. The exposure was 1/6s at f/4.0, ISO 400, 30mm equivalent focal length and the camera was fired with a Zap Shot wireless remote.

Monday, March 23, 2009

82 - "Damn Near Missed"

From 365 Project
Lord Dunmore, Virginia's last royal governor, had retreated to his fleet anchored in the Elizabeth River when on January 1, 1776, he ordered his ships to fire on the town of Norfolk. During the bombardment a cannonball lodged in the wall of Saint Paul's Church. At the beginning of World War II Lord Louis Mountbatten, First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, visited the old Anglican church and was shown the British cannonball. His comment was "Damn near missed it, didn't he?" More recently Garrison Keillor asserted the British were aiming at the little plaque on the church. Nice shot! This account was taken from the church's website. Canon 40D 1/500s at f/5.0, ISO 100, 50mm.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

81 - Spring Eggs

From 365 Project
Hand carved and painted wooden eggs depict the feelings of spring and renewal. Canon 40D, 1/30s at f/2.5, Canon 50mm f/2.5 compact macro lens and an Orbis Ring Flash.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

80 - Tower Drape

From 365 Project
A water tower casts its shadow against the huge drape that is covering it during a repainting. Canon 40D, 1/125s at f/13.0, ISO 125, Canon 70-200 f/4.0 IS zoom at 70mm with a polarizer.

Friday, March 20, 2009

79 - Good to be Home

From 365 Project
Our cocker spaniel Denny enjoying his own bed after spending two nights at the Emergency Veterinary Hospital. He had extreme breathing problems Wednesday night and we rushed him to the hospital. He has a diagnosis of congestive heart failure and probable aspiration pneumonia. He was much better after treatment and got to come home tonight. A follow up with the doggy cardiologist is planned for next week. Who knew there were doggy cardiologists?

Thursday, March 19, 2009

78 - Contrails in the Sky

From 365 Project
After five days of rain, we awoke this morning to blue skies and sunshine. Numerous contrails crisscrossed the blue sky as I departed for work. Canon 40D, 1/15s at f/13.0, ISO 100, 17mm focal length with polarizing filter.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

77 - Torsion Pendulum

From 365 Project
The torsion pendulum on our anniversary mantel clock spins away night and day. Anniversary Clocks got their name because they were designed to run for over a year without being wound. Sometimes they are referred to as 400 day clocks. The idea was that by giving one as a wedding present, it could be wound again on each and every anniversary of the day it was given. Canon G10, 0.8s at f/4.0, ISO 100, 88mm equivalent focal length in macro mode.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

76 - St Patty's Day

From 365 Project
A green laser and my antique glass telephone insulator helped to create this image. I have had this insulator for over thirty-five years. It was originally on a telephone pole serving the long abandoned oceanfront community of Wash Woods, Virginia. Now a part of False Cape State Park all that remains of the town are some graves and the ruins of the church steeple. Canon 40d, 2.5 second exposure at F/2.5, ISO 100 with a 50mm lens.

Monday, March 16, 2009

75 - Cloud Light

From 365 Project
Virginia's tallest building, the 38 story Westin at Town Center in Virginia Beach lights the low hanging clouds on a rainy evening. I tried unsucessfully to make this photo on February 28th but the rain and wind was just too strong. Captured in a light rain with a Canon G10, 2 second exposure at f/8.0, ISO 80, 34mm equivalent focal length mounted on a tripod.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

74 - Step Pyramids

From 365 Project
Light fixtures near the central elevators on MacArthur Center's third floor. Image made with Canon G10, 1/160s at f/3,5, ISO 200, at 59mm equivalent focal length. The image has been inverted and converted to black and white using Hidden Power Custom B&W conversion tools in Photoshop Elements 6.0.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

73 - Cherry Blossoms

From 365 Project
Cherry blossoms on a cloudy day. The sky was like a giant soft box so lighting was perfect for this macro shot. Canon G10, 1/640s at f/4.5, ISO 200, 150mm equivalent focal length in macro mode.

Friday, March 13, 2009

72 - Big Al

From 365 Project
Al Doumar "Big Al" at his Uncle Abe's "world's first cone machine". Al still make's ice cream cones by hand every day using his uncle's original vintage 1905 machine at Doumar's on Monticello Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia. Canon 40D, 1/125s, f/3.2, 50mm focal length.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

71 - Campanile Sunrise

From 365 Project
Virginia Wesleyan College's icon campanile, a free standing bell tower, is silhouetted against the early morning sky. Made with a Canon 40D, 1/50s, f/8.0, ISO 400, 28mm focal length.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

70 - Hand in the Sand

From 365 Project
My grandson was enjoying playing in the sand he dumped on the deck from his sandbox. Of course sand is much more fun when its out of the sandbox. Canon G10, 1/160s, F/4.0, ISO 200, 88mm equivalent focal length.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

69 - Nosey Noah

From 365 Project
Noah is the resident therapy animal on the first floor of the Hoy Center at Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay. He he very good at his job and was extremely interested in checking out my camera up close. Canon G10, 1/30s, f/2.8, ISO 800, 30mm equivalent focal length in macro mode.

Monday, March 9, 2009

68 - Unison Turn

From 365 Project
Two sailboats execute a turn in unison in the late afternoon sun on the Hampton Flats in Hampton Roads Harbor. Canon 40D, 1/80s, f/16.0, ISO 100, 400mm, two stop polarizer filter.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

67 - Early Summer

From 365 Project
Summer came early to Virginia Beach with temperatures in the 70's today. The beach was still busy at dusk. Canon 40D, 1/250s, f/8.0, ISO 400, 28mm.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

66 - Lonely Jonquil

From 365 Project
A lonely jonquil gives a splash of color to a flower still brown from winter's cold. Canon G10, 1/125s, f/8.0, ISO 100, 77mm equivalent focal length.

Friday, March 6, 2009

65 - Pagoda Gate

From 365 Project
Looking into the Oriental Gardens through the north gate. The gardens surround the Marine Observation Tower a.k.a. the Pagoda which was presented by the government of Taiwan as a symbol of friendship and cooperation. Constructed in 1989, the authentic Chinese Pagoda was built around the concrete pillars and base of a long abandoned half million gallon molasses storage tank. Walk through the gate from the busy city to the peace, harmony and tranquility of the gardens. Canon G10, 1/1600s, F/8.0 ISO 400, 44mm equivalent focal length.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

64 - Doggy E.R.

From 365 Project
This photo represents a dog's perspective on a visit to the Animal Emergency Center tonight. Our cocker spaniel, Denny, had a choking and difficulty breathing event after work today. When his tongue got purple I decided to rush him over to the E.R. By the time we got there, after battling rush hour traffic, he was much better and his breathing was back to normal. They gave him the full work up - X-rays, blood work, etc. and pronounced him OK. We left with his stump of a tail just wagging away and my wallet much lighter. Image captured with a Blackberry Storm camera phone and later converted to B&W, after all dogs are colorblind.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

63 - Cohesion

From 365 Project
Water is a polar molecule, composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom (H2O). Water molecules like to stick to one another, like small magnets. This is called cohesion. Water molecules also can be attracted to other substances, such as metal or dirt. This is called adhesion. This picture was taken during the rinse cycle at the car wash today. All of the dirt and salt is gone from my windshield so cohesion reigns and the water beads up. And you thought this was just a photo blog. Photo made with a Canon G10, 1/200s, f/4.0, ISO 100, 59mm equivalent focal length in macro mode, mounted on the dash using a Monsterpod, and shutter fried with a Zap Shot remote.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

62 - Old Point Comfort Light

From 365 Project
Old Point Comfort Light is located on the grounds of Fort Monroe on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. Completed in 1803, it is the second oldest light in the bay and the oldest still in use. The Queen Anne Victorian keeper's house was completed in 1891 and is still used by the fort as officer quarters. The lighthouse overlooked the legendary battle in 1862 of the first ironclads, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. Following the Civil War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned in one of the fort's casemates (an artillery room) behind the lighthouse and the fort's famous moat. Canon 40D, 1/40s, f/22.0, ISO 100, Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoomed to 23mm.

Monday, March 2, 2009

61 - Winter Lines

From 365 Project
It rarely snows in Southeast Virginia, so when it does, even a little, it is big news. Today was one of those days. It had rained for two days so when temperatures dropped in the early morning hours we got a dusting of snow. The resulting icy roadways turned morning commutes into harrowing adventures. Schools closed or delayed opening and accidents tied up traffic for hours. There wasn't enough snow for a good winter photo but the light white crust highlighted the pattern of lines on my backyard deck. Forecasts are calling for mid 60's by the end of the week, so spring will soon return. Canon G10, 1/13s, f4.0, ISO 400, 30mm equivalent focal length.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

60 - Highly Conductive

From 365 Project
Placing my hand on the top of a plasma ball, a 1980's curiosity, draws the current towards highly conductive material - my wedding ring. The decorative gas plasma light display was designed in 1970 by then MIT student Bill Parker using the principles discovered by Nikola Tesla many years earlier. Tesla called his invention an inert gas discharge tube. Enough science, it makes for a cool photograph. Captured with a Canon 40D, 3.2s, f/8.0, ISO 100, with a Canon 50mm f/2.5 compact macro lens mounted on a tripod.