Reflected Sunset

- The mirrored glass on the Gateway Credit Union building in Virginia Beach catches the setting sun. I seem to always catch this stop light red on the exit ramp from I264 East on my commute home each evening but at least it gave me a chance to capture this interesting reflection. Canon G11, 1/250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400.

Yet Another CVS

Yet another CVS Pharmacy appears in Virginia Beach. They're popping up like wild flowers in Spring. iPhone 4, 1/3750 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ App, FX - So Elmo.

Contrails

- 2012 started out with a beautiful day here in Virginia Beach, VA. This afternoon we went to Sandbridge Beach to take some photos. My wife Cindy is starting her own 365 scrapbook project for 2012 so I guess I'm starting project 365 number 4. Well here's a photo of contrails crisscrossing the clear blue sky for picture 1 of 365. I am making no promises to keep this up all year but right now it's kind of in my blood. iPhone 4, 1/200 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ app, fisheye lens.

Monticello Station

- The Tide light rail pulls out headed west from the Monticello Station. When the Tide started running in Norfolk Virginia on August 19 of this year, the audio announcement for the Monticello Station created some concerns. Voice artist Karen Hutton who speaks for the Tide used the correct pronunciation of "Monti-CHEL-o," like the musical instrument for the original recording. However many locals have always used the Americanized mispronunciation of "Monti-SEL-o." So a few weeks later Hampton Roads Transit had Karen re-record the announcement using the locally preferred, although incorrect, pronunciation of Monticello. Listen for it next time you ride the Tide. In addition to being a voice artist, Karen Hutton is an amazing photographer, check out her work here. Canon G11, 1/200 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

House on the Rock Resort

- We are staying at the House on the Rock Resort in Spring Green Wisconsin for a few days. The resort is is a very cool building built on a hill side over looking the golf course. This view is from across the 1st fairway lit by the late afternoon sun. Beautiful blue sky day in Southwest Wisconsin. Canon 7D, 1/15 sec @ f/22, ISO 100.

High Fly'n

- One of my eleven foot wing span delta kites. Seems whenever I'm at the beach I forget to bring the kite so I end up with a new one. Canon 40D, 1/250 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200, zoom at 170mm focal length.

Wireless

- Wireless infrastructure is critical to making all of our treasured mobile devices work. Some say it's not very pretty to look at and while I agree it doesn't contribute much to most landscapes, most of us couldn't live without it. I see beauty in the technology. This tower is laden with 24 cellar antennas, 4 microwave relays dishes, a few plain old radio antennas and most importantly one osprey nest. A cable runs to each antenna from the ground, some inside the monopole other strapped along the outside. Each of these cables are about one inch in diameter and heavy as lead. Pay close attention the next time you're near one of these towers in our area and I bet you will see that a bird of prey has made it a home. This one was on I64 near Mason Creek in Norfolk, Virginia. I was stopped for almost two hours today on I64 while the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel was shutdown which afforded me and my camera some quality time together. Canon G11, 1/2000 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

The Red, Pink & Blue

- A bright blue sky and a red and pink Valentine's Day flag make for a cheery seasonal morning. Don't forget your Valentine next Monday! This year let's all try to do something original from the heart for your love rather than just contributing to the greeting card, candy and flower concessionaires. Write a love letter, yes with pen & paper - no emails or Facebook posts, make a card or fix a special homemade meal or desert. Just break the mold and be your romantic self. Canon G11, 1/1600 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 100.

Thankful

Thankful for blue skies, fall colors, red roses, and the freedom to enjoy it all. Canon G11, 1/400 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100.

Fall Colors

- Red maple leaves backlit by the morning sun let us know that fall is in full swing in our little corner of southeast Virginia. Late summer rain and a very warm past two months have combined to produce one of the most spectacular fall foliage seasons that I can remember. Canon G11, 1/800 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 100.

Basilica of St. Lawrence

- The Basilica of St. Lawrence is a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church located in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. The basilica was designed and built in 1905 by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino along with his fellow architect R. S. Smith. The basilica's dome has a span of 58 by 82 feet and is reputed to be the largest freestanding elliptical dome in North America. Source, Wikipedia. Canon 40D, 1/30 sec @ f/22.0, ISO 400.

Dare to Stand Out!

- The Ledge is the latest Chicago attraction. Four all glass skyboxes extend out from 103 floor of the Willis Tower, formerly named the Sears Tower into the Chicago sky. You can walk out onto the ledge which is made up of three 1/2 inch glass panels laminated together leaving you standing 1,353 feet up from Wacker Drive directly below. You have to admit it is both scary and cool. This photo was taken from far below on the Chicago River. Canon 7D, 1/320 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Stampin'

From Cleveland

- A giant rubber stamp at Cleveland's Willard Park. When I first started my career in government many years ago rubber stamps were commonplace. Massive multi-tiered rubber stamp trees held the tools of bureaucracy on any self respecting bureaucrat's disk. I suspect most kids today have never seen one. It is appropriate that this massive stamp is right next door to Cleveland's City Hall. Canon G11, 1/400 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

Go Fly a Kite

From 2010 Blog

- Took the day off from work to spend some time with my grandson Robert. We headed out to Virginia Beach's Mt. Trashmore Park to fly our kite. There was a good breeze and not a cloud in the sky so the 9 foot wing span delta kite flew way high. Robert really likes letting the line out, bringing it back in - not so much. While spending what seemed like forever to reel it back in, I took a few pictures of the brightly colored kite backlit by the morning sun. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/25.0, ISO 200.

First Day of Spring

From 2010 Blog

- It was just a beautiful first day of spring here in Virginia Beach, 75 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. So I walked down to the end of our block to take some pictures of a long line of blooming Forsythia. The flowers are produced in the early spring before the leaves, bright yellow with a deeply four-lobed corolla. The followers are short lived but a welcomed sign that spring is here. Canon 40D, 1/400 sec @ f/9.0, ISO 200, 50mm macro.

The Blimp - the Blimp!

From 2010 Blog

I went to take a picture of the Hillsboro Inlet lighthouse while we were Florida. Unfortunately you can't get to close to it since it's surrounded by a private club. So I set up across the inlet to take some shots when the Goodyear Blimp Spirit of America came cruising by. The blimps are based in nearby Pompano Beach. The gull and I enjoyed the show. Canon 7D, 1/320 sec @ f/16.0, ISO 200.

"The Mean Stuff"

From 2010 Blog

"The Mean Stuf" is the tag line for a security product called Razor Ribbon Helical. Often used with old fashion concertina wire, the tight loops of razor wire make for a nasty barrier. However, I have often noticed how the sun plays off the shiny surfaces, changing with each helical turn. So late this afternoon I took the opportunity to make this picture. Canon 7D, 1/800 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 55mm focal length.

Skylight

From 2010 Blog

Reflections of the blue sky and skylights in one of the chrome mushroom shaped lamps on the first level at the MacArthur Center Mall in Norfolk Virginia. Canon 40D, 1/640 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 200.

Belfry

From 2010 Blog

The bell tower of the Central Baptist Church against a clear blue winter sky. The church was founded in 1885 and this building completed in 1904. Originally part of Atlantic City, the church today is surrounded by the Eastern Virginia Medical School and the Sentara Norfolk General medical complex. Canon 7D, 1/250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 70mm focal length.

Restricted Lane

From 2010 Blog

Restricted Lane - Open to All. The is one of the HOV-2 lane gates on Interstate 64 in Norfolk Virginia. As you can see the restricted lane was open to all traffic which it the case most of time here in southeastern Virginia. The HOV-2 restrictions are in effect for just two hours each weekday morning and afternoon. Canon 7D, 1/500 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 50mm prime lens.