Happy Buttons :)

From 2010 Blog

These buttons are "happy" buttons because they are not destined to just hold a plain ol' shirt closed, these buttons are embellishments! Their destiny lies in the hands of a creative scrapbooker who will adorn a scrapbook page with some of these colorful and happy buttons. This container of happy buttons resides at the checkout counter at Beach Scrapbooks in Virginia Beach. Canon G10, 1/60 sec @ f/2.8 in macro mode.

Twisted Elm

From 2010 Blog

This elm tree is located at the side of my house. Some how it survived for the 29 years we have lived here while several others in the yard died from Dutch elm disease. It also has these very unusual twisting branches resulting from years of crude power line tree trimming. A massive shade tree in summer it is even more interesting during a winter twilight. Canon G10, 1/500 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Revival-Gothic

From 2010 Blog

A new photo today. Thomas U. Walter, the architect for the U.S. Capital dome, designed the magnificent revival-Gothic sanctuary building at Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk Virginia, which is now on the National Historical Register. Canon G10,1/320 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100.

364 - Roman Renaissance

From 365 Project

Tonight we had the opportunity to tour the Chrysler Museum's "To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum" special exhibit lead by Jeff Harrison, the Museum's Chief Curator. The Egyptian exhibit was spectacular but afterward Jeff took us on a little detour through a staff hallway which was lined with four over-sized Roman sculptures. This is the head from one which is not the original. Renaissance artists in Italy in the 17th Century reassembled the original pieces of the statues with newly carved missing sections to make them whole again. The haunting face of this man pays tribute the early Romans and their 17th century master artists descendants. Canon G10, 1/30 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 800, converted to B&W using Silver Efex Pro in Photoshop Elements 6.

356 - Holiday Honors

From 365 Project

2500 wreaths adorn the graves of fallen veterans at the Hampton National Cemetery in Hampton Virginia. The wreaths were placed as part of the Wreaths Across America project and honor veterans from the Civil War to the present who rest at the historic and beautiful Hampton National. Canon G10, 1/200 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.

352 - "Eventually...Why Not now?"

From 365 Project

These old advertising signs were revealed by a building demolition on Norfolk's Granby Street a few years ago. The Gold Medal Flour ad has the slogan "Eventually...Why Not now?" which the company used from 1907 through the early 1950's. The clown dangling the string to a kitten is an interesting touch. The other billboard reads: "The House of Hofflin - The Middy Blouse Man - Famous Hofflin Suits for Girls - Sailor Suits Made to Order." The billboards may be of the World War I time frame. They are in great shape having been shielded by an adjoining building for years. Canon G10, 1/500 sec @ F/5.6, ISO 400.

351 - Curves

From 365 Project

The elegant curves of the mezzanine and balcony at the Sandler Center for the Preforming Arts in Virginia Beach. Virginia. I was looking up from my seat in the right orchestra while waiting for Michael McDonald to come on stage. The Sandler Center is a beautiful building with great acoustics. Canon G10, 1/10 sec @ F/2.8, ISO 200 hand held, a testament to the built-in image stabilization on this camera. Converted to B&W in Photoshop Elements 6 with the Silver Efex Pro filter.

350 - First Lutheran

From 365 Project

The First Lutheran Church has been featured in my blog before on day "216 - Elvis Sighting". This photo of the classic Gothic Revival church was taken from the Maury Avenue side looking towards the front of the church. The bright afternoon sun nicely illuminates the wonderful stone work. Canon G10, 1/800 @ f/4.5, ISO 200.

349 - Fog

From 365 Project

I have been thinking about trying to capture the old Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk shrouded in fog since I began this 365 project almost a year ago. I drive by it everyday on my way to work. Well this week we have had two foggy mornings so I took the picture. Fog is actually pretty difficult to photograph and it took some trial and error to capture the picture I had envisioned. Sorry for the break from the recent run of holiday themes but they weren't generating any excitement or comments anyway. Enjoy the macabre. Canon G10, 1/200 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200 converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro in Photoshop Elements.

347 - Pretty Packages

From 365 Project

It is always magical when the presents begin to appear under the Christmas tree. Today was rainy so there was a lot gift wrapping going on at our house. Our resident Santa's helper was hard at work and her efforts brought more of the season into our home. Canon G10 2.5 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 100.

346 - Richardsonian Romanesque

From 365 Project

The Romanesque steeple of the Epworth United Methodist Church in Norfolk Virginia is back lit by a late afternoon sun burning through a thin cloud covering. Said to be inspired Henry H. Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston, this building is the only significant Romanesque style structure in the city. Built in 1894, the steeple was extended in height years later when it was said the new tall buildings in downtown were blocking the sounds of church bells. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Canon G10, 1/320 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 200.

342 - Wheels & Tires

From 365 Project

A set of wheels and tires from a 15 passenger van await their fate in the early morning sunshine. The tire sitting partially under the one in the foreground is most certainly headed to the recycler since the tread has completely separated from the tire. The others will likely head back out on the road after a good balancing. It's all part of routine "PM" (preventive maintenance). Canon G10, 1/5 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200 converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro in Photoshop Elements..

335 - Shining Eyes

From 365 Project

My grandson Robert was trilled to help setup a Christmas tree first thing this morning. Watching the joy and excitement in his eyes truly made my day and getting a great picture was the icing on the cake. Canon G10, 1/13 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800. The Canon G10 can introduce image noise (graininess) on low light high ISO images like this one. I used Noise Ninja to post process and reduce the noise.

333 - Red Pendant

From 365 Project

I saw this red pendant light while eating lunch today and took a closeup photo. The texture in the red glass shade produces different shades of red. Canon G10, 1/160 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 200 under exposed from the camera's meter reading by 2 full stops.

332 - Happy Go Lucky

From 365 Project

These sculptures always make me smile. They are located at the Collins Square Shopping Center in the Thalia area of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The bright primary colors against a clear blue sky help to evoke the feeling of happiness. Canon 1/500 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100 with infill flash.

331 - Black Friday

From 365 Project

Today is "Black Friday" the unofficial beginning of the holiday shopping season. We made a trip to Virginia Beach's Pembroke Mall this evening and found no crowds. This giant wreath hangs just outside the food court. The term "Black Friday" originated in the mid-1960's by police and bus drivers in Philadelphia referring to the traffic and congestion brought on by the crush of holiday shoppers. Canon G10, 1/100 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400.

322 - Granny Smith

From 365 Project

A Granny Smith sitting in the midst of Red Delicious. We know them as Granny Smith apples but the full name is the Granny Ramsey Smith green apple. It was created in 1868 through a chance propagation by Maria Ann Smith in New South Wales Australia. A hundred years later in 1968 the Beatles' Apple Records adopted a Granny Smith apple as its symbol. Canon G10, 1/160 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 400 in macro mode.

321 - Lighted Palm

From 365 Project

This lighted palm tree survived last week's nor'easter and its 70 mile per hour hurricane force winds. While many of the native trees toppled with the super saturated ground and high winds, the crowd pleasing lighted palms at the El Grand Mexican restaurant on Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach will witness another round of frozen margaritas on the dining patio. This modern hybrid palm is perfectly suited for Virginia Beach's non-tropical winters and party atmosphere. Canon G10, 6/10's of a second @ f/4.5, ISO 100.

315 - 11th

From 365 Project

Veterans Day in the U.S. is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice to end the "Great War" on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The day is of particular meaning to me as my father was a decorated Army combat veteran of WWII and the Korean War. I took this photo yesterday since the forecast for a major Nor'easter ruled out today. The Hampton National Cemetery was in tip top shape for the holiday. Canon G10, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200.

314 - Spinning

From 365 Project

The fall colors had me spinning today. It was an overcast day and I was looking for a photo where I wouldn't have too much of a blah sky in the image. I saw this colorful tree off Westover Avenue in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood and tried a camera rotation technique that I read about in a book by Bryan Peterson on understanding exposure. The camera is pointed up from under the tree and rotated during exposure. Canon G10, 1/4 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200 with the camera's electronic neutral density filter enabled.