The Big Easy

- Yes I'm a sucker for neon signs and I always take pictures of them. This one is at the Big Easy Oyster Bar in Norfolk Virginia. The oysters were great! Canon G11, 1/160 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400.

Glass Burst

A ridged glass panel gives off a nice star burst pattern of colors. Canon G11, 1/80 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400.

Paper Lantern

- I captured a picture of this great paper lantern at Nana Sushi in Norfolk Virginia. High wattage Paper lanterns are prized by photographers for the soft edgeless light they produce and are often used in film making. In photography they are called "China Balls". Canon G11, 1/400 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400.

The "new" Luna Maya

- Had dinner tonight at the new Luna Maya on Colley Avenue in the Ghent section of Norfolk, Virginia. The new space is five times larger than the old location and it was still packed with a 30 minute wait at 8:00 PM. The Bolivian inspired food was great as always and the vibe was amazing. This is Norfolk's new "in place" to be. Canon G11, 1/10 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 800.

A Penny For Your Thoughts

- My grandson Robert is deep in thought as he enjoys his iced tea and the great view at Bubba's Seafood Restaurant in Virginia Beach, Virgina. It was his first trip with us to Bubba's and he thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. Canon G11, 1/10 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, handheld with no flash.

Inside the "Double D"

- The Do-Nut Dinette on Colley Avenue in Norfolk Virginia is one of those local landmark establishments dating to 1947. The interior with bright red chairs and counter stools definitely brings back the old diner car feel. Canon G11, 1/400 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400, exposed at -2/3.

La Fourchette

- This picture is a take off on a very famous photograph by André Kertész one of my favorite masters of the art of light. Certainly not up to the master's standards but OK for a Droid X camera phone and thirty people in a tiny restaurant watching. We had a great diner tonight at Voilà with our friends Susan and Duane. French cooking was appropriate since Kertész made his famous photo in Paris in 1928. Cindy gets an assist for holding the folk in place just outside of the frame. Droid X, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, converted to black & white in Lightroom 3.

Terrapin's

- It's Virginia Beach Restaurant Week so we dined out tonight with our good friends Susan and Duane at Terrapin Restaurant on Holly Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Always great food and drink and the atmosphere is special. This photo shows the paper lanterns over the bar with the open kitchen in the background. I was facing away from the scene but a wall of mirrors gives every seat at the table a great view. The appetizer and main course were wonderful but you can't go to Terrapin's and not have desert. I had the double chocolate brownie toffee mousse with vanilla toasted marshmallow malt ice cream. Check out this presentation. Canon G11, 1/25 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 800.

One Fish Two Fish

From 2010 Blog

- We had dinner tonight with our friends Susan and Duane at One Fish Two Fish on Long Creek in Virginia Beach. Great food, great view and great company. The restartaunt's tag line is "Upscale without the uppity." Canon G11, 1/5 sec @ f/4.6, ISO 400.

Dog n Burger

From 2010 Blog

- The Dog n Burger Grill in the Ghent section of Norfolk Virginia is one of my regular lunch stops. My standard order is the #3 New York Hot Combo. Canon G11, 1/640 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Mom?

From 2010 Blog

- The Jewish Mother Restaurant in Virginia is an institution. Billing it self as "The Home of East Coast Blues" the small restaurant is both a great place to eat and experience live music. This is a shot of the sound board with the brightly painted Pacific Avenue windows in the background. Canon G11, 1/40 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800. BTW - the carrot cake is to die for.

Table Light

From 2010 Blog

Regular followers of this blog know that I like taking pictures of glass and capturing the ways different kinds of light are refracted. This is a macro shot of the small oil lamp on our dinner table tonight. We visited Burton's Grill in the Hilltop section of Virginia Beach for dinner tonight. The food and service was great but so was the chance to get a cool photo for the day. BTW - It's Restaurant Week in Virginia Beach this week so who knows, more dining and photo ops await. Canon G10, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400, in macro mode.

Press 626

From 2010 Blog

This is a new photo for today. For the last several months we have been enjoying a new restaurant on West Olney Road in Norfolk called Press 626. I took this photo sitting back in the corner booth. These interesting glass jars sit on a shelf and lights from Colley Avenue traffic just bounce off them in a wonderful way. BTW - the food is great and Sue, Lindsay and Patrick always take great care of us. Canon 7D (and yes I lugged the DSLR with me to a restaurant) 1/10 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 800, 50mm prime lens.

306 - 90 Points

From 365 Project

We went to the monthly wine dinner at one of our favorite restaurants tonight, the Green Onion on Colley Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia. Tonight's theme was Spanish wines and foods. This is the Volver Tempranillo rated 90 points by Jay Miller of the Wine Advocate. It was served with a shrimp empanada, one of five courses from executive chief Kyle. Yum! Canon G10, 1/13 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800. If you look closely you will notice the noise in this low light high ISO image, the one glaring weakness of the otherwise spectacular Canon G10.

257 - Barbaresco

From 365 Project

This is the Produtorri Barbaresco (2005), produced using the Nebbiolo grape from Italy, being poured for about 20 lucky people. This wine was served with the fourth course of Petite Filet of an exquisite wine diner we attended at the Green Onion restaurant on Colley Avenue in Norfolk Virginia tonight. The entire dinner featured a variety of Italian wines perfectly paired with each course. Canon G10, 1/6 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

218 - Burger Beacon

From 365 Project

The Statue of Liberty is often used as a symbol for commerce, from tax services to chain restaurant burgers. This burger torch stands watch before a poster of the Sopranos at the Red Robin restaurant in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake Virginia. I am certain this is not what Frédéric Bartholdi. the original sculptor of Lady Liberty. had in mind for his creation. Canon G10, 1/25 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 200.

155 - Bordeaux Flight

From 365 Project

A flight of Bordeaux. Kind of says it all. Canon G10, 1/6 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

109 - Starburst Sconce

From 365 Project

Lighting can create a mood and provide a point of interest in a room. This wall sconce at the Nawab Indian Cuisine Restaurant in Newport News, Virginia does both. Canon G10, 1/15 sec at f/2.8, ISO 200, 11mm focal length.

105 - Crystal Votive

From 365 Project

Votive candles are small candles, originally intended to be burnt as a votive offering in a religious ceremony. This crystal votive holder was on our restaurant table where they have now become commonplace. Canon G10, ISO 200, 1/13sec at f/3.5, 22mm equivalent focal length in macro mode. Fired using the self timer to avoid camera shake.

101 - Strange New Worlds

From 365 Project

To boldly go where no man has gone before - well not quite. This is the light over our table at the Red Robin Restaurant, Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake, Virginia. Canon G10, 1/125 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400, 11,, effective focal length.