Beyond the Horizon

Don't you remember standing at the seashore wondering what was beyond that horizon? Canon G1X, 1/100 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

First Lighthouse

My grandson Robert climbed his first lighthouse this afternoon. He easily made the 191 steps to top of Old Cape Henry Light in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was appropriate that his first lighthouse was Old Cape Henry, the first federally funded public works construction project of the United States of America which was completed in 1792. In this picture he anxiously awaits Grandpa to finish taking picture so we can climb to the top. Canon G1X, 1/80 sec @ f/16.0, ISO 200.

Field of Flags

The "Field of Flags" remembering those Americans who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The field is on display in front of the Eastern Shore Chapel on Laskin Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia. One flag for each life lost. Canon ELPH 110, 1/60 sec @ f/5.9, ISO 640 with flash.

Loving It

- Sunset over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. One of the many reasons I love living in Hampton Roads Virginia. Canon G1X, 1/500 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400,

BCR 2014

- Switcher 2014 leased by the Bay Coast Railroad from Locomotive Leasing Partners (LLPX) is used at the southern yard for the Bay Coast Railroad at Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virgina. The Bay Coast took over operations of the Eastern Shore Railroad in 2006 operating a 90 mile connection on the DelMarVa peninsula from Pocomoke City, Maryland to Little Creek, Virginia via 64 miles of rail and a 26 miles Chesapeake Bay crossing using one of only two remaining "carfloats" left in operation in the U.S. BCR 2014 is an EMD GP38, a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in July 1970 and was once owned by Conrail and operated as CSXT 1946. Here's a short video of BCR 2014 pulling mixed freight including two massive 16 inch gun barrels from the Battleship Missouri earlier this year. iPhone 4, 1/385 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ app.

Support Your Local Book Store

- Made a visit today to one of our favorite local bookstores, AFK Books Music & Movies. They sell mostly "like new" books, CDs, DVD,s and an amazing collection of vinyl records. They also buy your old books, tunes and movies. You don't get a lot for them but every bit helps in paying for the new stack we haul back home. Canon Powershot SD870 IS, 1/40 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 200.

Newtown Blackbirds

- Thousands of black birds come to roast each night near the intersection of Newtown Road and I-264 on the Norfolk/Virginia Beach border. They line all of the power lines and utility poles including this street light at Newtown and Princess Anne Roads in Virginia Beach, Virginia. They have become such a regular feature that they are even the subject the public art at the Networn Road station of The Tide light rail. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 160.

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.

TC Bubble

- Virginia Beach's Town Center in a bubble. iPhone 4, 1/340 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Olloclip fisheye lens.

Lynnhaven Sunset

- The sun sets over the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach, Virginia tonight. We had an early dinner at one of our favorite places in Virginia Beach, Bubba's. As you can tell the view is second to none, the seafood is fresh and everyone is friendly. It was a little too cold and windy for dining on the outside deck tonight. I recommend Bubba's to everyone visiting Virginia Beach.
The general composition rule is to avoid the horizon line being right in the middle of the picture. The preferred placement is one third from the top or bottom but I wanted to frame this picture with the outside deck. So rule are made to be broken, hope you like the image. Canon G11, 1/320 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.

Pleasant Hall

- Pleasant Hall has been a constant in my neighborhood since 1769. Witness to the Revolutionary War and everything since, it now overlooks yet another rebuilding of the Kempsville - Princess Anne intersection. While everything around it has changed, and changed and is still changing this beautiful example of Georgian architecture remains the only constant. Another 365 project done. Canon G11, 1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200, converted to B&W using Silver Efex Pro 2 and Lightroom 3.

Nimmo

- Nimmo United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia was built in 1791. The original structure still stands as the sanctuary, although it has undergone many changes over the years. It is the oldest surviving Methodist Church in continuous use in Virginia. Around 1840, the balcony was added as a slave gallery. It survives today as the only remaining structure directly related to the period of slavery in Princess Anne County, now part of modern day Virginia Beach. Records show that in 1846 Nimmo had 170 white members and 42 "colored members." During the civil war Nimmo used to house Union troops and as a hospital. Some of these troops left initials and names of their sweethearts carved into the posts supporting the balcony. Information from the church website. Canon G11, 1/250 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 100

No Behaving Badly

- The trademark "No Bad Behavior" sign from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. This campaign started way back in 1999 and the signs have been a fixture along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront ever since. Many people believe they refer to a city no cursing law but that's not true. They simply call attention to a voluntary code of ethics for behavior along the popular resort. Some love it, some hate it - but its definitely not a sign you see in other places. Canon G11, 1/320 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Life & Death

- Canon G11, 1/500 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 100 in macro mode.

Seeing Double

- Saw a double rainbow earlier this evening. The inside rainbow was a complete rainbow from one end to the other. Two rare sights at once. Unfortunately didn't have a wide enough angle to capture the full rainbow and the double in a single photo. iPhone 4, 1/120 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 100, Camera+, Clarity, Square Crop, Vibrant, Thin White Frame.

Pacific & 32nd

- The new Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach pays tribute to it's original location on Pacific Ave. iPhone 4, Camera +, fill flash.

Sandpipers on the Move

These sandpipers were moving quickly along the shoreline at Sandbridge Beach, Virginia this evening. Canon 7D, 1/4000 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400, zoom at 200mm focal length.

Wide Open

- The 17th Street surf shop in Virginia Beach isn't just open its WIDE OPEN. iPhone 4 using Camera+ 2.3.1.

SOM Handywork

This photo was taken inside the Virginia Beach Convention Center designed by the renown architectural design firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of Chicago. You know their work, the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Tower in Chicago, the Air Force Academy Chapel, and the new Liberty Tower, aka World Trade Center One in New York City. Canon G11, 1/60 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

1 Down 2 to Go

- One down and two to go on tonight's wine flight at Back Bay Gourmet in Virginia Beach, VA. These are three wines from McLaren Vale in South Australia. Number 1, gone by the time this photo was taken, was Coriole Chenin Blanc. Number 2 wins for the best name Vinaceous Snake Charmer Shiraz and number three the Coriole Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon had the most amazing aroma. Canon G11, 1/40 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 800 in macro mode.