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Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Downtown Font of Knowledge


The Virginian-Pilot Building at 150 Bramleton Avenue in Norfolk Virginia home to the paper's editorial team, a.k.a "the downtown font of knowledge." The 1937 building designed by Finlay F. Ferguson, Sr. is an excellant example of Art Deco stripped classical mode made popular nationwide by Philadelphia architect Paul P. Cret. It radiates the strength and power of the press. Canon G15, 1/800 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200 converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2 Lightroom plugin.

SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012. Online. http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/VA-01-NK32. Accessed 2012-11-29.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

So Happy


Sherlock is one happy cat. We set up this tree in the living room, put a bunch of shinny balls on it and then to top it off placed this nice soft red blanket underneath just for him.

Canon G15, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Holiday Express


The Hampton Roads Transit Holiday Express zips by on Monticello Avenue in Norfolk Virginia tonight. This is one cool full train wrap!

Canon G15, 1/10 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800 with the little help from the miracle of digital image stabilization.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Winter Carnival


The Winter Carnival at Norfolk Virginia's MacArthur Center is a new addition this year along with the popular MacArthur on Ice public ice skating rink. It sure makes for a nice scene during the deep purple sky of twilight.

Canon G15, 0.6 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

I.T. - Trying To Fix What We Mess Up


Each member of the family has an ornament on our Christmas Tree representing their occupation. This is mine. Canon 7D, 1/30 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100 macro lens.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Serious Business


Unpacking and setting up Cindy's Santa's collection is serious business requiring much concentration. Canon 7D, 1/40 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 800.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Fork & Knife


Fork & Knife, Knife & Fork - the universal symbol for food? These hang over the entrance to the snack bar at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Canon G15, 1/200 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Santa's Catapult Launch


Santa launches off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman at the Norfolk Botanical Garden's Garden of Lights display. Cindy and I took Robert through the garden's tonight after Thanksgiving dinner. The light display is special but even better when enjoyed with a six year old. Canon 7D, 1/50 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 55mm focal length.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Hot Glass


Attended the "Third Wednesday" program at the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio tonight. The theme was "Cooking With Glass" where two teams from the studio used hot glass to cook with during an Iron Chef style competition. It was great fun. Prior to the competition the team was busy making glass in a tag team fasion. Here Josh finishes up a piece of stemware that a few minutes before was just molten glass. Canon G15, 1/250 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 1600.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Encore


This a close up of a portion of the new sculpture entitled "Encore" by world famous sculptor Rodney Carroll. The art work was dedicated last month at the Main Street entrance to the Selden Arcade home to Norfolk Virginia's d'Art Center. Canon G15, 1/60 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 125.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Taking Shape


Norfolk's new Slover Memorial Library is taking shape. These concrete columns are part of the new entrance area. The completed library will include the historic Renaissance Revival style Seaboard Building located at the corner of Plume and Atlantic Streets, a six story new construction featured here, and a portion of the Art Deco Selden Arcade. The completed project designed by Newman Architects will provide Norfolk with a new high tech library featuring significant architecture from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Canon G15, 1/125sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro in Lightroom 4.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Mr. Submarine


Zero's Subs was founded in 1967 as the original sub sandwich shop in Hampton Roads Virginia. They are still "Hot and on a Roll!" Canon G11, 1/10 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Last Mum


An up close picture of the last of the fall mums. Canon 40D, 1/250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro with LED Litepnael.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Fall in the City


The yellow and gold colors of fall grace the east end of Freemason Street in downtown Norfolk Virginia. Canon G11, 1/30 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Shadow Link


A chain link fence casts a sharp shadow on this concrete column. Canon G11, 1/25sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400. Converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Tis the Season


Holiday decorations are going up every where so the season is upon us. Captured this cheery holiday bauble at MacDonald's Gaarden Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. iPhone 5, 1/120 sec @ f/2.4, ISO 100, Camera+ App.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Thinker


This young man asked me to take his picture at the park the other day and struck this pose. Normally portraits are taken in the vertical portrait orientation but I thought this worked well in horizontal or landscape mode. See more of my black and white work at the World in Black and White Blog.

Canon 5D Mark II, 1/1250 sec @ f/4, ISO 400, converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro in Lightroom 4.

Monday, November 12, 2012

DUDE


Enjoyed speeding my day off with Robert. Here he was burning off some energy at Woodstock Park in Virginia Beach. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/40 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, focal length 70mm.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Veterans Day


Veterans Day had its beginnings back in 1919 when President Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first commemoration of Armistice Day marking the one year anniversary of the cessation of hostilities generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In 1954 President Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" and the date become the Veterans Day holiday. A law was passed in 1968 to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. President Ford signed a new law in 1975 changing Veterans Day back to November 11th. Since 1978 when the new law took effect Veterans Day has been observed on November 11th, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. Canon G10, 1/320 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Putto

A putto is a figure in a work of art depicted as a chubby male child, usually nude and sometimes winged. Putti are often confused with cherubs. While cherubs represent the second order of angels, putti are secular and non-religious. This one was found on top of a garden fountain. iPhone 5, Camera+ App, 1/20sec f/2.4, ISO 64 converted to black and white.

Friday, November 9, 2012

High Wire


These high-voltage transmission line are cast against a clear blue sky. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/8000 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400, 1800mm focal length.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

EarPods


EarPods, Apple's redesigned in earphones were released with the iPhone 5. The often maligned original Apple ear buds finally got a facelift along with the iPhone. These new buds offer a better fit and much improved acoustic quality not to mention the distinctive "Apple Style." I'm still sticking with my tried and true Shure sound isolating earphones. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/80 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1600 converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2 with Lightroom 4.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Ghent @ Night


Christ and St. Luke's located at the corner of Onley Road and Stockley Gardens is a beacon of light in Norfolk Virginia's historic Ghent neighborhood. The 102 year old building was designed by the Philadelphia firm of Watson & Huskle. The church is a traditional gable roof basilica in the English Perpendicular Gothic Revival style. Canon G1X, 1 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Fall Explosion


Time for a little explosion of fall color. Canon 7D, 1/5 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Monday, November 5, 2012

No Horseplay


I was always intrigued when Hampton Roads Transit, a.k.a HRT, decided to ban "Horseplay" from The Tide light rail platforms. I was never sure why they choose the word horseplay. I would have preferred any of the following more creative synonyms: buffoonery, capers, hijinks, rough-housing, rowdiness, shenanigans, or my all time favorite - tomfoolery.

iPhone 5, 1/390 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 50, Camera+ App

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Veggie VA


Creative use of the veggie display at the new Whole Foods Market in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
iPhone 5, 1/24 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 50, Camera+ App.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Gummy


A giant gummy bear night light on display in the Calendar and Toy Store at MacArthur Mall in Norfolk, Virginia. iPhone 5, 1/40 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 64.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Anchor Star


Star-shaped anchor plates were used for structural reinforcement on buildings in the 18th and 19th centuries. These were made of cast iron and were used as tie plates serving as the washers for tie rods on brick or other masonry-based buildings. The tie-rod-and-plate assembly serves to brace the masonry wall against lateral bowing. Source - Wikipedia.
iPhone 5, 1/120 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 50, converted to black & white using Silver Efex Pro 2.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Clawwwwwwwww!

Who's in charge here?

The clawwwwwwwww!
The claw is our master.
The claw chooses who will go and who will stay.

iPhone 5, 1/120 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 500, Camera+ App.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Costumed Apples


A couple of our apples dressed up as the Sorcerer's Apprentice and Minnie Mouse for Halloween. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/60 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800, 100mm macro lens.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Spheres


These chrome spheres reflect the entire store like a series of fisheye lenes. The patterns caught my eye and the picture caught me as well. Canon G1X, 1/13 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 400.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Weather Fit for Ducks


With Hurriance Sandy dropping 5 inches of rain on us today, I thought of the old saying "this weather is fit only for ducks." So I decided I post a picture of ducks I took last week in Orlando Florida. This mother mallard duck watches carefully over one of her new ducklings at the quiet pool at Disnet's Boardwalk Resort. Canon 7D, 1/160 sec @ f/18.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro lens.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

EOC


Got back from my trip in Florida just in time for an activation of the City of Norfolk's Emergency Operations Center. This was my first tour of duty with Norfolk during an emergency and I was very impressed by the way my coworkers pulled together. Many of my team at the City's Information Technology Department served a 24 hour shift at the Compostella Elementary School on shelter duty while others worked shifts at the EOC supporting technology and vital communications. Here Jim Redick the City's Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response conducts the 6:00pm briefing. iPhone 5, 1/24 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 50, Camera+ app.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Take It, We'll Replace It!


Today's flight home from Orlando took us high above the swirling edge of hurricane Sandy. A bumpy ride indeed with no beverage or snack service left me contemplating the seat pocket library. Canon G1X, 1/10 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 400, in macro mode.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Hall of Presidents


The Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is a very moving and inspirational show and helps put the toughest job in the nation into perspective during these final two weeks of the election season. The peaceful transition of power is still rare in much of world even 215 years after George Washington became the first president to step aside. Canon G1X, 1/3 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 1600.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Pentakis Dodecahedron


Geometrically, Spaceship Earth at Epcot is a derivative of a pentakis dodecahedron. It is a Class 2 Frequency 16 Icosahedron, with each of the 60 isosceles triangle faces divided into 16 smaller equilateral triangles. Each of the 960 flat panels is sub-divided into four triangles, each of which is divided into three isosceles triangles to form each point. In theory, there are 11,520 total isosceles triangles forming 3840 points. In reality, some of those triangles are partially or fully nonexistent due to supports and doors of the iconic symbol of Epcot. Source - Wikipedia.

Canon G1X, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800, converted to black and white with Silver Efex Pro 2.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Vinylmation


Disney Vinylmation™ is a brand of vinyl collectibles sold at Disney theme parks. The name Vinylmation is a combination of the word Animation and Vinyl. The figures are all shaped like Mickey Mouse but have different themed markings, colors and patterns. This is a light fixture hanging over a display at one of the Disney stores at Downtown Disney in Orlando Florida. Canon G1X, 1/40 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The Sorcerer's Hat

The Sorcerer's Hat is the icon of Disney's Hollywood Studios, the third of four theme parks built at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Mickey Mouse's gloved hand and ears underneath the hat are visible emerging from the ground. Canon G1X, 1/4 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 1600.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Fire!


We were greeted by two fire performers on the way to the "Fire and Ice" evening event at the Gartner Symposium and IT/XPO in Orlando Florida. iPhone 5, 1/15 sec @ f/2.4, ISO 800.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

IllumiNations


IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is a fireworks, laser and water show featuring a coordinated soundtrack. The show plays nightly in the World Showcase area in Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. Canon G1X, 1.0 sec # f/8.0, ISO 200, camera braced on light post pedestal with a 2 second delayed shutter release.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Cuban Swoosh


No it's not an upside down Nike swoosh. This is part of the ceiling lighting detail at Bongos Cuban Cafe at Downtown Disney in Orlando Florida. Created by music superstar Gloria Estefan and her producer husband Emilio, this vibrant restaurant is a mosaic of colors and flavors. Canon G1X, 0.6 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 400.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Five Star Imperial


This 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial limousine carried Gen Douglas MacArthur to and from his office at the Dai Ichi insurance building in Tokyo during the latter part of the Occupation of Japan. When MacArthur returned to the United States in 1951, the Crown Imperial was shipped to him in New York City where he continued to use it until 1963, when it was returned to the U.S. Army motor pool and subsequently given to the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk Virginia. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/40 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 35mm focal length.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Night Fountain


Norfolk's Chrysler Hall viewed from across the fountains in Scope Plaza. We attended the Tedeschi Trucks Band concert there tonight. Chrysler Hall was opened in 1972 and named as part of an agreement with Walter P. Chrysler Jr. to bring his art collection to the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences which now also bears the Chrysler name. Chrysler, whose father, Walter Sr., founded the Chrysler Corporation, devoted much of his life to building a multimillion-dollar collection of paintings and art glass. Canon ELPH 110.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Well Worn


This picture of a well worn manhole cover is in response to a comment I got on Facebook regarding yesterday's demon rat photo. So Alice this one is for you, no halloween today, just a beautiful manhole cover. There are so few of us who truly appreciate the beauty of infrastructure.

Canon G11, 1/250 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 400.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Hell's Demon Rat


This giant demon rat is part of the Halloween decorations at Hell's Kitchen on Granby Street in downtown Norfolk Virginia. I just couldn't resist taking his picture. I'm sure some followers of this blog will be happy after October 31st has come and gone. I have gotten a little carried away with the theme this month.

Canon G11, 1/6 sec sec @ f/4.5, ISO 800 handheld. Converted to black and white with a little focal color left in the eyes using Google's Picasa.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Billiard Boy


Twelve ball in the corner pocket. My grandson Robert loves the Billiard tables at Tortilla West in Norfolk Virginia. He hasn't graduated to the using a cue stick yet but that time will come shortly if my supply of quarters holds out. Canon G11, 1/10 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 800.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Cat House


Even the Lambert's Point feral cat colony house is getting in on Skull Week action. Fully decorated for Halloween and proudly displaying the skull and crossbones with the "Enter If You Dare!" message. The decorations went up a couple of weeks ago and initially included some fake crows. Unfortunately the residents didn't take too kindly to the black birds hanging around and finished 'em off pretty quickly.

Canon ELPH 110HS, 1/60 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 640 with a little fillin flash.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Here Lyeth


This 17th century grave marker bears the skull and crossbones and is located at St. Pauls Church in Norfolk Virginia. On July 1, 1875 the stone was brought to Norfolk from Weyanoke on the James River. It was found amid the ruins of an old colonia church. Today the stone is attached to the south wall of the old church.

Did you notice the year of William Harris' death is noted as 1687/8? So what's up with that? Were they not sure what year he actually died in? No, according the the USGen Web project "the practice of double dating resulted from the switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. Not all countries and people accepted the new calendar at the same time. England and the American colonies didn't officially accept it until 1752. Before that date, the government observed March 25 as the first of the year, but most of the population observed January 1 as the start of the year. For this reason, many people wrote dates falling between January 1 and March 25 with both years." Now you know.

iPhone 5, 1/144 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 50, Camera+ app using the Clarity adjustment and Pinhole FX Effect.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Glow PEZ Skull


This is a glow in the dark PEZ Skull dispenser. It's a long exposure in a totally dark room. Michael saved the day with a last minute suggestion for this photo. Skull week continues. Canon 7D, 3.2 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 200, 100mm macro lens.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Hallowskull


Captured this skull at Target's Halloween display. There must have been a dozen different skulls to choose from, light up skulls, screaming skulls and plain creepy skulls. iPhone 5, 1/20 sec @ f/2.4, ISO 125, Camera+ app.