This Year's Memory

The mouse is everywhere even on our Christmas Tree. This was a souvenir from our first ever trip to Disney World back in October. Our Christmas Tree has unique ornaments from the places we've visited over the years. Putting up the tree brings back all of those great memories from past vacations. Canon 7D, 1/13 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100mm macro lens.

Fire Escape

The fire escape became a necessary addition to multi-story buildings particularly residential buildings in the first half of the twentieth century. An unintended consequence was that people began to use them as additional space. They became patios and even sleeping areas during hot urban summers. This example is on the York Center building, a 9 story office building in downtown Norfolk Virginia built around 1950. Canon G15, 1/400 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200.

Holiday Arcade

The Monticello Arcade in Norfolk Virginia decked out and celebrating its 105th Christmas holiday season. That a pretty good run. iPhone 5, 1/15 sec @ f/2.4, ISO 800, Camera+ App.

The Delaware Dome

This is the Norfolk Southern Railroad's Delaware Dome car # NS 24 at the new station platform in Norfolk Virginia. I had the opportunity to ride in this car during a trip from Washington D.C.'s Union Station to Norfolk's Harbor Park Station. This stainless steel streamliner car was built in 1954, the year I was born, by the Budd Company for the Santa Fe Railroad's San Francisco Chief service. It has been restored by Norfolk Southern and now sports the Tuscan Red & Black paint scheme from the old N&W passenger lines, the Powhatan Arrow and Pocahontas. If you like trains, you've got to love this classic. Canon G15, 1/160 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800.

Long Awaited Return

After 36 years passenger rail service returns to Norfolk Virginia. The Governor's "Whistle Stop" train arrived in Norfolk this afternoon. Regular daily rail service provided by Amtrak Virginia from Norfolk to Washington D.C., New York and Boston starts tomorrow morning. This locomotive #156 carries the Amtrak 40th Anniversary "Phase I" paint scheme known as the "Bloody Nose." This was the first paint scheme widely used by Amtrak when it began service in 1971. Canon G15, 1/400 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800.

Morning Skyline

The Norfolk Virginia eastern skyline shortly after sunrise on a cloudy but unseasonably warm Monday morning. Freemason Street Baptist Church in the center foreground, the Basilica of Saint Mary just to the right, the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River with the railroad bridges raised to the far right, and Virginia Beach's Westin Town Center in the distant left background seen between the two NSU dormitory towers. Canon G15, 1 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 100.

Holiday Trappings

Holiday trappings everywhere you look. I love the colors and sights of the season. iPhone 5, Camera+ app.

Holiday Lights

More of the holiday lights at Norfolk's Botanical Gardens. Canon 7D, 1/20 sec @ f/3.5 ISO 800.

Two Crows

"One crow means sorrow,
two crows mean joy,
three crows a wedding,
four crows a boy,
five crows mean silver,
six crows mean gold,
seven crows a secret that's never been told."

Canon G15, 1/125 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2.

Schlumbergera

Schlumbergera, a.k.a. the Christmas Cactus. These cacti are species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins. Hybrids like this one are popular house plants.Canon 7D, 1/80 sec @ f/16.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro lens, two LED Litepanels used for illumination.

Too Much Email

Opened my Gmail account today and what do you know, my unopened email counter was sitting at exactly 10,000. Many of these are email lists, ads, automatic notifications and such. I had this down to zero this past summer. So if I took 5 seconds each to delete these emails it would take 14 hours of continuos deleting to get rid of them all. If I actually took a minute to look at each one, that would take 21 - 8 hour work days or a little more than one man month. And this is just my personal email account, my work account has much more volume. Canon 7D, 1/40 sec @ f/16.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro, photographed directly off my computer screen.

Twilight Steeple

Yesterday's photo featured the morning sky and the shiloutte of Norfolk's First Baptist Church. Tonight it's the nearby Freemason Street Baptist Church against a twilight sky. Grabriel's Horn is the weather vane at the top the steeple. Thomas U. Walter, the architect for the U.S. Capital dome designed the Gothic Revival building, which is now on the National Historical Register. Canon G15, 1/5 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400.

Morning Contrails

A beautiful Norfolk Virginia morning with contrails from the east coast air corridor high above the shiloutte of First Baptist Church. This church is one of my all time favorite Norfolk buildings with its highly ornamented Romanesque Revival style. While you can't tell from this picture the pink granite ashlar and limestone trim are spectacular. This 1906 architectural masterpiece is the work of Chattanooga architect Rueben Harrison Hunt. iPhone 5, Camera+ App.

Frosty the Sandman

Of course any self respecting snowman in Virginia Beach Virginia is going to the beach. Canon 7D, 1/8 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Core Sound Christmas Trees

Crab Pot Christmas Trees, the latest addition to our holiday decorations. Created by Nicky Harvey founder of Harvey & Sons Net & Twine a Davis North Carolina commercial fishing industry supplier as way to expand his family owned business. Using triangles of the same coated wire mesh used in crab pots, he created a tree strung with lights that could be stored flat and then opened for display with the light strings remaining in place. As a result the Core Sound Christmas Tree was born and today is manufactured and distributed by Fisherman Creations, Inc. in Smyrna, NC.

Canon G15, 1/6 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400.

Got a Green Light

Norfolk's new Consolidated Courthouse goes up against the evening twilight sky. Phase one is estimated to be completed by this time next year with the entire project to be completed by the end of 2015. Canon G15, 1/30 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fall Explosion

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.