267 - Uassuming Commonplace of Nature

From 365 Project

This is how William Wordsworth referred to the daisy in 1802.
To the Daisy
With little here to do or see
Of things that in the great world be,
Sweet Daisy! oft I talk to thee,
For thou art worthy,
Thou unassuming Common-place
Of Nature, with that homely face,
And yet with something of a grace,
Which Love makes for thee!

Canon Rebel XTi, 1/250 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400, Lensbaby Composer with +4 macro adapter.

266 - Shaking Like a Leaf

From 365 Project

I often hear the expression "shaking like a leaf" to describe when someone was nervous or frightened. I was taking a macro photo of this fern tip tonight and put a lot of effort into capturing a tack sharp image. I used my tripod, focusing rail and carefully waited for all of the movement to stop before using a cable release to fire the camera. I got some nice sharp macro images but they just weren't satisfying. So I took another photo just after slightly taping the fern stem to put it in motion and I really liked the effect. I hope you find it pleasing as well. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/3 sec @ f/10.0, ISO 400, 65mm macro lens at 1X magnification. Back lighting from a Micropanel LED.

265 - Gone

From 365 Project

This is all that remains of the old Kempsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue building that was demolished this week. The big yellow excavator made quick work of turning the 53 year old Kempsville landmark into a pile of rubble. This and other buildings are being cleared for the new Princess Anne Road/Kempsville Road intersection improvements. Canon 40D, 1/60 sec @ f/9.0, ISO 400, 28mm focal length.

264 - Double Nickel

From 365 Project

Today is my birthday so I thought I'd try to pay tribute to the occasion. This macro close-up of two nickels, one of the old series and one of the new series, shows the toll that the years take on coins as they bang together in pockets, cash drawers and vending machines. I hope nobody takes a 1X macro photo of me, I suspect I've fared worse than the nickels. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/60 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 200, 65mm macro lens. Lighting provided by two manual strobes on either side fired through the white sides of a Light Shed. I used slightly different power levels, one at 1/4 and one at 1/8 to help contrast the coins. Converted to black and white in Photoshop Elements using Silver Efex Pro.

263 - Back Bay Sunset

From 365 Project

Sunset over Back Bay in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We spent the afternoon and evening with a drive in the country ending up at Sandbridge. Along the way we visited two wineries in Knotts Island North Carolina. All in all, a very nice day and evening. Canon 40D, 1/20 sec @ F/5.0, ISO 200.

262 - Mirrored Marquee

From 365 Project

While waiting in line to buy tickets to see (500) Days of Summer tonight, I noticed this mirror like reflection of the Naro's marquee reflected in a parked car's side windows. Canon G10, 1/30 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400. BTW, the movie was great!

261 - Reel Time

From 365 Project

I am sucker for neon, it makes for pictures that pop. This is on the top of the roadside sign for the Columbus Theaters in Virginia Beach Virginia. We still associate movies with reels of motion picture film even though many theaters are shifting to digital cinema projectors. Canon 40D, 1/60 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400, 115mm focal length. The photo is under exposed by a full 2 stops from the meter reading which helps isolate the sign against a the black night. Thanks to my wife Cindy who spotted the sign and suggested the pithy title for today's blog post.

260 - Step Up

From 365 Project

There's nothing like a dark, cinder block walled, metal staircase, illuminated by a single bare bulb florescent fixture, with a card security door awaiting to give that step up to the challenge feeling. This is the back stairway at my office that greets me every day as I arrive to make a difference. Canon G10, 1/10 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

259 - Knock Out!

From 365 Project

This is a rosebud on a red Knock Out® rose. Introduced just 10 years ago these hybrid rose bushes are seen everywhere. Disease and drought resistant and loaded with blooms they have become a favorite of both commercial landscapers and home gardeners. The bright fire engine red of this bud caught my eye. Canon 40D, 1/250 sec @ f/2.5, ISO 100, 50mm compact macro lens.

258 - Cobblestone

From 365 Project

This patch of old cobblestone pavers on Armistead Avenue in Norfolk Virginia were revealed recently when a gas line construction project peeled back the modern asphalt overlay. Cobblestones, or more correctly quarried granite setts, lie under the surface of many streets in cities across America. Norfolk has restored them in the historic Freemason neighborhood near downtown. These will most likely get another coat of asphalt soon and be lost again. Canon G10, 1/400 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

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.

256 - Hot Tubbing Under the Stars

From 365 Project

This is the view looking straight up from the center the spa in our backyard. The arbor was designed and built by my brother in 2002. After a tough weekend of yard work, replacing the spa's circulation pump and painting the guest room, an evening in the spa was just what we needed. I wasn't even nervous about taking the camera into the spa, - well I was a little. Canon Rebel XTi, 0.6 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 800, 8mm fish eye lens.

255 - "Do or do not...."

From 365 Project

“Do or do not...there is no try.” My favorite Yoda quote and a photo of one of my favorite PEZ, the 2003 Limited Edition Green Crystal Yoda. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/1250 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400, 85mm prime lens on a tripod. Lighting Yoda for his portrait was fun. He is standing on a Micro LED LightPanel, providing up light, there is a three LED stick-on light position behind to help separate from the background and a green laser pointer positioned above and behind to light up the crystal head.

254 - Sprocket

From 365 Project

The afternoon sun cast an interesting light on this old and rusty bicycle sprocket. Canon PowerShot SD1100, 1/50 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 200, 40mm equivalent focal length in macro mode. Image converted to black & while using Silver Efex Pro in Photoshop Elements 6. Small point and shot cameras do a remarkably fine job with macro photos. The macro mode on the camera just tells the auto focus to look for the focus point much closer than in normal mode. Give yours a try, get close and I think you will be surprised by the results.

253 - Play-Doh!

From 365 Project

Play-Doh is so much fun, especially when the colors are all mixed together. Canon PowerShot SD1100, 1/50 sec @ f2.8, ISO 400 in digital macro mode. This is my first blog photo from my ultra small Canon SD1100 in "Bohemian Brown". So far five Canon cameras and one Blackberry have been used to take the 253 pictures posted to this blog.

252 - Reflective

From 365 Project

School is back in session and the yellow buses have returned to the streets in force. I have noticed how my car headlights illuminate the reflective tape long before you can see the actual bus. In this night photo of a line of school buses parked near the Kempsville intersection in Virginia Beach illuminate nicely with a little help from an off-camera strobe. Canon 40D, 1 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 200, 28mm focal length, Vivitar 285HV strobe on quarter power trigger by wireless remote. Camera mounted on a tripod. My thanks to Cindy for the subject suggestion.

251 - Drive In Lunch

From 365 Project

I've posted two pictures taken at Doumar's Diner & Curb Service on the blog so far this year. I eat lunch there about once a week; so often that they know me and just bring my regular order when they see me pull in. So today's picture is my regular order, barbecue sandwich with slaw (of course) and an order of fries delivered to the car. Canon G10, 1/250 sec @ F/3.5, ISO 100.

250 - A Naro Marquee

From 365 Project

The Naro Expanded Cinema is Hampton Roads Virginia's art house and revival theater, catering to local audiences interested in independent, foreign and limited release features since 1977. The Art Deco style theater was built in 1936 and originally opened as the Colley Theater. Located on Colley Avenue in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood, the theater has been home to the area's regular screenings of the The Rocky Horror Picture Show for 30+ years. Canon G10, 1/50 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400.

249 - Seven Things MeMe

Last week I was tagged with a MeMe by Janet – The Queen of Seaford. So now I have to tell you seven things about me you didn’t know.

1 – I married my high school sweetheart. Cindy and I met at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach. She was sixteen and I was seventeen when she asked me to the annual Sadie Hawkins Day dance. We have been married 34 years.
2 – Before moving into my current field of technology management, I worked as a City Planner. I was once in charge of naming streets in Virginia Beach.
3 – My father was a carpenter as was his father. From him I learned skills of woodworking and home improvement and do most of my own repairs. Coworkers have teased me about having renovated the entire house.
4 – As a collector I have over 500 different PEZ candy dispensers as well as numerous antique watches and lots of fountain pens.
5 – I can decipher binary and hexadecimal numbers. The clock on my desk at home is a binary display.
6 – A trivia buff, I know a little about a lot.
7 – My 15 minutes of fame came in 1993 when my son and I were at a local Subway restaurant and a pickup truck crashed into the store. No one was hurt, but the security camera caught the entire "made for TV" incident. We were startled to see ourselves jumping out of way on CNN the next morning. I was interviewed for an episode of a show called “Caught on Tape”. The episode still runs on cable TV now and then.

Now for today's photo - Sand dunes in the late afternoon sun. Canon G10, 1/2000 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 200.

From 365 Project

248 - Eye Contact

From Heart Concert

Made eye contact with this concert photo of Nancy Wilson of Heart as they headlined the American Music Festival at the 5th Street Stage in Virginia Beach. See more of my Heart concert photos in this Picasa web album. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/600 sec @ f/2.2, ISO 1600, 85mm f/1.8 prime lens.

247 - Buttons

From 365 Project

~BUTTONS~

In a bag full of buttons
I'm that tiny unique one.....

Odd in size and color
Holes as round as the sun.....

I may not shine or sparkle
Or even catch most eyes.....

I may not match one's attire
Nor compare to all those flies.....

Though, I may not have a matching set
I've learned to stand alone.....

When it comes to wearing the britches
I surely can hold my own.

A poem with meaning by 4 Sugar Bear

Canon G10, 1/4 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 400, 50mm equivalent focal length in macro mode.

246 - Aliens?

From 365 Project

This small flower has an almost alien feel to it. It comes from a stringy vine that appears in August on a number of my bushes. It is very small and delicate. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/250 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 800, 65mm macro at approximately 2.5/1, lighting with off camera strobe at 1/64 power.

245 - Surf's Up

From 365 Project

This surfer caught a good wave at Cape May beach this morning. Good surfing pictures are hard to capture. The action is fast, usually pretty far away and its hard to get the light just right. I was able to capture this image because of the way the jetties are at Cape May. I was standing on the jetty while the surfers were catching the waves in deep section just on the other side. The sunlight was coming over my left shoulder and I had the big zoom. I think it's my best surfing picture yet. Canon 40D, 1/640 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 400, 320mm focal length.

244 - Crystal Vision

From 365 Project

A close look at a crystal wall sconce light at the Virginia Hotel a restored 1879 landmark building on Jackson Street in the heart of the historic district of Cape May New Jersey. Canon G10, 1/400sec @ f/3.2, ISO 400, in macro mode.

243 - Sunset Beach

From 365 Project

It's rare to see a sunset over water on the East Coast but you can at Sunset Beach near Cape May, New Jersey. I took this photo about 5 minutes before the sun dipped into the bay. You can see the wreck of the concrete ship Atlantus just offshore. Canon 40D, 1/125sec @ f/11.3, ISO 100, 17mm focal with a 1 stop polarizing filter.

242 - Victorian Twilight

From 365 Project

This children's store is on the Washington Street Mall in Cape May, New Jersey. This is our first visit to Cape May and the great old Victorian architecture still dominates. So far we are loving our stay. Canon40D, 1/13sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400, 28mm focal length. Taken from our sidewalk dinner table at the Jackson Mountain Cafe.

241 - The Fruit of the Gods

From 365 Project

This apple is part of a larger work of art entitled the The Garden of the Hesperides by J. Kenneth Leap. It is located in the lobby of the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick New Jersey and comprises enameled float glass and glass mosaic tessera. The hand belongs to one of the Greek nymphs tending to the fruit of the gods in the garden which was the mythical venue for the eleventh labor of Hercules. Canon 40D, 1/40sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 144mm focal length.

240 - Two for one day

From 365 Project

Two photos today. The first is my photograph of the fresh vegetables on display at the Highland Park, New Jersey Farmers Market. There was lots of great stuff and we loaded up. Canon G10, 1/320 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 400.

From 365 Project

This second photo Cindy took as we were driving up US13 in Delaware this morning. This little dog was riding on his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle with his goggles on. You just don't see this everyday.

239 - Down the Drain

From 365 Project

This is a storm drain grate in a Salisbury Maryland parking lot. The parking lot lights cast nice hard shadows creating a scene that caught our eye as we walked by. Canon PowerShot SD870 IS, 1.0 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200, handheld with a deep breath and good image stabilization.

238 - Mountain Mint

From 365 Project

This small patch of Mountain Mint was attracting a lot of activity. There were at least 20 bees, wasps and moths working on the newly opening blooms. You could smell the mint in the air. Got to get some of these for my garden. Canon 40D, 1/250sec @ f/5.0, ISO 800, 200mm focal length (I wasn't getting too close to all of those stingers).

237 - Orb-weaver Spider

From 365 Project

I think this is a Garden Orb-weaver Spider. The main body is more than an inch long. She has been building this spectacular web each evening in my backyard and then takes it all down and retreats to a safe spot under a garden lantern until the next night. @Pleyades - I think this looks closer to your spider from last week rather than the wolf spider. Canon G10, 1/60sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400.

236 - Cooper Jack

From 365 Project

Parked next to this Mini Cooper with the these Union Jack covers on the side and rear view mirrors. I think Coopers now have the most after market accessories of any car. It seems that everyone who has one has tricked it up. In the old days the original VW Beetle was king of the accessories, I should know. Wish I still had that 1970 Bug. Canon G10, 1/800 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 100, 150mm equivalent focal length.

235 - Butterfly to Be?

From 365 Project

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly. ~Richard Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller Shooting macro photos has opened my eyes to so much. I was getting ready to pull this stringy vine that had grown up through my camellia bush, when I noticed it had these delicate blossoms. As I was photographing those I saw this little caterpillar on on the leaves. He turns out to be the photo of the day. Canon Rebel XTi (400D), 1/250 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 800, 2X macro, manual off-camera flash at 1/64 power.

234 - Make him stop - please!

From 365 Project

Max the cat looks back towards Susan. his rescuer, to save him again. This time from the photo a day blogger who keeps trying to take his picture without a model release. Susan rescued Max earlier this year and now the big Red Mackerel Tabby enjoys a charmed life, except when CIOPhoto is around. Canon G10, 1/8 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400.

233 - Scared Lotus

From 365 Project

Last month I posted a photo of an American Lotus with its butter cream yellow color. This time it's the Asian Scared Lotus in wonderful pale pink. Buddhist symbolism suggests, because they emerge from slime and corruption, then grow up through the purifying water to emerge into the sunlight, they are seen as metaphors for the development of the individual being towards enlightenment.* This one is at Pagoda & Oriental Garden in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Canon 40D, 1/320 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 100mm focal length.

232 - Smart!

From 365 Project

This is simple shot of the Smart car logo from a cool looking black model displayed in the MacArthur Center mall in Norfolk Virginia. The camera was pulled slightly downward during the exposure to create the three dimensional effect. Canon 40D. 1/4 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 200. Converted to black and white in Photoshop Elements using the Hidden Power Infrared and Custom B&W plugin.

231 - World Photography Day!

From 365 Project

Today is World Photography Day, yea! Thanks to @Pleyades for the heads-up tweet this morning. Photographer's love their gear and I'm a real gear geek. So I took this photo of my favorite rig, the Canon 40D with an 85mm, F1.8 prime lens. Even though we love our gear, a photographer's #1 pet peeve is when someone looks at one of their pictures and says, "wow that's a great photo, you must have a really nice camera." While gear is important, a good photographer can make a great picture with a cell phone camera. Canon Rebel XTi (400D) 1/250 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 200, 50mm macro lens. The subject was in a light tent and illuminated with two strobes.

230 - Fisheye Myrtle

From 365 Project

I know some photographers don't like those "silly circular" fisheye lenses. I don't use mine every much but it can produce some unusual results. This is the old crepe myrtle in my side yard at dusk. I used the camera's pop-up flash to light the tree and of course it falls off rapidly towards the edges of the extreme wide angle producing an even more pronounced circular framing. Canon Rebel XTi (400D), 1/60 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400, 8mm focal length.

229 - Beetle

From 365 Project

Back in June I chased a little beetle around with the macro lens for about an hour and never got a tack sharp image. This little guy didn't move at all so it was pretty easy to get a nice clear macro shot. The macro lens has an extremely short depth of field so capturing the sharpness at the point of interest can be challenging. Canon 40D, 1/400 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 800, 50mm macro lens.

228 - Casa del Gato

From 365 Project

Casa del Gato is home to the Lambert's Point feral cat colony. One cat seems to be checking the mailbox. The cat house is located on Orapax Street adjacent to the Lambert's Point docks and cargo terminal in Norfolk Virginia. Directly across the street is Tortilla West who's staff feed and keep an eye on the colony. The cats were spayed in 2008 in an effort to help control the colony's growth. Canon G10, 1/60 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 200, 54mm equivalent focal length.

227 - Buckeye Butterfly

From 365 Project

Caught this Buckeye Butterfly in the butterfly garden at Virginia Tech's Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, a.k.a. HRAREC, in Virginia Beach. The Center has some amazing gardens, thanks to Duane and Les for suggesting this as a place for photos. Canon 40D, 1/1600 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 800, 200mm focal length.

226 - Flame Out

From 365 Project

I was trying to get a macro photograph of a match at the instant of ignition. I got a few nice shots, but it is really hard to get the exposure just right because the match burns so intensely during that first brief moment and each match lights a little bit differently. After looking at the photos, I actually liked this shot best, just after the flame was blown out. What do you think? Canon Rebel XTi, 1/160 sec @ f/5.6. ISO 200, 50mm macro lens.

225 - More Zero's than Bill

From 365 Project

Wow, that's a lot of zero's, more than even Bill or Warren have . . . together! Canon G10, 1/8 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 200.

224 - Black Eyed Susan

From 365 Project

A large bunch of Black Eyed Susan's have been beckoning me to take their picture. I pass these every morning on my drive to work. Today's the day with the image captured using my latest favorite photographic gadget, the Lensbaby. Canon 40D, 1/640 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

223 - Buddleja davidii

From 365 Project

The Buddleja davidii is a variety of the plant commonly called a butterfly bush. This one has been moved around my yard over the years and now occupies a backyard corner. As it's common name implies, it does indeed attract the butterflies. In many areas this plant has become quite invasive and is even considered as a weed. The blooms are tightly bunched and very small but reveal their individual beauty under the macro lens. Canon 40D, 1/60 sec @ f/20, ISO 400. 50mm macro, with lighting provided by the Lightpanel Micro.

222 - Uncanny Resemblance

From 365 Project

I just received my latest issue of PEZ Collectors News in which an article pointed out the uncanny resemblance between PEZ Boy and Rod Blagojevich, the disgraced former governor of Illinois. You know what that means, a picture of the day highlighting the still much admired PEZ Boy, a star in his own right. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/200 sec @ ~f/4.0, ISO 200 using the Lensbaby Composer with +4 macro lens and the star shaped creative aperture.

221 - Skimming

From Skimming

The tide was way out and the waves small, smooth and breaking close to shore, not too good for surfers, but perfect for skimmers. Unlike surfing, skimboarding begins on the beach, with the skimboarder running and dropping their board onto the thin wash of waves. They use their momentum to 'skim' out to breaking waves, which they then catch back into shore in a manner similar to surfing. Several skimboarders were having a great time in the early evening surf as this photo demonstrates. Check out more of the fun from today's trip to Sandbridge Beach. Canon 40D, 1/800 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 100-400 zoom at 235mm focal length.

220 - Busy Bee

From 365 Project

The bumble bees were very busy working these blooms. I'm not sure what type of plant this is, but I've seen them around a lot this year. Canon G10, 1/200 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400, 28mm equivalent focal length in macro mode. Update 8-13-09: Janet, the Queen of Seaford, pointed out the plant the bees are so busy with is Lantana. Thanks Janet!

219 - Flying Buttresses

From Aug7

These massive flying buttresses support the the world's largest reinforced concrete dome at the Norfolk Scope. Designed by Italian architect/engineer Pier Luigi Nervi and completed in 1971, the Scope is a 12,600 seat arena which was the first professional home of basketball legend Julius Irving "Dr. J" as member of the ABA's Virginia Squires and the site of the first NCAA Division 1 Women's Basket Final Four in 1982. Today the arena is home to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. Canon 40D, 1/200msec @ f/18.0, ISO 100, 17mm focal length.