316 - Mass of Humanity

From 365 Project

There was a mass of humanity as we made our way through Times Square tonight. While digital billboards are what dominate this urban landscape, it the sheer number of people moving through it that amazed me. This must be the most photographed five blocks on the planet. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 19mm equivalent focal length.

315 - 11th

From 365 Project

Veterans Day in the U.S. is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice to end the "Great War" on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The day is of particular meaning to me as my father was a decorated Army combat veteran of WWII and the Korean War. I took this photo yesterday since the forecast for a major Nor'easter ruled out today. The Hampton National Cemetery was in tip top shape for the holiday. Canon G10, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200.

314 - Spinning

From 365 Project

The fall colors had me spinning today. It was an overcast day and I was looking for a photo where I wouldn't have too much of a blah sky in the image. I saw this colorful tree off Westover Avenue in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood and tried a camera rotation technique that I read about in a book by Bryan Peterson on understanding exposure. The camera is pointed up from under the tree and rotated during exposure. Canon G10, 1/4 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200 with the camera's electronic neutral density filter enabled.

313 - Golden Time

From 365 Project

The low afternoon sun is behind this maple tree and lighting up the yellow and gold leaves. The fall transition has accelerated with the cool nights we had last week. Canon G10, 1/1000 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 200.

312 - Swirl

From 365 Project

We had to move all of the furniture out of several rooms today because the hardwood floors will be refinished next week. The one lamp left in the living room created an interesting look on the swirled plaster ceiling. The strong contrast really highlights the swirl pattern. Canon 7D, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, zoom at 21mm.

311 - Upside Down & Red

From Nov7

My grandson spent the afternoon with us and was quite full of himself. He is hanging upside down looking at me through a red plastic candy dish. The empty candy dish is a good indication of how he got so full of himself. He just loves to visit Grammy's house! Canon Rebel XTi, 1/13 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400, 30mm prime lens.

310 - Under the Rose

From 365 Project

The rose has always been valued for its beauty and has a long history of symbolism. In Rome a wild rose would be placed on the door of a room where secret or confidential matters were discussed. The phrase sub rosa, or "under the rose", means to keep a secret — derived from this ancient Roman practice. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/400 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 800, 50mm macro lens. Converted to B&W in Lightroom 2.5 with the Cyanotype preset.

309 - Color Bomb

From 365 Project

Fall colors explode from this maple tree with a little help from the camera's zoom blur. Canon 7D, 1/5 sec @ f/9.0, ISO 200 with a variable neutral density filter set at 4 stops of light reduction. The effect is completely done in camera with the saturation pumped up a little in Lightroom. I was pleased with the "impressionistic" effect.

308 - Oh, What a Tangled Web She Weaves

From 365 Project

I know spiders creep out some of my loyal followers but this will probably be the last one as the spiders are getting scarce now. For some weeks now she has been building her orbweb just outside the side door at the house. Tonight's web was pretty spectacular and so it ends up as today's photo. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/25 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 50mm macro lens.

307 - Stainless

From 365 Project

Stainless steel has amazing properties for corrosion resistance and is often associated with clean modern design. This is one of three "Library" lamp shades in my office. The brushed finish on the curved shade nicely reflects the overhead lights and other features from my office. Canon G10, 1/25 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 200.

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.

305 - Calla Lily

From 365 Project

Oddly enough the calla lily is not a lily at all and it's not really a calla either. Calla lily is actually a common name for the zantedeschia genus which once was a part of the calla genus. It was separated into several smaller genuses when it became apparent they were not as closely related as biologists thought. But the common name has stuck and this beautiful flower is a beloved favorite. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/320 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 800, 50mm macro lens, illuminated by a micro Litepanel shining through the white flower.

304 - ZooBoo!

From 365 Project

Tonight we paid a visit to ZooBoo! at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk with my grandson. These are some of the hundreds of originally carved Jack-O'-Lanterns that lined the pathways throughout the zoo. We took the haunted hayride, the scary train ride and treat-or-treated to the max. Canon 7D, 1/15 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 1600, 30mm prime lens.

303 - Ghostly

From 365 Project

It is rare that I change the photo of the day post but tonight is one of those times. I had just posted a picture when my brother called and told me about a house in the neighborhood with flying ghosts as part of their Halloween decorations. I grabbed my camera and tripod and went to take a look. These are the ghosts flying by. They had rigged up a moving line with three ghosts traveling across half of the yard. They were still setting up so ride by and check it out, 5700 block of Susquehanna Drive in Virginia Beach. Canon 40D, 1/2 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400, 30mm focal length.

302 - Bony Flag

From 365 Project

The Jack O' Lantern is the most common decoration for Halloween but the skeleton runs a close second. Skeletons are a universal Halloween icon and a symbol of everything scary! Both are part of our seasonal decorations. This is our decorative flag back lit by the front porch light. Canon 7D, 1/8 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 1600.

301 - Departure

From 365 Project

This week's spooky theme continues. I saw this straggly tree with a little color in the old Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk Virginia. I was playing around with motion zoom technique and captured this eerie looking image. Canon 7D, 1/3 sec @ f/13.0, ISO 200 with a variable neutral density dialed in to block about 5 stops of light. With the resulting relatively slow shutter speed, I was able to zoom out while the shutter was open creating the "jump to light speed" look.

300 - BOO

From 365 Project

We are into the Halloween theme at our house this week. Cindy was wearing her glow in the dark "BOO" shirt today, so I had to see if I could capture the glowing "BOO" for today's post. From a camera's standpoint the glow is very faint light. Our eye's quickly adjust to pull the glow out of the darkness, but the camera is much more challenged by the very low light. Canon 7D, 1/20 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 1600.

299 - Jack-o'-lantern

From 365 Project

I spotted this rather evil looking jack-o'-lantern in a front yard along Warren Crescent in the old section of Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia. Massive old trees line the streets of this historic neighborhood. The neighborhood with its turn of the century Victorian mansions always makes for a good photo op. Canon 7D, 1/80 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 100.

298 - Frankie's Neon

From 365 Project

I've always been a fan of neon signs and it seems that we are seeing a lot more of them these days. This sign is at Frankie's Place for Ribs in Virginia Beach. I've been going there for years and I can honestly say the sign speaks the truth. Canon 7D, 1/800 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

297 - Happy Birthday!

From 365 Project

Today was my grandson Robert's third birthday. He loves John Deere tractors so that was the theme of his party. His mommy made the John Deere tractor cake and Robert blew out the candles but didn't want us to cut his pretty cake. Canon 7D, 1/200 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 800, light scoop on camera flash defector.

296 - First and Last

From 365 Project

These are some of the first buses acquired by the Virginia Electric & Power Company, one of the forerunners of today's Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), parked in front of the trolley barns and bus garage on 18th Street in Norfolk Virginia. The photo is dated June 12, 1927.

From 365 Project

82 years later three current HRT buses are parked in the same spot at the 18th Street bus garage. The garage will soon be torn down and replaced with a new garage. The two pictures show the first and last buses to operate at the 100 year old facility. Canon 40D, 1/100 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 100, 8mm fisheye lens.

295 - Eating Out of My Hand

From 365 Project

He had 'em eating out of his hand. My grandson Robert feeding the goats during our trip to the Hunt Club Farm and pumpkin patch this afternoon. It was a great afternoon - hay ride, big pile of hay, lots of goats, chickens and other animals, and of course pumpkins everywhere. Canon 7D, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, 44 mm focal length.

294 - Singer

From 365 Project

This antique Singer sewing machine is located in the upholstery shop at the old 18th Street bus maintenance facility in Norfolk Virginia. HRT moved out this past weekend and the buildings will be torn down next month. The building containing the upholstery shop was once the transit company's blacksmith shop and dates to the early 1900's. The site has continually served public transit since the late 1800's, first with electric trolleys and for the past 60 years as a bus operations facility. A new bus operations facility will be constructed on the site. Canon 40D, 1/60 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400 converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro in Photoshop Elements 6.

293 - Balsa

From 365 Project

This small hand-made balsa wood flower portrays the simplicity and elegance of Asian design. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/40 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400, 50mm macro lens.

292 - Cheesy Poofs

From 365 Project

Yes Cheesy Poofs, Eric Theodore Cartman's snack obsession. These are the tasty generic version of Cheetos Cheese Puffs. You can almost taste 'em, can't you. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/160 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 200, 50mm compact macro lens.

291 - Redundant

From 365 Project

With the massive Great Bridge raised the "Stop - Draw Open" sign seemed a bit redundant. The bridge crosses the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal in Chesapeake Virginia which is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. It opens every hour and this afternoon about dozen yachts motored through the opening on their way south for the winter. Canon G10, 1/80 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

290 - Digital Plumbing

From 365 Project

We were busy today cutting over to a new phone system at work that uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). I took this picture of some of the wiring "digital plumbing" which all of the company's data, information and phone calls depend on. Thing's went very smoothly and I'm glad I have such a talented and dedicated group of professionals that make all of the "magic" happen. Canon 40D, 1/25 sec @ f/2.8, Lensbaby Composer with the wide angle adapter.

289 - Fighting Back

From 365 Project

We're fighting back against this year's flu scare. We got our flu shots tonight courtesy of our good friend and my #1 blog fan, Susan. Bring it on, I'm ready. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/80 sec @ f/2.5, ISO 400, 50 mm macro lens, micro LED Litepanel.

288 - "Say Pepsi, Please"

From 365 Project

This is a close up of an embossed Pepsi-Cola logo on a mid-1950's vintage bottle. My father used to pick up old bottles whenever he found them. When I was young we would walk along the side of the road and collect discarded soda bottles and return them for the deposit. His shop had a lot of old bottles in it and this is one of several he gave me a number of years ago. I filled it with fresh Pepsi from a can for the photo. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/6 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 100, 50mm macro lens. Back light from the micro LED Litepanel.

287 - Signs of the Season

From 365 Project

Today was our first fall day with crisp cool autumn temperatures. My first attempt at a blog photo was a dismal failure. It was a good picture concept but poorly executed and not worthy of your time or attention. So my wife Cindy came to the rescue with this fall season setup idea. At first the gourds alone weren't doing much so she tossed in some candy corn and voila a picture of the day. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/250 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 100, 30mm prime lens and two off-camera flashes.

286 - Retreads

From 365 Project

Used bus tires await their fate at Hampton Roads Transit's maintenance facility. Most are destined for retreads and reuse. HRT buses travel over 12 million miles a year, so we use a lot of tires. Like many transit operators across the country, HRT saves money by leasing its tires. Canon 40D, 1/125 sec @ f/9.0, ISO 200 converted to black and white in Adobe Lightroom 2.5.

285 - Pomaceous Fruit

From 365 Project

Red and green pears on an iridescent carnival glass dish. This still life gave me some more practice on still life photography using a multiple off-camera flash lighting setup. If you're a regular follower of the blog you have seen a few of these recently. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100, 30mm prime lens, 2 off-camera strobe flashes set at 1/16th power and a micro LED Litepanel to highlight under the rim of the carnival glass.

284 - Fall Flowers

From 365 Project

These are a few of the flowers in a bundle of cut flowers I picked up today. I like having real flowers in the house, it really changes the way a room feels. Canon G10, 1/500 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 400, light from a micro LED Litepanel.

283 - For a Buck

From 365 Project

We went to Target today and just inside the door where the bins of neat cheap stuff are I found these cool glow in the dark bracelets for $1.00. They are actually 12 thin plastic tube chemical light sticks in four colors with little connectors. This is a long exposure picture of the four loops I made set in motion. Canon Rebel XTi, 2 seconds @ f/5.6, ISO 200, 50mm lens.

282 - Night Drive

From 365 Project

Out for a night drive with the camera and fish eye lens. This shot was made possible by using a nasty clamp to mount the camera hanging upside down from the center of the sunroof opening. You never know what I'll try next to get a picture. Canon Rebel XTi, 1.6 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200, 8mm fish eye, remote shutter release.

281 - I've Seen the Light!

From 365 Project

Wannabe Green? The compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL) is one way to help save the world. If each household in the U.S. swapped out one 60 watt traditional lightblub it would save enough electricity to power all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island. In terms of oil not burned, or greenhouse gases not exhausted into the atmosphere, one bulb is equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the roads. Houses in the U.S. have 50 to 100 sockets, imagine if they all had the mighty CFL in them. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/250 sec @ f/20, ISO 100 with two off-camera strobes, one with a green gel. Thanks to Fast Company for the facts and figures and to Strobist.com for the lighting concept.

280 - Spider-in-a-Seashell

From 365 Project

I know that I've really been creeping out some of my regular followers with close-up spider pictures. But I just had to do this one. This is the Spined Micrathena orb-weaver spider. I've noticed two in my yard this fall for the first time, although I understand they are very common in Virginia. The females build large elaborate webs in forested areas about five feet off the ground. So if you're in the woods and walk into a web, most likely its the work of a Spined Micrathena. Fortunately they are harmless to humans but I'm sure that's no comfort to the arachnophobic among you. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/100 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 50mm compact macro lens and micro LED litepanel.

279 - Spooky

From 365 Project

Halloween is coming up fast, so we brought down the decorations and they inspired this picture idea. Those three sets of eye balls blink in random patterns so it took a few tries to catch all three lit up at once. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/60 sec @ f/5.6, 50mm prime lens.

278 - Fire Wheel

From 365 Project

This fire valve was made by Giacomini in Italy but is inscribed with the word "open" in English. I wonder if they make the wheels in different languages? Canon G10, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 200.

277 - Candy Corn

From 365 Project

Candy Corn is a sign of the season at our house. Invented in the 1880's, American's buy about 20 million pounds of candy corn each year. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/250 sec @ f/20.0, ISO 100, 50mm compact macro lens. Two off-camera strobes, a micro Litepanel LED and a Light Shed were used in the setup.

276 - Happy Heron

From 365 Project

This Great Blue Heron was happily sunning himself while standing on a piling at the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry dock in Surry Virginia. He didn't move at all as the ferry pulled out while I took this closeup portrait shot. Canon 40D, 1/1600 sec @ f/9.0, ISO 400, 260mm focal length.

275 - Conch

From 365 Project

This small conch shell has been illuminated from below and the macro photo shows off the beautiful color, patterns and contrasts present in the shell. Canon G10, 1/10 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400 in macro mode.

274 - Spare Tire

From 365 Project

There's not much to say about this one - it's just a spare tire. But it gave a me good reason to link to the Wikipedia - Spare Tire entry which is particularly fascinating. Who knew you could say so much about a spare tire and of course they include a link to the entry for "Love handles". Canon G10, 1/320 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400, converted to black and white in Picasa.

273 - Reach for the Sky

From 365 Project

This crane appears to be reaching for the sky. It was actually lifting new roofing materials to the top of Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton Virginia. With the cooler weather this week, we have had deep blue skies and lots of amazing fluffy clouds. Canon G10, 1/250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200. Taken through an open sun roof while sitting at the stoplight at Settler's Landing Rd and Bridge St.

272 - Sticker Ball

From 365 Project

This nasty little sticker ball is surrounding those chestnuts that they'll sing about roasting on an open fire in a few months. Do people actually roast chestnuts? Anyway, my next door neighbor has a large old American Chestnut tree in her back yard. The tennis ball sized stickers drop to the ground and open into four wedges releasing the nuts inside. The thorns are very sharp and quite effective at protecting the nuts. Canon 40D, 1/250 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 400, 50mm macro lens with off camera flash at 1/64th power.

271 - Storm Spider

From 365 Project

I've only changed the picture once before after posting it to the blog but I'm going to do it again tonight. A series of thunderstorms just swept through dumping about an inch of rain in a little over an hour. This big spider has been building a web each night just out side my side door. After the storm I stuck my head outside to see if all of the wind and water had messed up the web, but to my surprise she was wet but still hanging in there. Canon G10, 1/250 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400, in manual mode with manual macro focus (auto focus doesn't work in the dark). The lighting was provided by a Canon 430EX Speedlite also in manual mode at 1/32 power with a wireless controller.

270 - Float Through

From 365 Project

The clouds appear to be floating right through the SunTrust Building in downtown Norfolk Virginia. The picture was taken from Town Point Park on the Elizabeth River on day with a bright blue sky and big white fluffy clouds. Canon 40D, 1/1000 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 200, 31mm focal length.

269 - Onancock

From 365 Project

We paid a visit to Onancock on Virginia's Eastern Shore today. The name, Onancock, is derived from the Indian word "auwannaku" meaning foggy place. The little town near the Chesapeake Bay dates to 1680. We had a nice lunch at Mallard's on the Wharf where this picture of the small harbor was taken. Canon G10, 1/2000 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

268 - Jammin'

From 365 Project

Spent almost an hour stuck in this traffic jam on the way home from work tonight. I-264 East in Norfolk Virginia had three lanes blocked due to accident caused by a truck involved in a police pursuit. The police got their man, the rest of us got to waste a lot of time and fuel. Seems to me if you going to try to out run the police, foolish in its own right, you wouldn't try to do at rush hour. But that's just me. Canon G10, 1/60 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400.