The Moon Is Quite Nice Tonight

Thanks to seeing Courtney Boyd's Facebook post "The moon is quite nice tonight :)", I was able to capture a nice photo for the last day of July, day 212 of 366. Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, zoom at 400mm with 1.4X teleconverter equaling a total focal length of 560mm. Converted to black in white using Lightroom 4 with the Silver Efex Pro 2 plug-in.

Sun Loving

Nothing says summer like bright and beautiful flowers. Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/13.0, ISO 200, 100mm macro.

Lipstick Day

Guess what; today is National Lipstick Day. Who would have thought? To celebrate I decided to do a lipstick photo for the blog. While taking the pictures Miss Sasha decided to come investigate. Being the diva she is, the lipstick looked intriguing and thus here's today's photo of the day. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/5 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Swallowtail

This swallowtail butterfly was photographed at Virginia Tech's Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center off Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach. This garden is one of the area's best kept secrets. Home to acres of plantings the garden was a buzz with, butterfies, bees and dragonflies. It's well worth a trip. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 100mm macro.

LLoyds Register

Dozens of old copies of the Lloyds Register Register of Ships line the shelves at the Norfolk Public Library's Service Center. The Register, published annually since 1764, lists information on all sea-going, self-propelled merchant ships of 100 gross tons or greater. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 1600, 85mm prime lens.

Oak Crossings

This crossing pattern in on one of the massive solid oak doors removed from the Seaboard Building in Norfolk Virginia. The building was originally built in 1899 as a U.S Post Office and Federal Courthouse. In 1938 it became Norfolk City Hall and is currently being renovated to become a key part of the new Samuel Slover Memorial Library. Canon 7D, 1/200 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 1600, 85mm prime lens, converted to black and white.

Genuine Microsoft

I had some other choice words to describe Microsoft over the past few days as I battled an uncooperative Windows 7 operating system on my main photo editing computer. I am finely giving in to a reinstall of the OS and all of the work that goes with getting the applications back. Luckily all of my photos and other data are backed up so the only loss was lots of my time. This is my original Windows 7 DVD with all of its Microsoft holographic logos. Canon 7D, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800, 100mm macro with one LED Litepanel.

Arachnid

This was one big arachnid. The body was about an inch and half long. Beautiful but scary at the same time. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 400mm focal length with image stablization.

Dragon Fly Bokeh

This slightly backlit dragon fly's wings sparkle against the water drops on the lilly pads in the background. Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 100-400mm zoom at 400mm.

American Lotus

- The American Lotus blooming at Lotus Gardens in Virginia Beach on the way to Sandbridge Beach. Canon 7D, 1/500 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 100-400mm zoom at 250mm.

Headed to the Bottom

The Downtown Tunnel links Norfolk and Portsmouth Virginia. This is the westbound tunnel, the first of two two-lane tunnels, it opened in 1952. The two-lane Downtown Tunnel replaced an automobile ferry system and in conjunction with the Berkley Bridge, was the first fixed crossing directly between Portsmouth and Norfolk across the Elizabeth River. Today's bridge and two tunnel system carries more than three million vehicles a month. Nowhere else in Virginia can you cross a drawbridge and then directly enter a tunnel. This tunnel had it's ceiling removed last year, revealing the full curved height of the tube. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/125 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 1600, 85mm prime lens.

Blue Flame

- The blue flame of butane torch lighter. A butane torch can reach temperatures of up to 2000 °F (1100 °C). Canon 7D, 1/40 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1600, 100mm macro, lighter in my left hand, camera in the right.

Dark Knight Rises as a PEZ

I figured tonight was the appropriate time for a Batman and Catwoman PEZ dispenser photo. Not heading out for a midnight showing of the Dark Night Rises but I can't wait to see the third film in the current millenium series. Canon 7D, 1/40 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro lens, two LED Litepanels.

LEDs

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source. When a light-emitting diode is switched on, electrons are able to recombine with electron holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence and the color of the light is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor. LEDs present many advantages over incandescent light sources including lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved physical robustness, smaller size, and faster switching. These LEDs are arrayed in one of my Litepanels that I use often for illumination in my macro and still life photographs. Source - Wikipedia. Canon 7D 1/1000 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400.

Pink Powder Puffs

Some see the Mimosa tree as an exotic tropical while others see it as an invading weed. Whatever your opinion is, you must concede it has beautiful delicate pink powder puff blooms. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro.

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.

Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family. It is the fifth most used cut flower in the world after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip. Canon 7D, 1/80 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Deco Mechcanical

Up close to some of the art deco mechanical details of the bellows arms from a Kodak Jiffy Six-16 Series 1 camera vintage 1933-37. Canon 7D, 1/40 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro coverted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2 and Lightroom 4.

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.

Happy Birthday George Eastman

- Today is the 158th anniversary of the birth of photographic pioneer George Eastman. Eastman was the inventor of roll film and founded the Eastman Kodak company. He brought photography to the masses with affordable, easy to use cameras including these classics Kodaks in my collection. From left to right - the Jiffy Six-16 Series 1 (1933-37), the Brownie Target Six-16 and the Brownie Target Six-20 (1946-1952). In addition to photography Eastman was major philanthropist, establishing the Eastman School of Music, and schools of dentistry and medicine at the University of Rochester; contributing to the construction of MIT's second campus on the Charles River; and donating to Tuskegee and Hampton universities. The last two years of his life he was in intense pain, caused by a degenerative disorder affecting his spine. On March 14, 1932, Eastman died by suicide leaving a note which read, "To my friends: my work is done. Why wait?" Canon G1X, 1/50 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 200.

Sugar, Sugar

Oh honey honey, sugar sugar..............
You are my candy girl

Sugar Sugar was a 4 week number 1 hit from 1969 by fictional characters The Archies. The song was originally released on the album Everything's Archie. It was the product of a group of studio musicians managed by Don Kirshner. Ron Dante's lead vocals were accompanied by those of Toni Wine, and Andy Kim. Together they provided the voices of the Archies using multi-tracking. You're welcome for sticking this song in your head for the rest of the day. iPhone 4, 1/268 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, Camera+ app. This is straight off the iPhone with no post processing.

Tesla's Birthday

- Happy Birthday to Nikola Tesla was born 156 years ago on July 10, 1856. This is a plasma lamp invented by Telsa. In U.S. Patent 0,514,170 issued to Tesla on February 6, 1894 he describes a plasma lamp. The materials and technology to build the lamp did not exist during Telsa's life. It wasn't until 1970 that Bill Parker an undergraduate student at MIT created this popular product sold throughout the world today. In addition to being the father of AC electrical current, Telsa invented, described or envisioned much of what defines modern technology and science. In my humble opinion, his biography "Tesla: Man Out of Time" by Margret Cheney should be required reading for anyone who practices science or technology.

Canon 40D, 1/15 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400.

Grind 'em

- Getting ready to grind the beans for pot of coffee. Nothing smells as good as fresh coffee. Canon G11, 1/80 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400 in macro mode, LED Litepanel.

Omega-3

- Fish oil tablets contain omega-3 fatty acids which are known to reduce inflammation throughout the body and may have other health benefits. According to Wikipedia the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are thought to be beneficial in treating hypertriglyceridemia, and possibly beneficial in preventing heart disease. Fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids have been studied in a wide variety of other conditions, such as clinical depression, anxiety, cancer, and macular degeneration, although benefit in these conditions remains to be proven. I'm taking no chances, I take my fish oil every day. Canon 7D, 1/800 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro, photographed on a light table.

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.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

- The light at the end of the tunnel on my walk from the parking garage to the office. Canon G11, 1/40 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 200.

Aceliner 502

- This is my Aceliner 502 "Executive" stapler. I have owned it for more than 30 years and moved it from office to office and job to job over the years. It now sits in my home office after I acquired a Red Swingline as a going away gift from my last job. The "Office Space" Red Swingline is now on the desk at work. While the Red Swingline is cool and a pop icon among geeks everywhere, the Aceliner 502 is clealy the best office stapler you can own. It is heavy, durable, has great Art Deco styling and staples like no other. There's enough steel in this baby to make six or eight of what passes for an office stapler at today's supply stores. Canon 7D, 1/60 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800.

Happy Birthday USA!

- Happy 236th Birthday to the USA. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800.

Cat 5E

- This is the connector on a Category 5 Enhanced, better known as Cat 5E, Ethernet patch cable used to connect a computer to a wired network. The cable has eight wires in four twisted pairs although in most cases only two pairs are used for communications. Each pair has a different distance between twists. This alternating distance reduces crosstalk, without affecting the characteristic impedance. The distance per twist is commonly referred to as pitch. Each pair contains between 51.7 and 65.2 twists per meter. How's that for dose of geek talk. Enough techno babel, here's some photo speak - Canon 7D, 1/40 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800, 100mm macro focused at about 12 inches from the subject. Light is from one LED Litepanel.

Ascent

This is John Safer's sculpture, Ascent located at the entrance of the the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. It honors the human endeavor of flight. I was lucky enough to catch this dragonfly just as it flew by with the 70 foot tall airfoil shaped sculpture in the background. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/1250 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 200.

Night Sleeper

- The leaves of the tree widely known in the U.S.A. as the Mimosa tree but more correct is the name albizia julibrissin or Persian silk flower. Its leaves slowly close during the night and during periods of rain, the leaflets bowing downward: its modern Persian name shabkhosb (شب‌خسب) means "night sleeper". In Japan its common names are nemunoki, nemurinoki and nenenoki which all mean "sleeping tree". Source Wikipedia. Canon Digital Rebel, 1/320 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro.