Remembrance

From 2010 Blog

- Took this picture of Old Glory for Memorial Day. Just remembering my father, Edward H. Sullivan. He retired from the U.S. Army after serving in France and Germany with the Eight Infantry Division in WWII and during the Korean Conflict with the 25th Infantry Division. He was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor and the Combat Infantry Badge and also the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Clusters. Canon 7D, 1/200 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.

Cat's Eye

From 2010 Blog

- Our cat Sasha was between the blinds and the window today when I noticed her carefully watching me. The camera caught her gaze with the blinds reflected in her right eye. Cat's have outstanding vision and see just as well as we can with only 1/6th the amount of light. Canon 40D, 1/100 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400, 50mm macro.

Touch Tone

From 2010 Blog

The "Touch Tone" telephone was standardized when the dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) system in the new push-button telephone was introduced in the 1960s, and replaced the rotary dial. When used to dial a telephone number, pressing a single key will produce a pitch consisting of two simultaneous pure tone sinusoidal frequencies. The row in which the key appears determines the low frequency, and the column determines the high frequency - hence the name dual tone mutli-frequency. Canon 40D, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 50mm macro.

Five Star

From 2010 Blog

- This perennial has delicate white star-like blossoms with five points. The was in one of my favorite gardens on Mowbray Arch in the Ghent section of Norfolk. You can check out the sunset view from Mowbray Arch on my friend Jeff's "For Lack of a Better Photo" 365 project blog. Canon G11, 1/125 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 400 in macro mode.

gohrt.com

From 2010 Blog

- Shameless promotion of Hampton Roads Transit's website gohrt.com. I'm pretty proud of what we do with the website and all of our technology projects. My small team of techno magicians are amazing! These are HRT promo prencils illuminated with an LED alternate lightsource to give it that cool glow. Canon 40D, 1/50 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 50mm macro.

A Lovely Shade of Blue

From 2010 Blog

This hydrangea has a lovely blue color, some might call it periwinkle. This night photography technique uses the micro Litepanel LED to eliminate the bloom. The LED light gives very true color results and since the low power light falls off rapidly, the background is black and the vivid colors of the flower dominate the image. Canon 40D, 1/800 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 50mm focal length.

Dog n Burger

From 2010 Blog

- The Dog n Burger Grill in the Ghent section of Norfolk Virginia is one of my regular lunch stops. My standard order is the #3 New York Hot Combo. Canon G11, 1/640 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Cranes

From 2010 Blog

- Some would say the official bird of the Norfolk Virginia waterfront is the "crane". This photo was taken from the Elizabeth River Ferry landing in downtown Norfolk looking towards the Berkley section of the city. The five tower cranes are part of Metro Machine's Berkley shipyard. Between the shipyards and their tower cranes and the port terminals and their gantry cranes, the waterfront that was once the home of ships masts and funnels, is now dominated by cranes. Canon 40D, 1/250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Lantana!

From 2010 Blog

- Lantana is a hardy, stunning plant known for attracting butterflies. This variety is Chapel Hill Gold which I picked up at Strawbridge Garden Center in Virginia Beach today. I placed it with a multicolored Lantana called Citrus Blend, They should definitely brighten things up a bit. Canon 40D, 1/25 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 50mm macro.

Helper

From 2010 Blog

- My helper Sasha was watching over my every move as I post-processed some pictures for the blog. Her reward, seeing herself on the screen. She loves to look at herself in the mirror or in pictures - she seems to be thinking "man that's one good looking kitty". Canon 40D, 1/13 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800. A little ear twitch and a slow exposure make this a less than purfect shot.

Broadband

From 2010 Blog

- The glowing LED's of my broadband router are a comforting sight. What did we do before high speed Internet, for that matter what did we do before Internet? One thing was developing film and waiting for photos. Another was actuality writing a letter. I for one don't miss those good ol' days. In fact the good ol' days weren't all that good. Canon 40D, 1/6th sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Coming to the Beach

From 2010 Blog

- Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa just announced a concert date in support of his new album "Black Rock" in Virginia Beach on November 19, 2010. Can't wait to see him in concert again. This photo is from a current tour performance last month in New York City, it was an awesome show. Canon G11, 1/40 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 800.

Rolling Plasma

From 2010 Blog

- I have posted twice before using pictures I took of a plasma globe. The other two were taken with my hand touching the globe thereby drawing the energy to a single point. In this photo the plasma is rolling randomly throughout the entire globe. Canon 40D, 1/15 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400.

RPN

From 2010 Blog

- The ENTER key on a calculator is a clear sign that it employs the Reverse Polish notation or RPN method to evaluate mathematical expressions. My first RPN calculator was the 1978 model HP32E which I owned and used for over 20 years. My first serious programming was done on an HP41C, basically a handheld computer which was also used as the third level backup system computer for the first nine space shuttle missions. It's always fun to hand your RPN calculator to an unsuspecting victim and watch them search for the nonexistent "=" key - its a geek thing. Canon 40D, 1/500 sec @ f/2.0, 50mm macro lens.

Cycles

From 2010 Blog

- On February 9th I posted a picture of my orchid on this blog. This is the first one that re-bloomed for me. I was proud of the both the amazing flower and the photo. Tonight's photo is of the same bloom 97 days later as it begins to fade away. Although a little sad, it is still interesting and I had its full wonder to appreciate for over three months. I can now understand why Orchid lovers are so passionate about these plants. Canon 40D, 1/160 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800, 50mm macro lens.

Who Could Ask For Anything More?

From 2010 Blog

- Festival food vendors offer a gamut choices especially for meat lovers. This vendor at the Stockley Gardens Art Festival is appealing to many varied tastes. There were more a few turkey leg diners strolling the booths. I saw most of the usual festival offerings but no fried Snickers bars, what's up with that. So I had to make due with a $4 lemonade. Canon 7D, 1/320 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.

Lonely in a Crowd

From 2010 Blog

- These four benches at the Stockley Gardens park in the Ghent section of Norfolk have been retro fitted with center arm rests to discourage sleeping on the park benches by the homeless. Someone had left a Gideon's New Testament Bible encased in a plastic sandwich bag on the first bench. I wonder what Jesus would have thought about the anti bum bars? Canon 7D, 1/500 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.

Shavings

From 2010 Blog

- I was emptying the pencil sharpener tonight and the bright green flecks of paint from my new goHRT.com pencils caught my eye. I guess it was my early training in drafting that made me a fan of the humble pencil. The author John Steinbeck was an obsessive pencil user and is said to have used as many as 60 a day. His novel East of Eden took more than 300 pencils to write. Canon 40D, 1/200 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800, 50mm macro lens with the life size converter.

Deep Orange

From 2010 Blog

- This is the bloom from a Nonstop® Mocca Deep Orange Tuberous Begonia that I picked up a few weeks back at the Strawbridge Garden Center in Virginia Beach. The hanging basket is pretty spectacular and especially well suited to my shady backyard. The blooms are large and multi-layered and plentiful. Canon 1/80 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 50mm macro lens.

Fortress Monroe

From 2010 Blog

- Completely surrounded by a moat, the six-sided stone fort in Hampton Virginia is the only one of its kind left in the United States that is still an active Army post. Unfortunately Fort Monroe is one of several posts selected to be closed by September 2011. Robert E. Lee, a young first lieutenant and engineer was stationed there from 1831 to 1834, and played a major role in the final construction of the fort. In 1828 a private going by the name of E. A. Perry, better known today as the famous author Edgar Allan Poe was stationed at the garrison rising to the rank of Sergeant Major for Artillery. The granite walls and moat looked much the same today as did when Robert E. Lee and Edgar Allen Poe served there. Canon G11, 1/250 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 400.

Trash Rock

From Rock n Roll HOF

- A self portrait taken last week at the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. That's me to left with the Hall's ceiling and gift shop reflected in the chrome dome trash can cover. Canon G11, 1/800 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400. The Hall's no photography policy in the exhibits left me a little cold.

Details, Details, Details

From 2010 Blog

- Regular followers of my blog know that I am a fan of architectural details. While attending Allison and Tom's wedding reception at the Huber Court in the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, I noticed how the decorator's had placed dramatic up lighting at the base of each column of the side arches. This lighting really brings out the details and textures of stone work. Canon Powershot SD870 IS, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 200 in macro mode.

Floating Bubbles

From 2010 Blog

- New bubble wand, beautiful sunlight and a nice breeze challenged my camera today. I got a couple of nice photos and ending up choosing this one for today's blog post. Take a look at the runner up and see which one you like best. I bet I looked pretty strange waving the bubble wand and then running with the camera trying to catch the bubbles before they popped. Canon 40D, 1/200 sec @ f/6.4, ISO 200, 50mm, a full frame image with no cropping.

Huber Court

From 2010 Blog

- Huber Court at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk Virginia. Tonight we attended the beautiful wedding of my friend Allison and her husband Tom. The ceremony was outside in the Memorial Garden with wonderful late afternoon sunshine streaming in. The dinner and reception was held in Huber Court which was spectacular in dramatic lighting and flowers. The cake was framed by these stairs and entrance to galleries. Canon Powershot SD870 IS, 1/8 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 250, hand held - a testament to the little point 'n shoot's image stabilization.

Commerce & Electricity

From Cleveland

- This sculpture by Daniel Chester French, famous sculptor of seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., is located at the front of the historic Beaux-Arts masterpiece that is the Howard M. Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse in Cleveland. Entitled "Commerce" it depictes a female figure holding a model ship in one hand while her other arm rests on a globe representing the opportunity for world trade. At her right is "Electricity," symbolized by a female figure holding a magnet catching electrical sparks. Canon G11, 1/25 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 400, converted to black and white.

Fountain of Eternal Life

From Cleveland

- The has has to be one of the more interesting war memorial monuments I have seen. The Fountain of Eternal Life, also known as the War Memorial Fountain and Peace Arising from the Flames of War, is a statue and fountain in Cleveland, Ohio. Located in the Cleveland Mall the Terminal Tower is visible in the background. Check out some other photos from my visit to Cleveland.

Stampin'

From Cleveland

- A giant rubber stamp at Cleveland's Willard Park. When I first started my career in government many years ago rubber stamps were commonplace. Massive multi-tiered rubber stamp trees held the tools of bureaucracy on any self respecting bureaucrat's disk. I suspect most kids today have never seen one. It is appropriate that this massive stamp is right next door to Cleveland's City Hall. Canon G11, 1/400 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

Terminal Tower

From 2010 Blog

- The Terminal Tower is a landmark skyscraper located on Public Square in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was built during the skyscraper boom of the 1920s and 1930s, and was the second-tallest building in the world when it was completed. The Terminal Tower stood as the tallest building in North America outside of New York City from its completion in 1930 until 1964. Info from Wikipedia. Canon G11, 1/15 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 800.

Assateague Light

From 2010 Blog

- The Assateague Lighthouse has a distinctive sequence of light shining, a double flash, which sets it apart from other east coast lighthouses. An automatic timer starts the process each evening. This is view of the twin rotating lights. For those of you who really need the traditional lighthouse view check out this photo from our visit in 2007. Canon Digital Rebel XTi, 1/60 sec @ f/22.0, ISO 200, 18mm focal length.

New Cape Henry Light

From 2010 Blog

- This is "New" Cape Henry light a blog update a few days later than I had promised. In the 1870s, concerns about the condition and safety of the Old Lighthouse at Cape Henry led to the construction of New Cape Henry Lighthouse in 1881. The new light is composed of enormous cast-iron plates bolted together and is the tallest cast-iron, fully enclosed lighthouse in the United States. This picture shows both the old and new lighthouses at Cape Henry. Canon 40D, 1/250 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100.

Ocracoke Light

From 2010 Blog

- Built in 1832 the Ocracoke light is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina. Ocracoke Island is one of the most remote islands in North Carolina's Outer Banks. It can only be reached by one of three public ferries, private boat, or private plane. Most of the island with the exception of the village of Ocracoke is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.