Pleasant Hall

- Pleasant Hall has been a constant in my neighborhood since 1769. Witness to the Revolutionary War and everything since, it now overlooks yet another rebuilding of the Kempsville - Princess Anne intersection. While everything around it has changed, and changed and is still changing this beautiful example of Georgian architecture remains the only constant. Another 365 project done. Canon G11, 1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200, converted to B&W using Silver Efex Pro 2 and Lightroom 3.

Here Comes My Train.

- Rode The Tide to and from a meeting at Norfolk City Hall this afternoon. This is my westbound return trip train pulling into the Civic Plaza station. When I got on board there was a little boy riding with his grandparents who was so excited. I asked him if he was having fun and he nodded yes. His grandfather said he loved trains and then he said, well heck I love trains too. Every time I ride I see people truly enjoying themselves and almost everyone comments that The Tide needs to go to Virginia Beach. I couldn't agree more. This is photo 364 of 365, just one more to finish out my third year of daily photos. iPhone 4, 1/625 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera + app.

Whole Beans

- A key to a good cup of coffee, start with whole beans, grind with a burr grinder and then drip brew. These beans are called 454 Horsepower by Kicking Horse Coffee, dark and rich and so good. Be forewarned: don't tangle with this horse unless you're prepared to get bucked... Canon G11, 1/200 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 200, lots of LED lighting and converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2 and Lightroom 3.

Extreme Project 365 x 3

- The downtown Norfolk Virginia skyline rimmed in holiday lights at twilight. Notice the ice skaters at the MacArthur Mall rink in the right foreground. Photo 362 of this year's 365 project. For me it's 365 x 3 so that makes 1092 straight daily photos and blog posts - extreme project 365x3. Canon G11, 0.8 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400 camera stabilized on the ledge of the Bank Street parking garage.

Guilty

- Yes we are guilty of having holiday salt and pepper shakers. Not one set mind you, but two. So here's the dilemma of the day, which one to hold salt and which to hold pepper. In each set one shaker has two holes and one has three. So I did what any right-minded web surfer would do, I asked Google. Well the jury is still out on this question. Seems there are strong camps on both sides, more holes for salt and more hole holes for pepper. I like lots of pepper so the three hole shaker got the ground pepper while the two hole shaker ended up with salt. Now there's one more opinion out on the web but mine has the cutest photograph. Canon G11, 1/320 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400, in macro mode, two LED litpanels and nine overhead ceiling spot lights.

Rockettes

- The Rockettes are a Christmas mainstay as part of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show. We saw them in 2009 and this ornament hanging on our tree is a reminder of that great show and the Christmas season in New York. Canon 40D, 1/125 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Mr. Fix-it

- Robert received his "Li'l Helper" tool kit including PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) from Grammy and Grandpa for Christmas. He immediately decided that something needed fixing so he went to work on the faucet in the shower. He looks just like Handy Manny. Canon PowerShot SD870 IS, 1/60 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 250 with flash.

Happy Holidays

- The sign says it all. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Canon 7D, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 50mm prime lens.

Snow Flakes

Down the Slinky

- I can't resist an old fashion metal Slinky.

The best present yet to give or get
The kids will all want to try.
The hit of the day when you're ready to play.
Everyone knows it's Slinky.

iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 1000, olloclip fisheye lens, Camera+ app.

Walmart Dawn

- Started my day early with a trip to Walmart. Walmart trips are always special. iPhone 4, 1/170 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ App, Sunset Scene.

Fisheye Santa

- Bringing the olloclip fisheye lens on my iPhone 4 to Santa and the Christmas tree. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 640, Camera+, Clarity Scene, Square Crop, Thin White Border.

Indirect Light

- This picture features indirect lighting. The sun is coming up in the east behind the Norfolk Southern Building, the tall one in green glass and hitting directly on the Bank of America Building which is brightly reflected in the green glass. It also produces nice silhouettes of a tree on the right and the Norfolk Confederate monument with "Johnny Reb" standing on top to the left side of the frame. The scene is located in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. iPhone 4, 1/250 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ App, Clarity Scene, Freeform Crop, and Vibrant EX Effect.

Beach Cruisers

- Beach cruiser bikes for Christmas? Best Value Hardware 4801 Shore Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia has all colors and several styles. iPhone 4, 1/161 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ App, Vibrant FX Effect and Vignette Border applied.

Say Ahh

- From a visit to the doctor's office earlier this week. Not sick, just a check up. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 250

Flyer

Petrie says "Nothing can escape the looker in the sky! Me see everything; me KNOW everything!" Canon 40D, 1/15 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200, 100mm.

I Believe You Have My Stapler

- Yes I do. This is a Swingline Limited Edition Series 747 Rio Red Business Stapler a much appreciated going away gift from Philip Shucet. If you don't understand the significance of the Red Swingline Stapler, just watch the movie Office Space or if you need instant gratification turn to the Net at www.redswinglinestapler.com. Canon 40D, 1/100 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 800, two LED Litepanels with a little fill flash.

Tree of Light

- The tree of light at the Garden of Lights display at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. This section of lights was sycn'd to the holiday sound track broadcast on a low power FM radio station. The light show is worth the trip and the $10 buck a car admission. Canon 7D, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Star of Bethlehem

- The star-shaped flowers of the Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum) are a delight of the holiday season. Canon 40D, 1/500 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 800, 100mm macro, LED Litepanel.

Zildjian

- Drummer Sandy Gennaro of the Pat Travers Band and his Zildjian cymbals. The first Zildjian cymbals were created in 1623 by Avedis Zildjian, an alchemist who was looking for a way to turn base metal into gold; he created an alloy combining tin, copper, and silver into a sheet of metal that could make musical sounds without shattering. Still manufactured by the Avedis Zildjian Company for nearly 400 years, Zildjian is one of the oldest companies in the world. Canon 7D, 1/30 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 70-200 f/2.8 IS II zoom at 200mm focal length.

Baubles

- It's the time of year to break out the Christmas ornaments. A bauble is a spherical decoration that is commonly used to adorn Christmas trees. The bauble is one of the most popular Christmas ornament designs, and they have been in production since 1847. Glass baubles were first made in Lauscha, Germany, by Hans Greiner. Canon 40D, 1/13 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100mm macro with image stablization.

Holiday Sasha

- Miss Sasha is enjoying the holiday decorations. Canon 40D, 1/40 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Pool Deck

- Whiskey Myers rocking the pool deck stage on the Liberty of the Seas. iPhone 4, 1/1667 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, using the fisheye lens from the Olloclip 3-in-1 lens.

Hammerheads

- The loyal fans of rock guitarist Pat Travers, "Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)", refer to themselves as "Hammerheads." Here Pat and his band rock the Liberty of the Seas as part of the 2011 Rock Legends Cruise. Canon 7D, 1/250 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, zoom at 70mm focal length.

Caribbean Sunrise

There's nothing quite like a Caribbean Sunrise. Canon G11, 1/160 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100.

Transformers

- Robert's Transformer robots prepare for a big lunch time battle. On the left is Starscream a Decepticon disguised as an F15 fighter jet versus Optimus Prime leader of the Autobots. iPhone 4, using the Camera+ app, Freeform crop, Pinhole FX, and Thin White frame.

Frankenstein

Edgar Winter is amazing!!! He invented the keyboard body strap early in his career, an innovation that allows him the freedom to move around on stage during his multi-instrument high-energy performances. He was also the first artist to feature a synthesizer as the main instrument in a song. "Frankenstein" revolutionized rock and roll and opened up a whole new world of possibilities with experimentation and sound - from Wikipedia. Canon 7D, 1/800 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Sharp Dressed Men

- ZZ Top was the headliner band for the Rock Legends Cruise. They not only dressed for success but rocked the ship big time for three straight nights. Also got to meet FM99's Rock Girl Lindsey who won a trip on the legends cruise. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Polly Wanna Cracker?

- This cool parrot greeted us as we arrived at the Ardastra Gardens. Located just outside of downtown Nassau, Bahamas. There is no place quite like the Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Center. The 5½ acre park is part jungle, part gardens and part zoo. Canon G11, 1/60sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400.

Silver Palm

The Silver Palm tree is what the locals take to weave their baskets, placemats, hats, fans, artwork, portfolios, handbags, and other straw work designs. Canon G11, 1/50 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200.

B-B-B-B-Bad to the bone

- George Thorogood and the Destroyers rocking "Bad to the Bone" on the Rock n Roll Legends cruise. Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

LUV

- LUV is the New York Stock Exchange symbol for Southwest Airlines. The airline once used the tag line "The Somebody Else Up There Who Loves You." I love flying Southwest and apparently many others do Southwest is the largest airline in the United States based on passengers carried in 2010. Canon G11, 1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, converted to Black & White in Lightroom 3 using Silver Efex Pro 2.

Rhombicuboctahedron

- The Moravian star is generally a 26-point form, composed of eighteen square and eight triangular cone shaped points. This shape is technically known as a Great Stellated Rhombicuboctahedron. Each face of the geometric solid in the middle, the Rhombicuboctahedron, serves as the base for the "stellations" or starburst points. The Moravian star is a popular illuminated piece of Advent or Christmas decoration but was most likely first developed as a geometry lesson at a Moravian Boy's School in Germany. Canon 7D, 1/200 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 200mm focal length.

Sleigh Bell

- Added a few gold and silver jingle bells to the garland surrounding the front door. Not only goes it give it a cool look but the doorway now has that sleigh bell sound as you come and go. Canon 40D, 1/80 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Nimmo

- Nimmo United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia was built in 1791. The original structure still stands as the sanctuary, although it has undergone many changes over the years. It is the oldest surviving Methodist Church in continuous use in Virginia. Around 1840, the balcony was added as a slave gallery. It survives today as the only remaining structure directly related to the period of slavery in Princess Anne County, now part of modern day Virginia Beach. Records show that in 1846 Nimmo had 170 white members and 42 "colored members." During the civil war Nimmo used to house Union troops and as a hospital. Some of these troops left initials and names of their sweethearts carved into the posts supporting the balcony. Information from the church website. Canon G11, 1/250 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 100

Lighted Deer

- The lighted deer have arrived for another season at Grammy and Grandpa's house. Robert and Sherlock are delighted. Canon G11, 1/3 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 100, camera on a railing with 2 sec delay timer on the shutter.

Man

- Man - an eight and half foot tall bronze sculpture by Gaston Lachaise an American sculptor is part of the permanent collection at the Chysler Museum in Norfolk Virginia. It was originally commissioned but never realized in 1935 by the City of Philadelphia for Fairmount Park. Walter P. Chysler, Jr. independently commission the casting of Man in 1938. Canon G11, 1/20 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 800, converted to black and white in Lightroom 3 using Silver Efex Pro 2.

Le Chat Noir

- Sherlock in his favorite morning spot on the window sill. His silhouette reminded my of the famous poster from the Parisian night club "Le Chat Noir." iPhone 4, 1/170 sec @ f/2.9, ISO 80, Camera+ App.

Looking Down on Sunrise

- There is one good thing about an o-dark-thirty flight, you get to look down on sunrise from 35,000 feet. Canon G11, 1/60 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 800.

Twilight Signage

- There are always amazing colors at twilight. This is why photographers call this the golden hour. This is actually civil twilight, that time after the sun has completely set but the sky still has a little illumination. The signs are lit by the street light and car headlights. Canon G11, 1/20 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 800.

Gibson "Bona-Bird"

- Another photo and another guitar from Joe Bonamassa's concert in Richmond Virginia. Commissioned by Joe this unusual guitar combines a reverse Firebird neck with a Les Paul body and a single humbucker. Here Joe's shredding on "Slow Train." Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 85mm lens.

Instant Sun

- Don't ask. iPhone 4, 1/545 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, olloclip fisheye lens.

Blue Mystique

- This is a Blue Mystique orchid that I saw today at Lowes and had to have. It is a really striking and unusual color. Mine has two stems with a total of 15 blooms. Canon40D, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, 100mm macro lens, micro Litepanel LED for illumination.

Paradise Gardens

- I received some advice a while back that a photographer should look up, down and all around. I stopped one evening at the intersection of Princess Anne Road and Church Street in Norfolk Virginia and looked up to see this tree illuminated by the street lights. The tree stands next to McCullough Paradise Gardens an apartment complex owned by the United House of Prayer for All People which is located directly across Church Street. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400.

Grace

- Looking across the labyrinth just inside the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Stained glass windows pour brightly colored light across the naive and north aisle. To left is a sculpture of St. Francis by Beniamino Bufano. Canon G11, 1/8 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400.

Not an Egg

- Tis is not an egg. It's the domed ceiling at the Landmark Theater in Richmond Virginia. " Formerly known as "The Mosque," the Landmark was constructed in 1926 by the Shriners as the ACCA Temple Shrine. The theater was designed in Moorish Revival style by Marcellus Wright, Sr. in association with Charles M. Robinson and Charles Custer Robinson. Canon 7D, 1/10sec @ f/3.5, ISO 800, 8mm fisheye lens.

Simple

- A simple photo of some decorative colored glass bottles taken at the Hobby Lobby. iPhone 4, 1/17sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ App, Scene=Clarity, Crop=Square, Effects=Vibrant, Border=Vignette.

Double Neck

- Joe Bonamassa playing the white Gibson Don Felder EDS-1275 #075 Double-Neck during "Young Man Blues" at Richmond Virginia's Landmark Theater last night. You can see Joe's Marshall stack complete with Bonamassa bobble heads just to the right. Canon 7D, 1/250 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 400, 85mm lens.

Mountain Time

- Blues guitarist extraordinaire Joe Bonamassa plays "Mountain Time" at the Landmark Theater in Richmond Virginia. Tonight was the sixth time we've seen Joe play live. He never ceases to amaze and delight and tonight was no exception. Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 400, 85mm prime lens.

Tabacco Company

- The atrium in the Tabacco Company restaurant in the Shockoe Slip area of Richmond Virginia. The old tabacco warehouse was converted into a fine restaurant and club over 30 years ago. The large brass chandelier came from the Federal Reserve Bank in Cincinnati while the antique Otis brass elevator on the right edge of the photo was made for the Con Edison building in New York. Canon G11, 1.0 sec @ f.3.2, ISO 100.