Pull Over - Day 98 #CY365

Pulled over leaving work today to capture this picture of the flags along Waterside Drive in Norfolk Virginia backlit by the setting sun. Today the flags are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the General MacArthur Memorial located in downtown Norfolk. Olympus OM-D E-M1, 1/1250 sec @ f/11, ISO 100.

Back Seat Photographer

The view from the back seat of a new 2013 Ford Explorer Limited and its Microsoft Sync system. I must admit I was pretty impressed with the design, fit and finish and the technology in this Ford. Canon G11, 1/6sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Big Yellow Taxi

- There are over 13,000 yellow taxicabs in New York City and they seemed to always being moving creating a constant yellow blur on city streets. The other common vehicle seen around new York streets are the NYPD's RMPs (Radio Motor Patrol) or police cars to everyone else. Canon G11, 1/4 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Neon Dash

- The trademark orange dash lights of BMW with a neon outline effect added through Google's Picasa. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 1000.

Taillight

- Classic taillight from a 1962 Ford Thunderbird. I post processed this image using Google Picasa and new feature in version 3.9 called "Neon." With the Neon effect I used a brown color choice, faded the effect back to about 50% intensity. Then bumped the saturation a wee bit to pop the red on the taillight and applied a slight vignette to finish off the image. Canon G11, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400,

T-Bird

- Parked next to a cool 1962 Ford Thunderbird this afternoon. Dad always liked and wanted a "T-Bird". This one wasn't restored but in very good original condition for a 50 year old car. Dad never got his T-Bird but we did have a more practical family car, a 1966 Ford Fairlane 4 door sedan with the same 390 cubic inch engine that was standard in the T-Bird. This was the car I learned to drive in and as a teenager driving that 335 horsepower "family" sedan was nothing but trouble waiting to happen. Canon G11, 1/40 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400.

Taillights & Tailpipes

- My grandson Robert was staying with us tonight and we picked up a a new 1/24 scale 2005 Corvette C6 die-cast for the toy box at Grammy's house. We always have to race with a new car and this is Robert's Vette pulling away from my Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. In Robert's race he always wins so I'm usually looking at nothing but taillights and tailpipes. Canon 40D, 1/25 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400, 100mm macro lens.

Young Minds

- Young minds are easily influenced so one must carefully consider what you expose them to so they grow up right. I wish I had been exposed to such a fine German automobile when I was this age, maybe then it wouldn't have taken me almost 57 years to get one. I'm giving my grandson the chance to appreciate and understand the values of being a true car aficionado at an early age. As first he couldn't understand why grandpa would buy a car without a top, after one ride - he totally gets it. Canon 1/20 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Cobra Jet 428

- The 1968 Shelby Cobra GT 500-KR, the KR stood for King of the Road, was powered by a 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet engine with a horsepower rating of 335hp. The Cobra Jet emblem looks really cool on this beautifully restored black Shelby Mustang. I have a soft spot for classic Mustangs. My first new car was a 1973 Mustang Mach I powered by the 351 cubic inch "Cleveland" engine. Unfortunately it had an automatic transmission beacuse at 19 years old I couldn't afford the insurance on the 4 speed manual. I got a great deal on that Mustang during the 1973 oil crisis because everyone was wanting the just introduced 1974 Mustang II - what a wimp car that was. Canon G11, 1/640 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

1937

- A 1937 vintage Pontiac automobile in basic black calls for a blank and white photo. Canon G11, 1/125sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200 converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro.

Ornamentation

- This great art deco locomotive style hood ornament was just one of many cool details in a display of old cars at the Virginia Beach Farmers Market today. A hood ornament symbolized a car company like a badge. Located on the front center portion of the hood they have been used as an adornment since almost the inception of automobiles. Canon G11, 1/160 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200, in macro mode.

Ojects in Mirror

- Are Closer Than They Appear! Canon G10, 1/400 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 100.

Love Chrome

From 2010 Blog

- The chrome front bumper of a 55 Chevy reflects the 57 Eldorado Seville parked next to it. Fins and chrome and lots of it were the style trademarks of the mid 1950's Detroit automobiles. The massive chrome bumpers were gone forever in the mid 1970's after the U.S. 5-mph bumper standard took effect. Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/11.0, ISO 200, 100mm focal length.

Elise

From 2010 Blog

- The Lotus Elise is a fiberglass body and aluminum chassis true roadster sports car. It's mid-engine power and read wheel drive make for an amazing handling car that can reach speeds of 150 MPH. The is a true sports car driver's automobile as the design aims to reduce weight, so there's not much in the amenities department. It's purpose is only to take two people and move them very fast. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/400 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100, Lensbaby Composer with super wide angle adapter.

Mustang!

From 2010 Blog

- I went to a car show this afternoon at the Fairfield Shopping Center in Virginia Beach. They had a real nice collection of hot rods, restored 50's, 60's and 70's muscle cars but it is the Ford Mustangs that I gravitate to. My very first new car was a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach I, 351 Cleveland V-8, dark green metallic with saddle tan interior. I bought it at the end of the model year when the new smaller Mustang II's (yuk) were just coming out. Got a great deal and never regretted buying a gas gussler during the 1973 oil crisis. This front grill emblem was on a slick 2005 dark gray Mustang GT. Canon G11, 1/500 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 200.

21 Bucket T

From 2010 Blog

A 1921 model "Bucket T" hot rod waiting to join the neighborhood Independence Day parade. Bucket T's generally feature an enormous engine for the size and weight of the car, generally a V8 of some form, along with tough drive trains to handle the power and large rear tires to apply that power to the road. The front wheels, in a nod to the Model T's drag racing past, are often much smaller than the rear wheels. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200, zoom at 93mm focal length.

Jett's Jag

From 2010 Blog

- Joan Jett's V12 powered 1983 Jaguar XJS at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio. In black of course. Oh, the stories this car could tell. Got to love Rock n Roll! Canon G11, 1/400 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400.

Yellow Wheel

From 2010 Blog

- This 2001 Yellow Corvette is reflected in the chrome rims of blue F150 pickup. Both were fully polished and shinning for all they were worth as they were parked just outside Firehouse Subs in the Kempsville section of Virginia Beach today. I was surprised to learn the Vette belonged to Virginia Beach Fire Captain Bill Bailey who I hadn't seen in a long time. Small world. Canon G11, 1/320 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200.

Bond, James Bond

From 2010 Blog

- Aston Martin the car of choice for Agent 007 - Bond, James Bond. While walking one day I spotted an Aston Martin parked along the street. Couldn't resist taking a picture of the car that I will always associate with England's most famous fictional secret agent. Canon 40D, 1/160 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.