Open Window

- The open window from an old farmhouse in Chesapeake Virginia looks out on former fields now full of suburban housing. Canon 40D, 1/20 sec @ f/13.0, ISO 125.

Behind Door #1

From 2010 Blog

- No it's not the "Price is Right" but this crumbling brick warehouse has great old green doors all around, each numbered in sequence. Empty now, most recently it housed "Used Auto Parts" a.k.a a junk yard but I'm sure way back in it's history it was used to make a great "Made in the USA" product. Canon 40D, 1/100 @ f/18.0, ISO 100, 70mm focal length.

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.

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.

258 - Cobblestone

From 365 Project

This patch of old cobblestone pavers on Armistead Avenue in Norfolk Virginia were revealed recently when a gas line construction project peeled back the modern asphalt overlay. Cobblestones, or more correctly quarried granite setts, lie under the surface of many streets in cities across America. Norfolk has restored them in the historic Freemason neighborhood near downtown. These will most likely get another coat of asphalt soon and be lost again. Canon G10, 1/400 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200.

190 - ALMETL Fire Door

From 365 Project

This ALMETL fire door was manufactured by the Merchant & Evans Company of Philadelphia. The manufacturer's metal name plate is still legible and is stamped with a manufacture date of December 21, 1917. These were interior fire doors used to close openings between warehouse or factory sections. They are mounted on an iron bar which is sloped downward toward the closed end. In case of fire, the door was released and gravity pulled it closed. This old door was exposed earlier this year when part of this old warehouse was demolished for a parking lot. Canon 40D, 1/125sec @ f/16.0, ISO 200, 17mm focal length.

183 - The Boathouse

From 365 Project

The Boathouse, once a rockin' place for concerts is rapidly rotting away. It was a popular Norfolk Virginia concert venue in the 80's and 90's. With its low ceiling and packed crowds it was a favorite venue for bands and concert goers alike. Converted from an old riverfront warehouse, the building is now condemned and appears to be sinking into the river. While it is missed by many it has been adequately replaced by the NorVa. Canon 40D, 1/160 sec @ f/20.0, ISO 200 with a polarizer.

177 - Spider Hole

From 365 Project

The spider's web marks the entrance to this hidey-hole in the very old brick and iron fence enclosing the grave yard of old Saint Paul's Church in Norfolk Virginia. Crumbling bricks and mortar, peeling paint and rusting iron add to the charm of the local landmark. Canon 40D, 1/25 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 45mm focal length.

153 - Mr. Peabody

From 365 Project

You'd need the Way Back Machine to save this old camera store. The former Camera City location in Hampton Virginia is reduced to dust and rumble and loaded into a bright shiny demolition company trailer under the watchful eye of Mr. Peabody. While Camera City survives at a new location around the corner, I could not resist the metaphor for what has happen to local camera stores. Canon G10, 1/400 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 44mm equivalent focal length.

152 - Fallen Sentinel

From 365 Project

The old fire hydrant stood watch for many years at this abandon industrial complex. Looks like a careless driver dealt the fatal blow. Canon G10, 54mm equivalent focal length, 1/500 sec @ F/5.6, ISO 200.

141 - Decay

From 365 Project

I like taking pictures of older things that have been left to decay by the society they once served. This is part of an old chimney on a warehouse adjacent to the Lambert's Point RR tracks on Princess Anne Road in Norfolk, Virginia. The bricks are lose and falling away, the iron bands placed years ago to add life are failing and the vines are working slowly on nature's reclamation. It's only a matter of time. Canon 40D, 173mm, 1/100 sec @ f/18.0, ISO 100.

132 - Buoy Boneyard

From 365 Project

Where do old buoys go to die - the buoy boneyard. These are a few of a row of 15 old navigation buoys forming a fence along the 23rd Street side of the L. Chenman scrap metal yard in Norfolk Virginia. Canon G10, 1/400 sec at f/8.0, ISO 100, 16mm equivalent focal length.

106 - Peeling Paint

From 365 Project

The random nature of the paint peeling against the symmetrical pattern created by the underlying bricks caught my eye. This brick wall is over 100 years old and has obviously had more than a few coats of paint. But it will have no more paint as the building is scheduled for demolition later this year. Canon G10, 1/20sec at f/3.5, ISO 400. Converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro.