Skull Week

Yes it's "Skull Week" here on CIOPhoto.com. We start off with a dapper little skeleton from from the Halloween goodies display at Pier 1. So what do think the odds are that I can find seven different skulls to photograph this week? Stay tuned as I try to beat the odds. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 160, Camera + app.

Paris

The next best thing to being there, a little, made in China, plastic knick-knackery, with an Eiffel Tower of course. iPhone 4, 1/30 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ app.

Letter Box

This antique mail chute is still in use in the Royster Building. The 13 story "skyscraper" was Norfolk's tallest building when it was completed in 1912. This mail chute was provided by Cutler Mail Chute Company. James Goold Cutler received a patent on September 11, 1883 for the mail chute. The first one was installed in 1884 in the Elwood Building in Rochester, New York. Cutler ultimately received thirty patents for variations of his invention. The original approved patent No. 284,951 design stated that it must "be of metal, distinctly marked U.S. Letter Box. . ." iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 1000.

YNot

YNot Pizza has been making great hand-tossed pizzas in Hampton Roads Virginia for 19 years. This is our regular location in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach. Our favorite pizza - red sauce cheese pizza with tomatos, spinach and feta cheese. The name YNot comes from the reverse spelling of owner Tony DiSilvestro's first name. iPhone 4 using the Camera+ app and the Olloclip fisheye lens.

Empty Beach

We headed out to Sandbridge Beach late this afternoon. With stormy weather moving in we found an almost empty beach. It was really relaxing with the wind, surf and rapidly changing sky. We stayed for about 30 minutes before lifeguards closed the beach because of the threat of lightning. iPhone 4 with the Olloclip fisheye lens.

Going Down

Heading down the escalator at MacArthur Mall in downtown Norfolk Virginia. iPhone 4, 1/24 sec @ f/2.8. ISO 100, Camera + App.

Say Hello to Mr. Chakra

The concept of chakra features in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Chakra are believed to be centers of the body from which a person can collect energy. They are connected to major organs or glands that govern other body parts. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning". Mr. Chakra is a wooden sculpture found in Aveda stores. iPhone 4, Camera+ App.

Sleepy Buddy

One nice thing about having a pet is that they are always happy to see you. After a stressful day Sherlock was napping on my lap. He was just what the doctor ordered, bringing my blood pressure down nicely. You can catch his sister Sasha napping on the chair in the background. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 1000.

Sunset

A family fishing and crabbing at suset in the Chesapeake Bay near the Lynnhaven inlet. iPhone 4, 1/100 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

Sunrise

Always love catching the sunrise even when the setting is just a parking lot. That bird like shape in the lower center is actually a reflection from a car windshield and hood. iPhone 4, 1/1000 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

Lincoln Logs

Lighting up the Lincoln Logs with Robert. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Reach for the Sky!

The Well Fargo building in downtown Norfolk seems to reach for the sky in this morning photograph. iPhone 4, 1/382 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

Fashion Scene

Is it a crime scene? No, it's a fashion scene. This old body outline can be found on the third floor of the new Urban Outfitters store in Norfolk, Virginia. Left over from a previous music store tenant it was retained with many other unquie features in the old Adams Building on Granby Street. iPhone 4, 1/17 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 125, Camera+ app.

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.

Who, What and Where

- Can you guess who this is, what the situation was and where the picture was take? I'll give you a big hint - it's a picture of a picture. Good luck. iPhone 4, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

Rail Shadow

- Late afternoon sun casts a sharp shadow of this hand rail onto the concrete ramp. iPhone 4 , 1/1000 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ app, Pinhole camera effect applied.

Spoon

- The spoon as wall art? This is a big spoon, about 4 foot long. They are used in the Skinny Dip frozen yogurt stores usually hanging on a bright green or purple wall. iPhone 4,1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 200, Camera+ app.

Play Ball

- This is part of a mural being painted by Artist John Hickey on a wall at the Norfolk Baseball Academy in the 700 block of 22nd Street in Norfolk, Virginia. It was featured in an article in today's Virginia Pilot so I drove by to take a look and of course a picture during lunch. The mural is based on a photograph from an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and the Norfolk Tars on June 29, 1934, at Bain Field. Bain Field was located not too far from this site just off Monticello Avenue between 18th and 20th Streets. When completed the mural will also feature Babe Ruth who played in the game. iPhone 4, 1/1027 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ app.

Blues Armory

- The Blues Armory is a large brick armory in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Housing the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, the castle-like structure originally served multiple purposes, with a food market on the ground floor and a drill hall for the National Guard on the top floor. Completed in 1910, it was designed by the Washington, D.C. firm of Averill and Hall. The castellated design was not entirely whimsical, as the structure was designed to withstand attack during riots. The University of Richmond Spiders basketball team played home games in the Blues Armory from 1947 to 1950. The Nation Guard moved out in the 1960's and the building is mostly empty today. iPhone 4, 1/125 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

BCR 2014

- Switcher 2014 leased by the Bay Coast Railroad from Locomotive Leasing Partners (LLPX) is used at the southern yard for the Bay Coast Railroad at Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virgina. The Bay Coast took over operations of the Eastern Shore Railroad in 2006 operating a 90 mile connection on the DelMarVa peninsula from Pocomoke City, Maryland to Little Creek, Virginia via 64 miles of rail and a 26 miles Chesapeake Bay crossing using one of only two remaining "carfloats" left in operation in the U.S. BCR 2014 is an EMD GP38, a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in July 1970 and was once owned by Conrail and operated as CSXT 1946. Here's a short video of BCR 2014 pulling mixed freight including two massive 16 inch gun barrels from the Battleship Missouri earlier this year. iPhone 4, 1/385 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80, Camera+ app.