221 - Skimming

From Skimming

The tide was way out and the waves small, smooth and breaking close to shore, not too good for surfers, but perfect for skimmers. Unlike surfing, skimboarding begins on the beach, with the skimboarder running and dropping their board onto the thin wash of waves. They use their momentum to 'skim' out to breaking waves, which they then catch back into shore in a manner similar to surfing. Several skimboarders were having a great time in the early evening surf as this photo demonstrates. Check out more of the fun from today's trip to Sandbridge Beach. Canon 40D, 1/800 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 100-400 zoom at 235mm focal length.

220 - Busy Bee

From 365 Project

The bumble bees were very busy working these blooms. I'm not sure what type of plant this is, but I've seen them around a lot this year. Canon G10, 1/200 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400, 28mm equivalent focal length in macro mode. Update 8-13-09: Janet, the Queen of Seaford, pointed out the plant the bees are so busy with is Lantana. Thanks Janet!

219 - Flying Buttresses

From Aug7

These massive flying buttresses support the the world's largest reinforced concrete dome at the Norfolk Scope. Designed by Italian architect/engineer Pier Luigi Nervi and completed in 1971, the Scope is a 12,600 seat arena which was the first professional home of basketball legend Julius Irving "Dr. J" as member of the ABA's Virginia Squires and the site of the first NCAA Division 1 Women's Basket Final Four in 1982. Today the arena is home to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. Canon 40D, 1/200msec @ f/18.0, ISO 100, 17mm focal length.

218 - Burger Beacon

From 365 Project

The Statue of Liberty is often used as a symbol for commerce, from tax services to chain restaurant burgers. This burger torch stands watch before a poster of the Sopranos at the Red Robin restaurant in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake Virginia. I am certain this is not what Frédéric Bartholdi. the original sculptor of Lady Liberty. had in mind for his creation. Canon G10, 1/25 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 200.

217 - Legacy

From 365 Project

My grandson Robert has recently acquired his first camera, gently used - of course, and loves to take pictures with it. We were dueling it out with our cameras during a family night out for pizza. Canon G10, 1/60 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400, flash set at -1 stop.

216 - Elvis Sighting

From 365 Project

I was taking a few night photos of the First Lutheran Church of Norfolk located on Colley Avenue in the historic Ghent neighborhood. The church is a beautiful Gothic Revival structure dedicated in 1930. While I was taking pictures, someone said, "Come stand here and you can see Elvis." Sure enough, illuminated in the a small section of the front stained glass window is a image of what looks to be Elvis. Certainly not what I expected to photograph on a walk after dinner. Canon G10, 1/15 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 1600 54mm equivalent focal length - hand held.

215 - Before Shopping Malls

From Monticello Arcade

At turn of the 20th century shopping arcades were commonplace in cities. These enclosed buildings housed shops on the first floor and offices above. Only two remain in Virginia including this one, the Monticello Arcade in Norfolk. Built in 1907 the three-story, Beaux-Arts style arcade forms a protected pedestrian passageway between City Hall Avenue and Plume Street in the middle of a long block in downtown Norfolk. It and its sister, the Art Deco Selden Arcade in the next block, once formed the preferred path from downtown to the ferry slips to Portsmouth. Canon G10, 1/60 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.